TATA-binding protein in neurodegenerative disease

Research advances in huntingtin-associated protein 1 and its application prospects in diseases

Huntingtin-associated protein 1 (HAP1) was the first protein discovered to interact with huntingtin. Besides brain, HAP1 is also expressed in the spinal cord, dorsal root ganglion, endocrine, and digestive systems. HAP1 has diverse functions involving in vesicular transport, receptor recycling, gene transcription, and signal transduction. HAP1 is strongly linked to several neurological diseases, including Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, ischemic stroke, and depression. In addition, HAP1 has been proved to participate in cancers and diabetes mellitus. This article provides an overview of HAP1 regarding the tissue distribution, cell localization, functions, and offers fresh perspectives to investigate its role in diseases.

Huntingtin-associated protein 1-associated intracellular trafficking in neurodegenerative diseases

Huntingtin-associated protein 1 (HAP1), the first identified HTT-binding partner, is highly expressed in the central nervous system, and has been found to associated with neurological diseases. Mounting evidence suggests that HAP1 functions as a component of cargo-motor molecules to bind various proteins and participates in intracellular trafficking. It is known that the failure of intracellular transport is a key contributor to the progression of neurodegenerative disorders (NDs) including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Huntington's disease (HD), Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) and spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA). The link between HAP1 and various NDs is supported by growing evidence. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the intracellular trafficking function of HAP1 and its involvement in NDs.

Preliminary exploration of the co-regulation of Alzheimer's disease pathogenic genes by microRNAs and transcription factors

Background

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of age-related neurodegenerative disease. Unfortunately, due to the complexity of pathological types and clinical heterogeneity of AD, there is a lack of satisfactory treatment for AD. Previous studies have shown that microRNAs and transcription factors can modulate genes associated with AD, but the underlying pathophysiology remains unclear.

Methods

The datasets GSE1297 and GSE5281 were downloaded from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database and analyzed to obtain the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) through the "R" language "limma" package. The GSE1297 dataset was analyzed by weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA), and the key gene modules were selected. Next, gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis for the key gene modules were performed. Then, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed and the hub genes were identified using the STRING database and Cytoscape software. Finally, for the GSE150693 dataset, the "R" package "survivation" was used to integrate the data of survival time, AD transformation status and 35 characteristics, and the key microRNAs (miRNAs) were selected by Cox method. We also performed regression analysis using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso)-Cox to construct and validate prognostic features associated with the four key genes using different databases. We also tried to find drugs targeting key genes through DrugBank database.

Results

GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that DEGs were mainly enriched in pathways regulating chemical synaptic transmission, glutamatergic synapses and Huntington's disease. In addition, 10 hub genes were selected from the PPI network by using the algorithm Between Centrality. Then, four core genes (TBP, CDK7, GRM5, and GRIA1) were selected by correlation with clinical information, and the established model had very good prognosis in different databases. Finally, hsa-miR-425-5p and hsa-miR-186-5p were determined by COX regression, AD transformation status and aberrant miRNAs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we tried to construct a network in which miRNAs and transcription factors jointly regulate pathogenic genes, and described the process that abnormal miRNAs and abnormal transcription factors TBP and CDK7 jointly regulate the transcription of AD central genes GRM5 and GRIA1. The insights gained from this study offer the potential AD biomarkers, which may be of assistance to the diagnose and therapy of AD.

A survey of protein interactions and posttranslational modifications that influence the polyglutamine diseases

The presence and aggregation of misfolded proteins has deleterious effects in the nervous system. Among the various diseases caused by misfolded proteins is the family of the polyglutamine (polyQ) disorders. This family comprises nine members, all stemming from the same mutation—the abnormal elongation of a polyQ repeat in nine different proteins—which causes protein misfolding and aggregation, cellular dysfunction and disease. While it is the same type of mutation that causes them, each disease is distinct: it is influenced by regions and domains that surround the polyQ repeat; by proteins with which they interact; and by posttranslational modifications they receive. Here, we overview the role of non-polyQ regions that control the pathogenicity of the expanded polyQ repeat. We begin by introducing each polyQ disease, the genes affected, and the symptoms experienced by patients. Subsequently, we provide a survey of protein-protein interactions and posttranslational modifications that regulate polyQ toxicity. We conclude by discussing shared processes and pathways that bring some of the polyQ diseases together and may serve as common therapeutic entry points for this family of incurable disorders.

Weighted gene co-expression network analysis of embryos and first instar larvae of the horseshoe crab Tachypleus tridentatus uncovers development gene networks

Horseshoe crabs are marine chelicerates that have existed on Earth for about 450 million years, and they are often used as an experimental model for studying marine invertebrate embryology. In this study, we performed transcriptome gene expression profiling of four continuous embryonic stages (Stages 18-21) and first instar larvae of Tachypleus tridentatus. A mean of 50,742,995 high-quality clean reads was obtained from each library. We then conducted weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) for 13,698 genes with fragments per kilobase of exon per million mapped fragments values >5. We identified 17 modules, six of which likely play critical roles in development. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes was performed on the biologically significant modules. We found that several pathways, such as hedgehog signaling pathway, VEGF signaling pathway, dorso-ventral axis formation, may be involved in the embryonic development process of T. tridentatus. We also identified hub genes that were highly connected in the six critical modules. This is the first study to apply WGCNA to horseshoe crabs to identify hub genes that may play critical roles in development, and our results provide new insight into the mechanisms underlying early development in horseshoe crabs.

Investigation of the Influence of TBP CAG/CAA Repeats in Conjunction with HTT CAG Repeats on Huntington's Disease Age at Onset in a Brazilian Sample

Huntington's disease (HD) is a genetic neurodegenerative progressive and fatal disease characterized by motor disorder, cognitive impairment, and behavioral problems, caused by expanded repeats of CAG trinucleotides in the HTT gene. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of TBP gene CAG/CAA repeats in conjunction with HTT gene CAG repeats, on the age at HD onset in Brazilian individuals. Individuals diagnosed as molecularly negative for HD presented 29-39 TBP CAG/CAA. Their most frequent allele had 36 repeats. In individuals diagnosed as molecularly positive for HD, a range of 25-40 TBP CAG/ CAA was found. The most frequent TBP allele had 38 repeats. We also conducted TBP direct Sanger sequencing of some samples which demonstrated other four TBP structures different from the basic TBP structure and others reported in the literature. The HTT expanded CAG and TBP CAG/CAA repeat sizes jointly explained 66% of the age at onset (AO) in our HD patients. The strongest variable in the model associated with AO was the number of expanded HTT CAG repeats. The difference between the association of HD AO with HTT expanded CAG together with TBP CAG/CAA and the association of HD AO with HTT expanded CAG was 0.001 (∆R²). Therefore, we found a weak association (0.1%) of TBP CAG/CAA repeats on HD AO, if any.

