Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SIVIA) is a devastating inherited neurodegenerative disease causing progressive loss of motor functions due to malfunction of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) and eventual loss of motor neurons. SMA is caused by loss of Survival of Motor Neuron (SMN1), a component of the nuclear gemin complex which is thought to mediate assembly and transport of snRNP complexes and thus control the synthesis and delivery of key synaptic proteins. However, the identity and function of relevant SMN target genes and the precise molecular role of SMN at the NMJ remain largely a mystery. The proposed project focus will be to use simple genetic model systems to dissect the mechanism(s) by which SMN controls synaptic form and function, and thus identify likely targets for interventions to attenuate SMA in mammalian models or human patients. We will be using genetic approaches in Drosophila to identify functional modifiers of SMN mutations and will study them in both Drosophila as well as C.elegans (Artavanis-Tsakonas, van Vactor and Hart Laboratories). Mammalian cell assays (Rubin laboratory) will extend and corroborate the studies in invertebrates while possible functional relationships and pharmacological interventions identified in mammalian cells will be tested using the sophisticated genetic tools that C elegans and Drosophila offer. Each system has unique experimental advantages and the integration of the proposed analysis across vertebrates and invertebrates offers exceptional promise for an in depth understanding of SMN biology and pathology while, importantly, it carries the promise of identifying novel therapeutic avenues.

Public Health Relevance

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is an often fatal childhood motor neuron disease. We propose to test molecules and pathways, identified in various types of screening campaigns, to see if they are able to prevent the degenerative changes that accompany this disease. Results of these studies could lead to novel therapeutics that reduce or eliminate the symptoms of SMA.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Program Projects (P01)
Project #
5P01NS066888-03
Application #
8291245
Study Section
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Initial Review Group (NSD)
Program Officer
Porter, John D
Project Start
2010-08-01
Project End
2015-07-31
Budget Start
2012-08-01
Budget End
2013-07-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$1,319,470
Indirect Cost
$421,086
Name
Harvard University
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
047006379
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
Rodriguez-Muela, Natalia; Parkhitko, Andrey; Grass, Tobias et al. (2018) Blocking p62-dependent SMN degradation ameliorates spinal muscular atrophy disease phenotypes. J Clin Invest 128:3008-3023
Rodriguez-Muela, Natalia; Litterman, Nadia K; Norabuena, Erika M et al. (2017) Single-Cell Analysis of SMN Reveals Its Broader Role in Neuromuscular Disease. Cell Rep 18:1484-1498
O'Hern, Patrick J; do Carmo G Gonçalves, Inês; Brecht, Johanna et al. (2017) Decreased microRNA levels lead to deleterious increases in neuronal M2 muscarinic receptors in Spinal Muscular Atrophy models. Elife 6:
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