Consortium for osteogenesis imperfecta mutations in the helical domain of type I collagen: regions rich in lethal mutations align with collagen binding sites for integrins and proteoglycans

Differential expression of both extracellular and intracellular proteins is involved in the lethal or nonlethal phenotypic variation of BrtlIV, a murine model for osteogenesis imperfecta

This study used proteomic and transcriptomic techniques to understand the molecular basis of the phenotypic variability in the bone disorder osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). Calvarial bone mRNA expression was evaluated by microarray, real-time, and comparative RT-PCR and the bone proteome profile was analyzed by 2-DE, MS, and immunoblotting in the OI murine model BrtlIV, which has either a moderate or a lethal OI outcome. Differential expression analysis showed significant changes for eight proteins. The expression of the ER stress-related protein Gadd153 was increased in lethal mice, whereas expression of the chaperone alphaB crystallin was increased in nonlethal mice, suggesting that the intracellular machinery is involved in the modulation of the OI phenotype. Furthermore, in lethal BrtlIV, the increased expression of the cartilaginous proteins Prelp, Bmp6, and Bmp7 and the lower expression of the bone matrix proteins matrilin 4, microfibril-associated glycoprotein 2, and thrombospondin 3 revealed that both a delay in skeletal development and an alteration in extracellular matrix composition influence OI outcomes. Differentially expressed proteins identified in this model offer a starting point for elucidating the molecular basis of phenotypic variability, a characteristic common to many genetic disorders. The first reference 2-DE map for murine calvarial tissue is also reported.

Deficiency of cartilage-associated protein in recessive lethal osteogenesis imperfecta

Classic osteogenesis imperfecta, an autosomal dominant disorder associated with osteoporosis and bone fragility, is caused by mutations in the genes for type I collagen. A recessive form of the disorder has long been suspected. Since the loss of cartilage-associated protein (CRTAP), which is required for post-translational prolyl 3-hydroxylation of collagen, causes severe osteoporosis in mice, we investigated whether CRTAP deficiency is associated with recessive osteogenesis imperfecta. Three of 10 children with lethal or severe osteogenesis imperfecta, who did not have a primary collagen defect yet had excess post-translational modification of collagen, were found to have a recessive condition resulting in CRTAP deficiency, suggesting that prolyl 3-hydroxylation of type I collagen is important for bone formation.

Biochemical screening of type I collagen in osteogenesis imperfecta: detection of glycine substitutions in the amino end of the alpha chains requires supplementation by molecular analysis

BACKGROUND

The biochemical test for osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) detects structural abnormalities in the helical region of type I collagen as delayed electrophoretic migration of alpha chains on SDS-urea-PAGE. Sensitivity of this test is based on overmodification of alpha chains in helices with a glycine substitution or other structural defect. The limits of detectability have not been reported.

METHODS

We compared the collagen electrophoretic migration of 30 probands (types III or IV OI) with known mutations in the amino half of the alpha1(I) and alpha2(I) chains. Differences in sensitivity were examined by 5% and 6% SDS-urea-PAGE, and with respect to alpha chain, location along the chain, and substituting amino acid.

RESULTS

Sensitivity was enhanced on 5% gels, and by examination of intracellular and secreted collagen. In alpha1(I), substitutions in the first 100 residues were not detectable; 7% of cases in the current Mutation Consortium database are in this region. alpha1(I) substitutions between residues 100 and 230 were variably detectable, while those after residue 232 were all detected. In alpha2(I), variability of electrophoretic detection extended through residue 436. About a third of cases in the Consortium database are located in the combined variable detection region. Biochemical sensitivity did not correlate with substituting residue.

CONCLUSIONS

Complete testing of probands with normal type I collagen biochemical results requires supplementation by molecular analysis of cDNA or gDNA in the amino third of alpha1(I) and amino half of alpha2(I). Mutation detection in OI is important for counselling, reproductive decisions, exclusion of child abuse, and genotype-phenotype correlations.