Decoding the role of coiled-coil motifs in human prion-like proteins

Prions are self-propagating proteins that cause fatal neurodegenerative diseases in humans. However, increasing evidence suggests that eukaryotic cells exploit prion conformational conversion for functional purposes. A recent study delineated a group of twenty prion-like proteins in humans, characterized by the presence of low-complexity glutamine-rich sequences with overlapping coiled-coil (CCs) motifs. This is the case of Mediator complex subunit 15 (MED15), which is overexpressed in a wide range of human cancers. Biophysical studies demonstrated that the prion-like domain (PrLD) of MED15 forms homodimers in solution, sustained by CCs interactions. Furthermore, the same coiled-coil (CC) region plays a crucial role in the PrLD structural transition to a transmissible β-sheet amyloid state. In this review, we discuss the role of CCs motifs and their contribution to amyloid transitions in human prion-like domains (PrLDs), while providing a comprehensive overview of six predicted human prion-like proteins involved in transcription, gene expression, or DNA damage response and associated with human disease, whose PrLDs contain or overlap with CCs sequences. Finally, we try to rationalize how these molecular signatures might relate to both their function and involvement in disease.

Neuroimaging Spectrum at Pre-, Early, and Late Symptomatic Stages of SCA17 Mice

Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disease. We have generated SCA17 transgenic mice bearing human TBP with 109 CAG repeats under the Purkinje cell-specific L7/pcp2 promoter. These mice recapitulate the patients' phenotypes and are suitable for the study of the SCA17 pathomechanism. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and immunostainings were performed to identify the neuroimaging spectrum during disease progression. The results indicate that despite an overall normal appearance at birth, postnatal brain damage takes place rapidly in SCA17. Cerebellar atrophy, fourth-ventricle enlargement, and reduced cerebellar N-acetylaspartate levels were detected at the presymptomatic stage, when the mice were juvenile. The aberrations, which included reductions in body weight; cerebral size; striatal size; and the mean, radial, and axial diffusivities of the cerebellum, became more salient as the disease progressed to the old, late-symptomatic stage. Phosphorylated H2A histone family, member X (γH2AX) immunostaining revealed that the cerebellum underwent severe cell senescence in the old stage while the striatum appeared relatively unaffected by aging. Morphometric analysis indicated that the cerebellar atrophy occurred in all subregions with aging. The data establish that the SCA17 mouse brain appears normal at birth but becomes aberrant at the presymptomatic/juvenile stage. More widespread deficits add to the pathological spectrum at the old stage. The study provides information for the expression and expansion of L7/pcp2 promoter and implies the disease progression of SCA17 patients.

Missense variants in TAF1 and developmental phenotypes: challenges of determining pathogenicity

We recently described a new neurodevelopmental syndrome (TAF1/MRXS33 intellectual disability syndrome) (MIM# 300966) caused by pathogenic variants involving the X-linked gene TAF1, which participates in RNA polymerase II transcription. The initial study reported eleven families, and the syndrome was defined as presenting early in life with hypotonia, facial dysmorphia, and developmental delay that evolved into intellectual disability (ID) and/or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We have now identified an additional 27 families through a genotype-first approach. Familial segregation analysis, clinical phenotyping, and bioinformatics were capitalized on to assess potential variant pathogenicity, and molecular modelling was performed for those variants falling within structurally characterized domains of TAF1. A novel phenotypic clustering approach was also applied, in which the phenotypes of affected individuals were classified using 51 standardized Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) terms. Phenotypes associated with TAF1 variants show considerable pleiotropy and clinical variability, but prominent among previously unreported effects were brain morphological abnormalities, seizures, hearing loss, and heart malformations. Our allelic series broadens the phenotypic spectrum of TAF1/MRXS33 intellectual disability syndrome and the range of TAF1 molecular defects in humans. It also illustrates the challenges for determining the pathogenicity of inherited missense variants, particularly for genes mapping to chromosome X. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Role of Mutant TBP in Regulation of Myogenesis on Muscle Satellite Cells

In polyglutamine (PolyQ) diseases, mutant proteins cause not only neurological problems but also peripheral tissue abnormalities. Among all systemic damages, skeletal muscle dystrophy is the severest. Previously by studying knock-in (KI) mouse models of spinal cerebellar ataxia 17 (SCA17), it was found that mutant TATA box binding protein (TBP) decreases its interaction with myogenic differentiation antigen, thus reducing the expression of skeletal muscle structural proteins and resulting in muscle degeneration. In this paper, the role of mutant TBP in myogenesis was investigated. Single myofibers were isolated from tibialis anterior muscles of wild type (WT) and SCA17KI mice. The 1TBP18 staining confirmed the expression of mutant TBP in muscle satellite cells in SCA17KI mice. In the BaCl₂-induced TA muscle injury, H&E cross-section staining showed no significant change in myofibril size before and after BaCl₂ treatment, and there was no significant difference in centralized nuclei between WT and SCA17KI mice, suggesting that mutant TBP had no significant effect on muscle regeneration. In the cultured primary myoblasts from WT and SCA17KI mice in vitro, representative BrdU immunostaining showed no significant difference in proliferation of muscle satellite cells. The primary myoblasts were then induced to differentiate and immunostained for eMyHC, and the staining showed there was no significant difference in differentiation of primary myoblasts between WT and SCA1KI mice. Our findings confirmed that mutant TBP had no significant effect on myogenesis.

Genetics, Mechanisms, and Therapeutic Progress in Polyglutamine Spinocerebellar Ataxias

Autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias (ADCAs) are a group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by degeneration of the cerebellum and its connections. All ADCAs have progressive ataxia as their main clinical feature, frequently accompanied by dysarthria and oculomotor deficits. The most common spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are 6 polyglutamine (polyQ) SCAs. These diseases are all caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the coding region of a gene. Currently, no curative treatment is available for any of the polyQ SCAs, but increasing knowledge on the genetics and the pathological mechanisms of these polyQ SCAs has provided promising therapeutic targets to potentially slow disease progression. Potential treatments can be divided into pharmacological and gene therapies that target the toxic downstream effects, gene therapies that target the polyQ SCA genes, and stem cell replacement therapies. Here, we will provide a review on the genetics, mechanisms, and therapeutic progress in polyglutamine spinocerebellar ataxias.

