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Human Molecular Genetics
Article . 2012 . Peer-reviewed
Data sources: Crossref
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Plastin 3 ameliorates spinal muscular atrophy via delayed axon pruning and improves neuromuscular junction functionality

Authors: Laura Torres-Benito; Sandra Kröber; Julia Schreml; Brunhilde Wirth; Janine Milbradt; Thomas F. Wunderlich; Miriam Peters; +7 Authors

Plastin 3 ameliorates spinal muscular atrophy via delayed axon pruning and improves neuromuscular junction functionality

Abstract

F-actin bundling plastin 3 (PLS3) is a fully protective modifier of the neuromuscular disease spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the most common genetic cause of infant death. The generation of a conditional PLS3-over-expressing mouse and its breeding into an SMA background allowed us to decipher the exact biological mechanism underlying PLS3-mediated SMA protection. We show that PLS3 is a key regulator that restores main processes depending on actin dynamics in SMA motor neurons (MNs). MN soma size significantly increased and a higher number of afferent proprioceptive inputs were counted in SMAPLS3 compared with SMA mice. PLS3 increased presynaptic F-actin amount, rescued synaptic vesicle and active zones content, restored the organization of readily releasable pool of vesicles and increased the quantal content of the neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). Most remarkably, PLS3 over-expression led to a stabilization of axons which, in turn, resulted in a significant delay of axon pruning, counteracting poor axonal connectivity at SMA NMJs. These findings together with the observation of increased endplate and muscle fiber size upon MN-specific PLS3 over-expression suggest that PLS3 significantly improves neuromuscular transmission. Indeed, ubiquitous over-expression moderately improved survival and motor function in SMA mice. As PLS3 seems to act independently of Smn, PLS3 might be a potential therapeutic target not only in SMA but also in other MN diseases.

Keywords

Motor Neurons, Membrane Glycoproteins, Mice, 129 Strain, Microfilament Proteins, Gene Expression, Mice, Transgenic, Evoked Potentials, Motor, Proprioception, Motor Endplate, Survival of Motor Neuron 1 Protein, Actins, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Muscular Atrophy, Spinal, Mice, Protein Transport, Phenotype, Microscopy, Fluorescence, Animals, Humans, Receptors, Cholinergic

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    113
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    Top 10%
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    Top 10%
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    Top 10%
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citations
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
113
Top 10%
Top 10%
Top 10%
bronze