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Kalotay E, Klugmann M, Housley GD, Fröhlich D. Dominant aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase disorders: lessons learned from in vivo disease models. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1182845. [PMID: 37274211 PMCID: PMC10234151 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1182845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) play an essential role in protein synthesis, being responsible for ligating tRNA molecules to their corresponding amino acids in a reaction known as 'tRNA aminoacylation'. Separate ARSs carry out the aminoacylation reaction in the cytosol and in mitochondria, and mutations in almost all ARS genes cause pathophysiology most evident in the nervous system. Dominant mutations in multiple cytosolic ARSs have been linked to forms of peripheral neuropathy including Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, distal hereditary motor neuropathy, and spinal muscular atrophy. This review provides an overview of approaches that have been employed to model each of these diseases in vivo, followed by a discussion of the existing animal models of dominant ARS disorders and key mechanistic insights that they have provided. In summary, ARS disease models have demonstrated that loss of canonical ARS function alone cannot fully account for the observed disease phenotypes, and that pathogenic ARS variants cause developmental defects within the peripheral nervous system, despite a typically later onset of disease in humans. In addition, aberrant interactions between mutant ARSs and other proteins have been shown to contribute to the disease phenotypes. These findings provide a strong foundation for future research into this group of diseases, providing methodological guidance for studies on ARS disorders that currently lack in vivo models, as well as identifying candidate therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Kalotay
- Translational Neuroscience Facility and Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Matthias Klugmann
- Translational Neuroscience Facility and Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Research Beyond Borders, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Gary D. Housley
- Translational Neuroscience Facility and Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Dominik Fröhlich
- Translational Neuroscience Facility and Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Morant L, Erfurth ML, Jordanova A. Drosophila Models for Charcot-Marie-Tooth Neuropathy Related to Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:1519. [PMID: 34680913 PMCID: PMC8536177 DOI: 10.3390/genes12101519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRS) represent the largest cluster of proteins implicated in Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy (CMT), the most common neuromuscular disorder. Dominant mutations in six aaRS cause different axonal CMT subtypes with common clinical characteristics, including progressive distal muscle weakness and wasting, impaired sensory modalities, gait problems and skeletal deformities. These clinical manifestations are caused by "dying back" axonal degeneration of the longest peripheral sensory and motor neurons. Surprisingly, loss of aminoacylation activity is not a prerequisite for CMT to occur, suggesting a gain-of-function disease mechanism. Here, we present the Drosophila melanogaster disease models that have been developed to understand the molecular pathway(s) underlying GARS1- and YARS1-associated CMT etiology. Expression of dominant CMT mutations in these aaRSs induced comparable neurodegenerative phenotypes, both in larvae and adult animals. Interestingly, recent data suggests that shared molecular pathways, such as dysregulation of global protein synthesis, might play a role in disease pathology. In addition, it has been demonstrated that the important function of nuclear YARS1 in transcriptional regulation and the binding properties of mutant GARS1 are also conserved and can be studied in D. melanogaster in the context of CMT. Taken together, the fly has emerged as a faithful companion model for cellular and molecular studies of aaRS-CMT that also enables in vivo investigation of candidate CMT drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Morant
- Molecular Neurogenomics Group, VIB-UAntwerp Center for Molecular Neurology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerpen, Belgium; (L.M.); (M.-L.E.)
| | - Maria-Luise Erfurth
- Molecular Neurogenomics Group, VIB-UAntwerp Center for Molecular Neurology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerpen, Belgium; (L.M.); (M.-L.E.)
| | - Albena Jordanova
- Molecular Neurogenomics Group, VIB-UAntwerp Center for Molecular Neurology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerpen, Belgium; (L.M.); (M.-L.E.)
