A zebrafish model for C9orf72 ALS reveals RNA toxicity as a pathogenic mechanism

Bart Swinnen, Andre Bento-Abreu, Tania F. Gendron, Steven Boeynaems, Elke Bogaert, Rik Nuyts, Mieke Timmers, Wendy Scheveneels, Nicole Hersmus, Jiou Wang, Sarah Mizielinska, Adrian M. Isaacs, Leonard Petrucelli, Robin Lemmens, Philip Van Damme, Ludo Van Den Bosch, Wim Robberecht

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

The exact mechanism underlying amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) associated with the GGGGCC repeat expansion in C9orf72 is still unclear. Two gain-of-function mechanisms are possible: repeat RNA toxicity and dipeptide repeat protein (DPR) toxicity. We here dissected both possibilities using a zebrafish model for ALS. Expression of two DPRs, glycine–arginine and proline–arginine, induced a motor axonopathy. Similarly, expanded sense and antisense repeat RNA also induced a motor axonopathy and formed mainly cytoplasmic RNA foci. However, DPRs were not detected in these conditions. Moreover, stop codon-interrupted repeat RNA still induced a motor axonopathy and a synergistic role of low levels of DPRs was excluded. Altogether, these results show that repeat RNA toxicity is independent of DPR formation. This RNA toxicity, but not the DPR toxicity, was attenuated by the RNA-binding protein Pur-alpha and the autophagy-related protein p62. Our findings demonstrate that RNA toxicity, independent of DPR toxicity, can contribute to the pathogenesis of C9orf72-associated ALS/FTD.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)427-443
Number of pages17
JournalActa neuropathologica
Volume135
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2018

Keywords

  • ALS
  • C9orf72
  • DPR
  • Pur-alpha
  • RNA toxicity
  • Zebrafish
  • p62

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A zebrafish model for C9orf72 ALS reveals RNA toxicity as a pathogenic mechanism'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this