[Molecular pathogenesis of ALS in TDP43 era]

To clarify the molecular pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) associated with TAR-DNA binding protein 43 kDd (TDP-43), the quality and quantity of TDP-43 take a crucial role. Regarding to the quality of TDP-43, TDP-43 has been reported as an aggregate-prone protein. Especially the C-terminus of the TDP-43 tends to form aggregate and has prion-like domain. Interestingly the mutations in the genes, which produce proteins with prion-like domain, have been identified in several neurodegenerative disorders. These results suggest the existence of the common property in the causative proteins for neurodegenerative disorders. For the quantity of TDP-43, the adequate amount of TDP-43 is necessary for maintaining cell function and cell survival. The amount of TDP-43 is tightly regulated by TDP-43. However the mechanism for autoregulation has not been fully elucidated. For the function of TDP-43, TDP-43 locates at stress granule, GEM and associates with the large genes and introns. Thus the alteration of TDP-43 may affect the function of stress granule, GEM and RNA metabolism in several genes. Moreover a U12 type spliceosome, which is matured in GEM, is decreased in ALS. The investigation of whether these dysfunctions explain the selective pathology in ALS provides a new therapeutic strategy for ALS.