The Expanding Clinical Universe of Polyglutamine Disease

Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases are a group of hereditary neurodegenerative disorders caused by expansion of unstable polyQ repeats in their associated disease proteins. To date, the pathogenesis of each disease remains poorly understood, and there are no effective treatments. Growing evidence has indicated that, in addition to neurodegeneration, polyQ-expanded proteins can cause a wide array of abnormalities in peripheral tissues. Indeed, polyQ-expanded proteins are ubiquitously expressed throughout the body and can affect the function of both the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral tissues. The peripheral effects of polyQ disease proteins include muscle wasting and reduced muscle strength in patients or animal models of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), Huntington's disease (HD), dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA), and spinocerebellar ataxia type 17 (SCA17). Since skeletal muscle pathology can reflect disease progression and is more accessible for treatment than neurodegeneration in the CNS, understanding how polyQ disease proteins affect skeletal muscle will help elucidate disease mechanisms and the development of new therapeutics. In this review, we focus on important findings in terms of skeletal muscle pathology in polyQ diseases and also discuss the potential mechanisms underlying the major peripheral effects of polyQ disease proteins, as well as their therapeutic implications.

A child with intellectual disability and dysmorphism due to complex ring chromosome 6: identification of molecular mechanism with review of literature

Background

Ring chromosome 6 (r(6)) is a rare disorder that mainly occurs as a ‘de novo’ event. Nonetheless, a wide phenotypic spectrum has been reported in r(6) cases, depending on breakpoints, size of involved region, copy number alterations and mosaicism of cells with r(6) and/or monosomy 6 due to loss of r(6).

Case presentation

An 11-year-old male was referred with developmental delay, intellectual disability and microcephaly. Physical examination revealed additionally short stature and multiple facial dysmorphisms. Banding cytogenetic studies revealed a karyotype of mos 46,XY,r(6)(p25.3q27)[54]/45,XY,-6[13]/46,XY,r(6)(::p25.3→q27::p25.3→q27::)[13]/46,XY[6]/47,XY,r(6)(p25.3q27)×2[2]dn. Additionally, molecular karyotyping and molecular cytogenetics confirmed the breakpoints and characterized a 1.3 Mb contiguous duplication at 6p25.3.

Conclusion

The present study has accurately identified copy number alterations caused by ring chromosome formation. A review of the literature suggests that hemizygous expression of TBP gene in 6q27~qter, is likely to be the underlying cause of the phenotype. The phenotypic correlation and clinical severity in r(6) cases continue to remain widely diverse in spite of numerous reports of genomic variations.

Genomic detection of a familial 382 Kb 6q27 deletion in a fetus with isolated severe ventriculomegaly and her affected mother

Terminal deletions of the chromosome 6q27 region are rare genomic abnormalities, linked to specific brain malformations and other neurological phenotypes. Reported cases have variable sized genomic deletions that harbor several genes including the DLL1 and TBP. We report on an inherited 0.38 Mb terminal deletion of chromosome 6q27 in a 22-week fetus with isolated bilateral ventriculomegaly and her affected mother using microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). The deleted region harbors at least seven genes including DLL1 and TBP. The affected mother had a history of hydrocephalus, developmental delay, and seizures commonly associated with DLL1 and TBP 6q27 deletions. This deletion is one of the smallest reported isolated 6q27 terminal deletions. Our data provides additional evidence that haploinsufficiency of the DLL1 and TBP genes may be sufficient to cause the ventriculomegaly, seizures, and developmental delays associated with terminal 6q27 deletions, indicating a plausible role in the abnormal development of the central nervous system.

Genetically modified rodent models of SCA17

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 17 (SCA17) is a type of autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia (ADCA) characterized by variable manifestations, including cerebellar ataxia, dementia, and psychiatric symptoms. Since the identification of a CAG repeat expansion in the TATA-box binding protein (TBP) gene in a patient with ataxia in 1999 and then verification of this expansion in patients with SCA17 in 2001, several SCA17 rodent models, including both knock-in and transgenic models in mice and rats, have been established to explore the phenotypic features and pathogenesis of SCA17. These animal models revealed different pathological changes and phenotypes that are associated with the expression of mutant TBP protein and the CAG repeat lengths. It is important to understand how mutant TBP can cause differential pathological events in SCA17 animal models. In this review, we summarize and compare these animal models for the nature of transgenes and their expression as well as phenotypical features. We also discuss potential directions for future studies. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Modulation of trinucleotide repeat instability by DNA polymerase β polymorphic variant R137Q

Trinucleotide repeat (TNR) instability is associated with human neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Recent studies have pointed out that DNA base excision repair (BER) mediated by DNA polymerase β (pol β) plays a crucial role in governing somatic TNR instability in a damage-location dependent manner. It has been shown that the activities and function of BER enzymes and cofactors can be modulated by their polymorphic variations. This could alter the function of BER in regulating TNR instability. However, the roles of BER polymorphism in modulating TNR instability remain to be elucidated. A previous study has shown that a pol β polymorphic variant, polβR137Q is associated with cancer due to its impaired polymerase activity and its deficiency in interacting with a BER cofactor, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). In this study, we have studied the effect of the pol βR137Q variant on TNR instability. We showed that pol βR137Q exhibited weak DNA synthesis activity to cause TNR deletion during BER. We demonstrated that similar to wild-type pol β, the weak DNA synthesis activity of pol βR137Q allowed it to skip over a small loop formed on the template strand, thereby facilitating TNR deletion during BER. Our results further suggest that carriers with pol βR137Q polymorphic variant may not exhibit an elevated risk of developing human diseases that are associated with TNR instability.

Capturing schizophrenia-like prodromal symptoms in a spinocerebellar ataxia-17 transgenic rat

RATIONALE

The polyglutamine disease spinocerebellar ataxia type 17 (SCA17) is a neurodegenerative disease leading to severe neurological symptoms during development. Additionally, patients affected by SCA17 display psychosis earlier than their motor disorders.

OBJECTIVE

Here the putative psychotic phenotype and endophenotype of transgenic SCA17 rats was examined.

METHODS

The expression of schizophrenia-like symptoms was evaluated over a longitudinal period before and after the onset of neurological symptoms in SCA17. To this end, transgenic SCA17 rats' monoamine neurotransmission was investigated along with their locomotion at baseline and in response to amphetamine using in-vivo microdialysis in free moving conditions, their sensorimotor gating using pre-pulse inhibition of startle reaction, and their object memory using the novel object recognition test as an index of cognitive impairments.

RESULTS

Presymptomatic SCA17 rats displayed dysregulated monoamine levels at baseline and in response to amphetamine compared with control wild-type (wt) rats. At that stage, neither amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion nor sensorimotor gating differed from that in wt rats. Symptomatic SCA17 rats developed sensorimotor gating deficits and also showed an impaired object memory, while their monoaminergic responses remained supersensitive to amphetamine.

CONCLUSIONS

The data of the present study demonstrate a neurochemical endophenotype in SCA17 rats resembling that of prodromal schizophrenia. These findings suggest that a sensitization of the monoamine systems arises early in adulthood in SCA17 rats and may predispose them to express schizophrenia-like symptoms later in life.

