MATR3 F115C knock-in mice do not exhibit motor defects or neuropathological features of ALS.

The F115C mutation in the MATR3 gene has been linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). To determine the pathogenicity of the F115C mutation and the mechanism by which this mutation causes ALS, we generated mice that harbor the F115C mutation in the endogenous murine Matr3 locus. Heterozygous or homozygous MATR3 F115C knock-in mice were viable and did not exhibit motor deficits up to 2 years of age. The mutant mice showed no significant differences in the number of Purkinje cells or motor neurons compared to wild-type littermates. Neuropathological examination revealed an absence of MATR3 and TDP-43 pathology in Purkinje cells and motor neurons in the mutant mice. Together, our results suggest that the F115C mutation in MATR3 may not confer pathogenicity.

The Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) Score.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) protects the brain from the toxic side effects of drugs and exogenous molecules. However, it is crucial that medications developed for neurological disorders cross into the brain in therapeutic concentrations. Understanding the BBB interaction with drug molecules based on physicochemical property space can guide effective and efficient drug design. An algorithm, designated "BBB Score", composed of stepwise and polynomial piecewise functions, is herein proposed for predicting BBB penetration based on five physicochemical descriptors: number of aromatic rings, heavy atoms, MWHBN (a descriptor comprising molecular weight, hydrogen bond donor, and hydrogen bond acceptors), topological polar surface area, and pKa. On the basis of statistical analyses of our results, the BBB Score outperformed (AUC = 0.86) currently employed MPO approaches (MPO, AUC = 0.61; MPO_V2, AUC = 0.67). Initial evaluation of physicochemical property space using the BBB Score is a valuable addition to currently available drug design algorithms.