Genetic and epigenetic convergence at MOBP links ALS and PSP

Abstract

BackgroundMyelin associated oligodendrocyte basic protein (MOBP) is an abundantly expressed oligodendrocyte gene. Genetic variation at the MOBP locus has been associated with risk for multiple neurodegenerative disorders, including progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Epigenetically, MOBP promoter hypermethylation and reduced expression have been reported in multiple system atrophy (MSA). Although MOBP is thought to play a role in oligodendrocyte morphology and myelin structure, how genetic and epigenetic variation at this locus influences gene regulation and contributes to disease risk remains poorly understood across neurodegenerative disorders. MethodsWe assessed genetic overlap and colocalisation at the MOBP locus across multiple neurodegenerative diseases. Disease-associated signals were fine-mapped to prioritise putative causal variants, and the strongest signals were subsequently investigated using molecular quantitative trait loci and post-mortem brain tissue datasets. ResultsALS and PSP showed strong genetic association at MOBP, with highly overlapping associated variants and strong evidence that both diseases share the same causal signal. Overlap with frontotemporal dementia was weaker. Methylation quantitative trait locus colocalisation identified cg15069948, located near an exon junction within MOBP, as strongly colocalising with the ALS and PSP genetic risk signals. In PSP brain tissue, carriers of the rs1768208-T risk allele showed lower methylation at cg15069948. We additionally identified evidence for an interaction between rs1768208 genotype and cg15069948 methylation associated with altered MOBP 3' untranslated region architecture. ConclusionsThese findings identify a shared ALS/PSP genetic-epigenetic mechanism at MOBP that is distinct from promoter-associated dysregulation in MSA. Together, they position MOBP as a key oligodendrocyte regulatory locus with both shared and disea e-specific roles in neurodegeneration.