101
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Sobczak K, Krzyzosiak WJ. Imperfect CAG repeats form diverse structures in SCA1 transcripts. J Biol Chem 2004; 279:41563-72. [PMID: 15292212 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m405130200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The expanded CAG repeat in the coding sequence of the spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) gene is responsible for SCA1, one of the hereditary human neurodegenerative diseases. In the normal SCA1 alleles usually 1-3 CAT triplets break the continuity of the CAG repeat tracts. Here we show what is the structural role of the CAU interruptions in the SCA1 transcripts. Depending on their number and localization within the repeat tract the interruptions either enlarge the terminal loop of the hairpin formed by the repeats, nucleate the internal loops in its stem structure, or force the repeats to fold into two smaller hairpins. Thus, the interruptions destabilize the CAG repeat hairpin, which is likely to decrease its ability to participate in the putative RNA pathogenesis mechanism driven by the long CAG repeat hairpins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Sobczak
- Laboratory of Cancer Genetics, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
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102
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Michlewski G, Krzyzosiak WJ. Molecular Architecture of CAG Repeats in Human Disease Related Transcripts. J Mol Biol 2004; 340:665-79. [PMID: 15223312 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2004.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2004] [Revised: 05/24/2004] [Accepted: 05/24/2004] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
CAG repeats are present in numerous human transcripts but neither their structures nor physiological functions have been satisfactorily recognized. The expanded CAG repeats are present in transcripts from several mutant genes associated with hereditary neurodegenerative diseases but their contribution to pathogenesis has not been documented convincingly. Here, we show that the structures formed by the repeats and their natural flanking sequences in the spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) type 3 and type 6, and dentatorubral-palidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) transcripts have different molecular architectures which may have functional meaning. We provide evidence that the hairpin structure formed by CAG repeats in mRNA fragments is preserved in full-length mRNA. We also demonstrate that the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) that is located immediately adjacent (3') to the repeats of the SCA3 transcript modulates the structures formed by these sequences, and may have functional significance, as only one of its variants is selected in human evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gracjan Michlewski
- Laboratory of Cancer Genetics, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14 St., 61-704 Poznan, Poland
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103
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Jasinska A, Krzyzosiak WJ. Repetitive sequences that shape the human transcriptome. FEBS Lett 2004; 567:136-41. [PMID: 15165906 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2004.03.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2004] [Accepted: 03/07/2004] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Only a small portion of the total RNA transcribed in human cells becomes mature mRNA and constitutes the human transcriptome, which is context-dependent and varies with development, physiology and pathology. A small fraction of different repetitive sequences, which make up more than half of the human genome, is retained in mature transcripts and shapes their function. Among them are short interspersed elements (SINEs), of which Alu sequences are most frequent, and simple sequence repeats, which come in many varieties. In this review, we have focused on the structural and functional role of Alu elements and trinucleotide repeats in transcripts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Jasinska
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14 St., 61-704 Poznan, Poland
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104
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Hefferon TW, Groman JD, Yurk CE, Cutting GR. A variable dinucleotide repeat in the CFTR gene contributes to phenotype diversity by forming RNA secondary structures that alter splicing. