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The Journal of Neuroscience, February 27, 2008, 28(9):1997-2005; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4231-07.2008

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Neurobiology of Disease
Motor Neuron Disease Occurring in a Mutant Dynactin Mouse Model Is Characterized by Defects in Vesicular Trafficking

Fiona M. Laird,^1,4 * Mohamed H. Farah,^1,4 * Steven Ackerley,^1,4 *  Ahmet Hoke,^2,3 Nicholas Maragakis,³ Jeffrey D. Rothstein,^2,3 John Griffin,³ Donald L. Price,^1,2,3,4 Lee J. Martin,^1,2,4 and Philip C. Wong^1,2,4

Departments of ¹Pathology, ²Neuroscience, and ³Neurology, and ⁴Division of Neuropathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205

Correspondence should be addressed to Philip C. Wong, Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 558 Ross Research Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205-2196. Email: wong{at}jhmi.edu

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal and progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by weakness, muscle atrophy, and spasticity, is the most common adult-onset motor neuron disease. Although the majority of ALS cases are sporadic, 5–10% are familial, including those linked to mutations in SOD1 (Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase). Missense mutations in a dynactin gene (DCTN1) encoding the p150^Glued subunit of dynactin have been linked to both familial and sporadic ALS. To determine the molecular mechanism whereby mutant dynactin p150^Glued causes selective degeneration of motor neurons, we generated and characterized mice expressing either wild-type or mutant human dynactin p150^Glued. Neuronal expression of mutant, but not wild type, dynactin p150^Glued causes motor neuron disease in these animals that are characterized by defects in vesicular transport in cell bodies of motor neurons, axonal swelling and axo-terminal degeneration. Importantly, we provide evidence that autophagic cell death is implicated in the pathogenesis of mutant p150^Glued mice. This novel mouse model will be instrumental for not only clarifying disease mechanisms in ALS, but also for testing therapeutic strategies to ameliorate this devastating disease.

Key words: dynactin; p150^Glued; ALS; motor neuron disease model; vesicular trafficking; autophagy

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Received Sept. 14, 2007; revised Dec. 13, 2007; accepted Jan. 6, 2008.

Correspondence should be addressed to Philip C. Wong, Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 558 Ross Research Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205-2196. Email: wong{at}jhmi.edu

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				E. Teuling, V. van Dis, P. S. Wulf, E. D. Haasdijk, A. Akhmanova, C. C. Hoogenraad, and D. Jaarsma A novel mouse model with impaired dynein/dynactin function develops amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-like features in motor neurons and improves lifespan in SOD1-ALS mice Hum. Mol. Genet., September 15, 2008; 17(18): 2849 - 2862. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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