Identification Of Novel Polyglutamine-Expanded Aggregation Species In Spinal And Bulbar Muscular Atrophy.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-6-2015

Abstract

Polyglutamine-repeat disorders are part of a larger family of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by protein misfolding and aggregation. In spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), polyglutamine expansion within the androgen receptor (AR) causes progressive debilitating muscular atrophy and lower motor neuron loss in males. Although soluble polyglutamine-expanded aggregation species are considered toxic intermediates in the aggregation process, relatively little is known about the spectrum of structures that are formed. Here we identify novel polyglutamine-expanded AR aggregates that are SDS-soluble and bind the toxicity-predicting antibody 3B5H10. Soluble, 3B5H10-reactive aggregation species exist in low-density conformations and are larger by atomic force microscopy, suggesting that they may be less compact than later-stage, insoluble aggregates. We demonstrate disease-relevance in vivo and draw correlations with toxicity in vitro.

Publication Title

Brain research

Comments

This article was published in Brain Research, October 2015.

The published version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2015.09.033

Copyright © 2015 Elsevier.

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