title: Altered levels and distribution of microtubule-associated proteins before disease onset in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
abstract: Alterations of the axonal transport and microtubule network are potential causes of motor neurodegeneration in mice expressing a mutant form of the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1G37R) linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In the present study, we investigated the biology of microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs), responsible for the formation and stabilization of microtubules, in SOD1G37R mice. Our results show that the protein levels of MAP2, MAP1A, tau 100 kDa and tau 68 kDa species decrease significantly as early as 5 months before onset of symptoms in the spinal cord of SOD1G37R mice, whereas decrease in levels of tau 52-55 kDa species is most often noted with the manifestation of the clinical symptoms. Interestingly, there was no change in the protein levels of MAPs in the brain of SOD1G37R mice, a CNS organ spared by the mutant SOD1 toxicity. Remarkably, as early as 5 months before disease onset, the binding affinities of MAP1A, MAP2 and tau isoforms to the cytoskeleton decreased in spinal cord of SOD1G37R mice. This change correlated with a hyperphosphorylation of the soluble tau 52-55 kDa species at epitopes recognized by the antibodies AT8 and PHF-1. Finally, a shift in the distribution of MAP2 from the cytosol to the membrane is detected in SOD1G37R mice at the same stage. Thus, alterations in the integrity of microtubules are early events of the neurodegenerative processes in SOD1G37R mice.
authors.affiliation: Département de pathologie et biologie cellulaire, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: C Abi
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Farah
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Julien
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Leclerc
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic / Q000235:genetics; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D014404:Tubulin; C470429:SOD1 G37R protein, mouse; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase