Analysis of association between GEM body and motor neuron death

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24790875
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Neurology
• Research Institution: Niigata University
• Principal Investigator: YOKOSEKI Akio 新潟大学, 医歯(薬)学総合研究科, 特任准教授 (90515719)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: ALS / TDP-43 / GEM / SMN

Outline of Final Research Achievements

TAR DNA binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) is a nuclear protein and plays an important role for onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). TDP-43 has been reported to associate with some nuclear bodies: Cajal body, GEM body, and PML. Therefore,I studied association between TDP-43 and GEM body in ALS pathology. The number of GEM bodies decreased in spinal motor neurons with ALS than those with normal; the volume of GEM bodies was not different between spinal motor neurons with ALS and normals. Moreover, the number of GEM bodies was similar between spinal motor neurons with and without nuclear TDP-43. These results suggest that decreased number of GEM bodies may be caused by dysfunction of TDP-43 in ALS.

Free Research Field

神経内科学