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Motor neuron disease

A role for ubiquilin 2 mutations in neurodegeneration

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A recent study has identified mutations in the ubiquilin 2 gene in patients with dominant X-linked amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and ALS–dementia. The results suggest that ubiquilin 2 inclusions and impairment of the protein degradation pathway contribute to the pathogenesis of ALS and possibly other neurodegenerative disorders.

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Acknowledgements

H. Daoud is supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from the ALS Society of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. G. A. Rouleau holds a Canada Research Chair in Genetics of the Nervous System and the Jeanne et J-Louis-Lévesque Chair in Genetics of Brain Diseases.

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Correspondence to Guy A. Rouleau.

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Daoud, H., Rouleau, G. A role for ubiquilin 2 mutations in neurodegeneration. Nat Rev Neurol 7, 599–600 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2011.163

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