NSU-MD Faculty Articles

"Skittish" Abca2 knockout mice display tremor, hyperactivity, and abnormal myelin ultrastructure in the central nervous system.

Publication Title

Molecular and cellular biology

Publisher

American Society for Microbiology

ISSN

0270-7306

Publication Date

1-1-2007

Keywords

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters, Animals, Behavior, Animal, Central Nervous System, Female, Lysosomes, Macrophages, Male, Mice, Mice, Knockout, Myelin Sheath, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Phenotype, Psychomotor Agitation, Tremor

Abstract

The ATP-binding cassette transporter 2 (ABCA2) is an endolysosomal protein most highly expressed in the central and peripheral nervous system tissues and macrophages. Previous studies indicated its role in cholesterol/steroid (estramustine, estradiol, and progesterone) trafficking/sequestration, oxidative stress response, and Alzheimer's disease. Developmental studies have shown its expression during macrophage and oligodendrocyte differentiation, processes requiring membrane growth. To determine the in vivo function(s) of this transporter, we generated a knockout mouse from a gene-targeted disruption of the murine ABCA2 gene. Knockout males and females are viable and fertile. However, a non-Mendelian inheritance pattern was shown among male progeny of heterozygous crosses. Compared to wild-type and heterozygous littermates, knockout mice displayed a tremor without ataxia, hyperactivity, and reduced body weight; the latter two phenotypes were more marked in females than in males. This sexual disparity suggests a role for ABCA2 in hormone-dependent neurological and/or developmental pathways. Myelin sheath thickness in the spinal cords of knockout mice was greatly increased compared to that in wild-type mice, while a significant reduction in myelin membrane periodicity (compaction) was observed in both spinal cords and cerebra of knockout mice. Loss of ABCA2 function in vivo resulted in abnormal myelin compaction in spinal cord and cerebrum, an ultrastructural defect that we propose to be the cause of the phenotypic tremor.

DOI

10.1128/MCB.01824-06

Volume

27

Issue

1

First Page

44

Last Page

53

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

Peer Reviewed

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