A closer look at how local protein production is altered in ALS

image via Medical Xpress - medical research advances and health news

January 20, 2026, 1:10 PM

• •Local protein synthesis is vital for neuronal function, and its dysregulation is linked to neurodegenerative diseases like ALS.
• •Spatial transcriptomics was used to map gene expression in mouse motor nerve axons and cell bodies.
• •Mutations in the FUS gene disrupt local protein synthesis in axons.
• •Spermidine treatment restored protein translation in fruit fly models of ALS, reducing neuronal damage.

Researchers at Leuven Brain Institute and KU Leuven have investigated the role of local protein synthesis in axons and its relation to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Using spatial transcriptomics, they mapped gene expression in mouse motor neurons, identifying RNA transcripts and the location of protein synthesis. They discovered that mutations in the FUS gene disrupt local protein synthesis, a process crucial for neuronal function. They successfully used spermidine to restore protein translation in fruit fly models of ALS, which could lead to new therapeutic strategies.

Read original article