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Donohue LK, Guo MG, Zhao Y, Jung N, Bussat RT, Kim DS, Neela PH, Kellman LN, Garcia OS, Meyers RM, Altman RB, Khavari PA. A cis-regulatory lexicon of DNA motif combinations mediating cell-type-specific gene regulation. CELL GENOMICS 2022; 2:100191. [PMID: 36742369 PMCID: PMC9894309 DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2022.100191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Gene expression is controlled by transcription factors (TFs) that bind cognate DNA motif sequences in cis-regulatory elements (CREs). The combinations of DNA motifs acting within homeostasis and disease, however, are unclear. Gene expression, chromatin accessibility, TF footprinting, and H3K27ac-dependent DNA looping data were generated and a random-forest-based model was applied to identify 7,531 cell-type-specific cis-regulatory modules (CRMs) across 15 diploid human cell types. A co-enrichment framework within CRMs nominated 838 cell-type-specific, recurrent heterotypic DNA motif combinations (DMCs), which were functionally validated using massively parallel reporter assays. Cancer cells engaged DMCs linked to neoplasia-enabling processes operative in normal cells while also activating new DMCs only seen in the neoplastic state. This integrative approach identifies cell-type-specific cis-regulatory combinatorial DNA motifs in diverse normal and diseased human cells and represents a general framework for deciphering cis-regulatory sequence logic in gene regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura K.H. Donohue
- Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA,Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA,Synthego, Redwood City, CA, USA,These authors contributed equally
| | - Margaret G. Guo
- Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA,Stanford Program in Biomedical Informatics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA,These authors contributed equally
| | - Yang Zhao
- Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA,Synthego, Redwood City, CA, USA
| | - Namyoung Jung
- Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA,Department of Life Science, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Korea
| | - Rose T. Bussat
- Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA,23andMe, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA
| | - Daniel S. Kim
- Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA,Stanford Program in Biomedical Informatics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Poornima H. Neela
- Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA,Fauna Bio, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Laura N. Kellman
- Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA,Stanford Program in Cancer Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Omar S. Garcia
- Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Robin M. Meyers
- Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA,Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Russ B. Altman
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA,Stanford Program in Biomedical Informatics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA,Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Paul A. Khavari
- Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA,Stanford Program in Cancer Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA,Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA, USA,Lead contact,Correspondence:
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2
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Portelli MA, Rakkar K, Hu S, Guo Y, Adcock IM, Sayers I. Translational Analysis of Moderate to Severe Asthma GWAS Signals Into Candidate Causal Genes and Their Functional, Tissue-Dependent and Disease-Related Associations. FRONTIERS IN ALLERGY 2022; 2:738741. [PMID: 35386986 PMCID: PMC8974692 DOI: 10.3389/falgy.2021.738741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Asthma affects more than 300 million people globally and is both under diagnosed and under treated. The most recent and largest genome-wide association study investigating moderate to severe asthma to date was carried out in 2019 and identified 25 independent signals. However, as new and in-depth downstream databases become available, the translational analysis of these signals into target genes and pathways is timely. In this study, unique (U-BIOPRED) and publicly available datasets (HaploReg, Open Target Genetics and GTEx) were investigated for the 25 GWAS signals to identify 37 candidate causal genes. Additional traits associated with these signals were identified through PheWAS using the UK Biobank resource, with asthma and eosinophilic traits amongst the strongest associated. Gene expression omnibus dataset examination identified 13 candidate genes with altered expression profiles in the airways and blood of asthmatic subjects, including MUC5AC and STAT6. Gene expression analysis through publicly available datasets highlighted lung tissue cell specific expression, with both MUC5AC and SLC22A4 genes showing enriched expression in ciliated cells. Gene enrichment pathway and interaction analysis highlighted the dominance of the HLA-DQA1/A2/B1/B2 gene cluster across many immunological diseases including asthma, type I diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis. Interaction and prediction analyses found IL33 and IL18R1 to be key co-localization partners for other genes, predicted that CD274 forms co-expression relationships with 13 other genes, including the HLA-DQA1/A2/B1/B2 gene cluster and that MUC5AC and IL37 are co-expressed. Drug interaction analysis revealed that 11 of the candidate genes have an interaction with available therapeutics. This study provides significant insight into these GWAS signals in the context of cell expression, function, and disease relationship with the view of informing future research and drug development efforts for moderate-severe asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Portelli
