LAUSR

Nucleotide repeat expansions in the C9orf72 gene are the most common cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. Unconventional translation (RAN translation) of C9orf72 repeats generates dipeptide repeat proteins that can cause neurodegeneration. We performed a genetic screen for regulators of RAN translation and identified small ribosomal protein subunit 25 (RPS25), presenting a potential therapeutic target for C9orf72-related amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases caused by nucleotide repeat expansions. A nucleotide repeat expansion in the C9orf72 gene is the most common cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The mutation causes production of aberrant proteins by an enigmatic form of translation. Yamada et al. identify that RPS25 is required for this form of translation.