Development of mouse models of neurodegenerative diseases is critical for testing hypotheses about pathogenesis and for experimental therapeutics. A mouse model of Huntington's Disease (HD) has previously been created using genomic DNA. However models using cDNA constructs have the advantage of being much simpler to modify, since cDNA constructs can be altered easily. We have generated transgenic mice expressing an N-terminal fragment of huntington with an expanded repeat. These mice show a phenotype including progressive weight loss, ataxia, and uncoordination, leading to early death. Post mortem examination reveals intranuclear inclusions, the pathologic hallmark of HD. We will characterize the mice with the truncated construct in specific aim 1. We will further define the neuropathologic and neurochemical changes underlying the phenotype.
In specific aim number 2 we will generate mice with a full length cDNA construct and determine similarities and differences in the pathology.
In specific aim 3 we will use a construct with a myc-his tag in order to define the site of cleavage of huntingtin, and to purify associated proteins. Finally we will engineer inducible constructs which can target the transgene selectively to the regions of the cerebral cortex and striatum believed to be essential for the development of HD pathology. These experiments will clarify the pathogenesis of HD and provide models for future studies of experimental therapeutics.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS038144-04
Application #
6477243
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-BDCN-3 (01))
Program Officer
Oliver, Eugene J
Project Start
1998-12-01
Project End
2003-09-29
Budget Start
2001-12-01
Budget End
2003-09-29
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2002
Total Cost
$375,859
Indirect Cost
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
045911138
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21218
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Masuda, Naoki; Peng, Qi; Li, Qing et al. (2008) Tiagabine is neuroprotective in the N171-82Q and R6/2 mouse models of Huntington's disease. Neurobiol Dis 30:293-302
Ratovitski, Tamara; Nakamura, Masayuki; D'Ambola, James et al. (2007) N-terminal proteolysis of full-length mutant huntingtin in an inducible PC12 cell model of Huntington's disease. Cell Cycle 6:2970-81
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