Bassoon Gene Linked To Rare Brain Disorder

A team of Japanese scientists has discovered that a mutation in the bassoon gene causes a type of brain disorder characterized by impaired motor and cognitive functions.

AsianScientist (Mar. 29, 2018) – In a study published in Scientific Reports, a research group in Japan has discovered a gene mutation associated with a rare brain disorder that impairs walking and thinking.

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a form of Parkinson’s disease, is often difficult to diagnose because it can affect people in different ways. Serious problems often include difficulty with walking and balance, in addition to a decline in cognitive abilities such as frontal lobe dysfunction.

A team of Japanese researchers investigated patients whose symptoms resembled not only PSP but also Alzheimer’s disease. Despite similarities in the symptoms, detailed pathological analyses showed no resemblance to either disease, which prompted the team to further research PSP’s underlying mechanism.

They first analyzed the genomes of a Japanese family with several members displaying PSP-like symptoms. They identified a mutation in the bassoon (BSN) gene only in family members that displayed symptoms. These individuals did not have mutations in the 52 other genes associated with PSP and other neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. This was the first time the BSN gene is associated with a neurological disorder.

The researchers also detected three other mutations in the BSN gene in four out of 41 other patients displaying sporadic, or non-familial, PSP-like symptoms. None of the BSN mutations were detected in a random sample of 100 healthy individuals, underscoring the strong involvement of BSN mutations in the disease.

An autopsy done on one of the family members with the BSN mutation showed an accumulation of a protein called tau in the brain, which is not seen in a normal brain. The researchers believe that the BSN mutation is involved in the tau accumulation, which could cause the development of PSP-like symptoms. An experiment introducing a mutated rat BSN gene to cultured cells also suggested that the mutation causes the accumulation of tau. Communication between nerve fibers could also be affected, as BSN protein play a role in it.

“This is a peculiar neurodegenerative disorder which involves mutations in the BSN gene and tau accumulation, but differs from any known disease, including dementia, Parkinson’s, and even PSP,” said Associate Professor Ichiro Yabe of Hokkaido University, Japan, who led the study. “Patients with PSP-like symptoms and other neurodegenerative disorders should be analyzed for BSN mutations to fine-tune their diagnoses.”


The article can be found at: Yabe et al. (2018) Mutations in Bassoon in Individuals with Familial and Sporadic Progressive Supranuclear Palsy-like Syndrome.

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Source: Hokkaido University; Photo: Shutterstock.
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