Chelatable zinc is important in brain function, and its homeostasis is maintained to prevent cytotoxic overload. However, certain pathologic events result in intracellular zinc accumulation in lysosomes and mitochondria. Abnormal lysosomes and mitochondria are common features of the human lysosomal storage disorder known as mucolipidosis IV (MLIV). MLIV is caused by the loss of TRPML1 ion channel function. MLIV cells develop large hyperacidic lysosomes, membranous vacuoles, mitochondrial fragmentation, and autophagic dysfunction. Here, we observed that RNA interference of mucolipin-1 gene (TRPML1) in HEK-293 cells mimics the MLIV cell phenotype consisting of large lysosomes and membranous vacuoles that accumulate chelatable zinc. To show that abnormal chelatable zinc levels are indeed correlated with MLIV pathology, we quantified its concentration in cultured MLIV patient fibroblast and control cells with a spectrofluorometer using N-(6-methoxy-8-quinolyl)-p-toluene sulfonamide fluorochrome. We found a significant increase of chelatable zinc levels in MLIV cells but not in control cells. Furthermore, we quantified various metal isotopes in whole brain tissue of TRPML1(-/-) null mice and wild-type littermates using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and observed that the zinc-66 isotope is markedly elevated in the brain of TRPML1(-/-) mice when compared with controls. In conclusion, we show for the first time that the loss of TRPML1 function results in intracellular chelatable zinc dyshomeostasis. We propose that chelatable zinc accumulation in large lysosomes and membranous vacuoles may contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease and progressive cell degeneration in MLIV patients.