Allosteric DNA nanoswitches for controlled release of a molecular cargo triggered by biological inputs

A rationally designed new class of DNA-based nanoswitches allosterically regulated by specific biological targets, antibodies and transcription factors, can load and release a molecular cargo in a controlled fashion.

Here we demonstrate the rational design of a new class of DNA-based nanoswitches which are allosterically regulated by specific biological targets, antibodies and transcription factors, and are able to load and release a molecular cargo (i.e. doxorubicin) in a controlled fashion. In our first model system we rationally designed a stem-loop DNA-nanoswitch that adopts two mutually exclusive conformations: a “Load” conformation containing a doxorubicin-intercalating domain and a “Release” conformation containing a duplex portion recognized by a specific transcription-factor (here Tata Binding Protein). The binding of the transcription factor pushes this conformational equilibrium towards the “Release” state thus leading to doxorubicin release from the nanoswitch. In our second model system we designed a similar stem-loop DNA-nanoswitch for which conformational change and subsequent doxorubicin release can be triggered by a specific antibody. Our approach augments the current tool kit of smart drug release mechanisms regulated by different biological inputs.

Conformational modulation mediated by polyglutamine expansion in CAG repeat expansion disease-associated proteins

We have previously reported TR-FRET based immunoassays to detect a conformational change imparted on huntingtin protein by the polyglutamine expansion, which we confirmed using biophysical methodologies. Using these immunoassays, we now report that polyglutamine expansion influences the conformational properties of other polyglutamine disease proteins, exemplified by the androgen receptor (associated with spinal bulbar muscular atrophy) and TATA binding protein (associated with spinocerebellar ataxia 17). Using artificial constructs bearing short or long polyglutamine expansions or a multimerized, unrelated epitope (mimicking the increase in anti-polyglutamine antibody epitopes present in polyglutamine repeats of increasing length) we confirmed that the conformational TR-FRET based immunoassay detects an intrinsic conformational property of polyglutamine repeats. The TR-FRET based conformational immunoassay may represent a rapid, scalable tool to identify modulators of polyglutamine-mediated conformational change in different proteins associated with CAG triplet repeat disorders.

Large Polyglutamine Repeats Cause Muscle Degeneration in SCA17 Mice

In polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases, large polyQ repeats cause juvenile cases with different symptoms than those of adult-onset patients, who carry smaller expanded polyQ repeats. The mechanisms behind the differential pathology mediated by different polyQ repeat lengths remain unknown. By studying knockin mouse models of spinal cerebellar ataxia-17 (SCA17), we found that a large polyQ (105 glutamines) in the TATA-box-binding protein (TBP) preferentially causes muscle degeneration and reduces the expression of muscle-specific genes. Direct expression of TBP with different polyQ repeats in mouse muscle revealed that muscle degeneration is mediated only by the large polyQ repeats. Different polyQ repeats differentially alter TBP's interaction with neuronal and muscle-specific transcription factors. As a result, the large polyQ repeat decreases the association of MyoD with TBP and DNA promoters. Our findings suggest that specific alterations in protein interactions by large polyQ repeats may account for the unique pathology in juvenile polyQ diseases.

Allele-selective suppression of mutant genes in polyglutamine diseases

Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases are heritable dominant neurological disorders, caused by abnormal CAG tri-nucleotide expansion in the coding sequence of affected genes. Extension of CAG repeats results in the production of aberrant gene products that are deleterious to neurons, such as transcripts with a CAG stem-loop secondary structure, and proteins containing a long stretch of polyQ residues. Thus, determining methods for the prevention or elimination of these mutant gene products from neuronal cells and translating this knowledge to clinical application are currently important goals in the fields of neurology and neurogenetics. Recently, several studies have revealed intriguing findings related to the allele-selective regulation of CAG-expanded genes, and have proposed novel designs to selectively diminish the mutant polyQ proteins. In this review, we focus on the genes, genetically engineered proteins, and oligonucleotides that show potential to modulate the expression of mutant genes. We also discuss their respective molecular functions at the levels of transcription, translation, and post-translation.

Studying polyglutamine diseases in Drosophila

Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases are a family of dominantly transmitted neurodegenerative disorders caused by an abnormal expansion of CAG trinucleotide repeats in the protein-coding regions of the respective disease-causing genes. Despite their simple genetic basis, the etiology of these diseases is far from clear. Over the past two decades, Drosophila has proven to be successful in modeling this family of neurodegenerative disorders, including the faithful recapitulation of pathological features such as polyQ length-dependent formation of protein aggregates and progressive neuronal degeneration. Additionally, it has been valuable in probing the pathogenic mechanisms, in identifying and evaluating disease modifiers, and in helping elucidate the normal functions of disease-causing genes. Knowledge learned from this simple invertebrate organism has had a large impact on our understanding of these devastating brain diseases.

Delineation variable genotype/phenotype correlations of 6q27 terminal deletion derived from dic(6;18)(q27;p10)

Background

Terminal deletion of 6q27 produces a rare syndrome associated with unexplained mental retardation, hypotonia, epilepsy, and multiple malformations. Structural brain malformations are consistently observed, including agenesis of the corpus callosum, hydrocephalus, periventricular nodular heterotopia, polymicrogyria, and cerebellar malformations. Here we report a fetal risk assessment of a 27-year-old woman with mental retardation, hypotonia and dysmorphic features at 17 weeks of pregnancy.

Results

Cytogenetic analyses revealed an addition at chromosome 6qter in the mother. Haploinsufficiency of 6q27 to 6qter (1.3 Mb) and trisomy of the entire short arm of chromosome 18 (15.2 Mb) were found using a single nucleotide polymorphism based array. Results were confirmed by molecular cytogenetics and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. The karyotype of the mother was 46,XX dic(6;18)(6pter → 6q27::18p10 → 18pter).arr [hg19]6q27(169,591,548-170,898,549) × 1,18p11.3p10(12,842-15,375,878) × 3.ish dic(6;18)(q27;p10)(RP11-614P3-,RP11-1035E2+,D18Z1+). Deletion of 6q27 was associated with the structural brain malformations, whereas trisomy of 18p had minor clinical effects. The unbalanced rearrangement of chromosome 6 and chromosome 18 was de novo and was not inherited by the developing fetus.

Conclusions

A rare rearrangement between 6q27 and 18p was identified, which led to a de novo 1.3 Mb deletion of 6q27 and a 15.2 Mb duplication of 18p in an adult with mental retardation, hypotonia, epilepsy, and multiple malformations.

