Project description:To assess RNA regulation in FALS for gene expression and alternative processing of RNA in the motor neuron precurssors (MPCs) Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a late-onset motor neuron disorder. Although its neuropathology is well understood, the cellular and molecular mechanisms that lead to the initiation and progression of this disease are yet to be elucidated due to limitations in the currently available human genetic data. In this study, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) from two familial ALS (FALS) patients with a missense mutation in the fused-in sarcoma (FUS) gene carrying the heterozygous FUS H517D mutation, and the isogenic iPSCs with the homozygous FUS H517D mutation obtained by genome editing from the healthy control iPSCs. These cell-derived motor neurons mimicked several neurodegenerative phenotypes. A part of the mutant FUS protein was localized outside the nucleus and co-localized with stress granules under stress conditions. Moreover, FALS motor neurons showed more apoptotic activity than did control motor neurons. Exon array analysis using motor neuron precursor cells (MPCs) combined with CLIP-seq data sets revealed aberrant gene expression and/or splicing pattern in FALS-MPCs. These results suggest that iPSC-derived motor neurons are a useful tool for analyzing the pathogenesis of human motor neuron disorders.
Project description:We established iPSCs from healthy donors, FUS-ALS and SOD1-ALS patients. Using our differentiation protocol originally developed by Reinhardt et al.,2013, we diferentiated these iPSCs toward spinal motor neurons (MNs) and reproduce ALS pathology in a dish. To extend our understanding of finding different molecular mechanisms and pathways related to FUS- and SOD mutations in ALS disease, we have performed a comprehensive gene expression profiling study using microarray hybridization of the iPSC-derived MN models from control individuals and carefully compared with those from FUS-ALS and SOD1-ALS patients. In addition, we further analyzed previously published independent datasets containing the genome-wide RNA profiling of iPSC-derived MN samples from patients with FUS and SOD1 mutations and controls. This microaray dataset GSE10638 (Fujimori et al., 2018) was retrieved from GEO database and was screened to identifiy potential drug candidates which suppressed the detected ALS-related phenotypes of these ALS models. Finally, we made a systematic comparison with our results to the ones independently obtained previously.Here through this study, we create a gene profile of ALS by analyzing the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), the kyoto encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways, the interactome as well as transcription factor profiles (TF) that would identify altered functional/molecular signatures and their interactions at both transcriptional (mRNAs) and translational levels (hub proteins and TFs) which stands validation across the different datasets (including different differentiation protocols etc.). By doing so we provide condensed pathophysiological pathways of FUS-ALS and SOD1-ALSto better understand the biological mechanisms underlying motor neuron disease.
Project description:TDP-43, FUS, and TAF15 are implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia. We integrate CLIP-seq and RNA Bind-N-Seq technologies to discover that TAF15 binds to ~4,900 RNAs enriched for GGUA motifs. In the mouse brain, TAF15 and FUS, but not TDP-43, exhibit strikingly similar RNA binding profiles, yet they alter the expression of distinct mRNA populations upon their individual depletions. TAF15 has a minimal role in alternative splicing and instead affects RNA turnover, consistent with an enrichment of TAF15 binding sites in 3â?? untranslated regions. In human stem cell-derived motor neurons, loss of both TAF15 and FUS affected mRNAs distinct from those altered by loss of either protein alone, revealing redundant roles for TAF15 and FUS in maintaining mRNA levels. Furthermore, concomitant rather than individual depletion of TAF15 and FUS more closely resembles RNA profiles of motor neurons derived from FUS R521G ALS patients or from late-stage, sporadic ALS patients. Our study reveals convergent and divergent mechanisms by which FUS, TAF15 and TDP-43 affects RNA metabolism in neurological disease. RNA-seq, CLIP-seq and arrays in mouse and human against TAF15 knockdowns This Series represents CLIP-seq sample(s).
Project description:TDP-43, FUS, and TAF15 are implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia. We integrate CLIP-seq and RNA Bind-N-Seq technologies to discover that TAF15 binds to ~4,900 RNAs enriched for GGUA motifs. In the mouse brain, TAF15 and FUS, but not TDP-43, exhibit strikingly similar RNA binding profiles, yet they alter the expression of distinct mRNA populations upon their individual depletions. TAF15 has a minimal role in alternative splicing and instead affects RNA turnover, consistent with an enrichment of TAF15 binding sites in 3â?? untranslated regions. In human stem cell-derived motor neurons, loss of both TAF15 and FUS affected mRNAs distinct from those altered by loss of either protein alone, revealing redundant roles for TAF15 and FUS in maintaining mRNA levels. Furthermore, concomitant rather than individual depletion of TAF15 and FUS more closely resembles RNA profiles of motor neurons derived from FUS R521G ALS patients or from late-stage, sporadic ALS patients. Our study reveals convergent and divergent mechanisms by which FUS, TAF15 and TDP-43 affects RNA metabolism in neurological disease. RNA-seq, CLIP-seq and arrays in mouse and human against TAF15 knockdowns This Series represents RNA-seq sample(s).
Project description:TDP-43, FUS, and TAF15 are implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia. We integrate CLIP-seq and RNA Bind-N-Seq technologies to discover that TAF15 binds to ~4,900 RNAs enriched for GGUA motifs. In the mouse brain, TAF15 and FUS, but not TDP-43, exhibit strikingly similar RNA binding profiles, yet they alter the expression of distinct mRNA populations upon their individual depletions. TAF15 has a minimal role in alternative splicing and instead affects RNA turnover, consistent with an enrichment of TAF15 binding sites in 3â untranslated regions. In human stem cell-derived motor neurons, loss of both TAF15 and FUS affected mRNAs distinct from those altered by loss of either protein alone, revealing redundant roles for TAF15 and FUS in maintaining mRNA levels. Furthermore, concomitant rather than individual depletion of TAF15 and FUS more closely resembles RNA profiles of motor neurons derived from FUS R521G ALS patients or from late-stage, sporadic ALS patients. Our study reveals convergent and divergent mechanisms by which FUS, TAF15 and TDP-43 affects RNA metabolism in neurological disease. RNA-seq, CLIP-seq and arrays in mouse and human against TAF15 knockdowns This Series represents RNA-seq sample(s).
