TDP‐43 regulates its mRNA levels through a negative feedback loop

TAR DNA‐binding protein (TDP‐43) is an evolutionarily conserved heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) involved in RNA processing, whose abnormal cellular distribution and post‐translational modification are key markers of certain neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. We generated human cell lines expressing tagged forms of wild‐type and mutant TDP‐43 and observed that TDP‐43 controls its own expression through a negative feedback loop. The RNA‐binding properties of TDP‐43 are essential for the autoregulatory activity through binding to 3′ UTR sequences in its own mRNA. Our analysis indicated that the C‐terminal region of TDP‐43, which mediates TDP‐43–hnRNP interactions, is also required for self‐regulation. TDP‐43 binding to its 3′ UTR does not significantly change the pre‐mRNA splicing pattern but promotes RNA instability. Moreover, blocking exosome‐mediated degradation partially recovers TDP‐43 levels. Our findings demonstrate that cellular TDP‐43 levels are under tight control and it is likely that disease‐associated TDP‐43 aggregates disrupt TDP‐43 self‐regulation, thus contributing to pathogenesis. TAR DNA‐binding protein‐43 is a heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein involved in RNA metabolism, its aberrant localization and modification is also associated with a number of neurodegenerative diseases. Here, the TAR DNA‐binding protein‐43 protein negatively regulates its own mRNA levels, which may have consequences for pathogenesis.