An analysis of relation between MENb and nuclear foci in Huntington's disease

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25871169
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Neurology; Nerve anatomy/Neuropathology
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo (2014-2015); 独立行政法人国立精神・神経医療研究センター (2013)
• Principal Investigator: Takahashi Masaki 東京大学, 医科学研究所, 特任准教授 (00549529)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: non-coding RNA / 神経変性疾患 / ハンチントン病 / 凝集体形成

Outline of Final Research Achievements

MEN beta (MENb) long non-coding RNA have been identified as an essential factor for structural integrity of nuclear body paraspeckle involved in stress responses. The ability of MENb to retain several nuclear proteins in paraspeckle seems likely to contribute to formation of abnormal nuclear foci observed in neurodegenerative disorders such as Huntington’s disease; however, it remains to be elucidated. In this study, we evaluated whether MENb influences organization of nuclear foci in Huntington’s disease using model mice and stable cell lines expressing the mutant Huntingtin (mHTT) gene. The expression analysis of MENb and the localization analysis of nuclear foci derived from mHTT in vitro and in vivo suggested a poor relation between MENb and mHTT aggregations.

Free Research Field

RNA医科学