This is the N-terminal domain of transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43), an RNA transporting and processing protein whose aberrant aggregates are implicated in neurodegenerative diseases. TDP-43 N-terminal domain has been shown to play an important role in the aggregation of TDP-43 monomers and its loss of function affects the RNA metabolic levels. Secondary structure of the N-terminal domain consists of six beta-strands and it resembles axin 1 [1-3]. This domain is known to mediate TDP-43 dimerization. This region is followed by a nuclear localization sequence (NLS) which links the N-terminal domain with the RNA recognition motif 1 (RRM1).

1: The TDP-43 N-terminal domain structure at high resolution. Mompean M, Romano V, Pantoja-Uceda D, Stuani C, Baralle FE, Buratti E, Laurents DV; FEBS J. 2016;283:1242-1260. PMID:26756435

2: ALS-Causing Mutations Significantly Perturb the Self-Assembly and Interaction with Nucleic Acid of the Intrinsically Disordered Prion-Like Domain of TDP-43. Lim L, Wei Y, Lu Y, Song J; PLoS Biol. 2016;14:e1002338. PMID:26735904

3: Strategies in the design and development of (TAR) DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) binding ligands. Rao PPN, Shakeri A, Zhao Y, Calon F; Eur J Med Chem. 2021;225:113753. PMID:34388383