Monday, December 12, 2016

Results of fly study shed new light on cellular and organismal functions of ALS-related proteins

Coyne AN, Yamada SB, Siddegowda BB, Estes PS, Zaepfel BL, Johannesmeyer JS, Lockwood DB, Pham LT, Hart MP, Cassel JA, Freibaum B, Boehringer AV, Taylor JP, Reitz AB, Gitler AD, Zarnescu DC. Fragile X protein mitigates TDP-43 toxicity by remodeling RNA granules and restoring translation. Hum Mol Genet. 2015 Dec 15;24(24):6886-98. PMID: 26385636; PMCID: PMC5007633.

From the abstract:
"RNA dysregulation is a newly recognized disease mechanism in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here we identify Drosophila fragile X mental retardation protein (dFMRP) as a robust genetic modifier of TDP-43-dependent toxicity in a Drosophila model of ALS. We find that dFMRP overexpression (dFMRP OE) mitigates TDP-43 dependent locomotor defects and reduced lifespan in Drosophila. TDP-43 and FMRP form a complex in flies and human cells. ... Our data suggest a model whereby dFMRP is neuroprotective by remodeling TDP-43 containing RNA granules, reducing aggregation and restoring the translation of specific mRNAs in motor neurons."

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