Loss of prion protein control of glucose metabolism promotes neurodegeneration in model of prion diseases

Corruption of cellular prion protein (PrP C ) function(s) at the plasma membrane of neurons is at the root of prion diseases, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and its variant in humans, and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathies, better known as mad cow disease, in cattle. The roles exerted by PrP C , however, remain poorly elucidated. With the perspective to grasp the molecular pathways of neurodegeneration occurring in prion diseases, and to identify therapeutic targets, achieving a better understanding of PrP C roles is a priority. Based on global approaches that compare the proteome and metabolome of the PrP C expressing 1C11 neuronal stem cell line to those of PrP null -1C11 cells stably repressed for PrP C expression, we here unravel that PrP C contributes to the regulation of the energetic metabolism by orienting cells towards mitochondrial oxidative degradation of glucose. Through its coupling to cAMP/protein kinase A signaling, PrP C tones down the expression of the pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4). Such an event favors the transfer of pyruvate into mitochondria and its conversion into acetyl-CoA by the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and, thereby, limits fatty acids β-oxidation and subsequent onset of oxidative stress conditions. The corruption of PrP C metabolic role by pathogenic prions PrP Sc causes in the mouse hippocampus an imbalance between glucose oxidative degradation and fatty acids β-oxidation in a PDK4-dependent manner. The inhibition of PDK4 extends the survival of prion-infected mice, supporting that PrP Sc -induced deregulation of PDK4 activity and subsequent metabolic derangements contribute to prion diseases. Our study posits PDK4 as a potential therapeutic target to fight against prion diseases.