Project description:TDP-43, FUS, and TAF15 are implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia. We integrate CLIP-seq and RNA Bind-N-Seq technologies to discover that TAF15 binds to ~4,900 RNAs enriched for GGUA motifs. In the mouse brain, TAF15 and FUS, but not TDP-43, exhibit strikingly similar RNA binding profiles, yet they alter the expression of distinct mRNA populations upon their individual depletions. TAF15 has a minimal role in alternative splicing and instead affects RNA turnover, consistent with an enrichment of TAF15 binding sites in 3â untranslated regions. In human stem cell-derived motor neurons, loss of both TAF15 and FUS affected mRNAs distinct from those altered by loss of either protein alone, revealing redundant roles for TAF15 and FUS in maintaining mRNA levels. Furthermore, concomitant rather than individual depletion of TAF15 and FUS more closely resembles RNA profiles of motor neurons derived from FUS R521G ALS patients or from late-stage, sporadic ALS patients. Our study reveals convergent and divergent mechanisms by which FUS, TAF15 and TDP-43 affects RNA metabolism in neurological disease. RNA-seq, CLIP-seq and arrays in mouse and human against TAF15 knockdowns This Series represents RNA-seq sample(s).
Project description:TDP-43, FUS, and TAF15 are implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia. We integrate CLIP-seq and RNA Bind-N-Seq technologies to discover that TAF15 binds to ~4,900 RNAs enriched for GGUA motifs. In the mouse brain, TAF15 and FUS, but not TDP-43, exhibit strikingly similar RNA binding profiles, yet they alter the expression of distinct mRNA populations upon their individual depletions. TAF15 has a minimal role in alternative splicing and instead affects RNA turnover, consistent with an enrichment of TAF15 binding sites in 3â untranslated regions. In human stem cell-derived motor neurons, loss of both TAF15 and FUS affected mRNAs distinct from those altered by loss of either protein alone, revealing redundant roles for TAF15 and FUS in maintaining mRNA levels. Furthermore, concomitant rather than individual depletion of TAF15 and FUS more closely resembles RNA profiles of motor neurons derived from FUS R521G ALS patients or from late-stage, sporadic ALS patients. Our study reveals convergent and divergent mechanisms by which FUS, TAF15 and TDP-43 affects RNA metabolism in neurological disease. RNA-seq, CLIP-seq and arrays in mouse and human against TAF15 knockdowns This Series represents array sample(s).
Project description:Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a severe neurodegenerative condition characterized by loss of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Expansions of a hexanucleotide repeat (GGGGCC) in the noncoding region of the C9ORF72 gene are the most common cause of the familial form of ALS (C9-ALS), as well as frontotemporal lobar degeneration and other neurological diseases. How the repeat expansion causes disease remains unclear, with both loss of function (haploinsufficiency) and gain of function (either toxic RNA or protein products) proposed. We report a cellular model of C9-ALS with motor neurons differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from ALS patients carrying the C9ORF72 repeat expansion. No significant loss of C9ORF72 expression was observed, and knockdown of the transcript was not toxic to cultured human motor neurons. Transcription of the repeat was increased, leading to accumulation of GGGGCC repeat–containing RNA foci selectively in C9-ALS iPSC-derived motor neurons. Repeat-containing RNA foci colocalized with hnRNPA1 and Pur-?, suggesting that they may be able to alter RNA metabolism. C9-ALS motor neurons showed altered expression of genes involved in membrane excitability including DPP6, and demonstrated a diminished capacity to fire continuous spikes upon depolarization compared to control motor neurons. Antisense oligonucleotides targeting the C9ORF72 transcript suppressed RNA foci formation and reversed gene expression alterations in C9-ALS motor neurons. These data show that patient-derived motor neurons can be used to delineate pathogenic events in ALS. Transcriptome profiling from iPSC derived motor neurons compared to controls
Project description:We performed total RNA sequencing to analyze and compare the whole transcriptomes of hiPSC-derived motor neurons obtained from ALS patients harboring mutations in the C9orf72 (2 patients) and FUS (2 patients) genes, and from control hiPSC lines. The Healthy control cells were obtained from 1 healthy individual, and by correcting the pathogenic mutation within C9orf72 gene with Crispr technology
Project description:Unraveling the mechanistic link connecting the multiple RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is critical for identifying novel therapeutics. Mutations in the RBP FUS cause the third most common genetic form of ALS. Here, we show that motor neurons (MNs) of FUS-ALS patients manifest heterogeneous levels of cytoplasmic FUS. Using neurons differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) carrying a FUS-eGFP reporter, we demonstrate that pronounced cytoplasmic FUS mislocalization is linked to aberrant protein degradation. We also show that the P525L FUS mutation reduces the interaction of FUS with RBPs, including hnRNPA1, hnRNPA2B1, EWSR1, and TAF15, facilitating FUS aggregation. Additionally, RBP levels are decreased, inducing neurodegeneration. We use patient spinal cord to demonstrate that MNs containing aggregated FUS have reduced RBP content compared to MNs lacking FUS aggregates. Finally, we demonstrate that small molecules inducing autophagy, including PQR309, a brain penetrant compound in clinical trials, restore proteostasis.