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2004; 101:3504-9. [PMID: 14993601 PMCID: PMC373492 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0400182101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Dinucleotide repeats are ubiquitous features of eukaryotic genomes that are not generally considered to have functional roles in gene expression. However, the highly variable nature of dinucleotide repeats makes them particularly interesting candidates for modifiers of RNA splicing when they are found near splicing signals. An example of a variable dinucleotide repeat that affects splicing is a TG repeat located in the splice acceptor of exon 9 of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. Higher repeat numbers result in reduced exon 9 splicing efficiency and, in some instances, the reduction in full-length transcript is sufficient to cause male infertility due to congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens or nonclassic cystic fibrosis. Using a CFTR minigene system, we studied TG tract variation and observed the same correlation between dinucleotide repeat number and exon 9 splicing efficiency seen in vivo. Replacement of the TG dinucleotide tract in the minigene with random sequence abolished splicing of exon 9. Replacements of the TG tract with sequences that can self-base-pair suggested that the formation of an RNA secondary structure was associated with efficient splicing. However, splicing efficiency was inversely correlated with the predicted thermodynamic stability of such structures, demonstrating that intermediate stability was optimal. Finally, substitution with TA repeats of differing length confirmed that stability of the RNA secondary structure, not sequence content, correlated with splicing efficiency. Taken together, these data indicate that dinucleotide repeats can form secondary structures that have variable effects on RNA splicing efficiency and clinical phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy W Hefferon
- McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, CMSC 9-123, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
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105
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Leppert J, Urbinati CR, Häfner S, Ohlenschläger O, Swanson MS, Görlach M, Ramachandran R. Identification of NH...N hydrogen bonds by magic angle spinning solid state NMR in a double-stranded RNA associated with myotonic dystrophy. Nucleic Acids Res 2004; 32:1177-83. [PMID: 14973225 PMCID: PMC373415 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkh288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA plays a central role in biological processes and exhibits a variety of secondary and tertiary structural features that are often stabilized via hydrogen bonds. The distance between the donor and acceptor nitrogen nuclei involved in NH...N hydrogen bonds in nucleic acid base pairs is typically in the range of 2.6-2.9 A. Here, we show for the first time that such spatial proximity between 15N nitrogen nuclei can be conveniently monitored via magic angle spinning solid state NMR on a uniformly 15N-labelled RNA. The presence of NH.N hydrogen bonds is reflected as cross-peaks between the donor and acceptor nitrogen nuclei in 2D 15N dipolar chemical shift correlation spectra. The RNA selected for this experimental study was a CUG repeat expansion implicated in the neuromuscular disease myotonic dystrophy. The results presented provide direct evidence that the CUG repeat expansion adopts a double-stranded conformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jörg Leppert
- Abteilung Molekulare Biophysik/NMR-Spektroskopie, Institut für Molekulare Biotechnologie, 07745 Jena, Germany
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106
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Mankodi A, Teng-Umnuay P, Krym M, Henderson D, Swanson M, Thornton CA. Ribonuclear inclusions in skeletal muscle in myotonic dystrophy types 1 and 2. Ann Neurol 2004; 54:760-8. [PMID: 14681885 DOI: 10.1002/ana.10763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) and type 2 (DM2) are caused by genomic expansions of CTG or CCTG repeats. When transcribed, these mutations give rise to repeat expansion RNAs that form nuclear inclusions and compromise the function of myonuclei. Here, we have used in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence to compare DM1 and DM2 and search for proteins that associate with the RNA nuclear (ribonuclear) inclusions. Although muscle disease is generally more severe in DM1, the ribonuclear inclusions were 8- to 13-fold more intense in DM2, implying greater amounts of repeat expansion RNA. Expression of repeat expansion RNA in myoblasts has been implicated in the pathogenesis of congenital DM1. However, we found that repeat expansion RNA is also expressed in myoblasts in DM2, a disorder that has not been associated with a congenital phenotype. Of 10 putative CUG binding proteins tested for colocalization with mutant RNA, only proteins in the muscleblind family were recruited into ribonuclear inclusions. Previous studies have shown activation of the protein kinase, PKR, by expanded CUG repeats in vitro. However, breeding experiments utilizing PKR knockout mice indicate that this kinase is not required for disease pathogenesis in a transgenic mouse model of DM1. We conclude that ribonuclear inclusions are a key feature of the muscle pathology in DM and that sequestration of muscleblind proteins may have a direct role in the disease process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ami Mankodi
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
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107
