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Shiramasa Y, Yamamoto R, Kashiwagi N, Sasaki F, Imai S, Ike M, Kitazawa S, Kameda T, Kitahara R. An aberrant fused in sarcoma liquid droplet of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis pathological variant, R495X, accelerates liquid-solid phase transition. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8914. [PMID: 38632300 PMCID: PMC11024109 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59604-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Intracellular aggregation of fused in sarcoma (FUS) is associated with the pathogenesis of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Under stress, FUS forms liquid droplets via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). Two types of wild-type FUS LLPS exist in equilibrium: low-pressure LLPS (LP-LLPS) and high-pressure LLPS (HP-LLPS); the former dominates below 2 kbar and the latter over 2 kbar. Although several disease-type FUS variants have been identified, the molecular mechanism underlying accelerated cytoplasmic granule formation in ALS patients remains poorly understood. Herein, we report the reversible formation of the two LLPS states and the irreversible liquid-solid transition, namely droplet aging, of the ALS patient-type FUS variant R495X using fluorescence microscopy and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy combined with perturbations in pressure and temperature. Liquid-to-solid phase transition was accelerated in the HP-LLPS of R495X than in the wild-type variant; arginine slowed the aging of droplets at atmospheric conditions by inhibiting the formation of HP-LLPS more selectively compared to that of LP-LLPS. Our findings provide new insight into the mechanism by which R495X readily forms cytoplasmic aggregates. Targeting the aberrantly formed liquid droplets (the HP-LLPS state) of proteins with minimal impact on physiological functions could be a novel therapeutic strategy for LLPS-mediated protein diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutaro Shiramasa
- Graduate School of Pharmacy, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
| | - Ryu Yamamoto
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
| | - Norika Kashiwagi
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
| | - Fuka Sasaki
- Graduate School of Pharmacy, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
| | - Sawaka Imai
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
| | - Mikihito Ike
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
| | - Soichiro Kitazawa
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
| | - Tomoshi Kameda
- Artificial Intelligence Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 2-3-26, Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo, 135-0064, Japan
| | - Ryo Kitahara
- Graduate School of Pharmacy, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan.
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan.
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Xiao X, Li M, Ye Z, He X, Wei J, Zha Y. FUS gene mutation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a new case report and systematic review. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2024; 25:1-15. [PMID: 37926865 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2023.2272170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease associated with upper and lower motor neuron degeneration and necrosis, characterized by progressive muscle weakness, atrophy, and paralysis. The FUS mutation-associated ALS has been classified as ALS6. We reported a case of ALS6 with de novo mutation and investigated retrospectively the characteristics of cases with FUS mutation. METHODS We reported a male patient with a new heterozygous variant of the FUS gene and comprehensively reviewed 173 ALS cases with FUS mutation. The literature was reviewed from the PubMed MEDLINE electronic database (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed) using "Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Fus mutation" or "Fus mutation" as key words from 1 January 2009 to 1 January 2022. RESULTS We report a case of ALS6 with a new mutation point (c.1225-1227delGGA) and comprehensively review 173 ALS cases with FUS mutation. Though ALS6 is all with FUS mutation, it is still a highly heterogenous subtype. The average onset age of ALS6 is 35.2 ± 1.3 years, which is much lower than the average onset age of ALS (60 years old). Juvenile FUS mutations have an aggressive progression of disease, with an average time from onset to death or tracheostomy of 18.2 ± 0.5 months. FUS gene has the characteristics of early onset, faster progress, and shorter survival, especially in deletion mutation p.G504Wfs *12 and missense mutation of p.P525L. CONCLUSIONS ALS6 is a highly heterogenous subtype. Our study could allow clinicians to better understand the non-ALS typical symptoms, phenotypes, and pathophysiology of ALS6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Xiao
- Department of Neurology, Yichang Central Hospital, Institute of Neural Regeneration and Repair, College of Basic Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China and
| | - Min Li
- Department of Neurology, Yichang Central Hospital, Institute of Neural Regeneration and Repair, College of Basic Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China and
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China
| | - Zhi Ye
- Department of Neurology, Yichang Central Hospital, Institute of Neural Regeneration and Repair, College of Basic Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China and
| | - Xiaoyan He
- Department of Neurology, Yichang Central Hospital, Institute of Neural Regeneration and Repair, College of Basic Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China and
| | - Jun Wei
- Department of Neurology, Yichang Central Hospital, Institute of Neural Regeneration and Repair, College of Basic Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China and
| | - Yunhong Zha
- Department of Neurology, Yichang Central Hospital, Institute of Neural Regeneration and Repair, College of Basic Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China and
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Genin EC, Abou-Ali M, Paquis-Flucklinger V. Mitochondria, a Key Target in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Pathogenesis. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1981. [PMID: 38002924 PMCID: PMC10671245 DOI: 10.3390/genes14111981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial dysfunction occurs in numerous neurodegenerative diseases, particularly amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), where it contributes to motor neuron (MN) death. Of all the factors involved in ALS, mitochondria have been considered as a major player, as secondary mitochondrial dysfunction has been found in various models and patients. Abnormal mitochondrial morphology, defects in mitochondrial dynamics, altered activities of respiratory chain enzymes and increased production of reactive oxygen species have been described. Moreover, the identification of CHCHD10 variants in ALS patients was the first genetic evidence that a mitochondrial defect may be a primary cause of MN damage and directly links mitochondrial dysfunction to the pathogenesis of ALS. In this review, we focus on the role of mitochondria in ALS and highlight the pathogenic variants of ALS genes associated with impaired mitochondrial functions. The multiple pathways demonstrated in ALS pathogenesis suggest that all converge to a common endpoint leading to MN loss. This may explain the disappointing results obtained with treatments targeting a single pathological process. Fighting against mitochondrial dysfunction appears to be a promising avenue for developing combined therapies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuelle C. Genin
- Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging, Nice (IRCAN), Université Côte d’Azur, Inserm U1081, CNRS UMR7284, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Nice, 06200 Nice, France; (M.A.-A.); (V.P.-F.)
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Gianferrari G, Martinelli I, Simonini C, Zucchi E, Fini N, Caputo M, Ghezzi A, Gessani A, Canali E, Casmiro M, De Massis P, Curro' Dossi M, De Pasqua S, Liguori R, Longoni M, Medici D, Morresi S, Patuelli A, Pugliatti M, Santangelo M, Sette E, Stragliati F, Terlizzi E, Vacchiano V, Zinno L, Ferro S, Amedei A, Filippini T, Vinceti M, Mandrioli J. Insight into Elderly ALS Patients in the Emilia Romagna Region: Epidemiological and Clinical Features of Late-Onset ALS in a Prospective, Population-Based Study. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13040942. [PMID: 37109471 PMCID: PMC10144747 DOI: 10.3390/life13040942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Few studies have focused on elderly (>80 years) amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients, who represent a fragile subgroup generally not included in clinical trials and often neglected because they are more difficult to diagnose and manage. We analyzed the clinical and genetic features of very late-onset ALS patients through a prospective, population-based study in the Emilia Romagna Region of Italy. From 2009 to 2019, 222 (13.76%) out of 1613 patients in incident cases were over 80 years old at diagnosis, with a female predominance (F:M = 1.18). Elderly ALS patients represented 12.02% of patients before 2015 and 15.91% from 2015 onwards (p = 0.024). This group presented with bulbar onset in 38.29% of cases and had worse clinical conditions at diagnosis compared to younger patients, with a lower average BMI (23.12 vs. 24.57 Kg/m2), a higher progression rate (1.43 vs. 0.95 points/month), and a shorter length of survival (a median of 20.77 vs. 36 months). For this subgroup, genetic analyses have seldom been carried out (25% vs. 39.11%) and are generally negative. Finally, elderly patients underwent less frequent nutritional- and respiratory-supporting procedures, and multidisciplinary teams were less involved at follow-up, except for specialist palliative care. The genotypic and phenotypic features of elderly ALS patients could help identify the different environmental and genetic risk factors that determine the age at which disease onset occurs. Since multidisciplinary management can improve a patient's prognosis, it should be more extensively applied to this fragile group of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Gianferrari
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Ilaria Martinelli
- Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Modena, 41124 Modena, Italy
- Clinical and Experimental Medicine Ph.D. Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Cecilia Simonini
- Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Modena, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Zucchi
- Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Modena, 41124 Modena, Italy
- Neuroscience Ph.D. Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Nicola Fini
- Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Modena, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Maria Caputo
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Andrea Ghezzi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Annalisa Gessani
- Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Modena, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Elena Canali
- Department of Neurology, IRCCS Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, 42123 Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Mario Casmiro
- Department of Neurology, Faenza and Ravenna Hospital, 48100 Ravenna, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Rocco Liguori
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, UOC Clinica Neurologica, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Longoni
- Department of Neurology, Infermi Hospital, 48018 Rimini, Italy
- Department of Neurology, Bufalini Hospital, 47521 Cesena, Italy
| | - Doriana Medici
- Department of Neurology, Fidenza Hospital, 43036 Parma, Italy
| | | | | | - Maura Pugliatti
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Department of Neurology, St. Anna Hospital, 44124 Ferrara, Italy
| | | | - Elisabetta Sette
- Department of Neurology, St. Anna Hospital, 44124 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Filippo Stragliati
- Department of General and Specialized Medicine, University Hospital of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Emilio Terlizzi
- Department of Neurology, G. Da Saliceto Hospital, 29121 Piacenza, Italy
| | - Veria Vacchiano
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, UOC Clinica Neurologica, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Lucia Zinno
- Department of General and Specialized Medicine, University Hospital of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Salvatore Ferro
- Department of Hospital Services, Emilia Romagna Regional Health Authority, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Amedeo Amedei
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Tommaso Filippini
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Research Centre in Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology-CREAGEN, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA
| | - Marco Vinceti
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Research Centre in Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology-CREAGEN, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Jessica Mandrioli
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Modena, 41124 Modena, Italy
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Wang P, Wei Q, Li H, Wu ZY. Clinical feature difference between juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with SPTLC1 and FUS mutations. Chin Med J (Engl) 2023; 136:176-183. [PMID: 36801857 PMCID: PMC10106144 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000002495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (JALS) is an uncommon form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis whose age at onset (AAO) is defined as prior to 25 years. FUS mutations are the most common cause of JALS. SPTLC1 was recently identified as a disease-causative gene for JALS, which has rarely been reported in Asian populations. Little is known regarding the difference in clinical features between JALS patients carrying FUS and SPTLC1 mutations. This study aimed to screen mutations in JALS patients and to compare the clinical features between JALS patients with FUS and SPTLC1 mutations. METHODS Sixteen JALS patients were enrolled, including three newly recruited patients between July 2015 and August 2018 from the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine. Mutations were screened by whole-exome sequencing. In addition, clinical features such as AAO, onset site and disease duration were extracted and compared between JALS patients carrying FUS and SPTLC1 mutations through a literature review. RESULTS A novel and de novo SPTLC1 mutation (c.58G>A, p.A20T) was identified in a sporadic patient. Among 16 JALS patients, 7/16 carried FUS mutations and 5/16 carried respective SPTLC1 , SETX , NEFH , DCTN1 , and TARDBP mutations. Compared with FUS mutation patients, those with SPTLC1 mutations had an earlier AAO (7.9 ± 4.6 years vs. 18.1 ± 3.9 years, P < 0.01), much longer disease duration (512.0 [416.7-607.3] months vs. 33.4 [21.6-45.1] months, P < 0.01), and no onset of bulbar. CONCLUSION Our findings expand the genetic and phenotypic spectrum of JALS and help to better understand the genotype-phenotype correlation of JALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peishan Wang
- Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China
- Department of Medical Genetics, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China
| | - Qiao Wei
- Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China
- Department of Medical Genetics, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China
| | - Hongfu Li
- Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China
- Department of Medical Genetics, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China
| | - Zhi-Ying Wu
- Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China
- Department of Medical Genetics, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China
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Gene Therapy in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Cells 2022; 11:cells11132066. [PMID: 35805149 PMCID: PMC9265980 DOI: 10.3390/cells11132066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the discovery of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene mutation, in 1993, as the first genetic abnormality in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), over 50 genes have been identified as either cause or modifier in ALS and ALS/frontotemporal dementia (FTD) spectrum disease. Mutations in C9orf72, SOD1, TAR DNA binding protein 43 (TARDBP), and fused in sarcoma (FUS) genes are the four most common ones. During the last three decades, tremendous effort has been made worldwide to reveal biological pathways underlying the pathogenesis of these gene mutations in ALS/FTD. Accordingly, targeting etiologic genes (i.e., gene therapies) to suppress their toxic effects have been investigated widely. It includes four major strategies: (i) removal or inhibition of abnormal transcribed RNA using microRNA or antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), (ii) degradation of abnormal mRNA using RNA interference (RNAi), (iii) decrease or inhibition of mutant proteins (e.g., using antibodies against misfolded proteins), and (iv) DNA genome editing with methods such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (CRISPR/Cas). The promising results of these studies have led to the application of some of these strategies into ALS clinical trials, especially for C9orf72 and SOD1. In this paper, we will overview advances in gene therapy in ALS/FTD, focusing on C9orf72, SOD1, TARDBP, and FUS genes.
