- Furthmann, Nikolas;
- Bader, Verian;
- Angersbach, Lena;
- Blusch, Alina;
- Goel, Simran;
- Sánchez-Vicente, Ana;
- Krause, Laura;
- Chaban, Sarah;
- Grover, Prerna;
- Trinkaus, Victoria;
- van Well, Eva;
- Jaugstetter, Maximilian;
- Tschulik, Kristina;
- Damgaard, Rune;
- Saft, Carsten;
- Ellrichmann, Gisa;
- Gold, Ralf;
- Koch, Arend;
- Englert, Benjamin;
- Westenberger, Ana;
- Klein, Christine;
- Jungbluth, Lisa;
- Sachse, Carsten;
- Behrends, Christian;
- Glatzel, Markus;
- Hartl, F;
- Christine, Chadwick;
- Huang, Eric;
- Tatzelt, Jörg;
- Winklhofer, Konstanze;
- Nakamura, Ken
NEMO is a ubiquitin-binding protein which regulates canonical NF-κB pathway activation in innate immune signaling, cell death regulation and host-pathogen interactions. Here we identify an NF-κB-independent function of NEMO in proteostasis regulation by promoting autophagosomal clearance of protein aggregates. NEMO-deficient cells accumulate misfolded proteins upon proteotoxic stress and are vulnerable to proteostasis challenges. Moreover, a patient with a mutation in the NEMO-encoding IKBKG gene resulting in defective binding of NEMO to linear ubiquitin chains, developed a widespread mixed brain proteinopathy, including α-synuclein, tau and TDP-43 pathology. NEMO amplifies linear ubiquitylation at α-synuclein aggregates and promotes the local concentration of p62 into foci. In vitro, NEMO lowers the threshold concentrations required for ubiquitin-dependent phase transition of p62. In summary, NEMO reshapes the aggregate surface for efficient autophagosomal clearance by providing a mobile phase at the aggregate interphase favoring co-condensation with p62.