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By-passing the nonsense mutation in the 4CV mouse model of muscular dystrophy by induced exon skipping
Journal article   Peer reviewed

By-passing the nonsense mutation in the 4CV mouse model of muscular dystrophy by induced exon skipping

C. Mitrpant, S. Fletcher, P.L. Iversen and S.D. Wilton
The Journal of Gene Medicine, Vol.11(1), pp.46-56
2009
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a severe neuromuscular disorder, is caused by protein-truncating mutations in the dystrophin gene. Absence of functional dystrophin renders muscle fibres more vulnerable to damage and necrosis. We report antisense oligomer (AO) induced exon skipping in the B6Ros.Cg-Dmd(mdx-4Cv)/J (4(CV)) mouse, a muscular dystrophy model arising from a nonsense mutation in dystrophin exon 53. Both exons 52 and 53 must be excised to remove the mutation and maintain the reading frame. METHODS: A series of 2'-O-methyl modified oligomers on a phosphorothioate backbone (2OMeAOs) were designed and evaluated for the removal of each exon, and the most effective compounds were then combined to induce dual exon skipping in both myoblast cultures and in vivo. Exon skipping efficiency of 2OMeAOs and phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMOs) was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo at the RNA and protein levels. RESULTS: Compared to the original mdx mouse studies, induction of exon skipping from the 4(CV) dystrophin mRNA was far more challenging. PMO cocktails could restore synthesis of near-full length dystrophin protein in cultured 4(CV) myogenic cells and in vivo, after a single intramuscular injection. CONCLUSIONS: By-passing the protein-truncating mutation in the 4(CV) mouse model of muscular dystrophy could not be achieved with single oligomers targeting both exons and was only achieved after the application of AO cocktails to remove exons 52 and 53. As in previous studies, the stability and efficiency of PMOs proved superior to 2OMeAOs for consistent and sustained protein induction in vivo.

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Collaboration types
Industry collaboration
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Citation topics
1 Clinical & Life Sciences
1.255 Musculoskeletal Disorders
1.255.628 Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Web Of Science research areas
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Genetics & Heredity
Medicine, Research & Experimental
ESI research areas
Molecular Biology & Genetics
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