- Centre for Respiratory Research, Translational Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, National Institute for Health Research Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Kamini Rakkar
- Centre for Respiratory Research, Translational Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, National Institute for Health Research Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Sile Hu
- Data Science Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yike Guo
- Data Science Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ian M Adcock
- The National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ian Sayers
- Centre for Respiratory Research, Translational Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, National Institute for Health Research Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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3
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Bhatia S, Kleinjan DJ, Uttley K, Mann A, Dellepiane N, Bickmore WA. Quantitative spatial and temporal assessment of regulatory element activity in zebrafish. eLife 2021; 10:65601. [PMID: 34796872 PMCID: PMC8604437 DOI: 10.7554/elife.65601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations or genetic variation in noncoding regions of the genome harbouring cis-regulatory elements (CREs), or enhancers, have been widely implicated in human disease and disease risk. However, our ability to assay the impact of these DNA sequence changes on enhancer activity is currently very limited because of the need to assay these elements in an appropriate biological context. Here, we describe a method for simultaneous quantitative assessment of the spatial and temporal activity of wild-type and disease-associated mutant human CRE alleles using live imaging in zebrafish embryonic development. We generated transgenic lines harbouring a dual-CRE dual-reporter cassette in a pre-defined neutral docking site in the zebrafish genome. The activity of each CRE allele is reported via expression of a specific fluorescent reporter, allowing simultaneous visualisation of where and when in development the wild-type allele is active and how this activity is altered by mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shipra Bhatia
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics & Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Dirk Jan Kleinjan
- Centre for Mammalian Synthetic Biology at the Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology, SynthSys, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Kirsty Uttley
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics & Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Anita Mann
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics & Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Nefeli Dellepiane
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics & Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Wendy A Bickmore
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics & Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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4
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Chen J, Guo JT. Structural and functional analysis of somatic coding and UTR indels in breast and lung cancer genomes. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21178. [PMID: 34707120 PMCID: PMC8551294 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00583-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Insertions and deletions (Indels) represent one of the major variation types in the human genome and have been implicated in diseases including cancer. To study the features of somatic indels in different cancer genomes, we investigated the indels from two large samples of cancer types: invasive breast carcinoma (BRCA) and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Besides mapping somatic indels in both coding and untranslated regions (UTRs) from the cancer whole exome sequences, we investigated the overlap between these indels and transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs), the key elements for regulation of gene expression that have been found in both coding and non-coding sequences. Compared to the germline indels in healthy genomes, somatic indels contain more coding indels with higher than expected frame-shift (FS) indels in cancer genomes. LUAD has a higher ratio of deletions and higher coding and FS indel rates than BRCA. More importantly, these somatic indels in cancer genomes tend to locate in sequences with important functions, which can affect the core secondary structures of proteins and have a bigger overlap with predicted TFBSs in coding regions than the germline indels. The somatic CDS indels are also enriched in highly conserved nucleotides when compared with germline CDS indels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Chen
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA
| | - Jun-Tao Guo
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA.
