title: Misfolded transthyretin causes behavioral changes in a Drosophila model for transthyretin-associated amyloidosis.
abstract: Familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by accumulation of mutated transthyretin (TTR) amyloid fibrils in different organs and prevalently around peripheral nerves. We have constructed transgenic flies, expressing the clinical amyloidogenic variant TTRL55P and the engineered variant TTR-A (TTRV14N/V16E) as well as the wild-type protein, all in secreted form. Within a few weeks, both mutants but not the wild-type TTR demonstrated a time-dependent aggregation of misfolded molecules. This was associated with neurodegeneration, change in wing posture, attenuation of locomotor activity including compromised flying ability and shortened life span. In contrast, expression of wild-type TTR had no discernible effect on either longevity or behavior. These results suggest that Drosophila can be used as a disease-model to study TTR amyloid formation, and to screen for pharmacological agents and modifying genes.
authors: Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå S-901 87, Sweden.
authors: Malgorzata
authors: M
authors: Pokrzywa
authors: Ingrid
authors: I
authors: Dacklin
authors: Dan
authors: D
authors: Hultmark
authors: Erik
authors: E
authors: Lundgren
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000502:physiology*; D005426:Flight, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000737:chemistry; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000502:physiology; D010641:Phenotype; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D017510:Protein Folding; D019076:Transgenes; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000033:anatomy & histology
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D009479:Neuropeptides; D011228:Prealbumin