REVIEW: Animal Models of FUS-Proteinopathy: A Systematic Review

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Alexander Rezvykh^1#, Daniil Shteinberg^2#, Evgeny Bronovitsky³, Aleksey Ustyugov², and Sergei Funikov^1,a*

¹Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia

²Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds, Federal Research Center of Problems of Chemical Physics and Medicinal Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142432 Chernogolovka, Russia

³State University of Education, 141014 Mytishchi, Russia

Received August 1, 2023; Revised September 1, 2023; Accepted September 7, 2023

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Mutations that disrupt the function of the DNA/RNA-binding protein FUS could cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases. One of the key features in ALS pathogenesis is the formation of insoluble protein aggregates containing aberrant isoforms of the FUS protein in the cytoplasm of upper and lower motor neurons. Reproduction of human pathology in animal models is the main tool for studying FUS-associated pathology and searching for potential therapeutic agents for ALS treatment. In this review, we provide a systematic analysis of the role of FUS protein in ALS pathogenesis and an overview of the results of modelling FUS-proteinopathy in animals.

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KEY WORDS: FUS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), proteinopathy, animal models

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297924140037

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