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7
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Ilaria M, Elisabetta Z, Viviana P, Cinzia G, Bryan J T, Giulia G, Adriano C, Jessica M. G507D mutation in FUS gene causes familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with a specific genotype-phenotype correlation. Neurobiol Aging 2022; 118:124-128. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2022.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Müller K, Oh KW, Nordin A, Panthi S, Kim SH, Nordin F, Freischmidt A, Ludolph AC, Ki CS, Forsberg K, Weishaupt J, Kim YE, Andersen PM. De novo mutations in SOD1 are a cause of ALS. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2022; 93:201-206. [PMID: 34518333 PMCID: PMC8784989 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2021-327520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The only identified cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are mutations in a number of genes found in familial cases but also in sporadic cases. De novo mutations occurring in a parental gonadal cell, in the zygote or postzygotic during embryonal development can result in an apparently sporadic/isolated case of ALS later in life. We searched for de novo mutations in SOD1 as a cause of ALS. METHODS We analysed peripheral-blood exome, genome and Sanger sequencing to identify deleterious mutations in SOD1 in 4000 ALS patients from Germany, South Korea and Sweden. Parental kinship was confirmed using highly polymorphic microsatellite markers across the genome. Medical genealogical and clinical data were reviewed and compared with the literature. RESULTS We identified four sporadic ALS cases with de novo mutations in SOD1. They aggregate in hot-spot codons earlier found mutated in familial cases. Their phenotypes match closely what has earlier been reported in familial cases with pathogenic mutations in SOD1. We also encountered familial cases where de novo mutational events in recent generations may have been involved. CONCLUSIONS De novo mutations are a cause of sporadic ALS and may also be underpinning smaller families with few affected ALS cases. It was not possible to ascertain if the origin of the de novo mutations was parental germline, zygotic or postzygotic during embryonal development. All ALS patients should be offered genetic counselling and genetic screening, the challenges of variant interpretation do not outweigh the potential benefits including earlier confirmed diagnosis and possible bespoken therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ki-Wook Oh
- Department of Neurology, Hanyang University Seoul Hospital, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Cell Therapy Center, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Angelica Nordin
- Clinical Science, Neurosciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Sudhan Panthi
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Seung Hyun Kim
- Department of Neurology, Hanyang University Seoul Hospital, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Cell Therapy Center, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Frida Nordin
- Clinical Science, Neurosciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | | | | | - Chang Seok Ki
- Genome Research Centre, GC Genome, Yongin, Republic of Korea
| | - Karin Forsberg
- Clinical Science, Neurosciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Medical Biosciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Jochen Weishaupt
- Department for Neurodegeneration, Universitätsmedizin Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Young-Eun Kim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Wild-type FUS corrects ALS-like disease induced by cytoplasmic mutant FUS through autoregulation. Mol Neurodegener 2021; 16:61. [PMID: 34488813 PMCID: PMC8419956 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-021-00477-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in FUS, an RNA-binding protein involved in multiple steps of RNA metabolism, are associated with the most severe forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Accumulation of cytoplasmic FUS is likely to be a major culprit in the toxicity of FUS mutations. Thus, preventing cytoplasmic mislocalization of the FUS protein may represent a valuable therapeutic strategy. FUS binds to its own pre-mRNA creating an autoregulatory loop efficiently buffering FUS excess through multiple proposed mechanisms including retention of introns 6 and/or 7. Here, we introduced a wild-type FUS gene allele, retaining all intronic sequences, in mice whose heterozygous or homozygous expression of a cytoplasmically retained FUS protein (Fus∆NLS) was previously shown to provoke ALS-like disease or postnatal lethality, respectively. Wild-type FUS completely rescued the early lethality caused by the two Fus∆NLS alleles, and improved the age-dependent motor deficits and reduced lifespan caused by heterozygous expression of mutant FUS∆NLS. Mechanistically, wild-type FUS decreased the load of cytoplasmic FUS, increased retention of introns 6 and 7 in the endogenous mouse Fus mRNA, and decreased expression of the mutant mRNA. Thus, the wild-type FUS allele activates the homeostatic autoregulatory loop, maintaining constant FUS levels and decreasing the mutant protein in the cytoplasm. These results provide proof of concept that an autoregulatory competent wild-type FUS expression could protect against this devastating, currently intractable, neurodegenerative disease.
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Fortuna TR, Kour S, Anderson EN, Ward C, Rajasundaram D, Donnelly CJ, Hermann A, Wyne H, Shewmaker F, Pandey UB. DDX17 is involved in DNA damage repair and modifies FUS toxicity in an RGG-domain dependent manner. Acta Neuropathol 2021; 142:515-536. [PMID: 34061233 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-021-02333-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in the RNA binding protein, Fused in Sarcoma (FUS), lead to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the most frequent form of motor neuron disease. Cytoplasmic aggregation and defective DNA repair machinery are etiologically linked to mutant FUS-associated ALS. Although FUS is involved in numerous aspects of RNA processing, little is understood about the pathophysiological mechanisms of mutant FUS. Here, we employed RNA-sequencing technology in Drosophila brains expressing FUS to identify significantly altered genes and pathways involved in FUS-mediated neurodegeneration. We observed the expression levels of DEAD-Box Helicase 17 (DDX17) to be significantly downregulated in response to mutant FUS in Drosophila and human cell lines. Mutant FUS recruits nuclear DDX17 into cytoplasmic stress granules and physically interacts with DDX17 through the RGG1 domain of FUS. Ectopic expression of DDX17 reduces cytoplasmic mislocalization and sequestration of mutant FUS into cytoplasmic stress granules. We identified DDX17 as a novel regulator of the DNA damage response pathway whose upregulation repairs defective DNA damage repair machinery caused by mutant neuronal FUS ALS. In addition, we show DDX17 is a novel modifier of FUS-mediated neurodegeneration in vivo. Our findings indicate DDX17 is downregulated in response to mutant FUS, and restoration of DDX17 levels suppresses FUS-mediated neuropathogenesis and toxicity in vivo.
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Identification of a novel interaction of FUS and syntaphilin may explain synaptic and mitochondrial abnormalities caused by ALS mutations. Sci Rep 2021; 11:13613. [PMID: 34193962 PMCID: PMC8245466 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93189-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrantly expressed fused in sarcoma (FUS) is a hallmark of FUS-related amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Wildtype FUS localises to synapses and interacts with mitochondrial proteins while mutations have been shown to cause to pathological changes affecting mitochondria, synapses and the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). This indicates a crucial physiological role for FUS in regulating synaptic and mitochondrial function that is currently poorly understood. In this paper we provide evidence that mislocalised cytoplasmic FUS causes mitochondrial and synaptic changes and that FUS plays a vital role in maintaining neuronal health in vitro and in vivo. Overexpressing mutant FUS altered synaptic numbers and neuronal complexity in both primary neurons and zebrafish models. The degree to which FUS was mislocalised led to differences in the synaptic changes which was mirrored by changes in mitochondrial numbers and transport. Furthermore, we showed that FUS co-localises with the mitochondrial tethering protein Syntaphilin (SNPH), and that mutations in FUS affect this relationship. Finally, we demonstrated mutant FUS led to changes in global protein translation. This localisation between FUS and SNPH could explain the synaptic and mitochondrial defects observed leading to global protein translation defects. Importantly, our results support the ‘gain-of-function’ hypothesis for disease pathogenesis in FUS-related ALS.
