PUBLICATION
Functional characterization of SMN evolution in mouse models of SMA
- Authors
- Osman, E.Y., Bolding, M.R., Villalón, E., Kaifer, K.A., Lorson, Z.C., Tisdale, S., Hao, Y., Conant, G.C., Pires, J.C., Pellizzoni, L., Lorson, C.L.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-190703-3
- Date
- 2019
- Source
- Scientific Reports 9: 9472 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Keywords
- none
- MeSH Terms
-
- Animals
- Caenorhabditis elegans
- Disease Models, Animal
- Drosophila melanogaster
- Evolution, Molecular
- Mice
- Mice, Knockout
- Muscular Atrophy, Spinal/genetics
- Muscular Atrophy, Spinal/metabolism*
- Schizosaccharomyces
- Survival of Motor Neuron 1 Protein/genetics
- Survival of Motor Neuron 1 Protein/metabolism*
- Xenopus Proteins/genetics
- Xenopus Proteins/metabolism
- Xenopus laevis
- Zebrafish/genetics
- Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
- Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
- PubMed
- 31263170 Full text @ Sci. Rep.
Citation
Osman, E.Y., Bolding, M.R., Villalón, E., Kaifer, K.A., Lorson, Z.C., Tisdale, S., Hao, Y., Conant, G.C., Pires, J.C., Pellizzoni, L., Lorson, C.L. (2019) Functional characterization of SMN evolution in mouse models of SMA. Scientific Reports. 9:9472.
Abstract
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a monogenic neurodegenerative disorder and the leading genetic cause of infantile mortality. While several functions have been ascribed to the SMN (survival motor neuron) protein, their specific contribution to the disease has yet to be fully elucidated. We hypothesized that some, but not all, SMN homologues would rescue the SMA phenotype in mouse models, thereby identifying disease-relevant domains. Using AAV9 to deliver Smn homologs to SMA mice, we identified a conservation threshold that marks the boundary at which homologs can rescue the SMA phenotype. Smn from Danio rerio and Xenopus laevis significantly prevent disease, whereas Smn from Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Schizosaccharomyces pombe was significantly less efficacious. This phenotypic rescue correlated with correction of RNA processing defects induced by SMN deficiency and neuromuscular junction pathology. Based upon the sequence conservation in the rescuing homologs, a minimal SMN construct was designed consisting of exons 2, 3, and 6, which showed a partial rescue of the SMA phenotype. While a significant extension in survival was observed, the absence of a complete rescue suggests that while the core conserved region is essential, additional sequences contribute to the overall ability of the SMN protein to rescue disease pathology.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping