TDP-43 and PINK1 mediate CHCHD10 mutation-induced defects in Drosophila and in vitro

Mutations in coiled-coil-helix-coiled-coil-helix domain containing 10 (CHCHD10) can cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia (ALS-FTD). However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, we generate CHCH10-mutant Drosophila melanogaster and HeLa cell lines to model CHCHD10-associated ALS-FTD. The CHCHD10 mutation results in cell toxicity in several tissues and mitochondrial defects. CHCHD10 independently affects the TDP-43 and PINK1 pathways. CHCHD10 expression increases TDP-43 insolubility and mitochondrial translocation. Blocking TDP-43 mitochondrial translocation with a peptide inhibitor reduced CHCHD10-mediated toxicity. While genetic and pharmacological modulation of PINK1 expression and activity of its substrates rescues and mitigates the CHCHD10-induced phenotypes and mitochondrial defects, respectively, in both Drosophila and HeLa cells. Our findings suggest that CHCHD10-induced TDP-43 mitochondrial translocation and chronic activation of PINK1-mediated pathways result in dominant toxicity, providing a mechanistic insight into the CHCHD10 mutations associated with ALS-FTD.