Repeat-associated non-AUG (RAN) translation: insights from pathology

Lab Invest. 2019 Jul;99(7):929-942. doi: 10.1038/s41374-019-0241-x. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Abstract

More than 40 different neurological diseases are caused by microsatellite repeat expansions. Since the discovery of repeat-associated non-AUG (RAN) translation by Zu et al. in 2011, nine expansion disorders have been identified as RAN-positive diseases. RAN proteins are translated from different types of nucleotide repeat expansions and can be produced from both sense and antisense transcripts. In some diseases, RAN proteins have been shown to accumulate in affected brain regions. Here we review the pathological and molecular aspects associated with RAN protein accumulation for each particular disorder, the correlation between disease pathology and the available in vivo models and the common aspects shared by some of the newly discovered RAN proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Microsatellite Repeats*
  • Nervous System Diseases / genetics*
  • Proteostasis Deficiencies / etiology*
  • Proteostasis Deficiencies / therapy