Yin Yang 1 and guanine quadruplexes protect dopaminergic neurons from cellular stress via transmissive dormancy [BG4 CUT&RUN]

Neurons deploy diverse adaptive strategies to ensure survival and neurotransmission amid cellular stress. When these adaptive pathways are overwhelmed, functional impairment or neurodegeneration follows. Here, we report a scenario where stressed neurons actively induce a state of transmissive dormancy as a protective measure. Examination of dopaminergic neurons surviving severe cellular challenges revealed decreased spontaneous activity accompanied by dynamic control of dopamine metabolism through the transcriptional regulator Yin Yang 1 (YY1). Under these conditions, YY1 increases expression of the vesicular monoamine transporter 2, promoting sequestration of dopamine into synaptic vesicles. Following oxidative stress and subsequent DNA damage, YY1 inhibits dopamine synthesis through stabilization of a guanine quadruplex in intron 10 of tyrosine hydroxylase. This cytoprotective response has the potential to drive circuit inactivation and safeguard neurons by minimizing the toxic accumulation of cytosolic dopamine and inducing a state of neuronal dormancy. In essence, neurons appear to actively prioritize viability over functionality.