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5
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Sethi S, Vorontsov IE, Kulakovskiy IV, Greenaway S, Williams J, Makeev VJ, Brown SDM, Simon MM, Mallon AM. A holistic view of mouse enhancer architectures reveals analogous pleiotropic effects and correlation with human disease. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:754. [PMID: 33138777 PMCID: PMC7607678 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-07109-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Efforts to elucidate the function of enhancers in vivo are underway but their vast numbers alongside differing enhancer architectures make it difficult to determine their impact on gene activity. By systematically annotating multiple mouse tissues with super- and typical-enhancers, we have explored their relationship with gene function and phenotype. RESULTS Though super-enhancers drive high total- and tissue-specific expression of their associated genes, we find that typical-enhancers also contribute heavily to the tissue-specific expression landscape on account of their large numbers in the genome. Unexpectedly, we demonstrate that both enhancer types are preferentially associated with relevant 'tissue-type' phenotypes and exhibit no difference in phenotype effect size or pleiotropy. Modelling regulatory data alongside molecular data, we built a predictive model to infer gene-phenotype associations and use this model to predict potentially novel disease-associated genes. CONCLUSION Overall our findings reveal that differing enhancer architectures have a similar impact on mammalian phenotypes whilst harbouring differing cellular and expression effects. Together, our results systematically characterise enhancers with predicted phenotypic traits endorsing the role for both types of enhancers in human disease and disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddharth Sethi
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Ilya E Vorontsov
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Gubkina 3, Moscow, 119991, Russia
- Institute of Protein Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya 4, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russia
| | - Ivan V Kulakovskiy
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Gubkina 3, Moscow, 119991, Russia
- Institute of Protein Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya 4, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russia
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilova 32, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Simon Greenaway
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD, UK
| | - John Williams
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD, UK
- Institute of Translational Medicine, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, B15 2TH, UK
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Vsevolod J Makeev
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Gubkina 3, Moscow, 119991, Russia
- Institute of Protein Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya 4, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 9 Institutskiy per., Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141700, Russia
| | - Steve D M Brown
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Michelle M Simon
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD, UK.
| | - Ann-Marie Mallon
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD, UK.
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6
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van der Lee R, Correard S, Wasserman WW. Deregulated Regulators: Disease-Causing cis Variants in Transcription Factor Genes. Trends Genet 2020; 36:523-539. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2020.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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7
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Xu XJ, Xin SJ, Mao HY, Zhang HJ, Chen LN, Li L, Bai HL, Huang HH, Shu M. SHOX CNE9/10 Knockout in U2OS Osteosarcoma Cells and Its Effects on Cell Growth and Apoptosis. Med Sci Monit 2020; 26:e921233. [PMID: 32032347 PMCID: PMC7020756 DOI: 10.12659/msm.921233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Osteosarcoma is a common malignant tumor of musculoskeletal stromal cells. Osteosarcoma clinical behavior depends mostly on the histologic grade, the site of primary tumor, the response to chemotherapy, and the presence of pulmonary metastases. The aim of this study was to knockout SHOX CNE9/10 in U2OS osteosarcoma cells and to analyze the effects on cell growth and apoptosis. Material/Methods U2OS cells with CNE9 knockout and U2OS cells with CNE10 knockout were established via the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Sanger sequencing was used to detect the success of the knockdown experiment. Western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to detect the expression levels of short stature homeobox-containing gene (SHOX) protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) after knockdown of CNE9 and CNE10. The cell viability and apoptotic rate were detected by the Cell Counting Kit-8 method and by flow cytometry. Results The Sanger sequencing results showed that the knockdown experiment was successful. The levels of SHOX mRNA and protein were significantly reduced after knocking down CNE9 and CNE10. Knockdown of CNE9 and CNE10 significantly increased the growth and inhibited the apoptosis of U2OS osteosarcoma cells. CNE9/CNE10 knockdown U2OS cells were successfully constructed. Conclusions Knockdown of CNE9 and CNE10 promoted U2OS cell growth and inhibited apoptosis by decreasing SHOX expression. This CNE9/CNE10 knockout U2OS cell model could provide a bridge for the research on SHOX and CNEs in osteosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Jiao Xu