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Handa V, Saha T, Usdin K. The fragile X syndrome repeats form RNA hairpins that do not activate the interferon-inducible protein kinase, PKR, but are cut by Dicer. Nucleic Acids Res 2003; 31:6243-8. [PMID: 14576312 PMCID: PMC275460 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkg818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We show here that under physiologically reasonable conditions, CGG repeats in RNA readily form hairpins. In contrast to its DNA counterpart that forms a complex mixture of hairpins and tetraplexes, r(CGG)22 forms a single stable hairpin with no evidence for any other folded structure even at low pH. RNA with the sequence (CGG)9AGG (CGG)12AGG(CGG)97, found in a fragile X syndrome pre-mutation allele, forms a number of different hairpins. The most prominent hairpin forms in the 3' part of the repeat and involves the 97 uninterrupted CGG repeats. In contrast to the CUG-RNA hairpins formed by myotonic dystrophy type 1 repeats, we found no evidence that CGG-RNA hairpins activate PKR, the interferon-inducible protein kinase that is activated by a wide range of double-stranded RNAs. However, we do show that the CGG-RNA is digested, albeit inefficiently, by the human Dicer enzyme, a step central to the RNA interference effect on gene expression. These data provide clues to the basis of the toxic effect of CGG-RNA that is thought to occur in fragile X pre-mutation carriers. In addition, RNA hairpins may also account for the stalling of the 40S ribosomal subunit that is thought to contribute to the translation deficit in fragile X pre-mutation and full mutation alleles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaishali Handa
- Section on Genomic Structure and Function, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-0830, USA
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108
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Sobczak K, de Mezer M, Michlewski G, Krol J, Krzyzosiak WJ. RNA structure of trinucleotide repeats associated with human neurological diseases. Nucleic Acids Res 2003; 31:5469-82. [PMID: 14500809 PMCID: PMC206466 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkg766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The tandem repeats of trinucleotide sequences are present in many human genes and their expansion in specific genes causes a number of hereditary neurological disorders. The normal function of triplet repeats in transcripts is barely known and the role of expanded RNA repeats in the pathogenesis of Triplet Repeat Expansion Diseases needs to be more fully elucidated. Here we have described the structures formed by transcripts composed of AAG, CAG, CCG, CGG and CUG repeats, which were determined by chemical and enzymatic structure probing. With the exception of the repeated AAG motif, all studied repeats form hairpin structures and these hairpins show several alternative alignments. We have determined the molecular architectures of these co-existing hairpin structures by using transcripts with GC-clamps which imposed single alignments of hairpins. We have provided experimental evidence that CCUG repeats implicated in myotonic dystrophy type 2 also form hairpin structures with properties similar to that composed of the CUG repeats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Sobczak
- Laboratory of Cancer Genetics, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Science, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
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109
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Jasinska A, Michlewski G, de Mezer M, Sobczak K, Kozlowski P, Napierala M, Krzyzosiak WJ. Structures of trinucleotide repeats in human transcripts and their functional implications. Nucleic Acids Res 2003; 31:5463-8. [PMID: 14500808 PMCID: PMC206467 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkg767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Among the goals of RNA structural and functional genomics is determining structures and establishing the functions of a rich repertoire of simple sequence repeats in transcripts. These repeats are present in transcripts from their 'birth' in the nucleus to their 'death' in cytoplasm and have the potential of being involved in many steps of RNA regulation. The knowledge of their structural features and functional roles will also shed more light on the postulated mechanisms of RNA pathogenesis in a growing list of neurological diseases caused by simple sequence repeat expansions. Here, we discuss several different lines of research to support the hypothesis that the mechanism of RNA pathogenesis may be a more common phenomenon triggered or modulated also by abundant long normal repeats. We propose structures of the repeat regions in transcripts of genes involved in Triplet Repeat Expansion Diseases. We have classified the polymorphic repeat alleles of these genes according to their ability to form hairpin structures in transcripts, and describe the distribution of different structural forms of the repeats in the human population. We have also reported the results of a systematic survey of the human transcriptome to identify mRNAs containing triplet repeats and to classify them according to structural and functional criteria. Based on this knowledge, we discuss the putative wider role of triplet repeat RNA hairpins in human diseases. A hypothetical model is proposed in which long normal RNA hairpins formed by the repeats may also be involved in pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Jasinska