Deactivation of TBP contributes to SCA17 pathogenesis

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 17 (SCA17) is an autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia caused by the expansion of polyglutamine (polyQ) within the TATA box-binding protein (TBP). Previous studies have shown that polyQ-expanded TBP forms neurotoxic aggregates and alters downstream genes. However, how expanded polyQ tracts affect the function of TBP and the link between dysfunctional TBP and SCA17 is not clearly understood. In this study, we generated novel Drosophila models for SCA17 that recapitulate pathological features such as aggregate formation, mobility defects and premature death. In addition to forming neurotoxic aggregates, we determined that polyQ-expanded TBP reduces its own intrinsic DNA-binding and transcription abilities. Dysfunctional TBP also disrupts normal TBP function. Furthermore, heterozygous dTbp amorph mutant flies exhibited SCA17-like phenotypes and flies expressing polyQ-expanded TBP exhibited enhanced retinal degeneration, suggesting that loss of TBP function may contribute to SCA17 pathogenesis. We further determined that the downregulation of TBP activity enhances retinal degeneration in SCA3 and Huntington's disease fly models, indicating that the deactivation of TBP is likely to play a common role in polyQ-induced neurodegeneration.

Ataxia and Purkinje cell degeneration in mice lacking the CAMTA1 transcription factor

Members of the calmodulin-binding transcription activator (CAMTA) family of proteins function as calcium-sensitive regulators of gene expression in multicellular organisms ranging from plants to humans. Here, we show that global or nervous system deletion of CAMTA1 in mice causes severe ataxia with Purkinje cell degeneration and cerebellar atrophy, partially resembling the consequences of haploinsufficiency of the human CAMTA1 locus. Gene-expression analysis identified a large collection of neuronal genes that were dysregulated in the brains of CAMTA1-mutant mice, and elucidation of a consensus sequence for binding of CAMTA proteins to DNA revealed the association of CAMTA-binding sites with many of these genes. We conclude that CAMTA1 plays an essential role in the control of Purkinje cell function and survival. CAMTA1-mutant mice provide a model to study the molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases and for screening potential therapeutic interventions for such disorders.

Ataxin-3 protein and RNA toxicity in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3: current insights and emerging therapeutic strategies

Ataxin-3 is a ubiquitously expressed deubiqutinating enzyme with important functions in the proteasomal protein degradation pathway and regulation of transcription. The C-terminus of the ataxin-3 protein contains a polyglutamine (PolyQ) region that, when mutationally expanded to over 52 glutamines, causes the neurodegenerative disease spinocerebellar ataxia 3 (SCA3). In spite of extensive research, the molecular mechanisms underlying the cellular toxicity resulting from mutant ataxin-3 remain elusive and no preventive treatment is currently available. It has become clear over the last decade that the hallmark intracellular ataxin-3 aggregates are likely not the main toxic entity in SCA3. Instead, the soluble PolyQ containing fragments arising from proteolytic cleavage of ataxin-3 by caspases and calpains are now regarded to be of greater influence in pathogenesis. In addition, recent evidence suggests potential involvement of a RNA toxicity component in SCA3 and other PolyQ expansion disorders, increasing the pathogenic complexity. Herein, we review the functioning of ataxin-3 and the involvement of known protein and RNA toxicity mechanisms of mutant ataxin-3 that have been discovered, as well as future opportunities for therapeutic intervention.

A conserved eEF2 coding variant in SCA26 leads to loss of translational fidelity and increased susceptibility to proteostatic insult

The autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a genetically heterogeneous group of disorders exhibiting cerebellar atrophy and Purkinje cell degeneration whose subtypes arise from 31 distinct genetic loci. Our group previously published the locus for SCA26 on chromosome 19p13.3. In this study, we performed targeted deep sequencing of the critical interval in order to identify candidate causative variants in individuals from the SCA26 family. We identified a single variant that co-segregates with the disease phenotype that produces a single amino acid substitution in eukaryotic elongation factor 2. This substitution, P596H, sits in a domain critical for maintaining reading frame during translation. The yeast equivalent, P580H EF2, demonstrated impaired translocation, detected as an increased rate of -1 programmed ribosomal frameshift read-through in a dual-luciferase assay for observing translational recoding. This substitution also results in a greater susceptibility to proteostatic disruption, as evidenced by a more robust activation of a reporter gene driven by unfolded protein response activation upon challenge with dithiothreitol or heat shock in our yeast model system. Our results present a compelling candidate mutation and mechanism for the pathogenesis of SCA26 and further support the role of proteostatic disruption in neurodegenerative diseases.

Brain pathology of spinocerebellar ataxias

The autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias (ADCAs) represent a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative diseases with progressive ataxia and cerebellar degeneration. The current classification of this disease group is based on the underlying genetic defects and their typical disease courses. According to this categorization, ADCAs are divided into the spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) with a progressive disease course, and the episodic ataxias (EA) with episodic occurrences of ataxia. The prominent disease symptoms of the currently known and genetically defined 31 SCA types result from damage to the cerebellum and interconnected brain grays and are often accompanied by more specific extra-cerebellar symptoms. In the present review, we report the genetic and clinical background of the known SCAs and present the state of neuropathological investigations of brain tissue from SCA patients in the final disease stages. Recent findings show that the brain is commonly seriously affected in the polyglutamine SCAs (i.e. SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, SCA6, SCA7, and SCA17) and that the patterns of brain damage in these diseases overlap considerably in patients suffering from advanced disease stages. In the more rarely occurring non-polyglutamine SCAs, post-mortem neuropathological data currently are scanty and investigations have been primarily performed in vivo by means of MRI brain imaging. Only a minority of SCAs exhibit symptoms and degenerative patterns allowing for a clear and unambiguous diagnosis of the disease, e.g. retinal degeneration in SCA7, tau aggregation in SCA11, dentate calcification in SCA20, protein depositions in the Purkinje cell layer in SCA31, azoospermia in SCA32, and neurocutaneous phenotype in SCA34. The disease proteins of polyglutamine ataxias and some non-polyglutamine ataxias aggregate as cytoplasmic or intranuclear inclusions and serve as morphological markers. Although inclusions may impair axonal transport, bind transcription factors, and block protein quality control, detailed molecular and pathogenetic consequences remain to be determined.

