scholarly journals Zebrafish Models of Autosomal Dominant Ataxias

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 421
Author(s):  
Ana Quelle-Regaldie ◽  
Daniel Sobrido-Cameán ◽  
Antón Barreiro-Iglesias ◽  
María Jesús Sobrido ◽  
Laura Sánchez
Keyword(s):  
High Throughput ◽  
Gene Function ◽  
Autosomal Dominant ◽  
Neuronal Damage ◽  
Fragile X ◽  
Repeat Expansion ◽  
Cerebellar Dysfunction ◽  
External Fertilization ◽  
Locomotor Deficits ◽  
Neuronal Disorders

Hereditary dominant ataxias are a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative conditions causing cerebellar dysfunction and characterized by progressive motor incoordination. Despite many efforts put into the study of these diseases, there are no effective treatments yet. Zebrafish models are widely used to characterize neuronal disorders due to its conserved vertebrate genetics that easily support genetic edition and their optic transparency that allows observing the intact CNS and its connections. In addition, its small size and external fertilization help to develop high throughput assays of candidate drugs. Here, we discuss the contributions of zebrafish models to the study of dominant ataxias defining phenotypes, genetic function, behavior and possible treatments. In addition, we review the zebrafish models created for X-linked repeat expansion diseases X-fragile/fragile-X tremor ataxia. Most of the models reviewed here presented neuronal damage and locomotor deficits. However, there is a generalized lack of zebrafish adult heterozygous models and there are no knock-in zebrafish models available for these diseases. The models created for dominant ataxias helped to elucidate gene function and mechanisms that cause neuronal damage. In the future, the application of new genetic edition techniques would help to develop more accurate zebrafish models of dominant ataxias.

scholarly journals Secondary structural choice of DNA and RNA associated with CGG/CCG trinucleotide repeat expansion rationalizes the RNA misprocessing in FXTAS

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yogeeshwar Ajjugal ◽  
Narendar Kolimi ◽  
Thenmalarchelvi Rathinavelan
Keyword(s):  
Rna Binding ◽  
Trinucleotide Repeat ◽  
Rna Binding Proteins ◽  
Fragile X ◽  
Repeat Expansion ◽  
Mobility Shift ◽  
Cgg Repeat ◽  
Dna And Rna ◽  
Structural Choice ◽  
Sense Strand

AbstractCGG tandem repeat expansion in the 5′-untranslated region of the fragile X mental retardation-1 (FMR1) gene leads to unusual nucleic acid conformations, hence causing genetic instabilities. We show that the number of G…G (in CGG repeat) or C…C (in CCG repeat) mismatches (other than A…T, T…A, C…G and G…C canonical base pairs) dictates the secondary structural choice of the sense and antisense strands of the FMR1 gene and their corresponding transcripts in fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS). The circular dichroism (CD) spectra and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) reveal that CGG DNA (sense strand of the FMR1 gene) and its transcript favor a quadruplex structure. CD, EMSA and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations also show that more than four C…C mismatches cannot be accommodated in the RNA duplex consisting of the CCG repeat (antisense transcript); instead, it favors an i-motif conformational intermediate. Such a preference for unusual secondary structures provides a convincing justification for the RNA foci formation due to the sequestration of RNA-binding proteins to the bidirectional transcripts and the repeat-associated non-AUG translation that are observed in FXTAS. The results presented here also suggest that small molecule modulators that can destabilize FMR1 CGG DNA and RNA quadruplex structures could be promising candidates for treating FXTAS.

scholarly journals MutLγ promotes repeat expansion in a Fragile X mouse model while EXO1 is protective

PLoS Genetics ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. e1007719 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaonan Zhao ◽  
Yongwei Zhang ◽  
Kenneth Wilkins ◽  
Winfried Edelmann ◽  
Karen Usdin
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Model ◽  
Fragile X ◽  
Repeat Expansion

scholarly journals Re-engineering adenovirus vector systems to enable high-throughput analyses of gene function

BioTechniques ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 659-668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard J. Stanton ◽  
Brian P. McSharry ◽  
Melanie Armstrong ◽  
Peter Tomasec ◽  
Gavin W.G. Wilkinson
Keyword(s):  
High Throughput ◽  
Gene Function ◽  
Adenovirus Vector ◽  
Vector Systems

scholarly journals Spatially coordinated heterochromatinization of distal short tandem repeats in fragile X syndrome

