Small RNA changes in hippocampus of transgenic murine model of tauopathy (rTg4510 mice) compared to littermate controls at symptomatic stage (6 months) of neurodegeneration as determined by small RNA deep sequencing.

The overall goal of the project is to assess whether small RNA, especially microRNA (miR) alterations in tauopathy conditions contribute to pathological changes that later lead to neurodegeneration. The animal model selected for this study is a well characterized tauopathy animal model, known as rTg4510 murine model. rTg4510 (tau) is a transgenic mouse model of human tauopathy expressing human tau containing the P301L mutation that is associated with familial frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17. The expression of P301L tau driven by CaMKII promoter peaks around two month-of-age and mainly in the forebrain. 6-month of age is considered the aymptomatic stage of neurodegeneration. The global expression of miRs was evaluated by small RNA sequencing in the hippocampus of tau mice at 6 months of age. The levels of several miRs were altered in the hippocampus of tau mice at 6 months which were compared to deep sequencing data from 2-month of age. Many important candidates were further evaluated for their molecular and functional contributions to the process of neurodegeneration. Examination of small RNAs in the hippocampus tissue of control vs tau mice at 6-month of age.