The expansion of a microsatellite GGGGCC repeat in the C9orf72 gene has been linked to both familial and sporadic forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). While the molecular basis of this disease (C9-ALS/FTD) remains largely unknown, proposed disease mechanisms include C9orf72 loss of function due to haploinsufficiency, RNA gain of function (GOF) leading to protein sequestration and repeat-associated non-ATG (RAN) translation resulting in the production of toxic C9-RAN dipeptide repeat proteins. Based on our prior studies on other microsatellite expansion diseases, this proposal is designed to test our sequestration failure hypothesis, which integrates RNA and RAN gain of function mechanisms. According to this hypothesis, bidirectional sense and antisense C9orf72 transcription results in the recruitment of cellular factors to repeat expansion RNAs to produce sense and antisense RNA foci that sequester these toxic RNAs in the nucleus. Somatic repeat expansion and/or age-related cellular stress results in titration of GGGGCC and GGCCCC RNA binding proteins followed by nucleocytoplasmic export of these RNAs and translation of highly toxic C9-RAN proteins in the cytoplasm that lead to neurodegeneration. We have generated a BAC transgenic model of C9-ALS/FTD that will allow us to test this hypothesis. This mouse develops both the molecular (RNA foci, C9-RAN proteins) and pathophysiological (neuronal loss, paralysis, decreased survival) features of C9-ALS/FTD. In this proposal, we will initially test the hypothesis that RNA GOF effects precede RAN protein accumulation by performing RNA-FISH, transcriptome analysis and immunological assays at various developmental periods and in different brain and spinal cord regions on asymptomatic, pre-symptomatic and symptomatic C9-BAC mice. This information will be used in conjunction with histopathological and electrophysiological assays test the hypothesis that C9-RAN protein accumulation triggers neurodegeneration and the acute disease phase. The possibility that stress pathways modulate RAN translation will also be tested. Finally, we will test whether antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) gapmer-mediated knockdowns of sense, antisense or both sense and antisense C9orf72 transcripts blocks the development of RNA and RNA toxicity in our C9-BAC transgenic mice. Overall, the objective of this study is to define pathogenic mechanisms underlying C9-ALS/FTD disease development and progression and provide an accessible and well-characterized mouse model for therapeutic development.

Public Health Relevance

A microsatellite repeat expansion mutation in the C9orf72 gene is the most common reported cause of familial forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). This proposal is designed to determine the molecular basis of this disorder using a novel transgenic mouse model that we have recently generated that develops both the molecular hallmarks of this disease and motor neuron degeneration, paralysis and reduced lifespan. In addition, a therapeutic strategy designed to reduce the toxicity burden of sense and antisense mutant C9orf72 transcripts will be tested to determine if this approach reverses both the molecular and pathophysiological manifestations of this devastating disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS098819-03
Application #
9501828
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Gubitz, Amelie
Project Start
2016-08-01
Project End
2021-06-30
Budget Start
2018-07-01
Budget End
2019-06-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2018
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Florida
Department
Genetics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
969663814
City
Gainesville
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
32611
Pattamatta, Amrutha; Cleary, John D; Ranum, Laura P W (2018) All in the Family: Repeats and ALS/FTD. Trends Neurosci 41:247-250
Sznajder, ?ukasz J; Thomas, James D; Carrell, Ellie M et al. (2018) Intron retention induced by microsatellite expansions as a disease biomarker. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 115:4234-4239
Cleary, John Douglas; Pattamatta, Amrutha; Ranum, Laura P W (2018) Repeat-associated non-ATG (RAN) translation. J Biol Chem 293:16127-16141
Zu, Tao; Cleary, John D; Liu, Yuanjing et al. (2017) RAN Translation Regulated by Muscleblind Proteins in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 2. Neuron 95:1292-1305.e5
Thomas, James D; Sznajder, ?ukasz J; Bardhi, Olgert et al. (2017) Disrupted prenatal RNA processing and myogenesis in congenital myotonic dystrophy. Genes Dev 31:1122-1133
Cleary, John Douglas; Ranum, Laura Pw (2017) New developments in RAN translation: insights from multiple diseases. Curr Opin Genet Dev 44:125-134
Kim, Juhyun; Hughes, Ethan G; Shetty, Ashwin S et al. (2017) Changes in the Excitability of Neocortical Neurons in a Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Are Not Specific to Corticospinal Neurons and Are Modulated by Advancing Disease. J Neurosci 37:9037-9053
Grima, Jonathan C; Daigle, J Gavin; Arbez, Nicolas et al. (2017) Mutant Huntingtin Disrupts the Nuclear Pore Complex. Neuron 94:93-107.e6
Nakamori, Masayuki; Hamanaka, Kohei; Thomas, James D et al. (2017) Aberrant Myokine Signaling in Congenital Myotonic Dystrophy. Cell Rep 21:1240-1252
Moloney, Christina; Rayaprolu, Sruti; Howard, John et al. (2016) Transgenic mice overexpressing the ALS-linked protein Matrin 3 develop a profound muscle phenotype. Acta Neuropathol Commun 4:122

Showing the most recent 10 out of 12 publications