TDP-43 regulates ERVK viral protein accumulation

Question 1

Who authored this paper and when?

Answer 1

Sheena, Renée and Jennifer - pub June 2016

Question 2

What does TDP-43 stand for?

Answer 2

TAR DNA binding protein 43

Question 3

In this paper, what did TDP-43 bind and in what context? Did it affect ERVK transcription?

Answer 3

TDP-43 bound the ERVK promoter in the context of inflammation or proteasome inhibition.
There was no effect on ERVK transcription.

Question 4

What was the difference between over-expressed ALS associated TDP43 and wild type TDP43?

Answer 4

ALS aggregate prone TDP43 significantly enhanced ERVK viral protein accumulation.

Question 5

What was the difference between astrocytes and neurons in terms of clearing excess ERVK proteins?

Answer 5

Astrocytes were able to clear ERVK proteins through stress granule formation and autophagy but neurons were not.

Question 6

How were the neuronal and astrocytic differences validated/tested?

Answer 6

In vitro tests validated the findings in autopsy motor cortex tissue.

Question 7

What did the neurons of pts with ALS show in autopsy?

Answer 7

There was a marked enhancement of ERVK in ALS tissues despite stress granule and autophagic response. Neurons did not seem to be able to clear the ERVK proteins

Question 8

This paper proves what about the convergence of cell pathways and expression/clearance of viral genes products?

Answer 8

This paper proves that multiple cellular pathways can be tied together with disease-associated mutations which, together, can alter the expression and clearance of viral proteins.

Question 9

TDP-43 misregulation can do what in terms of ALS?

Answer 9

TDP-43 misregulation can contribute towards the pathology of ALS.