TSUNAMI: an antisense method to phenocopy splicing-associated diseases in animals

Sahashi, K., Hua, Y., Ling, K. K., Hung, G., Rigo, F., Horev, G., Katsuno, M., Sobue, G., Ko, C. P., Bennett, C. F., Krainer, A. R. (August 2012) TSUNAMI: an antisense method to phenocopy splicing-associated diseases in animals. Genes Dev, 26 (16). pp. 1874-84. ISSN 1549-5477 (Electronic)0890-9369 (Linking)

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URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22895255
DOI: 10.1101/gad.197418.112

Abstract

Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are versatile molecules that can be designed to specifically alter splicing patterns of target pre-mRNAs. Here we exploit this feature to phenocopy a genetic disease. Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a motor neuron disease caused by loss-of-function mutations in the SMN1 gene. The related SMN2 gene expresses suboptimal levels of functional SMN protein due to alternative splicing that skips exon 7; correcting this defect-e.g., with ASOs-is a promising therapeutic approach. We describe the use of ASOs that exacerbate SMN2 missplicing and phenocopy SMA in a dose-dependent manner when administered to transgenic Smn(-/-) mice. Intracerebroventricular ASO injection in neonatal mice recapitulates SMA-like progressive motor dysfunction, growth impairment, and shortened life span, with alpha-motor neuron loss and abnormal neuromuscular junctions. These SMA-like phenotypes are prevented by a therapeutic ASO that restores correct SMN2 splicing. We uncovered starvation-induced splicing changes, particularly in SMN2, which likely accelerate disease progression. These results constitute proof of principle that ASOs designed to cause sustained splicing defects can be used to induce pathogenesis and rapidly and accurately model splicing-associated diseases in animals. This approach allows the dissection of pathogenesis mechanisms, including spatial and temporal features of disease onset and progression, as well as testing of candidate therapeutics.

Item Type: Paper
Subjects: bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > protein structure, function, modification
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification > antisense
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > protein structure, function, modification > protein types > splicing factor
CSHL Authors:
Communities: CSHL Cancer Center Shared Resources > Animal Services
CSHL Cancer Center Shared Resources > Antibody and Phage Display Service
CSHL Cancer Center Shared Resources > Microscopy Service
CSHL Post Doctoral Fellows
CSHL labs > Krainer lab
CSHL Cancer Center Program > Gene Regulation and Cell Proliferation
Depositing User: Matt Covey
Date: 15 August 2012
Date Deposited: 18 Jan 2013 20:20
Last Modified: 03 Nov 2017 20:03
PMCID: PMC3426765
Related URLs:
URI: https://repository.cshl.edu/id/eprint/27035

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