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Zhou ◽  
Chunmin Ge ◽  
Thomas Malachowski ◽  
Ji Hun Kim ◽  
Keerthivasan Raanin Chandradoss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fragile X Syndrome ◽  
Short Tandem Repeats ◽  
Tandem Repeats ◽  
Fragile X ◽  
Repeat Expansion ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
A Genome ◽  
In Trans ◽  
Surveillance Mechanism ◽  
Short Tandem

AbstractShort tandem repeat (STR) instability is causally linked to pathologic transcriptional silencing in a subset of repeat expansion disorders. In fragile X syndrome (FXS), instability of a single CGG STR tract is thought to repress FMR1 via local DNA methylation. Here, we report the acquisition of more than ten Megabase-sized H3K9me3 domains in FXS, including a 5-8 Megabase block around FMR1. Distal H3K9me3 domains encompass synaptic genes with STR instability, and spatially co-localize in trans concurrently with FMR1 CGG expansion and the dissolution of TADs. CRISPR engineering of mutation-length FMR1 CGG to normal-length preserves heterochromatin, whereas cut-out to pre-mutation-length attenuates a subset of H3K9me3 domains. Overexpression of a pre-mutation-length CGG de-represses both FMR1 and distal heterochromatinized genes, indicating that long-range H3K9me3-mediated silencing is exquisitely sensitive to STR length. Together, our data uncover a genome-wide surveillance mechanism by which STR tracts spatially communicate over vast distances to heterochromatinize the pathologically unstable genome in FXS.One-Sentence SummaryHeterochromatinization of distal synaptic genes with repeat instability in fragile X is reversible by overexpression of a pre-mutation length CGG tract.

scholarly journals FMRP Levels in Human Peripheral Blood Leukocytes Correlates with Intellectual Disability

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1780
Author(s):  
Mark Roth ◽  
Lucienne Ronco ◽  
Diego Cadavid ◽  
Blythe Durbin-Johnson ◽  
Randi J. Hagerman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Retardation ◽  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
Fragile X ◽  
Repeat Expansion ◽  
Repeat Number ◽  
Cgg Repeat ◽  
Fragile X Mental Retardation ◽  
Cgg Repeats ◽  
Fmr1 Mrna

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common form of inherited intellectual disability. FXS is an X-linked, neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a CGG trinucleotide repeat expansion in the 5′ untranslated region (UTR) of the Fragile X Mental Retardation gene, FMR1. Greater than 200 CGG repeats results in epigenetic silencing of the gene leading to the deficiency or absence of Fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). The loss of FMRP is considered the root cause of FXS. The relationship between neurological function and FMRP expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) has not been well established. Assays to detect and measure FMR1 and FMRP have been described; however, none are sufficiently sensitive, precise, or quantitative to properly characterize the relationships between cognitive ability and CGG repeat number, FMR1 mRNA expression, or FMRP expression measured in PBMCs. To address these limitations, two novel immunoassays were developed and optimized, an electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay and a multiparameter flow cytometry assay. Both assays were performed on PMBCs isolated from 27 study participants with FMR1 CGG repeats ranging from normal to full mutation. After correcting for methylation, a significant positive correlation between CGG repeat number and FMR1 mRNA expression levels and a significant negative correlation between FMRP levels and CGG repeat expansion was observed. Importantly, a high positive correlation was observed between intellectual quotient (IQ) and FMRP expression measured in PBMCs.

scholarly journals Ataxias with Autosomal, X-Chromosomal or Maternal Inheritance

2009 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 409-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josef Finsterer
Keyword(s):  
Ataxia Telangiectasia ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Autosomal Recessive ◽  
Autosomal Dominant ◽  
Late Onset ◽  
Fragile X ◽  
Axonal Neuropathy ◽  
Friedreich Ataxia ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Spinocerebellar Ataxias