- Department of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China (mainland)
| | - Shi-Jie Xin
- Department of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China (mainland)
| | - Hui-Ying Mao
- Department of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China (mainland)
| | - Hui-Jiao Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China (mainland)
| | - Lan-Ni Chen
- Department of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China (mainland)
| | - Li Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China (mainland)
| | - Hua-Lei Bai
- Department of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China (mainland)
| | - Hai-Hua Huang
- Department of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China (mainland)
| | - Min Shu
- Department of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China (mainland)
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8
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Predicting novel genomic regions linked to genetic disorders using GWAS and chromosome conformation data - a case study of schizophrenia. Sci Rep 2019; 9:17940. [PMID: 31784692 PMCID: PMC6884554 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-54514-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies identified numerous loci harbouring single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with various human diseases, although the causal role of many of them remains unknown. In this paper, we postulate that co-location and shared biological function of novel genes with genes known to associate with a specific phenotype make them potential candidates linked to the same phenotype (“guilt-by-proxy”). We propose a novel network-based approach for predicting candidate genes/genomic regions utilising the knowledge of the 3D architecture of the human genome and GWAS data. As a case study we used a well-studied polygenic disorder ‒ schizophrenia ‒ for which we compiled a comprehensive dataset of SNPs. Our approach revealed 634 novel regions covering ~398 Mb of the human genome and harbouring ~9000 genes. Using various network measures and enrichment analysis, we identified subsets of genes and investigated the plausibility of these genes/regions having an association with schizophrenia using literature search and bioinformatics resources. We identified several genes/regions with previously reported associations with schizophrenia, thus providing proof-of-concept, as well as novel candidates with no prior known associations. This approach has the potential to identify novel genes/genomic regions linked to other polygenic disorders and provide means of aggregating genes/SNPs for further investigation.
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9
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Mann A, Bhatia S. Zebrafish: A Powerful Model for Understanding the Functional Relevance of Noncoding Region Mutations in Human Genetic Diseases. Biomedicines 2019; 7:E71. [PMID: 31527394 PMCID: PMC6784013 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines7030071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Revised: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Determining aetiology of genetic disorders caused by damaging mutations in protein-coding genes is well established. However, understanding how mutations in the vast stretches of the noncoding genome contribute to genetic abnormalities remains a huge challenge. Cis-regulatory elements (CREs) or enhancers are an important class of noncoding elements. CREs function as the primary determinants of precise spatial and temporal regulation of their target genes during development by serving as docking sites for tissue-specific transcription factors. Although a large number of potential disease-associated CRE mutations are being identified in patients, lack of robust methods for mechanistically linking these mutations to disease phenotype is currently hampering the understanding of their roles in disease aetiology. Here, we have described the various systems available for testing the CRE potential of stretches of noncoding regions harbouring mutations implicated in human disease. We highlight advances in the field leading to the establishment of zebrafish as a powerful system for robust and cost-effective functional assays of CRE activity, enabling rapid identification of causal variants in regulatory regions and the validation of their role in disruption of appropriate gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Mann
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC Institute of Genetics & Molecular Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK.
| | - Shipra Bhatia
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC Institute of Genetics & Molecular Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK.
