The TDP-43 protein plays a role in a broad suite of neurodegenerative disorders including Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and potentially, Alzheimer's disease. TDP-43 is a multifunctional protein with many known cellular roles. So, while the importance of TDP-43 in neurodegeneration is established, the mechanisms of TDP-43 toxicity are unclear. We have discovered a new role for TDP-43 in regulating small-RNA based gene silencing, which is critical to block expression of retrotransposons. Retrotransposons are virus-like sequences that are encoded in our genomes and are capable of replicating and inserting at new chromosomal positions. The toxic potential of transposons in the germline is established. So our discovery provides a plausible hypothesis for toxic effects of TDP-43 in neurons. Our preliminary studies provide strong evidence that TDP-43 normally helps to silence transposons and that this function is disrupted both in FTLD patients and a Drosophila disease model. Our proposed experiments will use genetic manipulations in Drosophila to test three key specific hypotheses: 1) that TDP-43 pathology disrupts argonaute-2 mediated silencing; 2) that TDP-43 pathology activates retrotransposons in Drosophila brain; 3) that Retrotransposon activation contributes to neurodegeneration

Public Health Relevance

TDP-43 is a protein with a central role in several devastating neurodegenerative disorders, including Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and potentially in Alzheimer's disease. We have discovered a new role for TDP-43 in regulating transposons, which are virus-like elements that are present and inherited in the human genome. This proposal will test the hypothesis that re-awakening of these ancient transposons contributes to TDP- 43 related neurodegeneration.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS091748-06
Application #
9597591
Study Section
Cellular and Molecular Biology of Neurodegeneration Study Section (CMND)
Program Officer
Gubitz, Amelie
Project Start
2016-08-04
Project End
2019-11-30
Budget Start
2018-12-01
Budget End
2019-11-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
State University New York Stony Brook
Department
Anesthesiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
804878247
City
Stony Brook
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
11794
Dubnau, Josh (2018) The Retrotransposon storm and the dangers of a Collyer's genome. Curr Opin Genet Dev 49:95-105
Krug, Lisa; Chatterjee, Nabanita; Borges-Monroy, Rebeca et al. (2017) Retrotransposon activation contributes to neurodegeneration in a Drosophila TDP-43 model of ALS. PLoS Genet 13:e1006635