- Laboratory of Cancer Genetics, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14 St, 61-704, Poznan, Poland
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110
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Broude NE, Cantor CR. Neurological diseases and RNA-directed gene regulation: prospects for new diagnostics and therapy. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2003; 3:269-74. [PMID: 12778999 DOI: 10.1586/14737159.3.3.269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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111
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuno André Faustino
- Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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112
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Sobczak K, Krzyzosiak WJ. RNA structure analysis assisted by capillary electrophoresis. Nucleic Acids Res 2002; 30:e124. [PMID: 12434006 PMCID: PMC137181 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gnf123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Although most capillary electrophoresis (CE) applications in the nucleic acid field performed so far address DNA analysis, various RNA assays by CE have also been done. Both natural and synthetic RNAs have been examined to evaluate their quantities, sizes and interactions. In this report, we show a novel application of CE in RNA research for the analysis of RNA stable conformers. First, we present a successful adaptation of two different enzymatic methods for the 3'-end labeling of RNAs with commercially available fluorescent probes. Then, we show the high performance of CE with laser-induced fluorescence detection (CE-LIF) assisting the structural studies of transcripts. Using the example of regulatory elements present in the breast cancer gene transcript BRCA1, we demonstrate-by direct comparisons-the advantages of CE-LIF over the traditional slab-gel electrophoresis. These include a better and more reproducible separation of conformers, shorter analysis time and higher detection sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Sobczak
- Laboratory of Cancer Genetics, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
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113
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Squillace RM, Chenault DM, Wang EH. Inhibition of muscle differentiation by the novel muscleblind-related protein CHCR. Dev Biol 2002; 250:218-30. [PMID: 12297108 DOI: 10.1006/dbio.2002.0798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Growth factor withdrawal from proliferating myoblasts induces the expression of muscle-specific genes essential for myogenesis. By suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH), we have cloned a novel human cDNA that encodes a Cys3His zinc finger protein named CHCR (Cys3His CCG1-Required). CHCR is related to Muscleblind (Mbl), a Drosophila melanogaster protein required for terminal muscle differentiation. It also displays sequence similarity to EXP/MBNL, a human Mbl protein that interacts with CUG expansions associated with the degenerative muscular disease, myotonic dystrophy (DM1). This relationship with EXP/MBNL and Mbl suggests that CHCR also functions during muscle differentiation. We have found that CHCR mRNA and protein levels decrease upon differentiation of mouse myoblast cells. Constitutive expression of CHCR in C2C12 cells inhibits the induction of sarcomeric myosin heavy chain (MyHC) upon serum deprivation. Induction of myogenin, an earlier marker of muscle differentiation, is inhibited to a lesser extent, while expression of the cell cycle inhibitor, p21, remains unaffected. Loss of CHCR function by morpholino antisense oligonucleotide treatment accelerates MyHC induction during differentiation of myoblast cells. These complementary gain- and loss-of-function results suggest that CHCR is an inhibitor of myogenesis. CHCR represents the first muscleblind-related protein that antagonizes, instead of promotes, muscle differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel M Squillace
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University Washington, Box 357280 Health Sciences Center, Seattle, Washington 98195-7280, USA
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114
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To highlight recent advances in understanding the clinical manifestations and molecular genetics of myotonic syndromes, with particular emphasis on the myotonic dystrophies. RECENT FINDINGS Myotonic syndromes include the non-dystrophic myotonias, caused by mutations in genes encoding the chloride or sodium channels that are specific to skeletal muscle, and the myotonic dystrophies. Previous studies have shown that myotonic dystrophy type 1 is caused by the expansion of a CTG repeat in the gene. Recently, it was discovered that myotonic dystrophy type 2 (proximal myotonic myopathy) is also caused by a DNA expansion mutation. In both types of myotonic dystrophy the expanded repeat is transcribed and the RNA produced from the mutant allele is retained in nuclear inclusions. Recent studies suggest that the mutant RNA has a toxic effect on muscle fibers by interfering with the essential functions of the myonucleus, such as RNA processing. SUMMARY It now appears likely that myotonic dystrophy is the first instance of a genetic disease in which the harmful effect of a mutation involves the production of a pathogenic RNA. However, the exact mechanism is not understood, and it is unclear whether this RNA-mediated disease process is also responsible for the manifestations of myotonic dystrophy in non-muscle tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ami Mankodi
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642, USA
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115
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Charlet-B N, Savkur RS, Singh G, Philips AV, Grice EA, Cooper TA. Loss of the muscle-specific chloride channel in type 1 myotonic dystrophy due to misregulated alternative splicing. Mol Cell 2002; 10:45-53. [PMID: 12150906 DOI: 10.1016/s1097-2765(02)00572-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 438] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a dominant multisystemic disorder caused by a CTG expansion in the 3' untranslated region of the DMPK gene. A predominant characteristic of DM1 is myotonia resulting from skeletal muscle membrane hyperexcitability. Here we demonstrate loss of the muscle-specific chloride channel (ClC-1) mRNA and protein in DM1 skeletal muscle tissue due to aberrant splicing of the ClC-1 pre-mRNA. The splicing regulator, CUG binding protein (CUG-BP), which is elevated in DM1 striated muscle, binds to the ClC-1 pre-mRNA, and overexpression of CUG-BP in normal cells reproduces the aberrant pattern of ClC-1 splicing observed in DM1 skeletal muscle. We propose that disruption of alternative splicing regulation causes a predominant pathological feature of DM1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Charlet-B
- Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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116
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Abstract
The BRCA1 gene is involved in sporadic breast and ovarian cancer mainly through reduced expression. BRCA1 mRNAs containing different leader sequences show different patterns of expression. In a normal mammary gland mRNA with a shorter leader sequence, 5'-UTRa is expressed only, whereas in breast cancer tissue mRNA with a longer leader, 5'-UTRb is expressed also. We show that the translation efficiency of transcripts containing 5'-UTRb is 10 times lower than those containing 5'-UTRa. The structures of 5'-UTRa and 5'-UTRb were determined by chemical and enzymatic probing aided by a new method developed for monitoring the number of co-existing stable conformers. Specific factors responsible for reduced translation of mRNA containing 5'-UTRb were determined using a variety of transcripts with mutations in the leader sequence. These factors include a stable secondary structure formed by truncated Alu element and upstream AUG codons. The novel mechanism by which BRCA1 may be involved in sporadic breast and ovarian cancer is proposed. It is based on the expression patterns of BRCA1 mRNAs and differences in their translatability. According to this mechanism the deregulation of the BRCA1 transcription in cancer, resulting in a higher proportion of translationally inhibited transcripts containing 5'-UTRb, contributes to the decrease in the BRCA1 protein observed in sporadic breast and ovarian cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Sobczak
- Laboratory of Cancer Genetics, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
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117
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Siwecka MA. Double-stranded RNA nuclease associated with rye germ ribosomes. Methods Enzymol 2002; 342:212-25. [PMID: 11586894 DOI: 10.1016/s0076-6879(01)42546-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- M A Siwecka
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
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118
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Tapscott
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
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119
