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Lee KH, Stafford AM, Pacheco-Vergara M, Cichewicz K, Canales CP, Seban N, Corea M, Rahbarian D, Bonekamp KE, Gillie GR, Cruz DP, Gill AM, Hwang HE, Uhl KL, Jager TE, Shinawi M, Li X, Obenaus A, Crandall SR, Jeong J, Nord AS, Kim CH, Vogt D. Complimentary vertebrate Wac models exhibit phenotypes relevant to DeSanto-Shinawi Syndrome. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.26.595966. [PMID: 38826421 PMCID: PMC11142245 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.26.595966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Monogenic syndromes are associated with neurodevelopmental changes that result in cognitive impairments, neurobehavioral phenotypes including autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and seizures. Limited studies and resources are available to make meaningful headway into the underlying molecular mechanisms that result in these symptoms. One such example is DeSanto-Shinawi Syndrome (DESSH), a rare disorder caused by pathogenic variants in the WAC gene. Individuals with DESSH syndrome exhibit a recognizable craniofacial gestalt, developmental delay/intellectual disability, neurobehavioral symptoms that include autism, ADHD, behavioral difficulties and seizures. However, no thorough studies from a vertebrate model exist to understand how these changes occur. To overcome this, we developed both murine and zebrafish Wac/wac deletion mutants and studied whether their phenotypes recapitulate those described in individuals with DESSH syndrome. We show that the two Wac models exhibit craniofacial and behavioral changes, reminiscent of abnormalities found in DESSH syndrome. In addition, each model revealed impacts to GABAergic neurons and further studies showed that the mouse mutants are susceptible to seizures, changes in brain volumes that are different between sexes and relevant behaviors. Finally, we uncovered transcriptional impacts of Wac loss of function that will pave the way for future molecular studies into DESSH. These studies begin to uncover some biological underpinnings of DESSH syndrome and elucidate the biology of Wac, with advantages in each model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang-Han Lee
- Department of Biology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
| | - April M Stafford
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA
| | - Maria Pacheco-Vergara
- Department of Molecular Pathology, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY 10010, USA
| | - Karol Cichewicz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis 95618, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California Davis, Davis 95618, USA
| | - Cesar P Canales
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis 95618, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California Davis, Davis 95618, USA
| | - Nicolas Seban
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis 95618, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California Davis, Davis 95618, USA
| | - Melissa Corea
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis 95618, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California Davis, Davis 95618, USA
| | - Darlene Rahbarian
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis 95618, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California Davis, Davis 95618, USA
| | - Kelly E. Bonekamp
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Grant R. Gillie
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Dariangelly Pacheco Cruz
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Alyssa M Gill
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA
| | - Hye-Eun Hwang
- Department of Biology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
| | - Katie L Uhl
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA
| | | | - Marwan Shinawi
- Division of Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Xiaopeng Li
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA
| | - Andre Obenaus
- Director, Preclinical and Translational Imaging Center, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Shane R Crandall
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Juhee Jeong
- Department of Molecular Pathology, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY 10010, USA
| | - Alex S Nord
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis 95618, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California Davis, Davis 95618, USA
| | - Cheol-Hee Kim
- Department of Biology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
| | - Daniel Vogt
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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Rudolph HC, Stafford AM, Hwang HE, Kim CH, Prokop JW, Vogt D. Structure-Function of the Human WAC Protein in GABAergic Neurons: Towards an Understanding of Autosomal Dominant DeSanto-Shinawi Syndrome. