Biallelic USP14 variants cause a syndromic neurodevelopmental disorder

PURPOSE Imbalances in protein homeostasis affect human brain development, with the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and autophagy playing crucial roles in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). This study explores the impact of biallelic USP14 variants on neurodevelopment, focusing on its role as a key hub connecting UPS and autophagy. METHODS Here, we identified biallelic USP14 variants in four individuals from three unrelated families: one fetus, a newborn with a syndromic NDD, and two siblings affected by a progressive neurological disease. Specifically, the two siblings from the latter family carried two compound heterozygous variants c.8T>C p.(Leu3Pro) and c.988C>T p.(Arg330*), while the fetus had a homozygous frameshift c.899_902del p.(Lys300Serfs*24) variant and the newborn patient harbored a homozygous frameshift c.233_236del p.(Leu78Glnfs*11) variant. Functional studies were conducted using SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, and mass spectrometry analyses in both patient-derived and CRISPR-Cas-generated cells. RESULTS Our investigations indicated that the USP14 variants correlated with reduced N-terminal methionine excision, along with profound alterations in proteasome, autophagy, and mitophagy activities. CONCLUSION Biallelic USP14 variants in NDD patients perturbed protein degradation pathways, potentially contributing to disorder etiology. Altered UPS, autophagy, and mitophagy activities underscore the intricate interplay, elucidating their significance in maintaining proper protein homeostasis during brain development.