RNA therapy for polyglutamine neurodegenerative diseases

Polyglutamine neurodegenerative diseases result from the expansion of a trinucleotide CAG repeat, encoding a polyglutamine tract in the disease-causing protein. The process by which each polyglutamine protein exerts its toxicity is complex, involving a variety of mechanisms including transcriptional dysregulation, proteasome impairment and mitochondrial dysfunction. Thus, the most effective and widely applicable therapies are likely to be those designed to eliminate production of the mutant protein upstream of these deleterious effects. RNA-based approaches represent promising therapeutic strategies for polyglutamine diseases, offering the potential to suppress gene expression in a sequence-specific manner at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. In particular, gene silencing therapies capable of discrimination between mutant and wildtype alleles, based on disease-linked polymorphisms or CAG repeat length, might prove crucial in cases where a loss of wild type function is deleterious. Novel methods, such as gene knockdown and replacement, seek to eliminate the technical difficulties associated with allele-specific silencing by avoiding the need to target specific mutations. With a variety of RNA technologies currently being developed to target multiple facets of polyglutamine pathogenesis, the emergence of an effective therapy seems imminent. However, numerous technical obstacles associated with design, discrimination and delivery must be overcome before RNA therapy can be effectively applied in the clinical setting.

Assessing the contribution of heterogeneous distributions of oligomers to aggregation mechanisms of polyglutamine peptides

Polyglutamine aggregation is associated with neurodegeneration in nine different disorders. The effects of polyglutamine length and peptide concentration on the kinetics of aggregation were previously analyzed using a homogeneous nucleation model that assumes the presence of a single bottleneck along the free energy profile G(n), where n denotes the number of polyglutamine molecules. The observation of stable, soluble oligomers as intermediates along aggregation pathways is refractory to the assumptions of homogeneous nucleation. Furthermore, the analysis of in vitro kinetic data using a specific variant of homogeneous nucleation leads to confounding observations such as fractional and/or negative values for estimates of the critical nucleus size. Here, we show that the homogeneous nucleation model is inherently robust and is unlikely to yield fractional values if the underlying process is strictly homogeneous with a free energy profile G(n) that displays a sharp maximum at n=n*, where n* corresponds to the critical nucleus. Conversely, a model that includes oligomers of different size and different potentials for supporting turnover into fibrils yields estimates of fractional and/or negative nucleus sizes when the kinetic data are analyzed using the assumption of a homogeneous process. This model provides a route to reconcile independent observations of heterogeneous distributions of oligomers and other non-fibrillar aggregates with results obtained from analysis of aggregation kinetics using the assumption of a homogeneous nucleation model. In the new model, the mechanisms of fibril assembly are governed by the relative stabilities of two types of oligomers viz., fibril-competent and fibril-incompetent oligomers, the size of the smallest fibril competent oligomer, and rates for conformational conversion within different oligomers.

Effects of retinoic acid and butyric acid on the expression of prestin and Gata-3 in organotypic cultures of the organ of corti of newborn rats

Prestin is the motor protein of the outer hair cells of the organ of Corti and a key factor in ensuring a high level of sensitivity of mammalian hearing. The factors that influence prestin expression are still largely unknown. We studied the effects of the application of retinoic acid, a ligand of a nuclear receptor, and of butyric acid, an inhibitor of histone deacetylase activity, on the expression of mRNA of prestin and Gata-3 in the organotypic culture of the organ of Corti of newborn rats using RT-PCR. Application of retinoic acid at concentrations of 1-50 μM results in a dose-dependent expression decrease after two days in culture. Treatment with sodium butyrate (0.5-2 mM) elevated the expression of prestin and Gata-3. Statistically significant correlations between Gata-3 and prestin mRNA levels were observed under all conditions. The data indicate that retinoid nuclear transcription factors, GATA-3 and histone acetylation/deacetylation processes may have a regulatory role to play in prestin expression.

TBP-related factors: a paradigm of diversity in transcription initiation

TATA binding protein (TBP) is a key component of the eukaryotic transcription initiation machinery. It functions in several complexes involved in core promoter recognition and assembly of the pre-initiation complex. Through gene duplication eukaryotes have expanded their repertoire of TATA binding proteins, leading to a variable composition of the transcription machinery. In vertebrates this repertoire consists of TBP, TBP-like factor (TLF, also known as TBPL1, TRF2) and TBP2 (also known as TBPL2, TRF3). All three factors are essential, with TLF and TBP2 playing important roles in development and differentiation, in particular gametogenesis and early embryonic development, whereas TBP dominates somatic cell transcription. TBP-related factors may compete for promoters when co-expressed, but also show preferential interactions with subsets of promoters. Initiation factor switching occurs on account of differential expression of these proteins in gametes, embryos and somatic cells. Paralogs of TFIIA and TAF subunits account for additional variation in the transcription initiation complex. This variation in core promoter recognition accommodates the expanded regulatory capacity and specificity required for germ cells and embryonic development in higher eukaryotes.

A Drosophila model of the neurodegenerative disease SCA17 reveals a role of RBP-J/Su(H) in modulating the pathological outcome

Expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) tract in the human TATA-box-binding protein (hTBP) causes the neurodegenerative disease spinocerebellar ataxia 17 (SCA17). To investigate the pathological effects of polyQ expansion, we established a SCA17 model in Drosophila. Similar to SCA17 patients, transgenic flies expressing a mutant hTBP protein with an expanded polyQ tract (hTBP80Q) exhibit progressive neurodegeneration, late-onset locomotor impairment and shortened lifespan. Microarray analysis reveals that hTBP80Q causes widespread and time-dependent transcriptional dysregulation in Drosophila. In a candidate screen for genetic modifiers, we identified RBP-J/Su(H), a transcription factor that contains Q/N-rich domains and participates in Notch signaling. Knockdown of Su(H) by RNAi further enhances hTBP80Q-induced eye defects, whereas overexpression of Su(H) suppresses such defects. While the Su(H) transcript level is not significantly altered in hTBP80Q-expressing flies, genes that contain Su(H)-binding sites are among those that are dysregulated. We further show that hTBP80Q interacts more efficiently with Su(H) than wild-type hTBP, suggesting that a reduction in the fraction of Su(H) available for its normal cellular functions contributes to hTBP80Q-induced phenotypes. While the Notch signaling pathway has been implicated in several neurological disorders, our study suggests a possibility that the activity of its nuclear component RBP-J/Su(H) may modulate the pathological progression in SCA17 patients.

Expression analysis of prestin and selected transcription factors in newborn rats

Transcription factors (TFs) have a central role to play in regulating gene expression. To analyze the co-expression patterns of selected TFs with the motor protein prestin of the outer hair cells, we applied an real-time PCR approach combining several kinds of information: (i) expression changes during postnatal development, (ii) expression changes by exposure of organotypic cultures of the organ of Corti to factors which significantly affect prestin expression [thyroid hormone (T4), retinoic acid (RA), butyric acid (BA), increased KCl concentration] and (iii) changes along the apical-basal gradient. We found that the mRNA levels of the TF Brn-3c (Pou4f3), a member of the POU family, are significantly associated with the regulation of prestin during postnatal development and in cultures supplemented with T4 (0.5 μM), BA (0.5-2.0 mM), and high KCl (50 mM) concentration. The mRNA level of the constitutively active TF C/ebpb (CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta) correlates positively with the prestin expression during postnatal development and in cultures exposed to T4 and RA (50-100 μM). The mRNA levels of the calcium-dependent TF CaRF correlates significantly with the prestin expression in cultures exposed to T4 and high KCl concentration. The observed coexpression patterns may suggest that the TFs Brn-3c, C/ebpb, and Carf contribute to regulating the expression of prestin under the investigated conditions.