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:589. [PMID: 37106788 PMCID: PMC10136313 DOI: 10.3390/biology12040589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Dysfunction of the WW domain-containing adaptor with coiled-coil, WAC, gene underlies a rare autosomal dominant disorder, DeSanto-Shinawi syndrome (DESSH). DESSH is associated with facial dysmorphia, hypotonia, and cognitive alterations, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism. How the WAC protein localizes and functions in neural cells is critical to understanding its role during development. To understand the genotype-phenotype role of WAC, we developed a knowledgebase of WAC expression, evolution, human genomics, and structural/motif analysis combined with human protein domain deletions to assess how conserved domains guide cellular distribution. Then, we assessed localization in a cell type implicated in DESSH, cortical GABAergic neurons. WAC contains conserved charged amino acids, phosphorylation signals, and enriched nuclear motifs, suggesting a role in cellular signaling and gene transcription. Human DESSH variants are found within these regions. We also discovered and tested a nuclear localization domain that impacts the cellular distribution of the protein. These data provide new insights into the potential roles of this critical developmental gene, establishing a platform to assess further translational studies, including the screening of missense genetic variants in WAC. Moreover, these studies are essential for understanding the role of human WAC variants in more diverse neurological phenotypes, including autism spectrum disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah C. Rudolph
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - April M. Stafford
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Hye-Eun Hwang
- Department of Biology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Cheol-Hee Kim
- Department of Biology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeremy W. Prokop
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
- Office of Research, Corewell Health, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Daniel Vogt
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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Pasquali D, Torella A, Grandone A, Luongo C, Morleo M, Peduto C, di Fraia R, Selvaggio LD, Allosso F, Accardo G, Zanobio MT, Maitz S, Mariani M, Selicorni A, Banfi S, Nigro V. Patients with DeSanto-Shinawi syndrome: Further extension of phenotype from Italy. Am J Med Genet A 2023; 191:823-830. [PMID: 36420948 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Here we describe three patients with neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by mild-to-moderate intellectual disability, mildly dysmorphic features, and hirsutism, all of which carry de novo sequence variants in the WW domain-containing adaptor of the coiled-coil (WAC) gene; two of these-c.167delA, p.(Asn56I1efs*136) and c.1746G>C, p.(Gln582His)-are novel pathogenic variants, and the third-c.1837C>T, p(Arg613*)-has been previously described. Diseases associated with WAC include DeSanto-Shinawi syndrome; to date, de novo heterozygous constitutional pathogenic WAC variants have caused a syndromic form of intellectual disability and mild dysmorphic features in 33 patients, yet potential associations with other clinical manifestations, such as oligomenorrhea and hyperandrogenism, remain unknown, because the phenotypic spectrum of the condition has not yet been delineated. The patient bearing the novel c.167delA WAC gene variant presented a normal psychomotor development, oligomenorrhea, hyperandrogenism, and hirsutism, and hirsutism was also observed in the patient with the c.1746G>C WAC gene variant. Hypertrichosis and hirsutism have been described in nine DeSanto-Shinawi patients, only in 17 of the 33 aforementioned patients thus far reported this aspect, and no hormonal-pattern data are available. In conclusion, we note that the pathogenic c.167delA WAC variant may be associated with a mild phenotype; and in addition to the neurodevelopmental problems nearly all DeSanto-Shinawi patients experience (i.e., intellectual disability and/or developmental delay), we recommend the addition of mild dysmorphic features, hirsutism, and hypertrichosis to this clinical presentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Pasquali
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Annalaura Torella
- Genetica Medica, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy.,Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Anna Grandone
- Department of Women's and Children's Health and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Caterina Luongo
- Department of Women's and Children's Health and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Manuela Morleo
- Genetica Medica, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy.,Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Cristina Peduto
- Genetica Medica, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Rosa di Fraia
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Lucia Digitale Selvaggio
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Francesca Allosso
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Giacomo Accardo
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Zanobio
- Genetica Medica, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Silvia Maitz
- Pediatric Genetics Unit, MBBM Foundation, S. Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy.,Service of Medical Genetics, Oncologic Institute of Southern Switzerland, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Milena Mariani
- Department of Pediatrics, S. Fermo Hospital, ASST Lariana, Como, Italy
| | - Angelo Selicorni
- Department of Pediatrics, S. Fermo Hospital, ASST Lariana, Como, Italy
| | - Sandro Banfi
- Genetica Medica, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy.,Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Nigro
- Genetica Medica, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy.,Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
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