The long and the short of TDP-43.

Abstract

In a recent study, Dykstra and colleagues show that shortened TAR DNA Binding Protein 43 (sTDP-43) isoforms are generated as by-products of TDP-43 autoregulation. sTDP-43 levels are regulated through nonsense-mediated decay and proteasomal and autophagic degradation, and elicit toxicity through dominant negative effects on TDP-43 splicing activity. These results identify mechanisms contributing to sTDP-43 accumulation and toxicity in disease.