
C-terminal deletion of the atrophin-1 protein results in growth retardation but not neurodegeneration in mice.
Dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) is a dominant hereditary neurodegenerative disorder caused by the expansion of a poly-glutamine (poly-Q) repeat in Atrophin-1 protein. Ectopic expression of a poly-Q expanded human Atrophin-1 is sufficient to induce DRPLA phenotypes in mice. However, it is still unclear whether the dominant effect of poly-Q expansion is due to the functional interference with wild-type Atrophin-1 proteins, which exist in both patients and transgenic mice. Here we report the generation and analysis of an Atrophin-1 targeting allele that expresses a truncated protein lacking both the poly-Q repeat and following C-terminal peptides. Homozygous mutants exhibit growth retardation and progressive male infertility, but no obvious signs of neurodegeneration. Moreover, the mutant allele neither blocked nor enhanced the neurodegenerative phenotypes caused by a poly-Q expanded transgene. These results support the model that poly-Q expanded Atrophin-1 proteins cause DRPLA in a manner independent of any functional interaction with wild-type Atrophin-1 proteins.
Duke Scholars
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Related Subject Headings
- Testis
- Survival Rate
- Sequence Deletion
- Rotarod Performance Test
- Phenotype
- Peptides
- Nerve Tissue Proteins
- Nerve Degeneration
- Myoclonic Epilepsies, Progressive
- Mice, Transgenic
Citation

Published In
DOI
EISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Testis
- Survival Rate
- Sequence Deletion
- Rotarod Performance Test
- Phenotype
- Peptides
- Nerve Tissue Proteins
- Nerve Degeneration
- Myoclonic Epilepsies, Progressive
- Mice, Transgenic