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Wolujewicz P, Steele JW, Kaltschmidt JA, Finnell RH, Ross ME. Unraveling the complex genetics of neural tube defects: From biological models to human genomics and back. Genesis 2021; 59:e23459. [PMID: 34713546 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Neural tube defects (NTDs) are a classic example of preventable birth defects for which there is a proven-effective intervention, folic acid (FA); however, further methods of prevention remain unrealized. In the decades following implementation of FA nutritional fortification programs throughout at least 87 nations, it has become apparent that not all NTDs can be prevented by FA. In the United States, FA fortification only reduced NTD rates by 28-35% (Williams et al., 2015). As such, it is imperative that further work is performed to understand the risk factors associated with NTDs and their underlying mechanisms so that alternative prevention strategies can be developed. However, this is complicated by the sheer number of genes associated with neural tube development, the heterogeneity of observable phenotypes in human cases, the rareness of the disease, and the myriad of environmental factors associated with NTD risk. Given the complex genetic architecture underlying NTD pathology and the way in which that architecture interacts dynamically with environmental factors, further prevention initiatives will undoubtedly require precision medicine strategies that utilize the power of human genomics and modern tools for assessing genetic risk factors. Herein, we review recent advances in genomic strategies for discovering genetic variants associated with these defects, and new ways in which biological models, such as mice and cell culture-derived organoids, are leveraged to assess mechanistic functionality, the way these variants interact with other genetic or environmental factors, and their ultimate contribution to human NTD risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Wolujewicz
- Center for Neurogenetics, Feil Family Brain & Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - John W Steele
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Julia A Kaltschmidt
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Richard H Finnell
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Margaret Elizabeth Ross
- Center for Neurogenetics, Feil Family Brain & Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
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Tian T, Cao X, Kim SE, Lin YL, Steele JW, Cabrera RM, Karki M, Yang W, Marini NJ, Hoffman EN, Han X, Hu C, Wang L, Wlodarczyk BJ, Shaw GM, Ren A, Finnell RH, Lei Y. FKBP8 variants are risk factors for spina bifida. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 29:3132-3144. [PMID: 32969478 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural tube defects (NTDs) are a group of severe congenital malformations caused by a failure of neural tube closure during early embryonic development. Although extensively investigated, the genetic etiology of NTDs remains poorly understood. FKBP8 is critical for proper mammalian neural tube closure. Fkbp8-/- mouse embryos showed posterior NTDs consistent with a diagnosis of spina bifida (SB). To date, no publication has reported any association between FKBP8 and human NTDs. Using Sanger sequencing on genomic DNA samples from 472 SB and 565 control samples, we identified five rare (MAF ≤ 0.001) deleterious variants in SB patients, while no rare deleterious variant was identified in the controls (P = 0.0191). p.Glu140* affected FKBP8 localization to the mitochondria and created a truncated form of the FKBP8 protein, thus impairing its interaction with BCL2 and ultimately leading to an increase in cellular apoptosis. p.Ser3Leu, p.Lys315Asn and p.Ala292Ser variants decreased FKBP8 protein level. p.Lys315Asn further increased the cellular apoptosis. RNA sequencing on anterior and posterior tissues isolated from Fkbp8-/- and wildtype mice at E9.5 and E10.5 showed that Fkbp8-/- embryos have an abnormal expression profile within tissues harvested at posterior sites, thus leading to a posterior NTD. Moreover, we found that Fkbp8 knockout mouse embryos have abnormal expression of Wnt3a and Nkx2.9 during the early stage of neural tube development, perhaps also contributing to caudal specific NTDs. These findings provide evidence that functional variants of FKBP8 are risk factors for SB, which may involve a novel mechanism by which Fkbp8 mutations specifically cause SB in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Tian
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.,Center for Precision Environmental Health, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77031, USA
| | - Xuanye Cao
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77031, USA
| | - Sung-Eun Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, TX 78723, USA
| | - Ying Linda Lin
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77031, USA
| | - John W Steele
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77031, USA
| | - Robert M Cabrera
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77031, USA
| | - Menuka Karki
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77031, USA
| | - Wei Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Nicholas J Marini
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Ethan N Hoffman
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77031, USA
| | - Xiao Han
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77031, USA
| | - Cindy Hu
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, TX 78723, USA
| | - Linlin Wang
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Bogdan J Wlodarczyk
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77031, USA
| | - Gary M Shaw
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Aiguo Ren
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Richard H Finnell
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77031, USA.,Departments of Molecular and Human Genetics and Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77031, USA
| | - Yunping Lei
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77031, USA
