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Molecular investigation of TBP allele length: A SCA17 cellular model and population study

  • Suzanne J. Reid
  • , Mark I. Rees
  • , Willeke M.C. Van Roon-Mom
  • , A. Lesley Jones
  • , Marcy E. MacDonald
  • , Greg Sutherland
  • , Matthew J. During
  • , Richard L.M. Faull
  • , Michael J. Owen
  • , Mike Dragunow
  • , Russell G. Snell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Recently, an inherited spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA17) has been attributed to polyglutamine coding expansions within the gene coding for human TATA-box binding protein (TBP). The normal repeat range is 25-42 units with patients having as few as 46 repeats. We undertook a TBP repeat length population study showing its relative stability, skewed distribution, and substantial population specific differences. To investigate the mechanism of neurodegeneration in SCA17 we have developed a cellular model expressing full-length TBP with a range of polyQ expansions. As has been found with other polyQ cellular models, insoluble intracellular inclusions form in a repeat-length-dependent manner. In addition, we have shown that the expanded TBP polyQ tract is able to interact with other overexpressed polyQ-containing proteins. Importantly, overexpression of expanded TBP results in increased Cre-dependent transcriptional activity. As TBP is required for transcription by all RNA polymerases, this may indicate a mechanism for aberrant polyQ gain of function.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)37-45
Number of pages9
JournalNeurobiology of Disease
Volume13
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2003

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