Oppenheim's dystonia is a generalized early-onset dystonia. It is an autosomal dominant disorder with reduced penetrance due to a 3-bp deletion (AGAG) that deletes a glutamic acid residue in the coding region of DYT1, which codes for torsinA protein. It is not known what functions torsinA protein serves in the cell, let alone mechanisms of how the mutant torsinA protein could lead to dystonia. The broad, long-term objective is to use transgenic mice to determine: 1) what is the functional role of torsinA in vivo? 2) How does the mutant torsinA protein lead to early onset dystonia? The objective of this application is to analyze Dyt1 AGAG knock-in mice that we have created to test the hypotheses that DYT1 AGAG mutation is a loss- or reduction-of-function mutation that disrupts dopaminergic modulation of corticostriatal pathway, which in turn leads to an abnormal control of movement and posture. Here we propose to test the hypothesis that DYT1 AGAG mutation leads to a loss- or reduction-of-function, and not a toxic gain-of-function, we will determine the relative motor performance, neurochemistry, neuropathology, and electrophysiology of three lines of transgenic mice with altered level of wild-type (WT) and mutant torsinA proteins. We will determine if varying levels of WT torsinA protein in the presence of a mutant torsinA alter mutant mice's motor behaviors, neurochemistry, neuropathology and electrophysiology. Furthermore, to test the hypothesis that Dyt1 AGAG mutation disrupts dopaminergic function especially D2 receptor pathway, we will measure and compare the various aspects of the dopaminergic system in Dyt1 AGAG knockin and wild-type mice. These studies will increase the understanding about the function of normal torsinA, the role of mutant torsinA in the pathophysiology of dystonia, and the mechanism through which the neural interference is caused by mutant torsinA. With this understanding, new and creative therapies can be devised to combat the debilitating symptoms caused by DYT1 dystonia.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01NS054246-03S1
Application #
7800612
Study Section
Cell Death in Neurodegeneration Study Section (CDIN)
Program Officer
Tagle, Danilo A
Project Start
2007-07-15
Project End
2011-03-31
Budget Start
2009-04-01
Budget End
2010-03-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$42,413
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Alabama Birmingham
Department
Neurology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
063690705
City
Birmingham
State
AL
Country
United States
Zip Code
35294
Allen, Richard P; Donelson, Nathan C; Jones, Byron C et al. (2017) Animal models of RLS phenotypes. Sleep Med 31:23-28
DeAndrade, Mark P; Trongnetrpunya, Amy; Yokoi, Fumiaki et al. (2016) Electromyographic evidence in support of a knock-in mouse model of DYT1 Dystonia. Mov Disord 31:1633-1639
Yokoi, Fumiaki; Dang, Mai T; Liu, Jun et al. (2015) Decreased dopamine receptor 1 activity and impaired motor-skill transfer in Dyt1 ?GAG heterozygous knock-in mice. Behav Brain Res 279:202-10
Yokoi, Fumiaki; Chen, Huan-Xin; Dang, Mai Tu et al. (2015) Behavioral and electrophysiological characterization of Dyt1 heterozygous knockout mice. PLoS One 10:e0120916
Oleas, Janneth; Yokoi, Fumiaki; DeAndrade, Mark P et al. (2013) Engineering animal models of dystonia. Mov Disord 28:990-1000
Yokoi, Fumiaki; Cheetham, Chad C; Campbell, Susan L et al. (2013) Pre-synaptic release deficits in a DYT1 dystonia mouse model. PLoS One 8:e72491
Sciamanna, Giuseppe; Hollis, Robert; Ball, Chelsea et al. (2012) Cholinergic dysregulation produced by selective inactivation of the dystonia-associated protein torsinA. Neurobiol Dis 47:416-27
Zhang, Lin; Yokoi, Fumiaki; Parsons, Dee S et al. (2012) Alteration of striatal dopaminergic neurotransmission in a mouse model of DYT11 myoclonus-dystonia. PLoS One 7:e33669
DeAndrade, Mark P; Johnson Jr, Russell L; Unger, Erica L et al. (2012) Motor restlessness, sleep disturbances, thermal sensory alterations and elevated serum iron levels in Btbd9 mutant mice. Hum Mol Genet 21:3984-92
DeAndrade, Mark P; Zhang, Li; Doroodchi, Atbin et al. (2012) Enhanced hippocampal long-term potentiation and fear memory in Btbd9 mutant mice. PLoS One 7:e35518

Showing the most recent 10 out of 24 publications