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12
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Scekic-Zahirovic J, Sanjuan-Ruiz I, Kan V, Megat S, De Rossi P, Dieterlé S, Cassel R, Jamet M, Kessler P, Wiesner D, Tzeplaeff L, Demais V, Sahadevan S, Hembach KM, Muller HP, Picchiarelli G, Mishra N, Antonucci S, Dirrig-Grosch S, Kassubek J, Rasche V, Ludolph A, Boutillier AL, Roselli F, Polymenidou M, Lagier-Tourenne C, Liebscher S, Dupuis L. Cytoplasmic FUS triggers early behavioral alterations linked to cortical neuronal hyperactivity and inhibitory synaptic defects. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3028. [PMID: 34021132 PMCID: PMC8140148 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23187-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene mutations causing cytoplasmic mislocalization of the RNA-binding protein FUS lead to severe forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Cytoplasmic accumulation of FUS is also observed in other diseases, with unknown consequences. Here, we show that cytoplasmic mislocalization of FUS drives behavioral abnormalities in knock-in mice, including locomotor hyperactivity and alterations in social interactions, in the absence of widespread neuronal loss. Mechanistically, we identified a progressive increase in neuronal activity in the frontal cortex of Fus knock-in mice in vivo, associated with altered synaptic gene expression. Synaptic ultrastructural and morphological defects were more pronounced in inhibitory than excitatory synapses and associated with increased synaptosomal levels of FUS and its RNA targets. Thus, cytoplasmic FUS triggers synaptic deficits, which is leading to increased neuronal activity in frontal cortex and causing related behavioral phenotypes. These results indicate that FUS mislocalization may trigger deleterious phenotypes beyond motor neuron impairment in ALS, likely relevant also for other neurodegenerative diseases characterized by FUS mislocalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Scekic-Zahirovic
- Université de Strasbourg, Inserm, Mécanismes centraux et périphériques de la neurodégénérescence, Strasbourg, France
| | - Inmaculada Sanjuan-Ruiz
- Université de Strasbourg, Inserm, Mécanismes centraux et périphériques de la neurodégénérescence, Strasbourg, France
| | - Vanessa Kan
- Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
- BioMedical Center, Medical Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Salim Megat
- Université de Strasbourg, Inserm, Mécanismes centraux et périphériques de la neurodégénérescence, Strasbourg, France
| | - Pierre De Rossi
- Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Stéphane Dieterlé
- Université de Strasbourg, Inserm, Mécanismes centraux et périphériques de la neurodégénérescence, Strasbourg, France
| | - Raphaelle Cassel
- Université de Strasbourg, Inserm, Mécanismes centraux et périphériques de la neurodégénérescence, Strasbourg, France
- Université de Strasbourg, UMR 7364 CNRS, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), Strasbourg, France
| | - Marguerite Jamet
- Université de Strasbourg, Inserm, Mécanismes centraux et périphériques de la neurodégénérescence, Strasbourg, France
| | - Pascal Kessler
- Université de Strasbourg, Inserm, Unité mixte de service du CRBS, UMS 038, Strasbourg, France
| | - Diana Wiesner
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Ulm, Germany
| | - Laura Tzeplaeff
- Université de Strasbourg, UMR 7364 CNRS, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), Strasbourg, France
| | - Valérie Demais
- Plateforme Imagerie In Vitro, CNRS UPS-3156, NeuroPôle, Strasbourg, France
| | - Sonu Sahadevan
- Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Katharina M Hembach
- Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Gina Picchiarelli
- Université de Strasbourg, Inserm, Mécanismes centraux et périphériques de la neurodégénérescence, Strasbourg, France
| | - Nibha Mishra
- Department of Neurology, The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard University and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Stefano Antonucci
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Ulm, Germany
| | - Sylvie Dirrig-Grosch
- Université de Strasbourg, Inserm, Mécanismes centraux et périphériques de la neurodégénérescence, Strasbourg, France
| | - Jan Kassubek
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Volker Rasche
- Ulm University Medical Center, Department of Internal Medicine II, Ulm, Germany
| | - Albert Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Ulm, Germany
| | - Anne-Laurence Boutillier
- Université de Strasbourg, UMR 7364 CNRS, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives (LNCA), Strasbourg, France
| | - Francesco Roselli
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Clotilde Lagier-Tourenne
- Department of Neurology, The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard University and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Sabine Liebscher
- Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany.
- BioMedical Center, Medical Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany.
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany.
| | - Luc Dupuis
- Université de Strasbourg, Inserm, Mécanismes centraux et périphériques de la neurodégénérescence, Strasbourg, France.
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13
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Amador MDM, Muratet F, Teyssou E, Boillée S, Millecamps S. New advances in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis genetics: Towards gene therapy opportunities for familial and young cases. Rev Neurol (Paris) 2021; 177:524-535. [PMID: 33810837 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2021.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Due to novel gene therapy opportunities, genetic screening is no longer restricted to familial cases of ALS (FALS) cases but also aplies to the sporadic populations (SALS). Screening of four main genes (C9orf72, SOD1, TARDBP and FUS) identified the causes in 15% of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) patients (two third of the familial cases and 8% of the sporadic ones) but their respective contribution to ALS phenotype varies according the age of disease onset. The genetic overlap between ALS and other diseases is expanding and includes frontotemporal dementia, Paget's Disease of Bone, myopathy for adult cases, HSP and CMT for young cases highlighing the importance of retrieving the exhaustive familial history for each indivdual with ALS. Incomplete disease penetrance, diversity of the possible phenotypes, as well as the lack of confidence concerning the pathogenicity of most identified variants and/or possible oligogenic inheritance are burdens of ALS genetic counseling to be delivered to patients and at risk individuals. The multitude of rare ALS genetic causes identifed seems to converge to similar cellular pathways leading to inapropriate response to stress emphacising new potential therapeutic options for the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- M-D-M Amador
- Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, Inserm U1127, CNRS UMR7225, Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ Paris 6 UMRS1127, 75013 Paris, France; Département de Neurologie, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris (APHP), Centre de référence SLA Île de France, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, 75013 Paris, France.
| | - F Muratet
- Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, Inserm U1127, CNRS UMR7225, Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ Paris 6 UMRS1127, 75013 Paris, France.
| | - E Teyssou
- Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, Inserm U1127, CNRS UMR7225, Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ Paris 6 UMRS1127, 75013 Paris, France.
| | - S Boillée
- Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, Inserm U1127, CNRS UMR7225, Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ Paris 6 UMRS1127, 75013 Paris, France.
| | - S Millecamps
- Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, Inserm U1127, CNRS UMR7225, Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ Paris 6 UMRS1127, 75013 Paris, France.
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14
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Leandro GS, Dourado Júnior MET, Santana GC, Dantas LSX. Coping strategies among amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients: an integrative review. J Neurol 2021; 269:693-702. [PMID: 33783642 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-021-10472-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To identify coping strategies used by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. METHODS Integrative literature review using the Virtual Health Library, MEDLINE, and ScienceDirect databases. RESULTS Eighteen studies were included. "Seeking social support" was the main coping strategy, while "Confrontive coping" and "Distancing" were the least mentioned. CONCLUSION The coping strategies used by ALS patients do not seem to focus on emotions or stress-triggering problems. Age and gender did not modify the chosen strategy.
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15
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Broce IJ, Castruita PA, Yokoyama JS. Moving Toward Patient-Tailored Treatment in ALS and FTD: The Potential of Genomic Assessment as a Tool for Biological Discovery and Trial Recruitment. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:639078. [PMID: 33732107 PMCID: PMC7956998 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.639078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are two devastating and intertwined neurodegenerative diseases. Historically, ALS and FTD were considered distinct disorders given differences in presenting clinical symptoms, disease duration, and predicted risk of developing each disease. However, research over recent years has highlighted the considerable clinical, pathological, and genetic overlap of ALS and FTD, and these two syndromes are now thought to represent different manifestations of the same neuropathological disease spectrum. In this review, we discuss the need to shift our focus from studying ALS and FTD in isolation to identifying the biological mechanisms that drive these diseases-both common and distinct-to improve treatment discovery and therapeutic development success. We also emphasize the importance of genomic data to facilitate a "precision medicine" approach for treating ALS and FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris J. Broce
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Patricia A. Castruita
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Jennifer S. Yokoyama
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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16
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Kawahara D, Suzuki T, Nakaya T. Cytoplasmic granule formation by FUS-R495X is attributable to arginine methylation in all Gly-rich, RGG1 and RGG2 domains. Genes Cells 2021; 26:190-197. [PMID: 33411976 DOI: 10.1111/gtc.12827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Many mutations in the fused in sarcoma (FUS) gene have been identified as genetic causative factors of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). As a certain number of mutants form aberrant cytoplasmic granules under specific conditions, granule forming ability of FUS is believed to be linked to the pathogenesis of ALS. However, molecular mechanisms underlying this property remain unclear. An ALS-linked FUS mutant, R495X, shows extensive cytoplasmic localization and forms granules in neurons. In the present study, using R495X domain deletion constructs, we showed that deletion of any of Gly-rich, RGG1 or RGG2 significantly suppressed granule formation. Furthermore, when neurons expressing EGFP-R495X were treated with an arginine methylation inhibitor, the number of cells displaying R495X granules was significantly reduced. When FLAG-tagged arginine N-methyltransferase 8 (PRMT8) was co-expressed with EGFP-R495X to facilitate its methylation, the number of cells with granules was significantly increased. Collectively, these findings suggest that cytoplasmic granule formation by R495X is attributable to the arginine methylation in all Gly-rich, RGG1 and RGG2 domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiki Kawahara
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Toshiharu Suzuki
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Tadashi Nakaya
- School of Pharmacy at Fukuoka, International University of Health and Welfare, Fukuoka, Japan
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17
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Pathogenic Genome Signatures That Damage Motor Neurons in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Cells 2020; 9:cells9122687. [PMID: 33333804 PMCID: PMC7765192 DOI: 10.3390/cells9122687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most frequent motor neuron disease and a neurodegenerative disorder, affecting the upper and/or lower motor neurons. Notably, it invariably leads to death within a few years of onset. Although most ALS cases are sporadic, familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS) forms 10% of the cases. In 1993, the first causative gene (SOD1) of fALS was identified. With rapid advances in genetics, over fifty potentially causative or disease-modifying genes have been found in ALS so far. Accordingly, routine diagnostic tests should encompass the oldest and most frequently mutated ALS genes as well as several new important genetic variants in ALS. Herein, we discuss current literatures on the four newly identified ALS-associated genes (CYLD, S1R, GLT8D1, and KIF5A) and the previously well-known ALS genes including SOD1, TARDBP, FUS, and C9orf72. Moreover, we review the pathogenic implications and disease mechanisms of these genes. Elucidation of the cellular and molecular functions of the mutated genes will bring substantial insights for the development of therapeutic approaches to treat ALS.
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18
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A Systematic Review of Genotype-Phenotype Correlation across Cohorts Having Causal Mutations of Different Genes in ALS. J Pers Med 2020; 10:jpm10030058. [PMID: 32610599 PMCID: PMC7564886 DOI: 10.3390/jpm10030058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disease characterised by progressive deterioration of upper and lower motor neurons that eventually culminates in severe muscle atrophy, respiratory failure and death. There is a concerning lack of understanding regarding the mechanisms that lead to the onset of ALS and as a result there are no reliable biomarkers that aid in the early detection of the disease nor is there an effective treatment. This review first considers the clinical phenotypes associated with ALS, and discusses the broad categorisation of ALS and ALS-mimic diseases into upper and lower motor neuron diseases, before focusing on the genetic aetiology of ALS and considering the potential relationship of mutations of different genes to variations in phenotype. For this purpose, a systematic review is conducted collating data from 107 original published clinical studies on monogenic forms of the disease, surveying the age and site of onset, disease duration and motor neuron involvement. The collected data highlight the complexity of the disease's genotype-phenotype relationship, and thus the need for a nuanced approach to the development of clinical assays and therapeutics.
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19
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An H, Rabesahala de Meritens C, Buchman VL, Shelkovnikova TA. Frameshift peptides alter the properties of truncated FUS proteins in ALS-FUS. Mol Brain 2020; 13:77. [PMID: 32404191 PMCID: PMC7222445 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-020-00618-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the FUS gene cause a subset of ALS cases (ALS-FUS). The majority of FUS mutations are missense mutations affecting the nuclear localisation signal (NLS) of FUS. In addition, a number of frameshift mutations which result in complete NLS deletion have been described. Patients bearing frameshift mutations usually present with more aggressive disease, characterised by an early onset and rapid progression. Both missense mutations in the NLS coding sequence and complete loss of the NLS are known to result in cytoplasmic mislocalisation of FUS protein. However, in addition to the removal of FUS functional domains, frameshift mutations in most cases lead to the attachment of a "tail" of novel amino acids at the FUS C-terminus - a frameshift peptide. It is not clear whether these peptide tails would affect the properties of truncated FUS proteins. In the current study, we compared intracellular behaviour of disease-associated truncated FUS proteins with and without the corresponding frameshift peptides. We demonstrate that some of these peptides can affect subcellular distribution and/or increase aggregation capacity and stability of the truncated FUS protein. Our study suggests that frameshift peptides can alter the properties of truncated FUS variants which may modulate FUS pathogenicity and contribute to the variability of the disease course in ALS-FUS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan An
- Medicines Discovery Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK.,Biomedicine Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
| | | | - Vladimir L Buchman
- Biomedicine Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Tatyana A Shelkovnikova
- Medicines Discovery Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK. .,Biomedicine Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK.
