Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0002736 (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
 19,048 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The fused in sarcoma/translocated in liposarcoma (FUS/TLS) gene was initially identified as a component of a fusion pro-oncogene resulting from a chromosomal translocation seen in liposarcomas. FUS/TLS belongs to a sub-family of RNA binding proteins, encoding an N-terminal serine-tyrosine-glycine-glutamine (SYGQ) region, an RNA recognition motif (RRM) flanked by glycine rich (G-rich) regions, a cysteine(2)/cysteine(2) zinc finger motif and multiple RGG repeats. The FUS/TLS protein interacts with RNA, single stranded DNA and double stranded DNA, and is involved in unique functions in mRNA processing and transport, transcriptional regulation and maintenance of genomic stability. Recently, several mutations in this gene have been found in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. The mutant forms of FUS/TLS exhibit similar pathology to other ALS causative genes, including aberrant cytoplasmic inclusions and an increased FUS/TLS cytoplasmic to nuclear ratio. The FUS/TLS mutations identified in ALS patients suggests that altered RNA metabolism may play a role in ALS pathogenesis.
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PMID:Fused in sarcoma/translocated in liposarcoma: a multifunctional DNA/RNA binding protein. 2054 19

Mutations in the fused in sarcoma (FUS) gene have recently been found to cause familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS). We screened FUS in a cohort of 200 ALS patients [32 FALS and 168 sporadic ALS (SALS)]. In one FALS proband, we identified a mutation (p.R521C) that was also present in her affected daughter. Their clinical phenotype was remarkably similar and atypical of classic ALS, with symmetric proximal pelvic and pectoral weakness. Distal weakness and upper motor neuron features only developed late. Neuropathological examination demonstrated FUS-immunoreactive neuronal and glial inclusions in the spinal cord and many extramotor regions, but no TDP-43 pathology. We also identified a novel mutation (p.G187S) in one SALS patient. Overall, FUS mutations accounted for 3% of our non-SOD1, non-TARDBP FALS cases and 0.6% of SALS. This study demonstrates that the phenotype with FUS mutations extends beyond classical ALS cases. Our findings suggest there are specific clinicogenetic correlations and provide the first detailed neuropathological description.
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PMID:Fus gene mutations in familial and sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. 2054 28

It has been shown that mutations in the Fused in Sarcoma gene (FUS) could explain up to 5% of cases with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Our mutation analysis of FUS in a Canadian ALS patient of Chinese origin revealed an unusual novel heterozygous double point mutation (R514S/E516V) confirming that exon 15 is a mutation hot-spot. The substitutions are in cis position to each other and affect highly conserved codons in the RGG-rich region of the FUS protein. The absence of clinical signs of ALS in the relatives of the affected carrier could indicate that this mutation is incompletely penetrant or de novo. The pathologic significance of the R514S/E516V mutation was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. FUS-positive cytoplasmic inclusions were noted in a moderate number in neurons and abundantly in glial cells in the motor cortex and the brainstem. Of interest, a significant number of neuronal and glial FUS-positive inclusions were found in the tegmentum of the brainstem. Importantly, some neurons with inclusions showed retention of the normal nuclear FUS immunostaining.
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PMID:A novel double mutation in FUS gene causing sporadic ALS. 2056 14

Basophilic inclusions (BIs), which are characterized by their staining properties of being weakly argyrophilic, reactive with Nissl staining, and immunohistochemically negative for tau and transactive response (TAR) DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), have been identified in patients with juvenile-onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and adult-onset atypical ALS with ophthalmoplegia, autonomic dysfunction, cerebellar ataxia, or a frontal lobe syndrome. Mutations in the fused in sarcoma gene (FUS) have been reported in cases of familial and sporadic ALS, and FUS immunoreactivity has been demonstrated in basophilic inclusion body disease (BIBD), neuronal intermediate filament inclusion disease (NIFID), and atypical frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitin-positive and tau-negative inclusions (aFTLD-U). In the present study, we immunohistochemically and ultrastructurally studied an autopsy case of sporadic adult-onset ALS with numerous BIs. The patient presented with the classical clinical course of ALS since 75 years of age and died at age 79. Postmortem examination revealed that both Betz cells in the motor cortex and motor neurons in the spinal cord were affected. The substantia nigra was spared. Notably, BIs were frequently observed in the motor neurons of the anterior horns, the inferior olivary nuclei, and the basal nuclei of Meynert. BIs were immunopositive for p62, LC3, and FUS, but immunonegative for tau, TDP-43, and neurofilament. Ultrastructurally, BIs consisted of filamentous or granular structures associated with degenerated organelles with no limiting membrane. There were no Bunina bodies, skein-like inclusions, or Lewy-like inclusions. All exons and exon/intron boundaries of the FUS gene were sequenced but no mutations were identified.
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PMID:An autopsied case of sporadic adult-onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with FUS-positive basophilic inclusions. 2057 33

Juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with basophilic inclusions is a well-recognized entity. However, the molecular underpinnings of this devastating disease are poorly understood. Here, we present genetic and neuropathological characterizations in two young women with fatal rapidly progressive ALS with basophilic inclusions. In one case, a germline mutation (P525L) was detected in the fused in sarcoma/translocated in liposarcoma (FUS/TLS) gene, whereas no mutation was identified in the other case. Postmortem examination in both cases revealed severe loss of spinal motor neurons with remaining neurons showing basophilic inclusions that contain abnormal aggregates of FUS proteins and disorganized intracellular organelles, including mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. In both patients, the FUS-positive inclusions were also detected in neurons in layers IV-V of cerebral cortex and several brainstem nuclei. In contrast, spinal motor neurons in patients with late-onset sporadic ALS showed no evidence of abnormal accumulation of FUS protein. These results underscore the importance of FUS mutations and pathology in rapidly progressive juvenile ALS. Furthermore, our study represents the first detailed characterizations of neuropathological findings in rapidly progressive juvenile ALS patients with a mutation in the FUS/TLS gene.
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PMID:Extensive FUS-immunoreactive pathology in juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with basophilic inclusions. 2057 74

Mutations in the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1), transactive response (TAR)-DNA binding protein (TARDBP) and fused in sarcoma (FUS) genes account for approximately 1 third of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases. Mutations in these genes have been found in 1% to 2% of apparently sporadic cases. We present the first case of an ALS patient carrying a de novo missense mutation of the FUS gene (c.1561C>T, p.R521C). This report highlights the importance of screening ALS patients, both familial and sporadic, for FUS mutations and also suggests that de novo mutations is a relevant mechanism underlying sporadic neurodegenerative disease.
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PMID:A de novo missense mutation of the FUS gene in a "true" sporadic ALS case. 2059 74

Mutations in fused in sarcoma (FUS) are a cause of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS). Patients carrying point mutations in the C-terminus of FUS show neuronal cytoplasmic FUS-positive inclusions, whereas in healthy controls, FUS is predominantly nuclear. Cytoplasmic FUS inclusions have also been identified in a subset of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD-FUS). We show that a non-classical PY nuclear localization signal (NLS) in the C-terminus of FUS is necessary for nuclear import. The majority of fALS-associated mutations occur within the NLS and impair nuclear import to a degree that correlates with the age of disease onset. This presents the first case of disease-causing mutations within a PY-NLS. Nuclear import of FUS is dependent on Transportin, and interference with this transport pathway leads to cytoplasmic redistribution and recruitment of FUS into stress granules. Moreover, proteins known to be stress granule markers co-deposit with inclusions in fALS and FTLD-FUS patients, implicating stress granule formation in the pathogenesis of these diseases. We propose that two pathological hits, namely nuclear import defects and cellular stress, are involved in the pathogenesis of FUS-opathies.
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PMID:ALS-associated fused in sarcoma (FUS) mutations disrupt Transportin-mediated nuclear import. 2071 46

