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Intragenic deletion in the gene encoding ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase in gad mice

Nature Genetics volume 23, pages 47–51 (1999)Cite this article

Abstract

The gracile axonal dystrophy (gad) mouse is an autosomal recessive mutant that shows sensory ataxia at an early stage, followed by motor ataxia at a later stage1. Pathologically, the mutant is characterized by 'dying-back' type axonal degeneration and formation of spheroid bodies in nerve terminals2,3,4,5. Recent pathological observations have associated brain ageing and neurodegenerative diseases with progressive accumulation of ubiquitinated protein conjugates6,7. In gad mice, accumulation of amyloid β-protein and ubiquitin-positive deposits occur retrogradely along the sensory and motor nervous systems8,9. We previously reported that the gad mutation was transmitted by a gene on chromosome 5 (refs 10,11). Here we find that the gad mutation is caused by an in-frame deletion including exons 7 and 8 of Uchl1, encoding the ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase (UCH) isozyme (Uch-l1) selectively expressed in the nervous system and testis12,13,14,15. The gad allele encodes a truncated Uch-l1 lacking a segment of 42 amino acids containing a catalytic residue16. As Uch-l1 is thought to stimulate protein degradation by generating free monomeric ubiquitin16,17,18, the gad mutation appears to affect protein turnover. Our data suggest that altered function of the ubiquitin system directly causes neurodegeneration. The gad mouse provides a useful model for investigating human neurodegenerative disorders.

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Figure 1: Analysis of Uchl1 expression in gad mice.
Figure 2: Genomic analysis of the mutated Uchl1 in gad mice.
Figure 3: Analysis of Uchl1 expression.
Figure 4: Immunostaining of ubiquitin (a,d), proteasome ( b,e) and Uch-l1 (c,f) in the gracile nucleus of medulla oblongata in wild-type (a–c) and homozygous gad (d–f) mice at 12 weeks of age.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Y. Hayashizaki, T. Tomita, K. Oda and K. Tanaka for helpful advice; R.S. Petralia for critical reading of our manuscript; T. Shiroishi for supplying M. m. molossinus; and M. Shikama for the breeding and care of animals. This work was supported in part by research grants from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Science and Technology Agency of Japan.

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  1. Kazumasa Saigoh and Yu-Lai Wang: These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Degenerative Neurological Diseases, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8502, Japan

    Kazumasa Saigoh, Yu-Lai Wang, Jun-Gyo Suh, Toshiyuki Yamanishi, Yoshihisa Sakai, Hidenori Kiyosawa, Takayuki Harada & Keiji Wada

  2. Animal Models for Human Disease, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8502, Japan

    Nobutsune Ichihara & Tateki Kikuchi

  3. Department of Neurology, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osakasayama, Osaka, 589-8511, Japan

    Kazumasa Saigoh & Toshiyuki Yamanishi

  4. Department of Genetics, Central Institute for Experimental Animals, Kawasaki, 216, Japan

    Shigeharu Wakana

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  1. Kazumasa Saigoh
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Correspondence to Keiji Wada.

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Saigoh, K., Wang, YL., Suh, JG. et al. Intragenic deletion in the gene encoding ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase in gad mice. Nat Genet 23, 47–51 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/12647

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