Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is caused by expansion of a glutamine repeat in the amino-terminal region of huntingtin. Despite its widespread expression, mutant huntingtin induces selective neuronal loss in striatal neurons. Here we report that, in mutant mice expressing HD repeats, the production and aggregation of N-terminal huntingtin fragments preferentially occur in HD-affected neurons and their processes and axonal terminals. N-terminal fragments of mutant huntingtin form aggregates and induce neuritic degeneration in cultured striatal neurons. N-terminal mutant huntingtin also binds to synaptic vesicles and inhibits their glutamate uptake in vitro. The specific processing and accumulation of toxic fragments of N-terminal huntingtin in HD-affected striatal neurons, especially in their neuronal processes and axonal terminals, may contribute to the selective neuropathology of HD.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Corpus Striatum / cytology
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Corpus Striatum / metabolism*
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Corpus Striatum / ultrastructure
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Huntingtin Protein
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Mice
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Mice, Mutant Strains
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Mutation
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / chemistry
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
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Neurites / metabolism
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Neurites / pathology
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Neurons / metabolism*
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Neurons / pathology
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Neurons / ultrastructure
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Nuclear Proteins / chemistry
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Nuclear Proteins / genetics
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Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
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Peptide Fragments / genetics
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Peptide Fragments / metabolism
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Peptides / genetics
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Rats
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
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Synaptic Vesicles / metabolism*
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Synaptic Vesicles / pathology
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Synaptic Vesicles / ultrastructure
Substances
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Htt protein, mouse
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Htt protein, rat
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Huntingtin Protein
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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Nuclear Proteins
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Peptide Fragments
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Peptides
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins
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polyglutamine