- Molecular Medicine Center, Department of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University-Sofia, 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria
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3
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Transcriptional dysregulation by a nucleus-localized aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy. Nat Commun 2019; 10:5045. [PMID: 31695036 PMCID: PMC6834567 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12909-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is a length-dependent peripheral neuropathy. The aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases constitute the largest protein family implicated in CMT. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are predominantly cytoplasmic, but are also present in the nucleus. Here we show that a nuclear function of tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (TyrRS) is implicated in a Drosophila model of CMT. CMT-causing mutations in TyrRS induce unique conformational changes, which confer capacity for aberrant interactions with transcriptional regulators in the nucleus, leading to transcription factor E2F1 hyperactivation. Using neuronal tissues, we reveal a broad transcriptional regulation network associated with wild-type TyrRS expression, which is disturbed when a CMT-mutant is expressed. Pharmacological inhibition of TyrRS nuclear entry with embelin reduces, whereas genetic nuclear exclusion of mutant TyrRS prevents hallmark phenotypes of CMT in the Drosophila model. These data highlight that this translation factor may contribute to transcriptional regulation in neurons, and suggest a therapeutic strategy for CMT. Tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (TyrRS) is a translation factor and predominantly cytoplasmic, but can also be found in the nucleus. Here authors show using a fly model of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease that nuclear localization of mutant TyrRS contributes to the CMT-like phenotype.
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Wei N, Zhang Q, Yang XL. Neurodegenerative Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease as a case study to decipher novel functions of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:5321-5339. [PMID: 30643024 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.rev118.002955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) are essential enzymes that catalyze the first reaction in protein biosynthesis, namely the charging of transfer RNAs (tRNAs) with their cognate amino acids. aaRSs have been increasingly implicated in dominantly and recessively inherited human diseases. The most common aaRS-associated monogenic disorder is the incurable neurodegenerative disease Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy (CMT), caused by dominant mono-allelic mutations in aaRSs. With six currently known members (GlyRS, TyrRS, AlaRS, HisRS, TrpRS, and MetRS), aaRSs represent the largest protein family implicated in CMT etiology. After the initial discovery linking aaRSs to CMT, the field has progressed from understanding whether impaired tRNA charging is a critical component of this disease to elucidating the specific pathways affected by CMT-causing mutations in aaRSs. Although many aaRS CMT mutants result in loss of tRNA aminoacylation function, animal genetics studies demonstrated that dominant mutations in GlyRS cause CMT through toxic gain-of-function effects, which also may apply to other aaRS-linked CMT subtypes. The CMT-causing mechanism is likely to be multifactorial and involves multiple cellular compartments, including the nucleus and the extracellular space, where the normal WT enzymes also appear. Thus, the association of aaRSs with neuropathy is relevant to discoveries indicating that aaRSs also have nonenzymatic regulatory functions that coordinate protein synthesis with other biological processes. Through genetic, functional, and structural analyses, commonalities among different mutations and different aaRS-linked CMT subtypes have begun to emerge, providing insights into the nonenzymatic functions of aaRSs and the pathogenesis of aaRS-linked CMT to guide therapeutic development to treat this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Wei
- From the Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037
| | - Qian Zhang
- From the Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037
| | - Xiang-Lei Yang
- From the Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037
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Li LX, Zhao SY, Liu ZJ, Ni W, Li HF, Xiao BG, Wu ZY. Improving molecular diagnosis of Chinese patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth by targeted next-generation sequencing and functional analysis. Oncotarget 2018; 7:27655-64. [PMID: 27027447 PMCID: PMC5053678 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.8377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2016] [Accepted: 03/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease is the most common hereditary peripheral neuropathy. More than 50 causative genes have been identified. The lack of genotype-phenotype correlations in many CMT patients make it difficult to decide which genes are affected. Recently, targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) has been introduced as an alternative approach for diagnosis of genetic disorders. Here, we applied targeted NGS in combination with PMP22 duplication/deletion analysis to screen causative genes in 22 Chinese CMT families. The novel variants detected by targeted NGS were then further studied in cultured cells. Of the 22 unrelated patients, 8 had PMP22 duplication. The targeted NGS revealed 10 possible pathogenic variants in 11 patients, including 7 previously reported variants and 3 novel heterozygous variants (GJB1: p.Y157H; MFN2: p.G127S; YARS: p.V293M). Further classification of the novel variants according to American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) standards and guidelines and functional analysis in cultured cells indicated that p.Y157H in GJB1 was pathogenic, p.G127S in MFN2 was likely pathogenic, while p.V293M in YARS was likely benign. Our results suggest the potential for targeted NGS to make a more rapid and precise diagnosis in CMT patients. Moreover, the functional analysis is required when the novel variants are indistinct.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Xi Li