Heredoataxias are a group of genetic disorders with a cerebellar syndrome as the leading clinical manifestation. The current classification distinguishes heredoataxias according to the trait of inheritance into autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, X-linked, and maternally inherited heredoataxias. The autosomal dominant heredoataxias are separated into spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA1-8, 10-15, 17-23, 25-30, and dentato-rubro-pallido-luysian atrophy), episodic ataxias (EA1-7), and autosomal dominant mitochondrial heredoataxias (Leigh syndrome, MIRAS, ADOAD, and AD-CPEO). The autosomal recessive ataxias are separated into Friedreich ataxia, ataxia due to vitamin E deficiency, ataxia due to Abeta-lipoproteinemia, Refsum disease, late-onset Tay-Sachs disease, cerebrotendineous xanthomatosis, spinocerebellar ataxia with axonal neuropathy, ataxia telangiectasia, ataxia telangiectasia-like disorder, ataxia with oculomotor apraxia 1 and 2, spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay, Cayman ataxia, Marinesco-Sjögren syndrome, and autosomal recessive mitochondrial ataxias (AR-CPEO, SANDO, SCAE, AHS, IOSCA, MEMSA, LBSL CoQ-deficiency, PDC-deficiency). Only two of the heredoataxias, fragile X/tremor/ataxia syndrome, and XLSA/A are transmitted via an X-linked trait. Maternally inherited heredoataxias are due to point mutations in genes encoding for tRNAs, rRNAs, respiratory chain subunits or single large scale deletions/duplications of the mitochondrial DNA and include MELAS, MERRF, KSS, PS, MILS, NARP, and non-syndromic mitochondrial disorders. Treatment of heredoataxias is symptomatic and supportive and may have a beneficial effect in single patients.**Please see page 424 for abbreviation list.

scholarly journals Cerebellar ataxia, neuropathy, vestibular areflexia syndrome due to RFC1 repeat expansion

Brain ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 143 (2) ◽  
pp. 480-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Cortese ◽  
Stefano Tozza ◽  
Wai Yan Yau ◽  
Salvatore Rossi ◽  
Sarah J Beecroft ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cerebellar Ataxia ◽  
Late Onset ◽  
Sensory Neuropathy ◽  
Repeat Expansion ◽  
Cerebellar Dysfunction ◽  
Full Spectrum ◽  
Ataxic Neuropathy ◽  
Walking Aids ◽  
Repeat Expansions ◽  
Walking Difficulty

Abstract Ataxia, causing imbalance, dizziness and falls, is a leading cause of neurological disability. We have recently identified a biallelic intronic AAGGG repeat expansion in replication factor complex subunit 1 (RFC1) as the cause of cerebellar ataxia, neuropathy, vestibular areflexia syndrome (CANVAS) and a major cause of late onset ataxia. Here we describe the full spectrum of the disease phenotype in our first 100 genetically confirmed carriers of biallelic repeat expansions in RFC1 and identify the sensory neuropathy as a common feature in all cases to date. All patients were Caucasian and half were sporadic. Patients typically reported progressive unsteadiness starting in the sixth decade. A dry spasmodic cough was also frequently associated and often preceded by decades the onset of walking difficulty. Sensory symptoms, oscillopsia, dysautonomia and dysarthria were also variably associated. The disease seems to follow a pattern of spatial progression from the early involvement of sensory neurons, to the later appearance of vestibular and cerebellar dysfunction. Half of the patients needed walking aids after 10 years of disease duration and a quarter were wheelchair dependent after 15 years. Overall, two-thirds of cases had full CANVAS. Sensory neuropathy was the only manifestation in 15 patients. Sixteen patients additionally showed cerebellar involvement, and six showed vestibular involvement. The disease is very likely to be underdiagnosed. Repeat expansion in RFC1 should be considered in all cases of sensory ataxic neuropathy, particularly, but not only, if cerebellar dysfunction, vestibular involvement and cough coexist.

scholarly journals High-throughput sequence analysis of Ciona intestinalis SL trans-spliced mRNAs: Alternative expression modes and gene function correlates

2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 636-645 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Matsumoto ◽  
K. Dewar ◽  
J. Wasserscheid ◽  
G. B. Wiley ◽  
S. L. Macmil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sequence Analysis ◽  
High Throughput ◽  
Gene Function ◽  
Ciona Intestinalis ◽  
Alternative Expression

scholarly journals Potassium bromate, a potent DNA oxidizing agent, exacerbates germline repeat expansion in a fragile X premutation mouse model

2010 ◽  
pp. n/a-n/a ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Entezam ◽  
Adihe Rachel Lokanga ◽  
Wei Le ◽  
Gloria Hoffman ◽  
Karen Usdin
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Model ◽  
Fragile X ◽  
Repeat Expansion ◽  
Potassium Bromate ◽  
Oxidizing Agent ◽  
Fragile X Premutation
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