This project seeks to define the inborn biochemical anomalies in the inherited neuro-degenerative diseases of children known as the neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinoses (NCL, Batten disease). It is a continuation of present work using the ovine model and comparative studies, with a change of focus to cellular biology investigations and extends collaboration with Dr. Haltia of Finland specifically investigating the infantile form. This form is distinct from the ovine and late infantile and juvenile forms and others where subunit c of mitochondrial ATP synthase specifically accumulates. The experience and skills learned in the ovine project and its extension of human forms will be applied to the characterization of the storage material in the infantile disease. From the Nature of specifically accumulated species, a strategy will be developed to determine the underlying biochemical lesion. Antibodies will be produced for immunocytochemical studies at light and electron microscopic levels. The ovine work will focus on defining the specific pathway of subunit c turnover, from its synthesis, incorporation into mitochondria and through its normal degradation. Different forms of subunit c storage NCL reflect mutations affecting different associated proteins in this pathway rather than different mutations of a single gene product. Comparative studies with different forms of NCL will help define this pathway. The methodologies will exploit the newly developed radiolabelled E. coli expressed subunit c (with lead sequences) in cell culture and reconstitution studies augmented by characterization of indicated subcellular compartments. Antibodies against different epitopes including lead sequences and mature subunit c as well as markers for particular organelles will be used in immunocytochemical studies. Definition of the underlying defect(s) would have significance for better methods of diagnosis, including prenatal diagnosis and heterozygote detection and may have relevance to therapy. Given the significance of ATP synthase complex, the project will also have relevance to understanding of its assembly and disassembly.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01NS032348-03S1
Application #
2631889
Study Section
Neurological Sciences Subcommittee 1 (NLS)
Project Start
1994-02-28
Project End
1998-01-31
Budget Start
1996-02-01
Budget End
1998-01-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1997
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Lincoln University
Department
Type
DUNS #
592214472
City
Canterbury
State
Country
New Zealand
Zip Code
8000
Cook, R W; Jolly, R D; Palmer, D N et al. (2002) Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis in Merino sheep. Aust Vet J 80:292-7
Oswald, M J; Palmer, D N; Damak, S (1999) Splicing variants in sheep CLN3, the gene underlying juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. Mol Genet Metab 67:169-75
Das, A M; Jolly, R D; Kohlschutter, A (1999) Anomalies of mitochondrial ATP synthase regulation in four different types of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. Mol Genet Metab 66:349-55
Kay, G W; Hughes, S M; Palmer, D N (1999) In vitro culture of neurons from sheep with Batten disease. Mol Genet Metab 67:83-8
Broom, M F; Zhou, C; Broom, J E et al. (1998) Ovine neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis: a large animal model syntenic with the human neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis variant CLN6. J Med Genet 35:717-21
Palmer, D N; Tyynela, J; van Mil, H C et al. (1997) Accumulation of sphingolipid activator proteins (SAPs) A and D in granular osmiophilic deposits in miniature Schnauzer dogs with ceroid-lipofuscinosis. J Inherit Metab Dis 20:74-84
Palmer, D N; Jolly, R D; van Mil, H C et al. (1997) Different patterns of hydrophobic protein storage in different forms of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL, Batten disease). Neuropediatrics 28:45-8
Palmer, D N; Hay, J M (1996) The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (Batten disease): a group of lysosomal proteinoses. Adv Exp Med Biol 389:129-36
Buzy, A; Ryan, E M; Jennings, K R et al. (1996) Use of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry to study binding of F0 inhibitors to ceroid lipofuscinosis protein, a model system for subunit c of mitochondrial ATP synthase. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 10:790-6
Palmer, D N; Bayliss, S L; Westlake, V J (1995) Batten disease and the ATP synthase subunit c turnover pathway: raising antibodies to subunit c. Am J Med Genet 57:260-5

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