Review: Drosophila models of neurological diseases including ALS, CMT and Sotos syndrome

Exp Cell Res. 2021 Mar 31:112584. doi: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2021.112584. Online ahead
of print.

Drosophila models to study causative genes for human rare intractable
neurological diseases

Yamaguchi M, Lee IS, Jantrapirom S, Suda K, Yoshida H

Abstract

Drosophila is emerging as a convenient model for investigating human diseases. Functional homologues of almost 75% of human disease-related genes are found in Drosophila. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a severe neurodegenerative disease that causes defects in motoneurons. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is one of the most commonly found inherited neuropathies affecting both motor and  sensory neurons. No effective therapy has been established for either of these diseases. In this review, after overviewing ALS, Drosophila models targeting several ALS-causing genes, including TDP-43, FUS and Ubiquilin2, are described with their genetic interactants. Then, after overviewing CMT, examples of
Drosophila models targeting several CMT-causing genes, including mitochondria-related genes and FIG 4, are also described with their genetic interactants. In addition, we introduce Sotos syndrome caused by mutations in the epigenetic regulator gene NSD1. Lastly, several genes and pathways that commonly interact with ALS- and/or CMT-causing genes are described. In the case of ALS and CMT that have many causative genes, it may be not practical to perform gene therapy for each of the many disease-causing genes. The possible uses of the common genes and pathways as novel diagnosis markers and effective  therapeutic targets are discussed.

Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.

DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2021.112584
PMID: 33812867