title: Whole transcriptome analysis of a reversible neurodegenerative process in Drosophila reveals potential neuroprotective genes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neurodegenerative diseases are progressive and irreversible and they can be initiated by mutations in specific genes. Spalt-like genes (Sall) encode transcription factors expressed in the central nervous system. In humans, SALL mutations are associated with hereditary syndromes characterized by mental retardation, sensorineural deafness and motoneuron problems, among others. Drosophila sall mutants exhibit severe neurodegeneration of the central nervous system at embryonic stage 16, which surprisingly reverts later in development at embryonic stage 17, suggesting a potential to recover from neurodegeneration. We hypothesize that this recovery is mediated by a reorganization of the transcriptome counteracting SALL lost. To identify genes associated to neurodegeneration and neuroprotection, we used mRNA-Seq to compare the transcriptome of Drosophila sall mutant and wild type embryos from neurodegeneration and reversal stages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neurodegeneration stage is associated with transcriptional changes in 220 genes, of which only 5% were already described as relevant for neurodegeneration. Genes related to the groups of Redox, Lifespan/Aging and Mitochondrial diseases are significantly represented at this stage. By contrast, neurodegeneration reversal stage is associated with significant changes in 480 genes, including 424 not previously associated with neuroprotection. Immune response and Salt stress are the most represented groups at this stage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We identify new genes associated to neurodegeneration and neuroprotection by using an mRNA-Seq approach. The strong homology between Drosophila and human genes raises the possibility to unveil novel genes involved in neurodegeneration and neuroprotection also in humans.
authors.affiliation: Developmental Neurobiology, IIBCE, Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ferreiro
authors.forename: Naiara
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Ezpeleta
authors.forename: Coralia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hackenberg
authors.forename: Ana María
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Aransay
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barrio
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cantera
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019295:Computational Biology; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017344:Genes, Insect; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D059467:Transcriptome
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins