A mouse forward genetics screen identifies LISTERIN as an E3 ubiquitin ligase involved in neurodegeneration

Jessie Chu, Nancy A. Hong, Claudio A. Masuda, Brian V. Jenkins, Keats A. Nelms, Christopher C. Goodnow, Richard J. Glynne, Hua Wu, Eliezer Masliah, Claudio A.P. Joazeiro, Steve A. Kay

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    191 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    A mouse neurological mutant, lister, was identified through a genome-wide N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis screen. Homozygous lister mice exhibit profound early-onset and progressive neurological and motor dysfunction. lister encodes a RING finger protein, LISTERIN, which functions as an E3 ubiquitin ligase in vitro. Although lister is widely expressed in all tissues, motor and sensory neurons and neuronal processes in the brainstem and spinal cord are primarily affected in the mutant. Pathological signs include gliosis, dystrophic neurites, vacuolated mitochondria, and accumulation of soluble hyperphosphorylated tau. Analysis with a different lister allele generated through targeted gene trap insertion reveals LISTERIN is required for embryonic development and confirms that direct perturbation of a LISTERIN-regulated process causes neurodegeneration. The lister mouse uncovers a pathway involved in neurodegeneration and may serves as a model for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying human neurodegenerative disorders.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)2097-2103
    Number of pages7
    JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
    Volume106
    Issue number7
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 17 Feb 2009

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