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Fardaei M, Larkin K, Brook JD, Hamshere MG. In vivo co-localisation of MBNL protein with DMPK expanded-repeat transcripts. Nucleic Acids Res 2001; 29:2766-71. [PMID: 11433021 PMCID: PMC55763 DOI: 10.1093/nar/29.13.2766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy (DM1) is the most common form of adult muscular dystrophy and is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. The genetic basis of DM1 is the expansion of a CTG repeat in the 3' untranslated region of a protein kinase gene (DMPK). The molecular mechanism by which this expanded repeat produces the pathophysiology of DM1 remains unknown. Transcripts from the expanded allele accumulate as foci in the nucleus of DM1 cells and it has been suggested that these transcript foci sequester cellular proteins that are required for normal nuclear function. We have investigated the role of three RNA-binding proteins, CUG-BP, hnRNP C and MBNL, as possible sequestered factors. Using a combination of indirect immunofluorescence to detect endogenous proteins and overexpression of proteins with green fluorescent protein (GFP) tags we have shown that CUG-BP and hnRNP C do not co-localise with expanded repeat foci in DM1 cell lines. However, GFP-tagged MBNL does itself form foci in DM1 cell lines and co-localises with the foci of expanded repeat transcripts. GFP-tagged MBNL does not appear as foci in non-DM1 cell lines. This work provides further support for the involvement of MBNL in DM1.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Fardaei
- Institute of Genetics, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
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120
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Takahashi N, Sasagawa N, Suzuki K, Ishiura S. The CUG-binding protein binds specifically to UG dinucleotide repeats in a yeast three-hybrid system. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2000; 277:518-23. [PMID: 11032753 DOI: 10.1006/bbrc.2000.3694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The CUG-binding protein (CUG-BP) has been reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of myotonic dystrophy (DM) through binding to a CUG trinucleotide repeat located in the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of the DM protein kinase (DMPK) gene. We found that CUG-BP associates with long CUG trinucleotide repeats ((CUG)(11)(CUG)(12)), but not with short repeats ((CUG)(12)) in a yeast three-hybrid system. On the other hand, CUG-BP+LYLQ, an alternatively spliced isoform of CUG-BP, does not associate with CUG trinucleotide repeats regardless of the repeat length. In addition to these findings, we found that CUG-BP and CUG-BP+LYLQ strongly and specifically associate with UG dinucleotide repeats. Deletion analyse of CUG-BP revealed that the absence of the first or third RNA-binding domain (RBD I and RBD III, respectively) does not affect the interaction between CUG-BP and UG dinucleotide repeats. Loss of the second RNA-binding domain (RBD II) decreases the affinity of CUG-BP for UG dinucleotide repeats by about 40%. Unexpectedly, deletion of the linker domain most severely reduces the interaction, although this region does not contain a known RNA-binding motif. Our results suggest the possibility that both CUG-BP and CUG-BP+LYLQ associate with UG repeat-containing mRNAs and regulate such metabolic properties as mRNA localization, stability, and translation, and provide new insights into the pathogenesis of DM.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Takahashi
- Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8902, Japan
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121
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Raca G, Siyanova EY, McMurray CT, Mirkin SM. Expansion of the (CTG)(n) repeat in the 5'-UTR of a reporter gene impedes translation. Nucleic Acids Res 2000; 28:3943-9. [PMID: 11024174 PMCID: PMC110791 DOI: 10.1093/nar/28.20.3943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2000] [Revised: 08/22/2000] [Accepted: 08/22/2000] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Effects of d(CAG)(n).d(CTG)(n) repeats on expression of a reporter gene in human cell culture were studied using transient transfection, RNase protection and coupled transcription/translation assays. Cloning these repeats into the reporter 3'-UTR did not affect gene functioning. In contrast, placing the repeats in the reporter 5'-UTR led to strong inhibition of expression. This inhibition depended on the repeat orientation, being prominent only when the (CTG)(n) tracts were in the sense strand for transcription. Further, the strength of inhibition increased exponentially with an increase in repeat length. Our data indicate that expanded (CTG)(n) repeats prevent efficient translation of the reporter mRNA both in vitro and in vivo. We suggest that formation of stable hairpins by (CUG)(n) runs of increasing length in the 5'-UTR of a mRNA progressively inhibits the scanning step of translation initiation. This points to a novel mechanism of regulating gene expression by expandable d(CTG)(n) repeats.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Raca
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