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Abd Rahim MS, Cherniavskyi YK, Tieleman DP, Dames SA. NMR- and MD simulation-based structural characterization of the membrane-associating FATC domain of ataxia telangiectasia mutated. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:7098-7112. [PMID: 30867195 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.007653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The Ser/Thr protein kinase ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) plays an important role in the DNA damage response, signaling in response to redox signals, the control of metabolic processes, and mitochondrial homeostasis. ATM localizes to the nucleus and at the plasma membrane, mitochondria, peroxisomes, and other cytoplasmic vesicular structures. It has been shown that the C-terminal FATC domain of human ATM (hATMfatc) can interact with a range of membrane mimetics and may thereby act as a membrane-anchoring unit. Here, NMR structural and 15N relaxation data, NMR data using spin-labeled micelles, and MD simulations of micelle-associated hATMfatc revealed that it binds the micelle by a dynamic assembly of three helices with many residues of hATMfatc located in the headgroup region. We observed that none of the three helices penetrates the micelle deeply or makes significant tertiary contacts to the other helices. NMR-monitored interaction experiments with hATMfatc variants in which two conserved aromatic residues (Phe3049 and Trp3052) were either individually or both replaced by alanine disclosed that the double substitution does not abrogate the interaction with micelles and bicelles at the high concentrations at which these aggregates are typically used, but impairs interactions with small unilamellar vesicles, usually used at much lower lipid concentrations and considered a better mimetic for natural membranes. We conclude that the observed dynamic structure of micelle-associated hATMfatc may enable it to interact with differently composed membranes or membrane-associated interaction partners and thereby regulate ATM's kinase activity. Moreover, the FATC domain of ATM may function as a membrane-anchoring unit for other biomolecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Munirah S Abd Rahim
- From the Chair of Biomolecular NMR Spectroscopy, Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstrasse 4, 85747 Garching, Germany
| | - Yevhen K Cherniavskyi
- the Department of Biological Sciences and Centre for Molecular Simulation, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada, and
| | - D Peter Tieleman
- the Department of Biological Sciences and Centre for Molecular Simulation, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada, and
| | - Sonja A Dames
- From the Chair of Biomolecular NMR Spectroscopy, Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstrasse 4, 85747 Garching, Germany, .,the Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstrasse 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
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Xu SS, Xu LG, Yuan C, Li SN, Chen T, Wang W, Li C, Cao L, Rao H. FKBP8 inhibits virus-induced RLR-VISA signaling. J Med Virol 2019; 91:482-492. [PMID: 30267576 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.25327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The mitochondrial antiviral signal protein mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein, also known as virus-induced signaling adaptor (VISA), plays a key role in regulating host innate immune signaling pathways. This study identifies FK506 binding protein 8 (FKBP8) as a candidate interacting protein of VISA through the yeast two-hybrid technique. The interaction of FKBP8 with VISA, retinoic acid inducible protein 1 (RIG-I), and IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) was confirmed during viral infection in mammalian cells by coimmunoprecipitation. Overexpression of FKBP8 using a eukaryotic expression plasmid significantly attenuated Sendai virus-induced activation of the promoter interferons β (IFN-β), and transcription factors nuclear factor κ-light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE). Overexpression of FKBP8 also decreased dimer-IRF3 activity, but enhanced virus replication. Conversely, knockdown of FKBP8 expression by RNA interference showed opposite effects. Further studies indicated that FKBP8 acts as a negative interacting partner to regulate RLR-VISA signaling by acting on VISA and TANK binding kinase 1 (TBK1). Additionally, FKBP8 played a negative role on virus-induced signaling by inhibiting the formation of TBK1-IRF3 and VISA-TRAF3 complexes. Notably, FKBP8 also promoted the degradation of TBK1, RIG-I, and TRAF3 resulting from FKBP8 reinforced Sendai virus-induced endogenous polyubiquitination of RIG-I, TBK1, and TNF receptor-associated factor 3 (TRAF3). Therefore, a novel function of FKBP8 in innate immunity antiviral signaling regulation was revealed in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan-Shan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Functional Small Organic Molecules, Ministry of Education and College of Life Science, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Liang-Guo Xu
- Key Laboratory of Functional Small Organic Molecules, Ministry of Education and College of Life Science, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Cailei Yuan
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials and Sensors, School of Physics, Communication and Electronics, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Sheng-Na Li
- Key Laboratory of Functional Small Organic Molecules, Ministry of Education and College of Life Science, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Tian Chen
- Key Laboratory of Functional Small Organic Molecules, Ministry of Education and College of Life Science, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Weiying Wang
- Key Laboratory of Functional Small Organic Molecules, Ministry of Education and College of Life Science, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Changsheng Li
- Key Laboratory of Functional Small Organic Molecules, Ministry of Education and College of Life Science, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Lingzhen Cao
- Key Laboratory of Functional Small Organic Molecules, Ministry of Education and College of Life Science, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Hua Rao
- Key Laboratory of Functional Small Organic Molecules, Ministry of Education and College of Life Science, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China
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