TARDBP mutations in individuals with sporadic and familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Recently, TDP-43 was identified as a key component of ubiquitinated aggregates in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), an adult-onset neurological disorder that leads to the degeneration of motor neurons. Here we report eight missense mutations in nine individuals-six from individuals with sporadic ALS (SALS) and three from those with familial ALS (FALS)-and a concurring increase of a smaller TDP-43 product. These findings further corroborate that TDP-43 is involved in ALS pathogenesis. © 2008 Nature Publishing Group.