title: Loss-of-function of IKAP/ELP1: could neuronal migration defect underlie familial dysautonomia?
abstract: Familial dysautonomia (FD) is a hereditary neuronal disease characterized by poor development and progressive degeneration of the sensory and autonomic nervous system. Majority of FD (99.5%) results from a single nucleotide point mutation in the IKBKAP gene encoding IKAP, also known as elongation protein 1 (ELP1). The point mutation leads to variable, tissue specific expression of a truncated IKBKAP mRNA. The appearance of the truncated IKBKAP coincides with a marked reduction of its wild type mRNA leading to decreased IKAP protein levels especially in the sensory and autonomous nervous system. Recently, two independent studies were carried out to establish a cellular model system to study the loss-of-function of IKAP in mammalian cells. Both studies used RNA interference to deplete wild type IKAP from different mammalian cell types. In both studies the depletion of IKAP resulted in a cell migration defect, revealing the importance of IKAP in this process. These studies lead to a common conclusion according to which defective neuronal migration could underlie FD. They gave however two very different explanations of how IKAP would regulate cell migration: via transcriptional regulation and via cytosolic interactions.
authors.affiliation: Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Naumanen
authors.forename: Lars D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: Eleanor T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Coffey
authors.forename: Tuula
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kallunki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002465:Cell Movement; D004402:Dysautonomia, Familial / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D011485:Protein Binding
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins