Article abstract
Nature Neuroscience 10, 1519 - 1528 (2007)
Published online: 11 November 2007 | doi:10.1038/nn2011
Polyglutamine domain modulates the TBP-TFIIB interaction: implications for its normal function and neurodegeneration
Meyer J Friedman1, Anjali G Shah1, Zhi-Hui Fang1, Elizabeth G Ward1, Stephen T Warren1, Shihua Li1 & Xiao-Jiang Li1
Abstract
Expansion of the polyglutamine (polyQ) tract in human TATA-box binding protein (TBP) causes the neurodegenerative disease spinocerebellar ataxia 17 (SCA17). It remains unclear how the polyQ tract regulates normal protein function and induces selective neuropathology in SCA17. We generated transgenic mice expressing polyQ-expanded TBP. These mice showed weight loss, progressive neurological symptoms and neurodegeneration before early death. Expanded polyQ tracts reduced TBP dimerization but enhanced the interaction of TBP with the general transcription factor IIB (TFIIB). In SCA17 transgenic mice, the small heat shock protein HSPB1, a potent neuroprotective factor, was downregulated, and TFIIB occupancy of the Hspb1 promoter was decreased. Overexpression of HSPB1 or TFIIB alleviated mutant TBP-induced neuritic defects. These findings implicate the polyQ domain of TBP in transcriptional regulation and provide insight into the molecular pathogenesis of SCA17.
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
Correspondence to: Shihua Li1 e-mail: shihual@genetics.emory.edu
Correspondence to: Xiao-Jiang Li1 e-mail: xiaoli@genetics.emory.edu
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