Molecules, Vol. 24, Pages 1622: Fused in Sarcoma: Properties, Self-Assembly and Correlation with Neurodegenerative Diseases

Molecules, Vol. 24, Pages 1622: Fused in Sarcoma: Properties, Self-Assembly and Correlation with Neurodegenerative Diseases Molecules doi: 10.3390/molecules24081622 Authors: Chen Chen Xiufang Ding Nimrah Akram Song Xue Shi-Zhong Luo Fused in sarcoma (FUS) is a DNA/RNA binding protein that is involved in RNA metabolism and DNA repair. Numerous reports have demonstrated by pathological and genetic analysis that FUS is associated with a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), and polyglutamine diseases. Traditionally, the fibrillar aggregation of FUS was considered to be the cause of those diseases, especially via its prion-like domains (PrLDs), which are rich in glutamine and asparagine residues. Lately, a nonfibrillar self-assembling phenomenon, liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS), was observed in FUS, and studies of its functions, mechanism, and mutual transformation with pathogenic amyloid have been emerging. This review summarizes recent studies on FUS self-assembling, including both aggregation and LLPS as well as their relationship with the pathology of ALS, FTLD, and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Source: Molecules - Category: Chemistry Authors: Tags: Review Source Type: research