The purpose of this proposal is to gain insight into the basic mechanisms underlying human neurodegenerative disease using Drosophila as a readily accessible model system. The subject of the present application is a Drosophila mutant called swiss-cheese (sws). SWS shows progressive degeneration of the adult nervous system. SWS is the functional ortholog of human Neuropathy Target Esterase (NTE), the apparent molecular target in organophosphate-induced delayed neuropathy (OPIDN). OPIDN is a distal axonopathy similar to a large number of other peripheral neuropathies associated with age-related, genetic, metabolic and toxic conditions. In addition, recent data suggest that, a neuronal specific knock-out of NTE in mice also causes neurodegeneration. Although NTE has been studied for 20 years and as many as 500,000 cases of organophosphate (OP) poisoning through pesticides or nerve agents occur each year, nothing is known about the biological function of this important protein. Therefore, this project aims to further characterize SWS and determine the role it plays in neurodegeneration and axonopathy. Drosophila reveals the neurodegenerative phenotype and provides an easy accessible model system. Especially genetic studies using mice are not easy feasible and yeast and Caenorhabditis elegans knock-outs do not reveal a phenotype. The studies outlined in this proposal focus on the identification and characterization of protein domains and the biological substrate. addition, the pathways in which SWS functions will be elucidated by molecular and genetic approaches (creation and functional analysis of flies expressing different constructs, two-hybrid screens and genetic interaction screens). The functional analysis will eventually lead to an understanding of the physiological function of SWS and why it is required to prevent axonal degeneration and neural cell death. An insight into the normal function of SWS can then help to better plan future studies to understand the involvement of NTE in OP toxicity and OPIDN in humans.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS047663-04
Application #
7259435
Study Section
Neurodegeneration and Biology of Glia Study Section (NDBG)
Program Officer
Sutherland, Margaret L
Project Start
2004-07-01
Project End
2009-04-30
Budget Start
2007-07-01
Budget End
2009-04-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$231,765
Indirect Cost
Name
Oregon Health and Science University
Department
Neurosciences
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
096997515
City
Portland
State
OR
Country
United States
Zip Code
97239
Cassar, Marlène; Sunderhaus, Elizabeth; Wentzell, Jill S et al. (2018) The PKA-C3 catalytic subunit is required in two pairs of interneurons for successful mating of Drosophila. Sci Rep 8:2458
McFerrin, Janis; Patton, Bruce L; Sunderhaus, Elizabeth R et al. (2017) NTE/PNPLA6 is expressed in mature Schwann cells and is required for glial ensheathment of Remak fibers. Glia 65:804-816
Sunderhaus, Elizabeth R; Kretzschmar, Doris (2016) Mass Histology to Quantify Neurodegeneration in Drosophila. J Vis Exp :
Dutta, Sudeshna; Rieche, Franziska; Eckl, Nina et al. (2016) Glial expression of Swiss cheese (SWS), the Drosophila orthologue of neuropathy target esterase (NTE), is required for neuronal ensheathment and function. Dis Model Mech 9:283-94
Kmoch, S; Majewski, J; Ramamurthy, V et al. (2015) Mutations in PNPLA6 are linked to photoreceptor degeneration and various forms of childhood blindness. Nat Commun 6:5614
Bolkan, Bonnie J; Kretzschmar, Doris (2014) Loss of Tau results in defects in photoreceptor development and progressive neuronal degeneration in Drosophila. Dev Neurobiol 74:1210-25
Topaloglu, A Kemal; Lomniczi, Alejandro; Kretzschmar, Doris et al. (2014) Loss-of-function mutations in PNPLA6 encoding neuropathy target esterase underlie pubertal failure and neurological deficits in Gordon Holmes syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 99:E2067-75
Wentzell, Jill S; Cassar, Marlène; Kretzschmar, Doris (2014) Organophosphate-induced changes in the PKA regulatory function of Swiss Cheese/NTE lead to behavioral deficits and neurodegeneration. PLoS One 9:e87526
Wentzell, Jill S; Bolkan, Bonnie J; Carmine-Simmen, Katia et al. (2012) Amyloid precursor proteins are protective in Drosophila models of progressive neurodegeneration. Neurobiol Dis 46:78-87
Krishnan, Natraj; Rakshit, Kuntol; Chow, Eileen S et al. (2012) Loss of circadian clock accelerates aging in neurodegeneration-prone mutants. Neurobiol Dis 45:1129-35

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