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10
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Bertini V, Valetto A, Baldinotti F, Azzarà A, Cambi F, Toschi B, Giacomina A, Gatti GL, Gana S, Caligo MA, Bertelloni S. Blepharophimosis, Ptosis, Epicanthus Inversus Syndrome: New Report with a 197-kb Deletion Upstream of FOXL2 and Review of the Literature. Mol Syndromol 2019; 10:147-153. [PMID: 31191203 DOI: 10.1159/000497092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Blepharophimosis, ptosis, and epicanthus inversus syndrome (BPES) is due to heterozygous FOXL2 intragenic mutations in about 70% of the patients, whereas total or partial gene deletions account for a minority of cases. Alteration of FOXL2 regulatory elements has been rarely described in patients with BPES. In this study, a prepubertal girl with BPES due to a 197-kb de novo deletion of the regulatory elements upstream of FOXL2 is reported. This girl presented with additional clinical features such as a soft cleft palate and microcephaly; thus, this copy number variant might have other somatic effects. The present deletion encompasses 2 coding genes (MRPS22 and COPB2), whose homozygous mutations have been associated with microcephaly. In our case, the sequences of the non-deleted allele were normal, ruling out a compound genetic defect. Normal levels of new biomarkers of ovarian reserve (anti-müllerian hormone, inhibin B) likely indicate an early diagnosis of type 2 BPES, but an evolutive gonadal damage will be excluded only by long-term follow-up. Additional reports of microdeletions upstream of FOXL2 are needed to better define the underlying genetic mechanism and the related phenotypic spectrum; the ability of the new hormonal markers to predict ovarian function in adolescence and adulthood should be confirmed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Bertini
- SOD Citogenetica, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Angelo Valetto
- SOD Citogenetica, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fulvia Baldinotti
- SOD Genetica Molecolare, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessia Azzarà
- SOD Citogenetica, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Cambi
- SOD Citogenetica, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Benedetta Toschi
- Sezione Genetica Medica, Medicina Interna 1, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Gian L Gatti
- U.O. Chirurgia Plastica, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Simone Gana
- Sezione Genetica Medica, Medicina Interna 1, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Maria A Caligo
- SOD Genetica Molecolare, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Silvano Bertelloni
- Pediatric Division, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Pediatrics, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
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11
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Smith M, Flodman PL. Expanded Insights Into Mechanisms of Gene Expression and Disease Related Disruptions. Front Mol Biosci 2018; 5:101. [PMID: 30542652 PMCID: PMC6277798 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2018.00101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Definitive molecular diagnoses in disorders apparently due to genetic or genomic defects are still lacking in a significant number of investigated cases, despite use of studies designed to discover defects in the protein coding regions of the genome. Increasingly studies are being designed to search for defects in the non-protein coding genome, and for alterations in gene expression. Here we review new insights into genomic elements involved in control of gene expression, including methods to analyze chromatin that is accessible for transcription factor binding, enhancers, chromatin looping, transcription, RNA binding proteins, and alternative splicing. We review new studies on levels of genome organization, including the occurrence of transcriptional domains and their boundary elements. Information is presented on specific malformation syndromes that arise due to structural genomic changes that impact the non-protein coding genome and sometimes impact specific transcriptional domains. We also review convergence of genome-wide association with studies of gene expression, discoveries related to expression quantitative trait loci and splicing quantitative trait loci and the relevance of these to specific complex common diseases. Aspects of epigenetic mechanisms and clinical applications of analyses of methylation signatures are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moyra Smith
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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12
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Skuplik I, Benito-Sanz S, Rosin JM, Bobick BE, Heath KE, Cobb J. Identification of a limb enhancer that is removed by pathogenic deletions downstream of the SHOX gene. Sci Rep 2018; 8:14292. [PMID: 30250174 PMCID: PMC6155277 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32565-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Haploinsufficiency of the human SHOX gene causes Léri-Weill dyschondrosteosis (LWD), characterized by shortening of the middle segments of the limbs and Madelung deformity of the wrist. As many as 35% of LWD cases are caused by deletions of non-coding sequences downstream of SHOX that presumably remove an enhancer or enhancers necessary for SHOX expression in developing limbs. We searched for these active sequences using a transgenic mouse assay and identified a 563 basepair (bp) enhancer with specific activity in the limb regions where SHOX functions. This enhancer has previously escaped notice because of its poor evolutionary conservation, although it does contain 100 bp that are conserved in non-rodent mammals. A primary cell luciferase assay confirmed the enhancer activity of the conserved core sequence and demonstrated that putative HOX binding sites are required for its activity. This enhancer is removed in most non-coding deletions that cause LWD. However, we did not identify any likely pathogenic variants of the enhancer in a screen of 124 LWD individuals for whom no causative mutation had been found, suggesting that only larger deletions in the region commonly cause LWD. We hypothesize that loss of this enhancer contributes to the pathogenicity of deletions downstream of SHOX.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Skuplik
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Sara Benito-Sanz
- Instituto de Genética Médica y Molecular (INGEMM), IdiPAZ and Skeletal dysplasia multidisciplinary unit (UMDE), Hospital Universitario La Paz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, P° Castellana 261, 28046, Madrid, Spain.,CIBERER, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jessica M Rosin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Brent E Bobick
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Karen E Heath
- Instituto de Genética Médica y Molecular (INGEMM), IdiPAZ and Skeletal dysplasia multidisciplinary unit (UMDE), Hospital Universitario La Paz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, P° Castellana 261, 28046, Madrid, Spain. .,CIBERER, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.
