title: Identification of novel polyglutamine-expanded aggregation species in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy.
abstract: Polyglutamine-repeat disorders are part of a larger family of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by protein misfolding and aggregation. In spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), polyglutamine expansion within the androgen receptor (AR) causes progressive debilitating muscular atrophy and lower motor neuron loss in males. Although soluble polyglutamine-expanded aggregation species are considered toxic intermediates in the aggregation process, relatively little is known about the spectrum of structures that are formed. Here we identify novel polyglutamine-expanded AR aggregates that are SDS-soluble and bind the toxicity-predicting antibody 3B5H10. Soluble, 3B5H10-reactive aggregation species exist in low-density conformations and are larger by atomic force microscopy, suggesting that they may be less compact than later-stage, insoluble aggregates. We demonstrate disease-relevance in vivo and draw correlations with toxicity in vitro. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled SI: Neuroprotection.
authors.affiliation: Thomas Jefferson University, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Tamar R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.affiliation: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Heather L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Montie
authors.affiliation: West Virginia University, Department of Chemistry, Morgantown, WV, USA.
authors.forename: Pranav
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.affiliation: West Virginia University, Department of Chemistry, Morgantown, WV, USA.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Legleiter
authors.affiliation: Thomas Jefferson University, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Electronic address: diane.merry@jefferson.edu.
authors.forename: Diane E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Merry
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D020966:Muscular Disorders, Atrophic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D010455:Peptides; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; C097188:polyglutamine
keywords: Androgen receptor; Polyglutamine; Protein aggregation; Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy