SCA14-Associated PKCγ-G118D Mutant Exhibits a Detrimental Effect on Cerebellar Purkinje Cell Dendritic Growth

Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative condition, is marked by a gradual deterioration of cerebellar function. To date, more than 40 distinct SCA subtypes have been identified, with some attributed to CAG repeat expansions and others to point mutations or deletions. Among these, spinocerebellar ataxia type 14 (SCA14) stems from missense mutations or deletions within the <i>PRKCG</i> gene, encoding protein kinase C gamma (PKCγ), a pivotal signaling molecule abundant in Purkinje cells. Despite its significance, the precise mechanisms underlying how genetic alterations trigger Purkinje cell malfunction and degeneration remain elusive. Given the prominent role and high expression of PKCγ in Purkinje cells, SCA14 presents a unique opportunity to unravel the underlying pathogenesis. A straightforward hypothesis posits that alterations in the biological activity of PKCγ underlie the disease phenotype, and there are hints that mutated PKCγ proteins exhibit altered enzymatic function. Our prior research focused on the PKCγ-G118D mutation, commonly found in SCA14 patients, located in the regulatory domain of the protein. While cellular assays demonstrated enhanced enzymatic activity for PKCγ-G118D, transgenic mice carrying this mutation failed to exhibit suppressed dendritic development in cerebellar cultures, raising questions about its impact within living Purkinje cells. One hypothesis is that endogenous PKCγ might interfere with the expression or effect of PKCγ-G118D. To further investigate, we leveraged CRISPR-Cas9 technology to generate a PKCγ knockout mouse model and integrated it with an L7-based, Purkinje cell-specific transfection system to analyze the effects of G118D protein expression on the dendritic morphology of developing Purkinje cells. Our findings reveal that, utilizing this approach, PKCγ-G118D exerts a detrimental effect on Purkinje cell growth, confirming its negative influence, indicating that the potential of the G118D mutation to contribute to SCA14 pathogenesis.