Novel etiological and therapeutic strategies for neurodiseases: RNA editing enzyme abnormality in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

J Pharmacol Sci. 2010;113(1):9-13. doi: 10.1254/jphs.09r21fm. Epub 2010 Apr 16.

Abstract

The motor neurons of patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) express abundant Q/R site-unedited GluR2 mRNA, whereas those of patients with other motor neuron diseases including familial ALS associated with mutated SOD1 (ALS1) and those of normal subjects express only Q/R site-edited GluR2 mRNA. Because adenosine deaminase acting on RNA type 2 (ADAR2) specifically catalyzes GluR2 Q/R site-editing, it is likely that ADAR2 activity is not sufficient to edit this site completely in motor neurons of patients with sporadic ALS. Because these molecular abnormalities occur in disease- and motor neuron-specific fashion and induce fatal epilepsy in mice, we have hypothesized that GluR2 Q/R site-underediting due to ADAR2 underactivity is a cause of neuronal death in sporadic ALS. We found that cytoplasmic fragile X mental retardation protein interacting protein 2 (CYFIP2) mRNA had an ADAR2-mediated editing position using RNA interference knockdown. Our review will include a discussion of new ADAR2 substrates that may be useful for research on sporadic ALS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics*
  • Adenosine Deaminase / genetics*
  • Adenosine Deaminase / metabolism
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / enzymology
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / genetics*
  • Animals
  • Cell Death / genetics
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Models, Biological
  • Motor Neurons / metabolism*
  • RNA Editing*
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Receptors, AMPA / genetics

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • CYFIP2 protein, human
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Receptors, AMPA
  • ADARB1 protein, human
  • Adenosine Deaminase
  • glutamate receptor ionotropic, AMPA 2