| | - John Cobb
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada.
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13
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Li L, Barth NKH, Hirth E, Taher L. Pairs of Adjacent Conserved Noncoding Elements Separated by Conserved Genomic Distances Act as Cis-Regulatory Units. Genome Biol Evol 2018; 10:2535-2550. [PMID: 30184074 PMCID: PMC6161761 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evy196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Comparative genomic studies have identified thousands of conserved noncoding elements (CNEs) in the mammalian genome, many of which have been reported to exert cis-regulatory activity. We analyzed ∼5,500 pairs of adjacent CNEs in the human genome and found that despite divergence at the nucleotide sequence level, the inter-CNE distances of the pairs are under strong evolutionary constraint, with inter-CNE sequences featuring significantly lower transposon densities than expected. Further, we show that different degrees of conservation of the inter-CNE distance are associated with distinct cis-regulatory functions at the CNEs. Specifically, the CNEs in pairs with conserved and mildly contracted inter-CNE sequences are the most likely to represent active or poised enhancers. In contrast, CNEs in pairs with extremely contracted or expanded inter-CNE sequences are associated with no cis-regulatory activity. Furthermore, we observed that functional CNEs in a pair have very similar epigenetic profiles, hinting at a functional relationship between them. Taken together, our results support the existence of epistatic interactions between adjacent CNEs that are distance-sensitive and disrupted by transposon insertions and deletions, and contribute to our understanding of the selective forces acting on cis-regulatory elements, which are crucial for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying adaptive evolution and human genetic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lifei Li
- Division of Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Nicolai K H Barth
- Division of Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Eva Hirth
- Division of Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Leila Taher
- Division of Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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14
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Historical and Clinical Perspectives on Chromosomal Translocations. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1044:1-14. [PMID: 29956287 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-0593-1_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Chromosomal translocations, rearrangements involving the exchange of segments between chromosomes, were documented in humans in 1959. The first accurately reported clinical phenotype resulting from a translocation was that of Down syndrome. In a small percentage of Down syndrome cases, an extra 21q is provided by a Robertsonian translocation chromosome, either occurring de novo or inherited from a phenotypically normal parent with the translocation chromosome and a balanced genome of 45 chromosomes. Balanced translocations, including both Robertsonian and reciprocal translocations, are typically benign, but meiosis in germ cells with balanced translocations may result in meiotic arrest and subsequent infertility, or in unbalanced gametes, with attendant risks of miscarriage and unbalanced progeny. Most reciprocal translocations are unique. A few to several percent of translocations disrupt haploinsufficient genes or their regulatory regions and result in clinical phenotypes. Balanced translocations from patients with clinical phenotypes have been valuable in mapping disease genes and in illuminating cis-regulatory regions. Mapping of discordant mate pairs from long-insert, low-pass genome sequencing now permits efficient and cost-effective discovery and nucleotide-level resolution of rearrangement breakpoints, information that is absolutely necessary for interpreting the etiology of clinical phenotypes in patients with rearrangements. Pathogenic translocations and other balanced chromosomal rearrangements constitute a class of typically highly penetrant mutation that is cryptic to both clinical microarray and exome sequencing. A significant proportion of rearrangements include additional complexity that is not visible by conventional karyotype analysis. Some proportion of patients with negative findings on exome/genome sequencing and clinical microarray will be found to have etiologic balanced rearrangements only discoverable by genome sequencing with analysis pipelines optimized to recover rearrangement breakpoints.