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Institutes of Brain Science and State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Shao-Yun Zhao
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and The Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Zhi-Jun Liu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Institutes of Brain Science and State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Wang Ni
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and The Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Hong-Fu Li
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and The Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Bao-Guo Xiao
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Institutes of Brain Science and State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Zhi-Ying Wu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Institutes of Brain Science and State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China.,Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and The Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, China
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6
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Chen L, Pan H, Zhang YH, Feng K, Kong X, Huang T, Cai YD. Network-Based Method for Identifying Co- Regeneration Genes in Bone, Dentin, Nerve and Vessel Tissues. Genes (Basel) 2017; 8:genes8100252. [PMID: 28974058 PMCID: PMC5664102 DOI: 10.3390/genes8100252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone and dental diseases are serious public health problems. Most current clinical treatments for these diseases can produce side effects. Regeneration is a promising therapy for bone and dental diseases, yielding natural tissue recovery with few side effects. Because soft tissues inside the bone and dentin are densely populated with nerves and vessels, the study of bone and dentin regeneration should also consider the co-regeneration of nerves and vessels. In this study, a network-based method to identify co-regeneration genes for bone, dentin, nerve and vessel was constructed based on an extensive network of protein–protein interactions. Three procedures were applied in the network-based method. The first procedure, searching, sought the shortest paths connecting regeneration genes of one tissue type with regeneration genes of other tissues, thereby extracting possible co-regeneration genes. The second procedure, testing, employed a permutation test to evaluate whether possible genes were false discoveries; these genes were excluded by the testing procedure. The last procedure, screening, employed two rules, the betweenness ratio rule and interaction score rule, to select the most essential genes. A total of seventeen genes were inferred by the method, which were deemed to contribute to co-regeneration of at least two tissues. All these seventeen genes were extensively discussed to validate the utility of the method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China.
- College of Information Engineering, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China.
| | - Hongying Pan
- Department of Oral Medicine, Infection and Immunity, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Yu-Hang Zhang
- Institute of Health Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
| | - Kaiyan Feng
- Department of Computer Science, Guangdong AIB Polytechnic, Guangzhou 510507, Guangdong, China.
| | - XiangYin Kong
- Institute of Health Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
| | - Tao Huang
- Institute of Health Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
| | - Yu-Dong Cai
- School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China.
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Molecular pathogenesis of peripheral neuropathies: insights from Drosophila models. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2017; 44:61-73. [PMID: 28213160 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2017.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2016] [Revised: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 01/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Peripheral neuropathies are characterized by degeneration of peripheral motor, sensory and/or autonomic axons, leading to progressive distal muscle weakness, sensory deficits and/or autonomic dysfunction. Acquired peripheral neuropathies, e.g., as a side effect of chemotherapy, are distinguished from inherited peripheral neuropathies (IPNs). Drosophila models for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and several IPNs have provided novel insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying axonal degeneration. Forward genetic screens have predictive value for discovery of human IPN genes, and the pathogenicity of novel mutations in known IPN genes can be evaluated in Drosophila. Future screens for genes and compounds that modify Drosophila IPN phenotypes promise to make valuable contributions to unraveling the molecular pathogenesis and identification of therapeutic targets for these incurable diseases.
