TDP-43 crosses the divide

The Progranulin Cleavage Products, Granulins, Exacerbate TDP-43 Toxicity and Increase TDP-43 Levels.

Mutations in the human progranulin gene resulting in protein haploinsufficiency cause frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP-43 inclusions. Although progress has been made in understanding the normal functions of progranulin and TDP-43, the molecular interactions between these proteins remain unclear. Progranulin is proteolytically processed into granulins, but the role of granulins in the ...

TDP-43 and frontotemporal dementia.

TAR DNA-binding protein of about 43 kDa (TDP-43) is the main ubiquitinated peptide in tau-negative frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). TDP-43 is typically a nuclear protein, and its aggregation and cytoplasmic translocation are thought to represent major steps in the pathogenesis of FTLD due to TDP-43 proteinopathy (FTLD-TDP). Certain clinical syndromes of frontotemporal dementia are pref...

TDP-43 toxicity in yeast.

The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an emerging tool for investigating the molecular pathways that underpin several human neurodegenerative disorders associated with protein misfolding. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating adult onset neurodegenerative disease primarily affecting motor neurons. The protein TDP-43 has recently been demonstrated to play an important role...

Unlocking the mysteries of TDP-43.

Rethinking ALS: The FUS about TDP-43

Mutations in TDP-43, a DNA/RNA-binding protein, cause an inherited form of the neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Two recent studies (Kwiatkowski et al., 2009; Vance et al., 2009) now report that mutations in FUS/TLS, another DNA/RNA-binding protein, also trigger premature degeneration of motor neurons. TDP-43 and FUS/TLS have striking structural and functional simil...