title: Genetic background alters the severity and onset of neuromuscular disease caused by the loss of ubiquitin-specific protease 14 (usp14).
abstract: In this study, we identified and characterized an N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) induced mutation in Usp14 (nmf375) that leads to adult-onset neurological disease. The nmf375 mutation causes aberrant splicing of Usp14 mRNA, resulting in a 95% reduction in USP14. We previously showed that loss of USP14 in ataxia (ax (J)) mice results in reduced ubiquitin levels, motor endplate disease, Purkinje cell axonal dystrophy and decreased hippocampal paired pulse facilitation (PPF) during the first 4-6 weeks of life, and early postnatal lethality by two months of age. Although the loss of USP14 is comparable between the nmf375 and ax (J) mice, the nmf375 mice did not exhibit these ax (J) developmental abnormalities. However, by 12 weeks of age the nmf375 mutants present with ubiquitin depletion and motor endplate disease, indicating a continual role for USP14-mediated regulation of ubiquitin pools and neuromuscular junction (NMJ) structure in adult mice. The observation that motor endplate disease was only seen after ubiquitin depletion suggests that the preservation of NMJ structure requires the stable maintenance of synaptic ubiquitin pools. Differences in genetic background were shown to affect ubiquitin expression and dramatically alter the phenotypes caused by USP14 deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America.
authors.forename: Andrea G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jada J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hallengren
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America.
authors.forename: Brandon J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America.
authors.forename: Lynn E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Dobrunz
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America.
authors.forename: Ludwig
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Francillon
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America.
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America.
authors.forename: Scott E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America.
authors.forename: Scott M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology; D001483:Base Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015870:Gene Expression; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009045:Motor Endplate / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009154:Mutation; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D010641:Phenotype; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000235:genetics; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism; D025801:Ubiquitin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D021122:Protein Subunits; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D025801:Ubiquitin; C469268:Usp14 protein, mouse; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase