Loss of PREPL alters lipid homeostasis due to mitochondrial defects

Abstract

Loss of the prolyl endopeptidase-like (PREPL) protein causes congenital myasthenic syndrome-22 (CMS22), a rare neuromuscular and metabolic disorder. PREPL belongs to the serine hydrolase superfamily, but its physiological substrates remain unknown. Based on the predicted lipid binding pocket in its crystal structure and its in vitro esterase activity, we hypothesized that PREPL might act as a lipase in vivo and directly regulate lipid metabolism. To test this, we performed unbiased lipidomics in Prepl knockout (KO) mouse brains and CRISPR-Cas9-generated KO cell lines. Across tissue and cell types, global phospholipid composition was largely unchanged, with only modest, non-significant increases in lysophospholipids, arguing against a direct role of PREPL in (lyso)phospholipid turnover. In contrast, PREPL KO HEK293T cells exhibited a significant accumulation of triacylglycerols (TAGs) and an increased number of lipid droplets, indicating a selective shift toward lipid storage. Given the central role of peroxisomes in lipid metabolism, we assessed PREPL localization and examined peroxisome number, morphology, and levels of key peroxisomal proteins. PREPL did not localize to peroxisomes, and peroxisome number and proteins levels were largely unchanged. However, KO cells displayed elongated peroxisomes, a phenotype possibly linked to mitochondrial dysfunction. Indeed, previous studies have shown that PREPL localizes to mitochondria and is required for respiratory chain activity and oxidative phosphorylation. These mitochondrial defects are predicted to impair fatty acid {beta}-oxidation and disrupt redox balance, thereby promoting TAG synthesis and lipid droplet biogenesis as adaptive responses. Overall, our findings indicate that PREPL does not act as a canonical lipase but indirectly alters lipid homeostasis through its critical role in mitochondrial function. Elevated TAG levels and altered peroxisome morphology likely represent secondary consequences of impaired mitochondrial fatty acid metabolism in PREPL-deficient cells. These results establish a mechanistic link between mitochondrial dysfunction and lipid remodeling in PREPL deficiency, providing novel insights into the metabolic pathology of CMS22.