RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Motor Neuron Disease Occurring in a Mutant Dynactin Mouse Model Is Characterized by Defects in Vesicular Trafficking
JF The Journal of Neuroscience
JO J. Neurosci.
FD Society for Neuroscience
SP 1997
OP 2005
DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4231-07.2008
VO 28
IS 9
A1 Fiona M. Laird
A1 Mohamed H. Farah
A1 Steven Ackerley
A1 Ahmet Hoke
A1 Nicholas Maragakis
A1 Jeffrey D. Rothstein
A1 John Griffin
A1 Donald L. Price
A1 Lee J. Martin
A1 Philip C. Wong
YR 2008
UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/28/9/1997.abstract
AB 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 p150Glued subunit of dynactin have been linked to both familial and sporadic ALS. To determine the molecular mechanism whereby mutant dynactin p150Glued causes selective degeneration of motor neurons, we generated and characterized mice expressing either wild-type or mutant human dynactin p150Glued. Neuronal expression of mutant, but not wild type, dynactin p150Glued 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 p150Glued 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.