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Oprescu SN, Griffin LB, Beg AA, Antonellis A. Predicting the pathogenicity of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase mutations. Methods 2016; 113:139-151. [PMID: 27876679 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2016.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2016] [Revised: 11/12/2016] [Accepted: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) are ubiquitously expressed, essential enzymes responsible for charging tRNA with cognate amino acids-the first step in protein synthesis. ARSs are required for protein translation in the cytoplasm and mitochondria of all cells. Surprisingly, mutations in 28 of the 37 nuclear-encoded human ARS genes have been linked to a variety of recessive and dominant tissue-specific disorders. Current data indicate that impaired enzyme function is a robust predictor of the pathogenicity of ARS mutations. However, experimental model systems that distinguish between pathogenic and non-pathogenic ARS variants are required for implicating newly identified ARS mutations in disease. Here, we outline strategies to assist in predicting the pathogenicity of ARS variants and urge cautious evaluation of genetic and functional data prior to linking an ARS mutation to a human disease phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie N Oprescu
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Laurie B Griffin
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; Medical Scientist Training Program, and University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Asim A Beg
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Anthony Antonellis
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
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9
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Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) ligate amino acids to their cognate tRNAs, allowing them to decode the triplet code during translation. Through different mechanisms aaRSs also perform several non-canonical functions in transcription, translation, apoptosis, angiogenesis and inflammation. Drosophila has become a preferred system to model human diseases caused by mutations in aaRS genes, to dissect effects of reduced translation or non-canonical activities, and to study aminoacylation and translational fidelity. However, the lack of a systematic annotation of this gene family has hampered such studies. Here, we report the identification of the entire set of aaRS genes in the fly genome and we predict their roles based on experimental evidence and/or orthology. Further, we propose a new, systematic and logical nomenclature for aaRSs. We also review the research conducted on Drosophila aaRSs to date. Together, our work provides the foundation for further research in the fly aaRS field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiongming Lu
- a Institute of Cell Biology; University of Bern ; Bern , Switzerland
| | - Steven J Marygold
- b FlyBase; Department of Genetics; University of Cambridge ; Cambridge , UK
| | - Walid H Gharib
- c Interfaculty Bioinformatics Unit; University of Bern ; Bern , Switzerland
| | - Beat Suter
- a Institute of Cell Biology; University of Bern ; Bern , Switzerland
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López Del Amo V, Seco-Cervera M, García-Giménez JL, Whitworth AJ, Pallardó FV, Galindo MI. Mitochondrial defects and neuromuscular degeneration caused by altered expression of Drosophila Gdap1: implications for the Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy. Hum Mol Genet 2014; 24:21-36. [PMID: 25122658 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddu416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the genes involved in Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, an inherited peripheral neuropathy, is GDAP1. In this work, we show that there is a true ortholog of this gene in Drosophila, which we have named Gdap1. By up- and down-regulation of Gdap1 in a tissue-specific manner, we show that altering its levels of expression produces changes in mitochondrial size, morphology and distribution, and neuronal and muscular degeneration. Interestingly, muscular degeneration is tissue-autonomous and not dependent on innervation. Metabolic analyses of our experimental genotypes suggest that alterations in oxidative stress are not a primary cause of the neuromuscular degeneration but a long-term consequence of the underlying mitochondrial dysfunction. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the role of mitochondria in CMT disease and pave the way to generate clinically relevant disease models to study the relationship between mitochondrial dynamics and peripheral neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Víctor López Del Amo
- Program of Rare and Genetic Diseases, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, Valencia, Spain Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain
| | - Marta Seco-Cervera
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain Department of Physiology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Universitat de València, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Valencia, Spain and
| | - José Luís García-Giménez
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain Department of Physiology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Universitat de València, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Valencia, Spain and
| | | | - Federico V Pallardó
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain Department of Physiology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Universitat de València, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Valencia, Spain and
| | - Máximo Ibo Galindo
- Program of Rare and Genetic Diseases, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, Valencia, Spain Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain
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