UASt regulatory sequences drive expression of BicD that has been mutated to carry the T644M amino acid replacement (this is equivalent to p.BICD2Thr703Met in the human BICD2 ortholog, which has been identified in individuals with autosomal dominant lower extremity-predominant spinal muscular atrophy 2). The protein is tagged at the C-terminal end with one copy of Tag:FLAG.
CC17462554TG
ACC>ATG
T644M | BicD-PA; T644M | BicD-PB; T644M | BicD-PC; T644M | BicD-PD
T644M
Analogous T703M mutation in human BICD2 implicated in spinal muscular atrophy, lower extremity-predominant, 2; mutation carried on in vitro construct.
The disease model is observed when BicDT644M.UAS.Tag:FLAG is expressed (in a BicDr5/+ background) in neuronal tissue (using Scer\GAL4nSyb.PS) but not when it is expressed in muscle (using Scer\GAL4Mef2.PR).
Expression of BicDT644M.UAS.Tag:FLAG under the control of Scer\GAL4nSyb.PS significantly reduces adult male climbing ability in a BicDr5/+ background, but not in a +/+ background, compared to controls; there is also a significant decrease in larval neuromuscular junction size in a BicDr5/+ background, compared to controls.
Expression of BicDT644M.UAS.Tag:FLAG under the control of Scer\GAL4Mef2.PR slightly, but significantly improves adult male climbing ability in a BicDr5/+ background, compared to controls.