Decrease of prestin expression by increased potassium concentration in organotypic cultures of the organ of Corti of newborn rats

Prestin is the motor protein of the outer hair cells of the organ of Corti and a key factor in ensuring a high sensitivity level of mammalian hearing. In the present study, we examined the effects of increased extracellular potassium (K(+)) concentration on the expression of prestin mRNA and the transcription factors Gata-3 and Carf in the organotypic culture of the organ of Corti of newborn rats. Mannitol and NaCl were used to analyze possible effects of hyperosmotic stress or ion-specific changes, respectively. An increase in prestin expression by a factor of 1.5-2.0 was seen in cultures grown in the presence of 5mM K(+). Potassium concentration of 35 and 55 mM induced a parallel decrease in prestin and Carf expression, but Gata-3 expression increased. Mannitol had no effect on gene expression whereas increased NaCl concentrations decreased prestin, but not Carf expression. The data suggest that chronic depolarization might decrease the prestin expression and possibly contribute to hearing loss and tinnitus.

PolyQ repeat expansions in ATXN2 associated with ALS are CAA interrupted repeats

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating, rapidly progressive disease leading to paralysis and death. Recently, intermediate length polyglutamine (polyQ) repeats of 27-33 in ATAXIN-2 (ATXN2), encoding the ATXN2 protein, were found to increase risk for ALS. In ATXN2, polyQ expansions of ≥ 34, which are pure CAG repeat expansions, cause spinocerebellar ataxia type 2. However, similar length expansions that are interrupted with other codons, can present atypically with parkinsonism, suggesting that configuration of the repeat sequence plays an important role in disease manifestation in ATXN2 polyQ expansion diseases. Here we determined whether the expansions in ATXN2 associated with ALS were pure or interrupted CAG repeats, and defined single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs695871 and rs695872 in exon 1 of the gene, to assess haplotype association. We found that the expanded repeat alleles of 40 ALS patients and 9 long-repeat length controls were all interrupted, bearing 1-3 CAA codons within the CAG repeat. 21/21 expanded ALS chromosomes with 3CAA interruptions arose from one haplotype (GT), while 18/19 expanded ALS chromosomes with <3CAA interruptions arose from a different haplotype (CC). Moreover, age of disease onset was significantly earlier in patients bearing 3 interruptions vs fewer, and was distinct between haplotypes. These results indicate that CAG repeat expansions in ATXN2 associated with ALS are uniformly interrupted repeats and that the nature of the repeat sequence and haplotype, as well as length of polyQ repeat, may play a role in the neurological effect conferred by expansions in ATXN2.

Human brain weight is correlated with expression of the 'housekeeping genes' beta-2-microglobulin (β2M) and TATA-binding protein (TBP)

AIMS

Many variables affect mRNA measurements in post mortem human brain tissue. Brain weight has not hitherto been considered to be such a factor. This study examined whether there is any relationship between brain weight and mRNA abundance.

METHODS

We investigated quantitative real-time RT-PCR data for five 'housekeeping genes' using the 104 adult brains of the Stanley Microarray Consortium series. Eleven data sets were analysed, from cerebellum, hippocampus, and anterior cingulate cortex. We used a specified sequence of correlations, partial correlations and multiple regression analyses.

RESULTS

Brain weight correlated with the 'raw' (i.e. non-normalized) data for two mRNAs, β2-microglobulin and TATA-binding protein, measured in cerebellum and hippocampus, respectively. In hippocampus, the geometric mean of three housekeeping gene transcripts also correlated with brain weight. The correlations were significant after adjusting for age, sex and other confounders, and the effect of brain weight was confirmed using multiple regression. No correlations with brain weight were seen in the anterior cingulate cortex, nor for the other mRNAs examined.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings were not anticipated; they need replication in another brain series, and a more systematic survey is indicated. In the interim, we suggest that quantitative gene expression studies in human brain should inspect for a potential influence of brain weight, especially as the affected transcripts are commonly used as reference genes for normalization purposes in studies of neurological and psychiatric disorders. The relationship of brain weight with β2-microglobulin mRNA may reflect the roles of major histocompatibility complex class I genes in synapse formation and plasticity.

A kinetic model of TBP auto-regulation exhibits bistability

Background

TATA Binding Protein (TBP) is required for transcription initiation by all three eukaryotic RNA polymerases. It participates in transcriptional initiation at the majority of eukaryotic gene promoters, either by direct association to the TATA box upstream of the transcription start site or by indirectly localizing to the promoter through other proteins. TBP exists in solution in a dimeric form but binds to DNA as a monomer. Here, we present the first mathematical model for auto-catalytic TBP expression and use it to study the role of dimerization in maintaining the steady state TBP level.

Results

We show that the autogenous regulation of TBP results in a system that is capable of exhibiting three steady states: an unstable low TBP state, one stable state corresponding to a physiological TBP concentration, and another stable steady state corresponding to unviable cells where no TBP is expressed. Our model predicts that a basal level of TBP is required to establish the transcription of the TBP gene, and hence for cell viability. It also predicts that, for the condition corresponding to a typical mammalian cell, the high-TBP state and cell viability is sensitive to variation in DNA binding strength. We use the model to explore the effect of the dimer in buffering the response to changes in TBP levels, and show that for some physiological conditions the dimer is not important in buffering against perturbations.

Conclusions

Results on the necessity of a minimum basal TBP level support the in vivo observations that TBP is maternally inherited, providing the small amount of TBP required to establish its ubiquitous expression. The model shows that the system is sensitive to variations in parameters indicating that it is vulnerable to mutations in TBP. A reduction in TBP-DNA binding constant can lead the system to a regime where the unviable state is the only steady state. Contrary to the current hypotheses, we show that under some physiological conditions the dimer is not very important in restoring the system to steady state. This model demonstrates the use of mathematical modelling to investigate system behaviour and generate hypotheses governing the dynamics of such nonlinear biological systems.

Reviewers

This article was reviewed by Tomasz Lipniacki, James Faeder and Anna Marciniak-Czochra.

Tau phosphorylation, aggregation, and cell toxicity

Protein aggregation takes place in many neurodegenerative disorders. However, there is a controversy about the possible toxicity of these protein aggregates. In this review, this controversy is discussed, focussing on the tau aggregation that takes place in those disorders known as tauopathies.