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20
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Bourefis AR, Campanari ML, Buee-Scherrer V, Kabashi E. Functional characterization of a FUS mutant zebrafish line as a novel genetic model for ALS. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 142:104935. [PMID: 32380281 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.104935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in Fused in sarcoma (FUS), an RNA-binding protein, are known to cause Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). However, molecular mechanisms due to loss of FUS function remain unclear and controversial. Here, we report the characterization and phenotypic analysis of a deletion mutant of the unique FUS orthologue in zebrafish where Fus protein levels are depleted. The homozygous mutants displayed a reduced lifespan as well as impaired motor abilities associated with specific cellular deficits, including decreased motor neurons length and neuromuscular junctions (NMJ) fragmentation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that these cellular impairments are linked to the misregulation of mRNA expression of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) subunits and histone deacetylase 4, markers of denervation and reinnervation processes observed in ALS patients. In addition, fus loss of function alters tau transcripts favoring the expression of small tau isoforms. Overall, this new animal model extends our knowledge on FUS and supports the relevance of FUS loss of function in ALS physiopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annis-Rayan Bourefis
- Imagine Institute, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) Unité 1163, Paris Descartes Université, 75015 Paris, France; Sorbonne Université, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC), Université de Paris 06, INSERM Unité 1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Unité Mixte de Recherche 7225 Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Épinière (ICM), 75013 Paris, France
| | - Maria-Letizia Campanari
- Imagine Institute, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) Unité 1163, Paris Descartes Université, 75015 Paris, France; Sorbonne Université, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC), Université de Paris 06, INSERM Unité 1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Unité Mixte de Recherche 7225 Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Épinière (ICM), 75013 Paris, France
| | | | - Edor Kabashi
- Imagine Institute, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) Unité 1163, Paris Descartes Université, 75015 Paris, France; Sorbonne Université, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC), Université de Paris 06, INSERM Unité 1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Unité Mixte de Recherche 7225 Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Épinière (ICM), 75013 Paris, France.
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21
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Baron DM, Matheny T, Lin YC, Leszyk JD, Kenna K, Gall KV, Santos DP, Tischbein M, Funes S, Hayward LJ, Kiskinis E, Landers JE, Parker R, Shaffer SA, Bosco DA. Quantitative proteomics identifies proteins that resist translational repression and become dysregulated in ALS-FUS. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 28:2143-2160. [PMID: 30806671 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Revised: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant translational repression is a feature of multiple neurodegenerative diseases. The association between disease-linked proteins and stress granules further implicates impaired stress responses in neurodegeneration. However, our knowledge of the proteins that evade translational repression is incomplete. It is also unclear whether disease-linked proteins influence the proteome under conditions of translational repression. To address these questions, a quantitative proteomics approach was used to identify proteins that evade stress-induced translational repression in arsenite-treated cells expressing either wild-type or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-linked mutant FUS. This study revealed hundreds of proteins that are actively synthesized during stress-induced translational repression, irrespective of FUS genotype. In addition to proteins involved in RNA- and protein-processing, proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS were also actively synthesized during stress. Protein synthesis under stress was largely unperturbed by mutant FUS, although several proteins were found to be differentially expressed between mutant and control cells. One protein in particular, COPBI, was downregulated in mutant FUS-expressing cells under stress. COPBI is the beta subunit of the coat protein I (COPI), which is involved in Golgi to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retrograde transport. Further investigation revealed reduced levels of other COPI subunit proteins and defects in COPBI-relatedprocesses in cells expressing mutant FUS. Even in the absence of stress, COPBI localization was altered in primary and human stem cell-derived neurons expressing ALS-linked FUS variants. Our results suggest that Golgi to ER retrograde transport may be important under conditions of stress and is perturbed upon the expression of disease-linked proteins such as FUS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desiree M Baron
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Tyler Matheny
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Yen-Chen Lin
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - John D Leszyk
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Worcester, MA, USA.,Mass Spectrometry Facility, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Shrewsbury, MA, USA
| | - Kevin Kenna
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.,Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Katherine V Gall
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - David P Santos
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.,Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Maeve Tischbein
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Salome Funes
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Lawrence J Hayward
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Evangelos Kiskinis
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.,Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - John E Landers
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Roy Parker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Scott A Shaffer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Worcester, MA, USA.,Mass Spectrometry Facility, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Shrewsbury, MA, USA
| | - Daryl A Bosco
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Worcester, MA, USA
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22
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Low Level of Expression of C-Terminally Truncated Human FUS Causes Extensive Changes in the Spinal Cord Transcriptome of Asymptomatic Transgenic Mice. Neurochem Res 2020; 45:1168-1179. [PMID: 32157564 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-020-02999-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
A number of mutations in a gene encoding RNA-binding protein FUS have been linked to the development of a familial form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis known as FUS-ALS. C-terminal truncations of FUS by either nonsense or frameshift mutations lead to the development of FUS-ALS with a particularly early onset and fast progression. However, even in patients bearing these highly pathogenic mutations the function of motor neurons is not noticeably compromised for at least a couple of decades, suggesting that until cytoplasmic levels of FUS lacking its C-terminal nuclear localisation signal reaches a critical threshold, motor neurons are able to tolerate its permanent production. In order to identify how the nervous system responds to low levels of pathogenic variants of FUS we produced and characterised a mouse line, L-FUS[1-359], with a low neuronal expression level of a highly aggregation-prone and pathogenic form of C-terminally truncated FUS. In contrast to mice that express substantially higher level of the same FUS variant and develop severe early onset motor neuron pathology, L-FUS[1-359] mice do not develop any clinical or histopathological signs of motor neuron deficiency even at old age. Nevertheless, we detected substantial changes in the spinal cord transcriptome of these mice compared to their wild type littermates. We suggest that at least some of these changes reflect activation of cellular mechanisms compensating for the potentially damaging effect of pathogenic FUS production. Further studies of these mechanism might reveal effective targets for therapy of FUS-ALS and possibly, other forms of ALS.
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Picchiarelli G, Dupuis L. Role of RNA Binding Proteins with prion-like domains in muscle and neuromuscular diseases. Cell Stress 2020; 4:76-91. [PMID: 32292882 PMCID: PMC7146060 DOI: 10.15698/cst2020.04.217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A number of neuromuscular and muscular diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and several myopathies, are associated to mutations in related RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), including TDP-43, FUS, MATR3 or hnRNPA1/B2. These proteins harbor similar modular primary sequence with RNA binding motifs and low complexity domains, that enables them to phase separate and create liquid microdomains. These RBPs have been shown to critically regulate multiple events of RNA lifecycle, including transcriptional events, splicing and RNA trafficking and sequestration. Here, we review the roles of these disease-related RBPs in muscle and motor neurons, and how their dysfunction in these cell types might contribute to disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina Picchiarelli
- Université de Strasbourg, INSERM, Mécanismes Centraux et Périphériques de la Neurodégénérescence, UMR_S 1118, Strasbourg, France
| | - Luc Dupuis
- Université de Strasbourg, INSERM, Mécanismes Centraux et Périphériques de la Neurodégénérescence, UMR_S 1118, Strasbourg, France
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24
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Liu ZJ, Lin HX, Wei Q, Zhang QJ, Chen CX, Tao QQ, Liu GL, Ni W, Gitler AD, Li HF, Wu ZY. Genetic Spectrum and Variability in Chinese Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Aging Dis 2019; 10:1199-1206. [PMID: 31788332 PMCID: PMC6844596 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2019.0215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by selective impairment of upper and lower motor neurons. We aimed to investigate the genetic spectrum and variability in Chinese patients with ALS. A total of 24 familial ALS (FALS) and 21 early-onset sporadic ALS (SALS) of Chinese ancestry were enrolled. Targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed in the probands, followed by verification by Sanger sequencing and co-segregation analysis. Clinical features of patients with pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants were present. The mutation frequency of ALS-related genes was then analyzed in Chinese population. In this cohort, 17 known mutations (9 SOD1, 5 FUS, 2 TARDBP and one SETX) were identified in 14 FALS and 6 early-onset SALS. Moreover, 7 novel variants (SOD1 c.112G>C, OPTN c.811C>T, ERBB4 c.965T>A, DCTN1 c.1915C>T, NEFH c.2602G>A, NEK1 c.3622G>A, and TAF15 c.1535G>A) were identified. In southeastern Chinese FALS, the mutation frequency of SOD1, FUS, and TARDBP was 52.9%, 8.8%, 8.8% respectively. In early-onset SALS, FUS mutations were the most common (22.6%). In Chinese ALS cases, p.H47R is most frequent SOD1 mutations, while p.R521 is most common FUS mutation and p.M337V is most common TARDBP mutation. Our results revealed that mutations in SOD1, FUS and TARDBP are the most common cause of Chinese FALS, while FUS mutations are the most common cause of early-onset SALS. The genetic spectrum is different between Chinese ALS and Caucasian ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Jun Liu
- 1Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hui-Xia Lin
- 1Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,2Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Qiao Wei
- 1Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qi-Jie Zhang
- 2Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Cong-Xin Chen
- 2Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Qing-Qing Tao
- 1Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Gong-Lu Liu
- 1Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wang Ni
- 1Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Aaron D Gitler
- 3Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Hong-Fu Li
- 1Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhi-Ying Wu
- 1Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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25
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Naumann M, Peikert K, Günther R, van der Kooi AJ, Aronica E, Hübers A, Danel V, Corcia P, Pan-Montojo F, Cirak S, Haliloglu G, Ludolph AC, Goswami A, Andersen PM, Prudlo J, Wegner F, Van Damme P, Weishaupt JH, Hermann A. Phenotypes and malignancy risk of different FUS mutations in genetic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2019; 6:2384-2394. [PMID: 31682085 PMCID: PMC6917314 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.50930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Mutations in Fused in Sarcoma (FUS or TLS) are the fourth most prevalent in Western European familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) populations and have been associated with causing both early and very late disease onset. FUS aggregation, DNA repair deficiency, and genomic instability are contributors to the pathophysiology of FUS-ALS, but their clinical significance per se and their influence on the clinical variability have yet to be sufficiently investigated. The aim of this study was to analyze genotype-phenotype correlations and malignancy rates in a newly compiled FUS-ALS cohort. METHODS We cross-sectionally reviewed FUS-ALS patient histories in a multicenter cohort with 36 novel cases and did a meta-analysis of published FUS-ALS cases reporting the largest genotype-phenotype correlation of FUS-ALS. RESULTS The age of onset (median 39 years, range 11-80) was positively correlated with the disease duration. C-terminal domain mutations were found in 90%. Among all, P525L and truncating/ frameshift mutations most frequently caused juvenile onset, rapid disease progression, and atypical ALS often associated with negative family history while the R521 mutation site was associated with late disease onset and pure spinal phenotype. Malignancies were found in one of 40 patients. INTERPRETATION We report the largest genotype-phenotype correlation of FUS-ALS, which enables a careful prediction of the clinical course in newly diagnosed patients. In this cohort, FUS-ALS patients did not have an increased risk for malignant diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Naumann
- Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany.,Translational Neurodegeneration Section "Albrecht-Kossel", Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, Rostock, 18147, Germany
| | - Kevin Peikert
- Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Translational Neurodegeneration Section "Albrecht-Kossel", Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, Rostock, 18147, Germany
| | - Rene Günther
- Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany
| | - Anneke J van der Kooi
- Department of Neurology, Amsterdam UMC, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Eleonora Aronica
- Amsterdam UMC, Department of (Neuro)Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Annemarie Hübers
- Department of Neurology, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Veronique Danel
- Centre expert pour la SLA et les maladies du motoneurone hôpital SALENGRO, CHU, Lille, France
| | - Philippe Corcia
- Centre expert pour la SLA et les maladies du motoneurone hôpital SALENGRO, CHU, Lille, France
| | - Francisco Pan-Montojo
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum der Universität München, Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology, SyNergy, Munich, 81377, Germany
| | - Sebahattin Cirak
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Göknur Haliloglu
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Hacettepe University Children's Hospital, Ankara, 06100, Turkey
| | - Albert C Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anand Goswami
- Institute of Neuropathology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, 3052074, Germany
| | - Peter M Andersen
- Institute of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Umeå University, Umeå, SE-90185, Sweden
| | - Johannes Prudlo
- Translational Neurodegeneration Section "Albrecht-Kossel", Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, Rostock, 18147, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Rostock/Greifswald, Rostock, 18147, Germany.,Department of Neurology, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Florian Wegner
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Philip Van Damme
- Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department for Neuroscience, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jochen H Weishaupt
- Department of Neurology, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Andreas Hermann
- Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany.,Translational Neurodegeneration Section "Albrecht-Kossel", Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, Rostock, 18147, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Rostock/Greifswald, Rostock, 18147, Germany.,Center for Transdisciplinary Neurosciences Rostock (CTNR), University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, Rostock, 18147, Germany
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26
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Gentile F, Scarlino S, Falzone YM, Lunetta C, Tremolizzo L, Quattrini A, Riva N. The Peripheral Nervous System in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Opportunities for Translational Research. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:601. [PMID: 31293369 PMCID: PMC6603245 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Although amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been considered as a disorder of the motor neuron (MN) cell body, recent evidences show the non-cell-autonomous pathogenic nature of the disease. Axonal degeneration, loss of peripheral axons and destruction of nerve terminals are early events in the disease pathogenic cascade, anticipating MN degeneration, and the onset of clinical symptoms. Therefore, although ALS and peripheral axonal neuropathies should be differentiated in clinical practice, they also share damage to common molecular pathways, including axonal transport, RNA metabolism and proteostasis. Thus, an extensive evaluation of the molecular events occurring in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) could be fundamental to understand the pathogenic mechanisms of ALS, favoring the discovery of potential disease biomarkers, and new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Gentile
- Experimental Neuropathology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology - San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefania Scarlino
- Experimental Neuropathology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology - San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Yuri Matteo Falzone
- Experimental Neuropathology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology - San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Department of Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Lucio Tremolizzo
- Neurology Unit, ALS Clinic, San Gerardo Hospital, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Angelo Quattrini
- Experimental Neuropathology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology - San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Nilo Riva
- Experimental Neuropathology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology - San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Department of Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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27
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Zhang T, Wu YC, Mullane P, Ji YJ, Liu H, He L, Arora A, Hwang HY, Alessi AF, Niaki AG, Periz G, Guo L, Wang H, Elkayam E, Joshua-Tor L, Myong S, Kim JK, Shorter J, Ong SE, Leung AKL, Wang J. FUS Regulates Activity of MicroRNA-Mediated Gene Silencing. Mol Cell 2019; 69:787-801.e8. [PMID: 29499134 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2018.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Revised: 11/22/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNA-mediated gene silencing is a fundamental mechanism in the regulation of gene expression. It remains unclear how the efficiency of RNA silencing could be influenced by RNA-binding proteins associated with the microRNA-induced silencing complex (miRISC). Here we report that fused in sarcoma (FUS), an RNA-binding protein linked to neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), interacts with the core miRISC component AGO2 and is required for optimal microRNA-mediated gene silencing. FUS promotes gene silencing by binding to microRNA and mRNA targets, as illustrated by its action on miR-200c and its target ZEB1. A truncated mutant form of FUS that leads its carriers to an aggressive form of ALS, R495X, impairs microRNA-mediated gene silencing. The C. elegans homolog fust-1 also shares a conserved role in regulating the microRNA pathway. Collectively, our results suggest a role for FUS in regulating the activity of microRNA-mediated silencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Yen-Ching Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Patrick Mullane
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Yon Ju Ji
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Honghe Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Lu He
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Amit Arora
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Ho-Yon Hwang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Amelia F Alessi
- Department of Biology, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Amirhossein G Niaki
- Department of Biophysics, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Goran Periz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Lin Guo
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Hejia Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Elad Elkayam
- Keck Structural Biology Laboratory, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Leemor Joshua-Tor
- Keck Structural Biology Laboratory, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Sua Myong
- Department of Biophysics, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - John K Kim
- Department of Biology, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - James Shorter
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Shao-En Ong
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Anthony K L Leung
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jiou Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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28
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Alrafiah AR. From Mouse Models to Human Disease: An Approach for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. In Vivo 2018; 32:983-998. [PMID: 30150420 DOI: 10.21873/invivo.11339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2018] [Revised: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder. There are several genetic mutations that lead to ALS development, such as chromosome 9 hexanucleotide repeat 72 (C9ORF72), transactive response DNA-binding protein (TARDBP), superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and fused in sarcoma (FUS). ALS is associated with disrupted gene homeostasis causing aberrant RNA processing or toxic pathology. Several animal models of ALS disease have been developed to understand whether TARDBP-mediated neurodegeneration results from a gain or a loss of function of the protein, however, none exactly mimic the pathophysiology and the phenotype of human ALS. Here, the pathophysiology of specific ALS-linked gene mutations is discussed. Furthermore, some of the generated mouse models, as well as the similarities and differences between these models, are comprehensively reviewed. Further refinement of mouse models will likely aid the development of a better form of model that mimics human ALS. However, disrupted gene homeostasis that causes mutation can result in an ALS-like syndrome, increasing concerns about whether neurodegeneration and other effects in these models are due to the mutation or to gene overexpression. Research on the pleiotropic role of different proteins present in motor neurons is also summarized. The development of better mouse models that closely mimic human ALS will help identify potential therapeutic targets for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aziza Rashed Alrafiah
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences and Neuroscience Research Unit, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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29
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Yu X, Zhao Z, Shen H, Bing Q, Li N, Hu J. Clinical and Genetic Features of Patients with Juvenile Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis with Fused in Sarcoma (FUS) Mutation. Med Sci Monit 2018; 24:8750-8757. [PMID: 30507891 PMCID: PMC6289031 DOI: 10.12659/msm.913724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (JALS) is a rare form of motor neuron disease and occurs before 25 years of age. Only a few cases of juvenile-onset ALS have been reported. Material/Methods To study genetic and clinicopathological features in Chinese patients with juvenile ALS, we retrospectively reviewed ALS patients in our hospital and screened out 2 patients with disease onset before the age of 25. Genetic analysis was carried out with next-generation sequencing (NGS) to identify ALS causative genes. Sanger sequencing was used to validate identified variants. The clinical, electrophysiological, and pathological data were summarized. Results A novel frameshift mutation c.1510dupG (p.G505Wfs*12) was found in Patient One using next-generation sequencing (NGS). Patient Two had a reported pathogenic mutation c.C1483T(p.R495X) with NGS. The mother of Patient Two carried the same mutation as her son and disease onset was at 1.5 years after the death of her son. Conclusions We identified a novel frameshift mutation associated with JALS. JALS and generally typical ALS, with the same FUS mutation, can appear in a family and present a phenomenon of anticipation. For diagnosis of central nervous system degeneration in adolescents with bulbar symptoms, great attention should be paid to JALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Yu
- Department of Neuromuscular Disorders, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China (mainland)
| | - Zhe Zhao
- Department of Neuromuscular Disorders, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China (mainland)
| | - Hongrui Shen
- Department of Neuromuscular Disorders, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China (mainland)
| | - Qi Bing
- Department of Neuromuscular Disorders, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China (mainland)
| | - Nan Li
- Department of Neuromuscular Disorders, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China (mainland)
| | - Jing Hu
- Department of Neuromuscular Disorders, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China (mainland)
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30
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Müller K, Brenner D, Weydt P, Meyer T, Grehl T, Petri S, Grosskreutz J, Schuster J, Volk AE, Borck G, Kubisch C, Klopstock T, Zeller D, Jablonka S, Sendtner M, Klebe S, Knehr A, Günther K, Weis J, Claeys KG, Schrank B, Sperfeld AD, Hübers A, Otto M, Dorst J, Meitinger T, Strom TM, Andersen PM, Ludolph AC, Weishaupt JH. Comprehensive analysis of the mutation spectrum in 301 German ALS families. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2018; 89:817-827. [PMID: 29650794 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2017-317611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Revised: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Recent advances in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) genetics have revealed that mutations in any of more than 25 genes can cause ALS, mostly as an autosomal-dominant Mendelian trait. Detailed knowledge about the genetic architecture of ALS in a specific population will be important for genetic counselling but also for genotype-specific therapeutic interventions. METHODS Here we combined fragment length analysis, repeat-primed PCR, Southern blotting, Sanger sequencing and whole exome sequencing to obtain a comprehensive profile of genetic variants in ALS disease genes in 301 German pedigrees with familial ALS. We report C9orf72 mutations as well as variants in consensus splice sites and non-synonymous variants in protein-coding regions of ALS genes. We furthermore estimate their pathogenicity by taking into account type and frequency of the respective variant as well as segregation within the families. RESULTS 49% of our German ALS families carried a likely pathogenic variant in at least one of the earlier identified ALS genes. In 45% of the ALS families, likely pathogenic variants were detected in C9orf72, SOD1, FUS, TARDBP or TBK1, whereas the relative contribution of the other ALS genes in this familial ALS cohort was 4%. We identified several previously unreported rare variants and demonstrated the absence of likely pathogenic variants in some of the recently described ALS disease genes. CONCLUSIONS We here present a comprehensive genetic characterisation of German familial ALS. The present findings are of importance for genetic counselling in clinical practice, for molecular research and for the design of diagnostic gene panels or genotype-specific therapeutic interventions in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David Brenner
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Patrick Weydt
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Gerontopsychiatry, Bonn University, Bonn, Germany
| | - Thomas Meyer
- Department of Neurology, Charité Hospital, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Torsten Grehl
- Department of Neurology, Alfried Krupp Hospital, Essen, Germany
| | - Susanne Petri
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | | | - Alexander E Volk
- Institute of Human Genetics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Guntram Borck
- Institute of Human Genetics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Christian Kubisch
- Institute of Human Genetics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Klopstock
- Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Baur-Institut, University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
| | - Daniel Zeller
- Department of Neurology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sibylle Jablonka
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Michael Sendtner
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Stephan Klebe
- Department of Neurology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.,Department of Neurology, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Antje Knehr
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Joachim Weis
- Institute of Neuropathology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
| | - Kristl G Claeys
- Institute of Neuropathology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany.,Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany.,Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory for Muscle Diseases and Neuropathies, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Berthold Schrank
- Department of Neurology, DKD HELIOS Klinik Wiesbaden, Wiesbaden, Germany
| | - Anne-Dorte Sperfeld
- Department of Neurology, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | | | - Markus Otto
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Thomas Meitinger
- Institute of Human Genetics, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.,Institute of Human Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany.,Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SNergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Tim M Strom
- Institute of Human Genetics, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.,Institute of Human Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany.,Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SNergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Peter M Andersen
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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31
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Scekic-Zahirovic J, Oussini HE, Mersmann S, Drenner K, Wagner M, Sun Y, Allmeroth K, Dieterlé S, Sinniger J, Dirrig-Grosch S, René F, Dormann D, Haass C, Ludolph AC, Lagier-Tourenne C, Storkebaum E, Dupuis L. Motor neuron intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms contribute to the pathogenesis of FUS-associated amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Acta Neuropathol 2017; 133:887-906. [PMID: 28243725 PMCID: PMC5427169 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-017-1687-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Revised: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Motor neuron-extrinsic mechanisms have been shown to participate in the pathogenesis of ALS-SOD1, one familial form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It remains unclear whether such mechanisms contribute to other familial forms, such as TDP-43 and FUS-associated ALS. Here, we characterize a single-copy mouse model of ALS-FUS that conditionally expresses a disease-relevant truncating FUS mutant from the endogenous murine Fus gene. We show that these mice, but not mice heterozygous for a Fus null allele, develop similar pathology as ALS-FUS patients and a mild motor neuron phenotype. Most importantly, CRE-mediated rescue of the Fus mutation within motor neurons prevented degeneration of motor neuron cell bodies, but only delayed appearance of motor symptoms. Indeed, we observed downregulation of multiple myelin-related genes, and increased numbers of oligodendrocytes in the spinal cord supporting their contribution to behavioral deficits. In all, we show that mutant FUS triggers toxic events in both motor neurons and neighboring cells to elicit motor neuron disease.
