The neurodegenerative diseases ALS and SMA are linked at the molecular level via the ASC-1 complex.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the molecular pathways disrupted in motor neuron diseases is urgently needed. Here, we employed CRISPR knockout (KO) to investigate the functions of four ALS-causative RNA/DNA binding proteins (FUS, EWSR1, TAF15 and MATR3) within the RNAP II/U1 snRNP machinery. We found that each of these structurally related proteins has distinct roles with FUS KO resulting in loss of U1 snRNP and the SMN complex, EWSR1 KO causing dissociation of the tRNA ligase complex, and TAF15 KO resulting in loss of transcription factors P-TEFb and TFIIF. However, all four ALS-causative proteins are required for association of the ASC-1 transcriptional co-activator complex with the RNAP II/U1 snRNP machinery. Remarkably, mutations in the ASC-1 complex are known to cause a severe form of Spinal Muscular

SUBMITTER: Chi B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6294556 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature