Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy (DM), the most common form of muscular dystrophy in adult humans, results from expansion of a CTG repeat in the 3' untranslated region of the DMPK gene. The mutant DMPK messenger RNA (mRNA) contains an expanded CUG repeat and is retained in the nucleus. We have expressed an untranslated CUG repeat in an unrelated mRNA in transgenic mice. Mice that expressed expanded CUG repeats developed myotonia and myopathy, whereas mice expressing a nonexpanded repeat did not. Thus, transcripts with expanded CUG repeats are sufficient to generate a DM phenotype. This result supports a role for RNA gain of function in disease pathogenesis.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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3' Untranslated Regions
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Actins / genetics
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Action Potentials
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Animals
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Cell Nucleus / metabolism
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Cell Nucleus / pathology
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Disease Models, Animal
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Humans
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In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
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Mice
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Mice, Transgenic
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Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
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Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
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Muscle, Skeletal / physiopathology
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Myotonic Dystrophy / genetics*
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Myotonic Dystrophy / metabolism
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Myotonic Dystrophy / pathology
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Myotonic Dystrophy / physiopathology
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Myotonin-Protein Kinase
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Phenotype
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
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RNA Splicing
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RNA, Messenger / genetics*
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RNA, Messenger / metabolism
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Transgenes
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Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion*
Substances
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3' Untranslated Regions
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Actins
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DMPK protein, human
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DMPK protein, mouse
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RNA, Messenger
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Myotonin-Protein Kinase
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases