The DST gene in neurobiology

DST is a gene whose alternative splicing yields epithelial, neuronal, and muscular isoforms. The autosomal recessive Dstdt (dystonia musculorum) spontaneous mouse mutation causes degeneration of spinocerebellar tracts as well as peripheral sensory nerves, dorsal root ganglia, and cranial nerve ganglia. In addition to Dstdt mutants, axonopathy and neurofilament accumulation in perikarya are features of two other murine lines with spontaneous Dst mutations, targeted Dst knockout mice, DstTg4 transgenic mice carrying two deleted Dst exons, DstGt mice with trapped actin-binding domain-containing isoforms, and conditional Schwann cell-specific Dst knockout mice. As a result of nerve damage, Dstdt mutants display dystonia and ataxia, as seen in several genetically modified models and their motor coordination deficits have been quantified along with the spontaneous Dst nonsense mutant, the conditional Schwann cell-specific Dst knockout, the conditional DstGt mutant, and the Dst-b isoform specific Dst mutant. Recent findings in humans have associated DST mutations of the Dst-b isoform with hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathies type 6 (HSAN-VI). These data should further encourage the development of genetic techniques to treat or prevent ataxic and dystonic symptoms.