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32
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Liu ZJ, Lin HX, Liu GL, Tao QQ, Ni W, Xiao BG, Wu ZY. The investigation of genetic and clinical features in Chinese patients with juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Clin Genet 2017; 92:267-273. [PMID: 28429524 DOI: 10.1111/cge.13015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Revised: 03/08/2017] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (JALS) occurs at an age of onset below 25 years with a heterogeneous disease onset location, variable progression and survival time. To investigate whether an ALS gene profile could resolve any aspects of clinical symptom heterogeneity, we have used targeted sequencing technology in a cohort of 12 JALS patients of Chinese descent. We detected 5 likely pathogenic mutations, 2 in familial probands and 3 in sporadic patients. One was a known TARDBP mutation (p.G348V) and 4 were FUS frameshift mutations including a known p.Gln519Ilefs*9 mutation and 3 novel mutations, p.Gly515Valfs*14, p.Gly486Profs*30, and p.Arg498Alafs*32. Of the 4 FUS mutations, 2 were able to be confirmed as de novo mutations. The TARDBP mutation carrier showed a classic ALS phenotype. All patients with FUS mutations experienced limb weakness at an early age and developed bulbar symptoms during the disease course. FUS mutations have previously been associated with increased JALS disease progression, however, we found a large range 12 to 84 months in disease survival (mean 58.2 months). Our results justify future screening for variants in FUS as it remains the most frequent genetic determinant of early onset, JALS (found in 30% of our patients).
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Affiliation(s)
- Z-J Liu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - H-X Lin
- 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, China.,Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - G-L Liu
- 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, China
| | - Q-Q Tao
- 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, China
| | - W 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, China
| | - B-G Xiao
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Z-Y Wu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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33
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ALS-linked FUS exerts a gain of toxic function involving aberrant p38 MAPK activation. Sci Rep 2017; 7:115. [PMID: 28273913 PMCID: PMC5428330 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-00091-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2016] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in Fused in Sarcoma/Translocated in Liposarcoma (FUS) cause familial forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive axonal degeneration mainly affecting motor neurons. Evidence from transgenic mouse models suggests mutant forms of FUS exert an unknown gain-of-toxic function in motor neurons, but mechanisms underlying this effect remain unknown. Towards this end, we studied the effect of wild type FUS (FUS WT) and three ALS-linked variants (G230C, R521G and R495X) on fast axonal transport (FAT), a cellular process critical for appropriate maintenance of axonal connectivity. All ALS-FUS variants impaired anterograde and retrograde FAT in squid axoplasm, whereas FUS WT had no effect. Misfolding of mutant FUS is implicated in this process, as the molecular chaperone Hsp110 mitigated these toxic effects. Interestingly, mutant FUS-induced impairment of FAT in squid axoplasm and of axonal outgrowth in mammalian primary motor neurons involved aberrant activation of the p38 MAPK pathway, as also reported for ALS-linked forms of Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1). Accordingly, increased levels of active p38 MAPK were detected in post-mortem human ALS-FUS brain tissues. These data provide evidence for a novel gain-of-toxic function for ALS-linked FUS involving p38 MAPK activation.
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34
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Guerrero EN, Wang H, Mitra J, Hegde PM, Stowell SE, Liachko NF, Kraemer BC, Garruto RM, Rao KS, Hegde ML. TDP-43/FUS in motor neuron disease: Complexity and challenges. Prog Neurobiol 2016; 145-146:78-97. [PMID: 27693252 PMCID: PMC5101148 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2016.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2016] [Revised: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a common motor neuron disease affecting two per 100,000 people worldwide, encompasses at least five distinct pathological subtypes, including, ALS-SOD1, ALS-C9orf72, ALS-TDP-43, ALS-FUS and Guam-ALS. The etiology of a major subset of ALS involves toxicity of the TAR DNA-binding protein-43 (TDP-43). A second RNA/DNA binding protein, fused in sarcoma/translocated in liposarcoma (FUS/TLS) has been subsequently associated with about 1% of ALS patients. While mutations in TDP-43 and FUS have been linked to ALS, the key contributing molecular mechanism(s) leading to cell death are still unclear. One unique feature of TDP-43 and FUS pathogenesis in ALS is their nuclear clearance and simultaneous cytoplasmic aggregation in affected motor neurons. Since the discoveries in the last decade implicating TDP-43 and FUS toxicity in ALS, a majority of studies have focused on their cytoplasmic aggregation and disruption of their RNA-binding functions. However, TDP-43 and FUS also bind to DNA, although the significance of their DNA binding in disease-affected neurons has been less investigated. A recent observation of accumulated genomic damage in TDP-43 and FUS-linked ALS and association of FUS with neuronal DNA damage repair pathways indicate a possible role of deregulated DNA binding function of TDP-43 and FUS in ALS. In this review, we discuss the different ALS disease subtypes, crosstalk of etiopathologies in disease progression, available animal models and their limitations, and recent advances in understanding the specific involvement of RNA/DNA binding proteins, TDP-43 and FUS, in motor neuron diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika N. Guerrero
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Centre for Neuroscience, Institute for Scientific Research and Technology Services (INDICASAT-AIP), City of Knowledge, Panama
- Department of Biotechnology, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, India
| | - Haibo Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Joy Mitra
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Pavana M. Hegde
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Sara E. Stowell
- Department of Anthropology, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, New York
| | - Nicole F Liachko
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, 98108, USA
| | - Brian C. Kraemer
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, 98108, USA
| | - Ralph M. Garruto
- Department of Anthropology, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, New York
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, New York
| | - K. S. Rao
- Centre for Neuroscience, Institute for Scientific Research and Technology Services (INDICASAT-AIP), City of Knowledge, Panama
- Department of Biotechnology, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, India
| | - Muralidhar L. Hegde
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, Houston, Texas 77030 USA
- Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York
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35
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Common Molecular Pathways in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Trends Mol Med 2016; 22:769-783. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2016.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2016] [Revised: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 07/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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36
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Genetic testing and genetic counseling for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: an update for clinicians. Genet Med 2016; 19:267-274. [DOI: 10.1038/gim.2016.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2016] [Accepted: 06/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
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37
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Picher-Martel V, Valdmanis PN, Gould PV, Julien JP, Dupré N. From animal models to human disease: a genetic approach for personalized medicine in ALS. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2016; 4:70. [PMID: 27400686 PMCID: PMC4940869 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-016-0340-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is the most frequent motor neuron disease in adults. Classical ALS is characterized by the death of upper and lower motor neurons leading to progressive paralysis. Approximately 10 % of ALS patients have familial form of the disease. Numerous different gene mutations have been found in familial cases of ALS, such as mutations in superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), fused in sarcoma (FUS), C9ORF72, ubiquilin-2 (UBQLN2), optineurin (OPTN) and others. Multiple animal models were generated to mimic the disease and to test future treatments. However, no animal model fully replicates the spectrum of phenotypes in the human disease and it is difficult to assess how a therapeutic effect in disease models can predict efficacy in humans. Importantly, the genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity of ALS leads to a variety of responses to similar treatment regimens. From this has emerged the concept of personalized medicine (PM), which is a medical scheme that combines study of genetic, environmental and clinical diagnostic testing, including biomarkers, to individualized patient care. In this perspective, we used subgroups of specific ALS-linked gene mutations to go through existing animal models and to provide a comprehensive profile of the differences and similarities between animal models of disease and human disease. Finally, we reviewed application of biomarkers and gene therapies relevant in personalized medicine approach. For instance, this includes viral delivering of antisense oligonucleotide and small interfering RNA in SOD1, TDP-43 and C9orf72 mice models. Promising gene therapies raised possibilities for treating differently the major mutations in familial ALS cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Picher-Martel
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Research Centre of Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Québec, Laval University, 2601 Chemin de la Canardière, Québec, QC, G1J 2G3, Canada.
| | - Paul N Valdmanis
- Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics, Stanford University, 269 Campus Drive, CCSR 2110, Stanford, CA, 94305-5164, USA
| | - Peter V Gould
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Neuropathology, Department of Medical Biology, CHU de Québec, Hôpital de l'Enfant-Jésus, 1401, 18th street, Québec, QC, Canada, G1J 1Z4
| | - Jean-Pierre Julien
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Research Centre of Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Québec, Laval University, 2601 Chemin de la Canardière, Québec, QC, G1J 2G3, Canada
| | - Nicolas Dupré
- Axe Neurosciences & The Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, CHU de Québec, Laval University, 1401, 18th street, Québec, QC, G1J 1Z4, Canada.
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38
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothee Dormann
- BioMedical Center (BMC), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences (GSN), Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
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39
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Scekic-Zahirovic J, Sendscheid O, El Oussini H, Jambeau M, Sun Y, Mersmann S, Wagner M, Dieterlé S, Sinniger J, Dirrig-Grosch S, Drenner K, Birling MC, Qiu J, Zhou Y, Li H, Fu XD, Rouaux C, Shelkovnikova T, Witting A, Ludolph AC, Kiefer F, Storkebaum E, Lagier-Tourenne C, Dupuis L. Toxic gain of function from mutant FUS protein is crucial to trigger cell autonomous motor neuron loss. EMBO J 2016; 35:1077-97. [PMID: 26951610 PMCID: PMC4868956 DOI: 10.15252/embj.201592559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2015] [Revised: 01/28/2016] [Accepted: 02/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
FUS is an RNA-binding protein involved in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Cytoplasmic FUS-containing aggregates are often associated with concomitant loss of nuclear FUS Whether loss of nuclear FUS function, gain of a cytoplasmic function, or a combination of both lead to neurodegeneration remains elusive. To address this question, we generated knockin mice expressing mislocalized cytoplasmic FUS and complete FUS knockout mice. Both mouse models display similar perinatal lethality with respiratory insufficiency, reduced body weight and length, and largely similar alterations in gene expression and mRNA splicing patterns, indicating that mislocalized FUS results in loss of its normal function. However, FUS knockin mice, but not FUS knockout mice, display reduced motor neuron numbers at birth, associated with enhanced motor neuron apoptosis, which can be rescued by cell-specific CRE-mediated expression of wild-type FUS within motor neurons. Together, our findings indicate that cytoplasmic FUS mislocalization not only leads to nuclear loss of function, but also triggers motor neuron death through a toxic gain of function within motor neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Scekic-Zahirovic
- Faculté de Médecine, INSERM U1118, Strasbourg, France Université de Strasbourg UMR_S1118, Strasbourg, France
| | - Oliver Sendscheid
- Molecular Neurogenetics Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Muenster, Germany Faculty of Medicine, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Hajer El Oussini
- Faculté de Médecine, INSERM U1118, Strasbourg, France Université de Strasbourg UMR_S1118, Strasbourg, France
| | - Mélanie Jambeau
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego La Jolla, CA, USA Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ying Sun
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego La Jolla, CA, USA Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sina Mersmann
- Molecular Neurogenetics Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Muenster, Germany Faculty of Medicine, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Marina Wagner
- Molecular Neurogenetics Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Muenster, Germany Faculty of Medicine, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Stéphane Dieterlé
- Faculté de Médecine, INSERM U1118, Strasbourg, France Université de Strasbourg UMR_S1118, Strasbourg, France
| | - Jérome Sinniger
- Faculté de Médecine, INSERM U1118, Strasbourg, France Université de Strasbourg UMR_S1118, Strasbourg, France
| | - Sylvie Dirrig-Grosch
- Faculté de Médecine, INSERM U1118, Strasbourg, France Université de Strasbourg UMR_S1118, Strasbourg, France
| | - Kevin Drenner
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego La Jolla, CA, USA Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Jinsong Qiu
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Yu Zhou
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Hairi Li
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Xiang-Dong Fu
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Caroline Rouaux
- Faculté de Médecine, INSERM U1118, Strasbourg, France Université de Strasbourg UMR_S1118, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Anke Witting
- Department of Neurology University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Friedemann Kiefer
- Mammalian Cell Signaling Laboratory, Department of Vascular Cell Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Muenster, Germany
| | - Erik Storkebaum
- Molecular Neurogenetics Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Muenster, Germany Faculty of Medicine, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Clotilde Lagier-Tourenne
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego La Jolla, CA, USA Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Luc Dupuis
- Faculté de Médecine, INSERM U1118, Strasbourg, France Université de Strasbourg UMR_S1118, Strasbourg, France
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40
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Akiyama T, Warita H, Kato M, Nishiyama A, Izumi R, Ikeda C, Kamada M, Suzuki N, Aoki M. Genotype-phenotype relationships in familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with FUS/TLS mutations in Japan. Muscle Nerve 2016; 54:398-404. [PMID: 26823199 DOI: 10.1002/mus.25061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We investigated possible genotype-phenotype correlations in Japanese patients with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS) carrying fused in sarcoma/translated in liposarcoma (FUS/TLS) gene mutations. METHODS A consecutive series of 111 Japanese FALS pedigrees were screened for copper/zinc superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and FUS/TLS gene mutations. Clinical data, including onset age, onset site, disease duration, and extramotor symptoms, were collected. RESULTS Nine different FUS/TLS mutations were found in 12 pedigrees. Most of the patients with FUS/TLS-linked FALS demonstrated early onset in the brainstem/upper cervical region, and relatively short disease duration. A few mutations exhibited phenotypes that were distinct from typical cases. Frontotemporal dementia was present in 1 patient. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed a characteristic phenotype in FUS/TLS-linked FALS patients in Japan. FUS/TLS screening is recommended in patients with FALS with this phenotype. Muscle Nerve 54: 398-404, 2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuya Akiyama
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Warita
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan
| | - Masaaki Kato
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan
| | - Ayumi Nishiyama
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan
| | - Rumiko Izumi
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan
| | - Chikako Ikeda
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Masaki Kamada
- Department of Neurological Intractable Disease Research, Kagawa University Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Naoki Suzuki
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan
| | - Masashi Aoki
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan
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41
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Schoen M, Reichel JM, Demestre M, Putz S, Deshpande D, Proepper C, Liebau S, Schmeisser MJ, Ludolph AC, Michaelis J, Boeckers TM. Super-Resolution Microscopy Reveals Presynaptic Localization of the ALS/FTD Related Protein FUS in Hippocampal Neurons. Front Cell Neurosci 2016; 9:496. [PMID: 26834559 PMCID: PMC4709451 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2015] [Accepted: 12/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Fused in Sarcoma (FUS) is a multifunctional RNA-/DNA-binding protein, which is involved in the pathogenesis of the neurodegenerative disorders amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). A common hallmark of these disorders is the abnormal accumulation of mutated FUS protein in the cytoplasm. Under normal conditions FUS is confined to the nuclear compartment, in neurons, however, additional somatodendritic localization can be observed. In this study, we carefully analyzed the subcellular localization of endogenous FUS at synaptic sites of hippocampal neurons which are among the most affected cell types in FTD with FUS pathology. We could confirm a strong nuclear localization of FUS as well as its prominent and widespread neuronal expression throughout the adult and developing rat brain, particularly in the hippocampus, the cerebellum and the outer layers of the cortex. Intriguingly, FUS was also consistently observed at synaptic sites as detected by neuronal subcellular fractionation as well as by immunolabeling. To define a pre- and/or postsynaptic localization of FUS, we employed super-resolution fluorescence localization microscopy. FUS was found to be localized within the axon terminal in close proximity to the presynaptic vesicle protein Synaptophysin1 and adjacent to the active zone protein Bassoon, but well separated from the postsynaptic protein PSD-95. Having shown the presynaptic localization of FUS in the nervous system, a novel extranuclear role of FUS at neuronal contact sites has to be considered. Since there is growing evidence that local presynaptic translation might also be an important mechanism for plasticity, FUS - like the fragile X mental retardation protein FMRP - might act as one of the presynaptic RNA-binding proteins regulating this machinery. Our observation of presynaptic FUS should foster further investigations to determine its role in neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS and FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Schoen
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Maria Demestre
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University Ulm, Germany
| | - Stefan Putz
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm UniversityUlm, Germany; Department of Neurology, Ulm UniversityUlm, Germany
| | | | | | - Stefan Liebau
- Institute of Neuroanatomy, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen Tübingen, Germany
| | - Michael J Schmeisser
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm UniversityUlm, Germany; Department of Neurology, Ulm UniversityUlm, Germany
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42
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Zou ZY, Liu MS, Li XG, Cui LY. Mutations in SOD1 and FUS caused juvenile-onset sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with aggressive progression. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2015; 3:221. [PMID: 26488017 DOI: 10.3978/j.issn.2305-5839.2015.09.04] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Juvenile onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a very rare form of motor neuron disease, with the first symptoms of motor neuron degeneration manifested before 25 years of age. Juvenile ALS is more frequently familial in nature than the adult-onset forms. Mutations in the alsin (ALS2), senataxin (SETX), and Spatacsin (SPG11) have been associated with familial ALS with juvenile onset and slowly progression. Here we reported two apparently sporadic ALS with juvenile onset and aggressive progression caused by mutations in the SOD1 and FUS gene. We also reviewed juvenile-onset ALS in publications. Our findings, together with other researches, confirms that both SOD1 and FUS mutations can lead to juvenile-onset malignant form of ALS and should be screened in ALS patients with an earlier age of onset, aggressive progression, even if there is no apparent family history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhang-Yu Zou
- 1 Department of Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, China ; 2 Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Ming-Sheng Liu
- 1 Department of Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, China ; 2 Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Xiao-Guang Li
- 1 Department of Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, China ; 2 Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Li-Ying Cui
- 1 Department of Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, China ; 2 Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
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King A, Troakes C, Smith B, Nolan M, Curran O, Vance C, Shaw CE, Al-Sarraj S. ALS-FUS pathology revisited: singleton FUS mutations and an unusual case with both a FUS and TARDBP mutation. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2015; 3:62. [PMID: 26452761 PMCID: PMC4600255 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-015-0235-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Mutations in the FUS gene have been shown to be a rare cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS-FUS) and whilst well documented clinically and genetically there have been relatively few neuropathological studies.Recent work suggested a possible correlation between pathological features such as frequency of basophilic inclusions in neurons and rate of clinical decline, other studies have revealed a discrepancy between the upper motor neuron features detected clinically and the associated pathology. The purpose of this study was to describe the pathological features associated with more recently discovered FUS mutations and reinvestigate those with well recognised mutations in an attempt to correlate the pathology with mutation and/or clinical phenotype. The brains and spinal cords of seven cases of ALS-FUS were examined neuropathologically, including cases with the newly described p.K510E mutation and a case with both a known p.P525L mutation in the FUS gene and a truncating p.Y374X mutation in the TARDBP gene. Results The neuropathology in all cases revealed basophilic and FUS inclusions in the cord. The density and type of inclusions varied markedly between cases, but did not allow a clear correlation with clinical progression. Only one case showed significant motor cortical pathology despite the upper motor neuron clinical features being evident in 4 patients. The case with both a FUS and TARDBP mutation revealed FUS positive inclusions but no TDP-43 pathology. Instead there were unusual p62 positive, FUS negative neuronal and glial inclusions as well as dot-like neurites. Conclusions The study confirms cases of ALS-FUS to be mainly a lower motor neuron disease and to have pathology that does not appear to neatly correlate with clinical features or genetics. Furthermore, the case with both a FUS and TARDBP mutation reveals an intriguing pathological profile which at least in part involves a very unusual staining pattern for the ubiquitin-binding protein p62.
