Genetic Modeling for SMA Therapeutic Pathways

SMA 治疗途径的基因建模

• 批准号: 8109335
• 负责人: SPYRIDON ARTAVANIS-TSAKONAS
• 金额: $ 134.2万
• 依托单位: HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-08-01 至 2015-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/8109335
• 关键词: Genetic; Modeling; SMA; Therapeutic; Pathways

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SIVIA) is a devastating inherited neurodegenerative disease causing progressive loss of motor functions due to malfunction of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) and eventual loss of motor neurons. SMA is caused by loss of Survival of Motor Neuron (SMN1), a component of the nuclear gemin complex which is thought to mediate assembly and transport of snRNP complexes and thus control the synthesis and delivery of key synaptic proteins. However, the identity and function of relevant SMN target genes and the precise molecular role of SMN at the NMJ remain largely a mystery. The proposed project focus will be to use simple genetic model systems to dissect the mechanism(s) by which SMN controls synaptic form and function, and thus identify likely targets for interventions to attenuate SMA in mammalian models or human patients. We will be using genetic approaches in Drosophila to identify functional modifiers of SMN mutations and will study them in both Drosophila as well as C.elegans (Artavanis-Tsakonas, van Vactor and Hart Laboratories). Mammalian cell assays (Rubin laboratory) will extend and corroborate the studies in invertebrates while possible functional relationships and pharmacological interventions identified in mammalian cells will be tested using the sophisticated genetic tools that C elegans and Drosophila offer. Each system has unique experimental advantages and the integration of the proposed analysis across vertebrates and invertebrates offers exceptional promise for an in depth understanding of SMN biology and pathology while, importantly, it carries the promise of identifying novel therapeutic avenues.

描述（由申请人提供）：脊髓性肌萎缩症（SIVIA）是一种破坏性遗传性神经退行性疾病，由于神经肌肉接头（NMJ）功能障碍和运动神经元的最终丧失，导致运动功能进行性丧失。SMA是由运动神经元存活（SMN 1）的丧失引起的，SMN 1是核胚蛋白复合物的一种组分，被认为介导snRNP复合物的组装和转运，从而控制关键突触蛋白的合成和递送。然而，相关SMN靶基因的身份和功能以及SMN在NMJ中的确切分子作用在很大程度上仍然是一个谜。拟议的项目重点将是使用简单的遗传模型系统来剖析SMN控制突触形式和功能的机制，从而确定可能的干预目标，以减轻哺乳动物模型或人类患者的SMA。我们将在果蝇中使用遗传学方法来鉴定SMN突变的功能修饰剂，并将在果蝇和秀丽隐杆线虫中研究它们（Artavanis-Tsakonas，货车Vactor和哈特实验室）。哺乳动物细胞分析（鲁宾实验室）将扩展和证实在无脊椎动物中的研究，同时将使用线虫和果蝇提供的复杂遗传工具测试在哺乳动物细胞中确定的可能的功能关系和药理干预。每个系统都具有独特的实验优势，并且在脊椎动物和无脊椎动物之间整合所提出的分析为深入了解SMN生物学和病理学提供了特殊的希望，同时，重要的是，它具有确定新治疗途径的希望。