Expression of prestin and Gata-3,-2,-1 mRNA in the rat organ of Corti during the postnatal period and in culture

Based on observations that mutations of GATA-3 are responsible for the HDR-syndrome (hypoparathyroidism, deafness, renal defects) and that GATA-transcription factors have an important role to play in inner ear development, we hypothesized that these transcription factors may be involved in regulatory changes of prestin transcription. To prove this, we examined in parallel the expression of mRNA of prestin and Gata-3,-2 and Gata-1 in the organ of Corti during early postnatal development of rats and in organotypic cultures. Remarkable relations are observed between prestin and Gata-3,-2 expression in organ of Corti preparations in vivo and in vitro: (i) Gata-3,-2 expression display similar apical-basal gradients as prestin mRNA levels. (ii) The prestin expression increases between postnatal day two and postnatal day eight by a factor of about four in the apical and middle segments and by a factor of two in the basal part. Highly significant Pearson correlation coefficients were observed between Gata-3,-2 mRNA and prestin levels when the data were evaluated by regression analyses. (iii) Parallel changes of prestin mRNA and Gata-3,-2 mRNA levels were observed in response to thyroid hormone and to gemfibrozil application. These observations suggest a regulatory role played by the Gata-3,-2 transcription factors in prestin expression.

Transcriptional dysregulation of TrkA associates with neurodegeneration in spinocerebellar ataxia type 17

TATA binding protein (TBP), a universal transcription factor, is broadly required by nuclear RNA polymerases for the initiation of transcription. TBP contains a polymorphic polyglutamine tract in its N-terminal region, and expansion of this tract leads to spinocerebellar ataxia type 17 (SCA17), one of nine dominantly inherited neurodegenerative diseases caused by polyglutamine expansion in the affected proteins. The expanded polyglutamine proteins are ubiquitously expressed, but cause selective and characteristic neurodegeneration in distinct brain regions in each disease. Unlike many other polyglutamine proteins, whose functions are not yet fully understood, TBP is a well-characterized transcription factor that is restricted to the nucleus. Thus, investigating how mutant TBP mediates neuropathology should help elucidate the mechanisms by which transcriptional dysregulation contributes to neuronal dysfunction and/or neurodegeneration in polyglutamine diseases. To this end, we characterized cellular and mouse models expressing polyQ-expanded TBP. The cell model exhibits characteristic features of neuronal dysfunction, including decreased cell viability and defective neurite outgrowth. We found that the high-affinity nerve growth factor receptor, TrkA, is down-regulated by mutant TBP in cells. Down-regulation of TrkA also occurs in the cerebellum of SCA17 transgenic mice prior to Purkinje cell degeneration. Mutant TBP binds more Sp1, reduces its occupancy of the TrkA promoter and inhibits the activity of the TrkA promoter. These findings suggest that the transcriptional down-regulation of TrkA by mutant TBP contributes to SCA17 pathogenesis.

A splice variant of the TATA-box binding protein encoding the polyglutamine-containing N-terminal domain that accumulates in Alzheimer's disease

Previously we have reported the accumulation of an N-terminal fragment of the TATA-box binding protein (TBP) in Alzheimer's disease brain tissue and here we report the identification of a naturally occurring TBP splice variant as a likely mechanism for its production. The splice variant described here encodes the polyglutamine-containing N-terminal domain of this key transcription factor. We demonstrate the expression of the splice variant mRNA in a variety of human tissues and that the resulting protein forms inclusions in cell culture transfection studies. The unusual properties of the variant protein suggest that it may be functionally relevant in late onset neurodegenerative diseases.

Transcriptomic profiles of Drosophila melanogaster third instar larval midgut and responses to oxidative stress

Oligoarray analysis was used to determine the number and nature of genes expressed in third instar Drosophila melanogaster larval midguts. The majority of transcripts were associated with protein synthesis and metabolism. Serine proteases were the main proteolytic enzymes detected. Some 40% of the cytochrome P450 genes and 74% of the glutathione S transferases (GSTs) in the genome of D. melanogaster were observed to be expressed in the midgut by oligoarray analysis. We also identified potential transcription factor binding motifs (TFBMs) of P450s, GSTs and carboxylesterases. Many of the midgut-expressed GST genes contained candidate TFBMs homologous to TFBMs in mammals that have been associated with responses to oxidative stress. We also investigated the response of GSTs in the midgut to dietary H2O2, which showed a dosage-based differential response.

The collection and processing of human brain tissue for research

To further understand the neuroanatomy, neurochemistry and neuropathology of the normal and diseased human brain, it is essential to have access to human brain tissue where the biological and chemical nature of the tissue is optimally preserved. We have established a human brain bank where brain tissue is optimally processed and stored in order to provide a resource to facilitate neuroscience research of the human brain in health and disease. A donor programme has been established in consultation with the community to provide for the post-mortem donation of brain tissue to the brain bank. We are using this resource of human brain tissue to further investigate the basis of normal neuronal functioning in the human brain as well as the mechanisms of neuronal dysfunction and degeneration in neurodegenerative diseases. We have established a protocol for the preservation of post-mortem adult human brain tissue firstly by snap-freezing unfixed brain tissue and secondly by chemical fixation and then storage of this tissue at -80 degrees C in a human brain bank. Several research techniques such as receptor autoradiography, DNA and RNA analysis, are carried out on the unfixed tissue and immunohistochemical and histological analysis is carried out on the fixed human tissue. Comparison of tissue from normal control cases and from cases with neurodegenerative disorders is carried out in order to document the changes that occur in the brain in these disorders and to further investigate the underlying pathogenesis of these devastating neurological diseases.

A role for voltage-dependent anion channel Vdac1 in polyglutamine-mediated neuronal cell death

Expansion of trinucleotide repeats in coding and non-coding regions of genes is associated with sixteen neurodegenerative disorders. However, the molecular effects that lead to neurodegeneration have remained elusive. We have explored the role of transcriptional dysregulation by TATA-box binding protein (TBP) containing an expanded polyglutamine stretch in a mouse neuronal cell culture based model. We find that mouse neuronal cells expressing a variant of human TBP harboring an abnormally expanded polyQ tract not only form intranuclear aggregates, but also show transcription dysregulation of the voltage dependent anion channel, Vdac1, increased cytochrome c release from the mitochondria and upregulation of genes involved in localized neuronal translation. On the other hand, unfolded protein response seemed to be unaffected. Consistent with an increased transcriptional effect, we observe an elevated promoter occupancy by TBP in vivo in TATA containing and TATA-less promoters of differentially expressed genes. Our study suggests a link between transcriptional dysfunction and cell death in trinucleotide repeat mediated neuronal dysfunction through voltage dependent anion channel, Vdac1, which has been recently recognized as a critical determinant of cell death.