
@article {35149,
	title = {RNP-Granule Assembly via Ataxin-2 Disordered Domains Is Required for Long-Term Memory and Neurodegeneration.},
	journal = {Neuron},
	volume = {98},
	year = {2018},
	month = {2018 May 16},
	pages = {754-766.e4},
	abstract = {<p>Human Ataxin-2 is implicated in the cause and progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and type 2 spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA-2). In Drosophila, a conserved atx2 gene is essential for animal survival as well as for normal RNP-granule assembly, translational control, and long-term habituation. Like its human homolog, Drosophila Ataxin-2 (Atx2) contains polyQ repeats and additional intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs). We demonstrate that Atx2 IDRs, which are capable of mediating liquid-liquid phase transitions in\&nbsp;vitro, are essential for efficient formation of neuronal mRNP assemblies in\&nbsp;vivo. Remarkably, ΔIDR mutants that lack neuronal RNP granules show normal animal development, survival, and fertility. However, they show defects in long-term memory formation/consolidation as well as in C9ORF72 dipeptide repeat or FUS-induced neurodegeneration. Together, our findings demonstrate (1) that higher-order mRNP assemblies contribute to long-term neuronal plasticity and memory, and (2) that a targeted reduction in RNP-granule formation efficiency can alleviate specific forms of neurodegeneration.</p>
},
	issn = {1097-4199},
	doi = {10.1016/j.neuron.2018.04.032},
	author = {Bakthavachalu, Baskar and Huelsmeier, Joern and Sudhakaran, Indulekha P and Hillebrand, Jens and Singh, Amanjot and Petrauskas, Arnas and Thiagarajan, Devasena and Sankaranarayanan, M and Mizoue, Laura and Anderson, Eric N and Pandey, Udai Bhan and Ross, Eric and VijayRaghavan, K and Parker, Roy and Ramaswami, Mani}
}