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Hübers A, Just W, Rosenbohm A, Müller K, Marroquin N, Goebel I, Högel J, Thiele H, Altmüller J, Nürnberg P, Weishaupt JH, Kubisch C, Ludolph AC, Volk AE. De novo FUS mutations are the most frequent genetic cause in early-onset German ALS patients. Neurobiol Aging 2015; 36:3117.e1-3117.e6. [PMID: 26362943 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2015.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2015] [Revised: 07/15/2015] [Accepted: 08/08/2015] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients with known genetic cause, mutations in chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72) and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) account for most familial and late-onset sporadic cases, whereas mutations in fused in sarcoma (FUS) can be identified in just around 5% of familial and 1% of overall sporadic cases. There are only few reports on de novo FUS mutations in juvenile ALS patients. To date, no systematic evaluation on the frequency of de novo FUS mutations in early-onset ALS patients has been conducted. Here, we screened a cohort of 14 early-onset sporadic ALS patients (onset age <35 years) to determine the frequency of mutations in C9orf72, SOD1, and FUS in this defined patient cohort. All patients were recruited prospectively by a single center in a period of 38 months. No mutations were detected in SOD1 or C9orf72; however, we identified 6 individuals (43%) carrying a heterozygous FUS mutation including 1 mutation that has not been described earlier (c.1504delG [p.Asp502Thrfs*27]). Genetic testing of parents was possible in 5 families and revealed that the mutations in these patients arose de novo. Three of the 6 identified patients presented with initial bulbar symptoms. Our study identifies FUS mutations as the most frequent genetic cause in early-onset ALS. Genetic testing of FUS thus seems indicated in sporadic early-onset ALS patients especially if showing predominant bulbar symptoms and an aggressive disease course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annemarie Hübers
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Walter Just
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Angela Rosenbohm
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Kathrin Müller
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Ingrid Goebel
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany; Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Josef Högel
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Holger Thiele
- Cologne Center for Genomics (CCG), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Janine Altmüller
- Cologne Center for Genomics (CCG), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Institute of Human Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Peter Nürnberg
- Cologne Center for Genomics (CCG), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | | | - Christian Kubisch
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany; Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Albert C Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Alexander E Volk
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany; Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
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45
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Tarlarini C, Lunetta C, Mosca L, Avemaria F, Riva N, Mantero V, Maestri E, Quattrini A, Corbo M, Melazzini MG, Penco S. Novel FUS mutations identified through molecular screening in a large cohort of familial and sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Eur J Neurol 2015; 22:1474-81. [DOI: 10.1111/ene.12772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2015] [Accepted: 04/27/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- C. Tarlarini
- Medical Genetics Unit; Department of Laboratory Medicine; Niguarda Ca' Granda Hospital; Milan Italy
| | - C. Lunetta
- NEuroMuscular Omnicentre (NEMO); Fondazione Serena Onlus; Niguarda Ca' Granda Hospital; Milan Italy
| | - L. Mosca
- Medical Genetics Unit; Department of Laboratory Medicine; Niguarda Ca' Granda Hospital; Milan Italy
| | - F. Avemaria
- Medical Genetics Unit; Department of Laboratory Medicine; Niguarda Ca' Granda Hospital; Milan Italy
| | - N. Riva
- Neuropathology Unit; Institute of Experimental Neurology and Division of Neuroscience; IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute; Milan Italy
| | - V. Mantero
- Neurological Department; A. Manzoni Hospital; Lecco Italy
| | - E. Maestri
- NEuroMuscular Omnicentre (NEMO); Fondazione Serena Onlus; Niguarda Ca' Granda Hospital; Milan Italy
| | - A. Quattrini
- Neuropathology Unit; Institute of Experimental Neurology and Division of Neuroscience; IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute; Milan Italy
| | - M. Corbo
- NEuroMuscular Omnicentre (NEMO); Fondazione Serena Onlus; Niguarda Ca' Granda Hospital; Milan Italy
- Department of Neurorehabilitation Sciences; Casa Cura Policlinico; Milan Italy
| | - M. G. Melazzini
- NEuroMuscular Omnicentre (NEMO); Fondazione Serena Onlus; Niguarda Ca' Granda Hospital; Milan Italy
| | - S. Penco
- Medical Genetics Unit; Department of Laboratory Medicine; Niguarda Ca' Granda Hospital; Milan Italy
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Yang L, Zhang J, Kamelgarn M, Niu C, Gal J, Gong W, Zhu H. Subcellular localization and RNAs determine FUS architecture in different cellular compartments. Hum Mol Genet 2015; 24:5174-83. [PMID: 26123490 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddv239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 06/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in Fused in sarcoma (FUS) gene cause a subset of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal motor neuron degenerative disease. Wild-type FUS is largely localized in the nucleus, but mutant FUS accumulates in the cytoplasm and forms inclusions. It is unclear whether FUS depletion from the nucleus or FUS inclusions in the cytoplasm triggers motor neuron degeneration. In this study, we revealed that the nuclear and cytoplasmic FUS proteins form distinct local distribution patterns. The nuclear FUS forms oligomers and appears granular under confocal microscope. In contrast, the cytoplasmic FUS forms inclusions with no oligomers detected. These patterns are determined by the subcellular localization of FUS, regardless of wild-type or mutant protein. Moreover, mutant FUS remained or re-directed in the nucleus can oligomerize and behave similarly to the wild-type FUS protein. We further found that nuclear RNAs are critical to its oligomerization. Interestingly, the formation of cytoplasmic FUS inclusions is also dependent on RNA binding. Since the ALS mutations disrupt the nuclear localization sequence, mutant FUS is likely retained in the cytoplasm after translation and interacts with cytoplasmic RNAs. We therefore propose that local RNA molecules interacting with the FUS protein in different subcellular compartments play a fundamental role in determining FUS protein architecture and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liuqing Yang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
| | - Jiayu Zhang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
| | - Marisa Kamelgarn
- Graduate Center for Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, 741 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Chunyan Niu
- Key Laboratory of RNA Biology, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Beijing 100101, China and
| | - Jozsef Gal
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
| | - Weimin Gong
- Key Laboratory of RNA Biology, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Beijing 100101, China and Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Haining Zhu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Graduate Center for Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, 741 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY 40536, USA,
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Yu Y, Chi B, Xia W, Gangopadhyay J, Yamazaki T, Winkelbauer-Hurt ME, Yin S, Eliasse Y, Adams E, Shaw CE, Reed R. U1 snRNP is mislocalized in ALS patient fibroblasts bearing NLS mutations in FUS and is required for motor neuron outgrowth in zebrafish. Nucleic Acids Res 2015; 43:3208-18. [PMID: 25735748 PMCID: PMC4381066 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkv157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2015] [Revised: 02/16/2015] [Accepted: 02/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in FUS cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but the molecular pathways leading to neurodegeneration remain obscure. We previously found that U1 snRNP is the most abundant FUS interactor. Here, we report that components of the U1 snRNP core particle (Sm proteins and U1 snRNA), but not the mature U1 snRNP-specific proteins (U1-70K, U1A and U1C), co-mislocalize with FUS to the cytoplasm in ALS patient fibroblasts harboring mutations in the FUS nuclear localization signal (NLS). Similar results were obtained in HeLa cells expressing the ALS-causing FUS R495X NLS mutation, and mislocalization of Sm proteins is RRM-dependent. Moreover, as observed with FUS, knockdown of any of the U1 snRNP-specific proteins results in a dramatic loss of SMN-containing Gems. Significantly, knockdown of U1 snRNP in zebrafish results in motor axon truncations, a phenotype also observed with FUS, SMN and TDP-43 knockdowns. Our observations linking U1 snRNP to ALS patient cells with FUS mutations, SMN-containing Gems, and motor neurons indicate that U1 snRNP is a component of a molecular pathway associated with motor neuron disease. Linking an essential canonical splicing factor (U1 snRNP) to this pathway provides strong new evidence that splicing defects may be involved in pathogenesis and that this pathway is a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Yu
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, 240 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Binkai Chi
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, 240 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Wei Xia
- Department of Marine Biotechnology, University of Maryland Baltimore County & Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, Baltimore, MD 21042, USA
| | - Jaya Gangopadhyay
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, 240 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Tomohiro Yamazaki
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, 240 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Shanye Yin
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, 240 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Yoan Eliasse
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, 240 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Edward Adams
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, 240 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Christopher E Shaw
- King's College London and King's Health Partners, MRC Centre for Neurodegeneration Research, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Robin Reed
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, 240 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Kent L, Vizard TN, Smith BN, Topp SD, Vance C, Gkazi A, Miller J, Shaw CE, Talbot K. Autosomal dominant inheritance of rapidly progressive amyotrophic lateral sclerosis due to a truncation mutation in the fused in sarcoma (FUS) gene. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2014; 15:557-62. [PMID: 24899262 DOI: 10.3109/21678421.2014.920033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2014] [Accepted: 04/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in the gene encoding the RNA-binding protein fused in sarcoma (FUS) account for 4 - 5% of familial cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We describe the identification and in vitro cellular characterization of a genetic mutation in a family in which the index case, and subsequently her two children, each developed rapidly progressive ALS at a young age and died within a year of onset. Exome capture and sequencing revealed a mutation in the FUS gene consisting of a 2-bp deletion, c.1509_1510delAG, resulting in a predicted truncated protein, p.G504Wfs * 12, lacking the nuclear localization signal. Expression of this mutation in HEK293 and NSC-34 cells demonstrated severe cytoplasmic mislocalization of mutant FUS, and colocalization with stress granules when compared to wild-type, R521C and P525L mutant FUS. This study provides further evidence of a broad correlation between clinical severity of FUS-related ALS and mislocalization of the protein to the cytoplasm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louisa Kent
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford
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49
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Affiliation(s)
- A H V Schapira
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
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50
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Nuclear import factor transportin and arginine methyltransferase 1 modify FUS neurotoxicity in Drosophila. Neurobiol Dis 2014; 74:76-88. [PMID: 25447237 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2014.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2014] [Revised: 10/14/2014] [Accepted: 11/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Inclusions containing Fused in Sarcoma (FUS) are found in familial and sporadic cases of the incurable progressive motor neuron disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and in a common form of dementia, frontotemporal dementia. Most disease-associated mutations are located in the C-terminal proline-tyrosine nuclear localization sequence (PY-NLS) of FUS and impair its nuclear import. It has been shown in cell culture that the nuclear import of FUS is mediated by transportin, which binds the PY-NLS and the last arginine/glycine/glycine-rich (RGG) domain of FUS. Methylation of this last RGG domain by protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) weakens transportin binding and therefore impairs nuclear translocation of FUS. To investigate the requirements for the nuclear import of FUS in an in vivo model, we generated different transgenic Drosophila lines expressing human FUS wild type (hFUS wt) and two disease-related variants P525L and R495X, in which the NLS is mutated or completely absent, respectively. To rule out effects caused by heterologous hFUS expression, we analysed the corresponding variants for the Drosophila FUS orthologue Cabeza (Caz wt, P398L, Q349X). Expression of these variants in eyes and motor neurons confirmed the PY-NLS-dependent nuclear localization of FUS/Caz and caused neurodegenerative effects. Surprisingly, FUS/Caz toxicity was correlated to the degree of its nuclear localization in this overexpression model. High levels of nuclear FUS/Caz became insoluble and reduced the endogenous Caz levels, confirming FUS autoregulation in Drosophila. RNAi-mediated knockdown of the two transportin orthologues interfered with the nuclear import of FUS/Caz and also enhanced the eye phenotype. Finally, we screened the Drosophila PRMT proteins (DART1-9) and found that knockdown of Dart1 led to a reduction in methylation of hFUS P525L and aggravated its phenotype. These findings show that the molecular mechanisms controlling the nuclear import of FUS/Caz and FUS autoregulation are conserved between humans and Drosophila. In addition to the well-known neurodegenerative effects of FUS loss-of function, our data suggest toxic potential of overexpressed FUS in the nucleus and of insoluble FUS.
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