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Miller JW, Urbinati CR, Teng-Umnuay P, Stenberg MG, Byrne BJ, Thornton CA, Swanson MS. Recruitment of human muscleblind proteins to (CUG)(n) expansions associated with myotonic dystrophy. EMBO J 2000; 19:4439-48. [PMID: 10970838 PMCID: PMC302046 DOI: 10.1093/emboj/19.17.4439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 691] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2000] [Accepted: 06/28/2000] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy (DM1) is an autosomal dominant neuromuscular disorder associated with a (CTG)(n) expansion in the 3'-untranslated region of the DM1 protein kinase (DMPK) gene. To explain disease pathogenesis, the RNA dominance model proposes that the DM1 mutation produces a gain-of-function at the RNA level in which CUG repeats form RNA hairpins that sequester nuclear factors required for proper muscle development and maintenance. Here, we identify the triplet repeat expansion (EXP) RNA-binding proteins as candidate sequestered factors. As predicted by the RNA dominance model, binding of the EXP proteins is specific for dsCUG RNAs and proportional to the size of the triplet repeat expansion. Remarkably, the EXP proteins are homologous to the Drosophila muscleblind proteins required for terminal differentiation of muscle and photoreceptor cells. EXP expression is also activated during mammalian myoblast differentiation, but the EXP proteins accumulate in nuclear foci in DM1 cells. We propose that DM1 disease is caused by aberrant recruitment of the EXP proteins to the DMPK transcript (CUG)(n) expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- J W Miller
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Centers for Gene Therapy and Mammalian Genetics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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Michalowski S, Miller JW, Urbinati CR, Paliouras M, Swanson MS, Griffith J. Visualization of double-stranded RNAs from the myotonic dystrophy protein kinase gene and interactions with CUG-binding protein. Nucleic Acids Res 1999; 27:3534-42. [PMID: 10446244 PMCID: PMC148598 DOI: 10.1093/nar/27.17.3534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy (DM) is associated with a (CTG) (n) triplet repeat expansion in the 3'-untranslated region of the myotonic dystrophy protein kinase (DMPK) gene. Using electron microscopy, we visualized large RNAs containing up to 130 CUG repeats and studied the binding of purified CUG-binding protein (CUG-BP) to these RNAs. Electron microscopic examination revealed perfect double-stranded (ds)RNA segments whose lengths were that expected for duplex RNA. The RNA dominant mutation model for DM pathogenesis predicts that the expansion mutation acts at the RNA level by forming long dsRNAs that sequester certain RNA-binding proteins. To test this model, we examined the subcellular distribution and RNA-binding properties of CUG-BP. While previous studies have demonstrated that mutant DMPK transcripts accumu-late in nuclear foci, the localization pattern of CUG-BP in both normal and DM cells was similar. Although CUG-BP in nuclear extracts preferentially photocrosslinked to DMPK transcripts, this binding was not proportional to (CUG) (n) repeat size. Moreover, CUG-BP localized to the base of the RNA hairpin and not along the stem, as visualized by electron micro-scopy. These results provide the first visual evidence that the DM expansion forms an RNA hairpin structure and suggest that CUG-BP is unlikely to be a sequestered factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Michalowski
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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Kirchner R, Vogtherr M, Limmer S, Sprinzl M. Secondary structure dimorphism and interconversion between hairpin and duplex form of oligoribonucleotides. ANTISENSE & NUCLEIC ACID DRUG DEVELOPMENT 1998; 8:507-16. [PMID: 9918115 DOI: 10.1089/oli.1.1998.8.507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
RNA hairpins can alternatively form a dimer with a bulged loop flanked by regularly base paired regions. [1H]NMR spectroscopy and native gel electrophoresis were used to study how the sequence of nucleotides in the loop of the hairpin affect the hairpin-duplex interconversion. As a model system, a hairpin containing 7 nucleotides in the loop and 5 base pairs in the stem was used. The loop size was gradually reduced from 7 to 4 nucleotides, yielding finally the stable UNCG tetraloop. Single nucleotide mutations were performed to investigate the influence of the self-complementarity of the loop sequence on the dimerization. The results demonstrate that (1) the initial fraction of hairpin is determined by concentration of the oligonucleotide, the annealing procedure, and the relative stability of the loop, (2) the degree of self-complementarity of the loop sequence of the hairpin governs the dimerization kinetics, and (3) oligonucleotides complementary to the loop sequence decrease the dimerization rate. We propose a secondary structure-based model for the dimerization reaction of RNA hairpins in which the formation of intermolecular base pairs between self-complementary nucleotides of the loops represents the nucleation step.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Kirchner
- Lehrstuhl für Biochemie, Universität Bayreuth, Germany
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