A nucleic acid construct comprising a genetic engineered heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) A1 gene is provided. A transgenic mouse in which the expression of hnRNP A1 gene has been disrupted is also provided. The mouse is useful for studying the role of hnRNP A1 gene in normal and disease states of a neurodegenerative disease or a cancer for developing therapies to treat any of these diseases. Therefore, a method of screening a compound for potential use in prevention and/or treatment of neurodegenerative disease or cancer is further provided.
