ADNP promotes neural differentiation by modulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling

ADNP (Activity Dependent Neuroprotective Protein) is proposed as a neuroprotective protein whose aberrant expression has been frequently linked to neural developmental disorders, including the Helsmoortel-Van der Aa syndrome. However, its role in neural development and pathology remains unclear. Using mESC (mouse embryonic stem cell) directional neural differentiation as a model, we show that ADNP is required for ESC neural induction and neuronal differentiation by maintaining Wnt signaling. Mechanistically, ADNP functions to maintain the proper protein levels of β-Catenin through binding to its armadillo domain which prevents its association with key components of the degradation complex: Axin and APC. Loss of ADNP promotes the formation of the degradation complex and hyperphosphorylation of β-Catenin by GSK3β and subsequent degradation via ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, resulting in down-regulation of key neuroectoderm developmental genes. We further show that ADNP plays key role in cerebellar neuron formation. Finally, adnp gene disruption in zebrafish embryos recapitulates key features of the mouse phenotype, including the reduced Wnt signaling, defective embryonic cerebral neuron formation and the massive neuron death. Thus, our work provides important insights into the role of ADNP in neural development and the pathology of the Helsmoortel-Van der Aa syndrome caused by ADNP gene mutation.