Transposable Element activation promotes neurodegeneration in a Drosophila model of Huntington's disease

Huntingtons disease (HD) is a late-onset, autosomal dominant disorder characterized by progressive motor dysfunction, cognitive decline and psychiatric disturbances. The most prominent pathological manifestation is a selective loss of medium-sized spiny neurons of the striatum. The disease is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the IT15 gene, which elongates a stretch of polyglutamine at the amino-terminal of the HD protein, Huntingtin (Htt). Despite the accumulation of an impressive amount of data on the molecular basis of neurodegeneration, no therapeutic treatments are available and new pharmacological targets are needed. Transposable Elements (TEs) are mobile genetic elements that constitute a large fraction of eukaryotic genomes. Retrotransposons (RTEs) replicate through an RNA intermediate and represent approximately 40% and 30% of the human and Drosophila genomes. Mounting evidence suggests that mammalian RTEs are normally active during neurogenesis and may be involved in diseases of the nervous system. Here we show that TE expression and mobilization are increased in a Drosophila melanogaster HD model. By inhibiting TE mobilization with Reverse Transcriptase inhibitors, polyQ-dependent eye neurodegeneration and genome instability in larval brains are rescued and fly lifespan is increased. These results suggest that TE activation may be involved in polyQ-induced neurotoxicity and a potential pharmacological target.