VPS35 D620N mutation impairs neurogenesis and promotes ferroptosis in Parkinson's disease via using molecular docking, molecular dynamic simulation and cellular model

Mei Jiang^1,2Xu Deng^1,2Zijie Qiu^1,2Yuan Fu^1,2Zixiong Qiu^1,2Jiankai Zhang^1,2Hongxia Fu³Jie Li^1,2Yao Luo^1,2Xiaojun Cui^1,2*

• ¹Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
• ²Guangdong Medical College - Dongguan Campus, Dongguan, China
• ³Songshan Lake Central Hospital of Dongguan, Dongguan, China

VPS35, a core component of the retromer complex, has been closely associated with neurodegenerative disorders, particularly Parkinson's disease (PD). The VPS35 D620N mutation has been identified as a pathogenic variant in familial PD. However, the precise mechanisms by which VPS35 and its D620N mutant influence neurogenesis remain poorly understood. This study explores the role of the VPS35 D620N mutation in PD-related neurogenesis. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) and KEGG pathway analyses identified key regulatory molecules, including TP53, AKT1, and SRC, with the PI3K-Akt signaling pathways emerging as central contributors to mutation-induced neurogenic deficits and ferroptosis in PD. Molecular docking analysis demonstrated strong binding affinities between VPS35 D620N and these hub targets, particularly PI3K. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the stable interaction between VPS35 D620N and key hub proteins. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that the D620N mutation significantly impaired the neurogenic capacity of neural precursor cells both in vivo and in vitro, accompanied by increased cell death. Cellular experiments further revealed that the D620N mutation promoted cell death, increased lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, reduced the expression of ferroptosis-related proteins such as GPX4, and downregulated components of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. This study highlights that the VPS35 D620N mutation may impair neurogenesis through ferroptosis mediated by dysregulation of the PI3K-Akt pathway, offering novel mechanistic insights into its role in PD pathogenesis.