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15
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Machado RG, Eames BF. Using Zebrafish to Test the Genetic Basis of Human Craniofacial Diseases. J Dent Res 2017; 96:1192-1199. [DOI: 10.1177/0022034517722776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) opened an innovative and productive avenue to investigate the molecular basis of human craniofacial disease. However, GWASs identify candidate genes only; they do not prove that any particular one is the functional villain underlying disease or just an unlucky genomic bystander. Genetic manipulation of animal models is the best approach to reveal which genetic loci identified from human GWASs are functionally related to specific diseases. The purpose of this review is to discuss the potential of zebrafish to resolve which candidate genetic loci are mechanistic drivers of craniofacial diseases. Many anatomic, embryonic, and genetic features of craniofacial development are conserved among zebrafish and mammals, making zebrafish a good model of craniofacial diseases. Also, the ability to manipulate gene function in zebrafish was greatly expanded over the past 20 y, enabling systems such as Gateway Tol2 and CRISPR-Cas9 to test gain- and loss-of-function alleles identified from human GWASs in coding and noncoding regions of DNA. With the optimization of genetic editing methods, large numbers of candidate genes can be efficiently interrogated. Finding the functional villains that underlie diseases will permit new treatments and prevention strategies and will increase understanding of how gene pathways operate during normal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Grecco Machado
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - B. Frank Eames
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
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16
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Wong KC. MotifHyades: expectation maximization for de novo DNA motif pair discovery on paired sequences. Bioinformatics 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btx381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ka-Chun Wong
- Department of Computer Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
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17
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Ordulu Z, Kammin T, Brand H, Pillalamarri V, Redin CE, Collins RL, Blumenthal I, Hanscom C, Pereira S, Bradley I, Crandall BF, Gerrol P, Hayden MA, Hussain N, Kanengisser-Pines B, Kantarci S, Levy B, Macera MJ, Quintero-Rivera F, Spiegel E, Stevens B, Ulm JE, Warburton D, Wilkins-Haug LE, Yachelevich N, Gusella JF, Talkowski ME, Morton CC. Structural Chromosomal Rearrangements Require Nucleotide-Level Resolution: Lessons from Next-Generation Sequencing in Prenatal Diagnosis. Am J Hum Genet 2016; 99:1015-1033. [PMID: 27745839 PMCID: PMC5097935 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2016.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
In this exciting era of "next-gen cytogenetics," integrating genomic sequencing into the prenatal diagnostic setting is possible within an actionable time frame and can provide precise delineation of balanced chromosomal rearrangements at the nucleotide level. Given the increased risk of congenital abnormalities in newborns with de novo balanced chromosomal rearrangements, comprehensive interpretation of breakpoints could substantially improve prediction of phenotypic outcomes and support perinatal medical care. Herein, we present and evaluate sequencing results of balanced chromosomal rearrangements in ten prenatal subjects with respect to the location of regulatory chromatin domains (topologically associated domains [TADs]). The genomic material from all subjects was interpreted to be "normal" by microarray analyses, and their rearrangements would not have been detected by cell-free DNA (cfDNA) screening. The findings of our systematic approach correlate with phenotypes of both pregnancies with untoward outcomes (5/10) and with healthy newborns (3/10). Two pregnancies, one with a chromosomal aberration predicted to be of unknown clinical significance and another one predicted to be likely benign, were terminated prior to phenotype-genotype correlation (2/10). We demonstrate that the clinical interpretation of structural rearrangements should not be limited to interruption, deletion, or duplication of specific genes and should also incorporate regulatory domains of the human genome with critical ramifications for the control of gene expression. As detailed in this study, our molecular approach to both detecting and interpreting the breakpoints of structural rearrangements yields unparalleled information in comparison to other commonly used first-tier diagnostic methods, such as non-invasive cfDNA screening and microarray analysis, to provide improved genetic counseling for phenotypic outcome in the prenatal setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehra Ordulu
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Tammy Kammin
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Harrison Brand
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Boston, MA 02142, USA
| | - Vamsee Pillalamarri