TAR DNA-binding protein (TDP-43) and fused in sarcoma (FUS) are two highly conserved ribonucleoproteins. Pathogenic mutations of the TDP-43 or the FUS gene are all linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) that is characterized by progressive degeneration of motor neurons. To better understand the correlation of ALS disease genes with the selectivity of chronic motor neuron degeneration, we examined the longitudinal expression of the TDP-43 and the FUS genes in C57BL6 mice and in Sprague-Dawley rats. TDP-43 and FUS were robustly and ubiquitously expressed in the postnatal mice and rats, but were markedly decreased in the adult rodents. In adulthood, TDP-43 and FUS proteins were even undetectable in peripheral organs including skeletal muscles, liver, and kidney, but were constantly expressed at substantial levels in the central nervous system. Motor neurons expressed the TDP-43 and the FUS genes at robust levels throughout rodent's lifetime. Moreover, TDP-43 and FUS were accumulated in the cytoplasm of motor neurons in aged animals. Our findings suggest that TDP-43 and FUS play an important role in development and that constant and robust expression of the genes in motor neurons may render the neurons vulnerable to pathogenic mutation of the TDP-43 or the FUS gene. To faithfully model the pathology of TDP-43- or FUS gene mutations in rodents, we must replicate the expression patterns of the TDP-43 and the FUS gene in animals.
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PMID:Sustained expression of TDP-43 and FUS in motor neurons in rodent's lifetime. 2061 80

Dominant mutations in two functionally related DNA/RNA-binding proteins, trans-activating response region (TAR) DNA-binding protein with a molecular mass of 43 KDa (TDP-43) and fused in sarcoma/translocation in liposarcoma (FUS/TLS), cause an inherited form of ALS that is accompanied by nuclear and cytoplasmic aggregates containing TDP-43 or FUS/TLS. Using isogenic cell lines expressing wild-type or ALS-linked TDP-43 mutants and fibroblasts from a human patient, pulse-chase radiolabeling of newly synthesized proteins is used to determine, surprisingly, that ALS-linked TDP-43 mutant polypeptides are more stable than wild-type TDP-43. Tandem-affinity purification and quantitative mass spectrometry are used to identify TDP-43 complexes not only with heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins family proteins, as expected, but also with components of Drosha microprocessor complexes, consistent with roles for TDP-43 in both mRNA processing and microRNA biogenesis. A fraction of TDP-43 is shown to be complexed with FUS/TLS, an interaction substantially enhanced by TDP-43 mutants. Taken together, abnormal stability of mutant TDP-43 and its enhanced binding to normal FUS/TLS imply a convergence of pathogenic pathways from mutant TDP-43 and FUS/TLS in ALS.
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PMID:ALS-associated mutations in TDP-43 increase its stability and promote TDP-43 complexes with FUS/TLS. 2062 52

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disorder of motor neuron degeneration with unclear etiology and no effective treatment to date. ALS is, however, increasingly recognized as a multisystem disorder associated with impaired cognition. The overlap between ALS and dementia at clinical, genetic and neuropathologic levels indicates a spectrum of clinical phenotypes that may include features of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Most cases of ALS are sporadic (SALS), but approximately 10% of all ALS cases are familial ALS (FALS). Mutations in the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase-1 gene (SOD-1) occur in about 20% of FALS cases. Mutations in the TAR DNA-binding protein 43 gene (TARDBP or TDP-43) may occur in 3-4% of FALS cases, and less frequently, in FTLD. Recently, mutations in the fused in sarcoma/translation in liposarcoma gene (FUS/TLS) were identified as causing about 4-5% of FALS, SALS, and FTLD cases, but not SOD-1 ALS cases, indicating a pathogenic role of FUS, together with TDP-43, in possibly all types of ALS, except for SOD-1 linked ALS. TDP-43 and FUS have striking structural and functional similarities, most likely implicating altered RNA processing as a major event in ALS pathogenesis. Thus, TARDBP and FUS/TLS mutations define a novel class of neurodegenerative diseases called TDP-43- and FUS-proteinopathies, in which both misfolded proteins are novel targets for the development of therapeutics in this spectrum of diseases. However, SOD-1 linked ALS may have a pathogenic pathway distinct from other types of ALS.
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PMID:Molecular basis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. 2065 70


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