Interplay Between HDAC6 and Its Interacting Partners: Essential Roles in the Aggresome-Autophagy Pathway and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Cytoplasmic localization and possession of two deacetylase domains and a ubiquitin-binding domain make histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) a unique histone deacetylase. HDAC6 interacts with a number of proteins in the cytoplasm. Some of these proteins can be deacetylated by HDAC6 deacetylase activity. Others can affect HDAC6 functions by modulating its catalytic activity or ubiquitin-binding capability. Over the last decade, HDAC6 has been shown to play important roles in the aggresome-autophagy pathway, which selectively targets on protein aggregates or damaged organelles for their accumulation and clearance in cells. HDAC6-interacting partners are integral components in this pathway with regard to their regulatory roles through interaction with HDAC6. The aggresome-autophagy pathway appears to be an attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases as accumulation of protein aggregates are hallmarks in these diseases. In the current review, I discuss the molecular details of how HDAC6 and its interacting partners regulate each individual step in the aggresome-autophagy pathway and also provide perspectives of how HDAC6 can be targeted in treating neurodegenerative diseases.