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Claire E Redin
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Boston, MA 02142, USA
| | - Ryan L Collins
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Ian Blumenthal
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Carrie Hanscom
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Shahrin Pereira
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - India Bradley
- Department of Psychiatry, Prenatal Diagnosis Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Medical Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Barbara F Crandall
- Department of Psychiatry, Prenatal Diagnosis Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Medical Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Pamela Gerrol
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Mark A Hayden
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Naveed Hussain
- Department of Pediatrics, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | | | - Sibel Kantarci
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UCLA Clinical Genomics Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Brynn Levy
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Michael J Macera
- New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Fabiola Quintero-Rivera
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UCLA Clinical Genomics Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Erica Spiegel
- Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Blair Stevens
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Janet E Ulm
- Regional Obstetrical Consultants, Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA
| | - Dorothy Warburton
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Louise E Wilkins-Haug
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Naomi Yachelevich
- Department of Pediatrics, Clinical Genetics Services, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - James F Gusella
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Boston, MA 02142, USA; Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boson, MA 02115, USA
| | - Michael E Talkowski
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Boston, MA 02142, USA; Departments of Psychiatry and Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Cynthia C Morton
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Boston, MA 02142, USA; Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Division of Evolution and Genomic Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Center, Manchester 03101, UK.
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18
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Happ H, Weh E, Costakos D, Reis LM, Semina EV. Case report of homozygous deletion involving the first coding exons of GCNT2 isoforms A and B and part of the upstream region of TFAP2A in congenital cataract. BMC MEDICAL GENETICS 2016; 17:64. [PMID: 27609212 PMCID: PMC5016880 DOI: 10.1186/s12881-016-0316-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Congenital cataracts affect 3-6 per 10,000 live births and represent one of the leading causes of blindness in children. Congenital cataracts have a strong genetic component with high heterogeneity and variability. CASE PRESENTATION Analysis of whole exome sequencing data in a patient affected with congenital cataracts identified a pathogenic deletion which was further defined by other techniques. A ~98-kb homozygous deletion of 6p24.3 involving the first three exons (two non-coding and one coding) of GCNT2 isoform A, the first exon (coding) of GCNT2 isoform B, and part of the intergenic region between GCNT2 and TFAP2A was identified in the patient and her brother while both parents were found to be heterozygous carriers of the deletion. The exact breakpoints were identified and revealed the presence of Alu elements at both sides of the deletion, thus indicating Alu-mediated non-homologous end-joining as the most plausible mechanism for this rearrangement. Recessive mutations in GCNT2 are known to cause an adult i blood group phenotype with congenital cataracts in some cases. The GCNT2 gene has three differentially expressed transcripts, with GCNT2B being the only isoform associated with lens function and GCNT2C being the only isoform expressed in red blood cells based on earlier studies; previously reported mutations/deletions have either affected all three isoforms (causing blood group and cataract phenotype) or the C isoform only (causing blood group phenotype only). Dominant mutations in TFAP2A are associated with syndromic anophthalmia/microphthalmia and other ocular phenotypes as part of Branchio-Ocular-Facial-Syndrome (BOFS). While the patients do not fit a diagnosis of BOFS, one sibling demonstrates mild overlap with the phenotypic spectrum, and therefore an effect of this deletion on the function of TFAP2A cannot be ruled out. CONCLUSIONS To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reported in which disruption of the GCNT2 gene does not involve the C isoform. The congenital cataracts phenotype in the affected patients is consistent with the previously defined isoform-specific roles of this gene. The GCNT2-TFAP2A region may be prone to rearrangements through Alu-mediated non-homologous end-joining.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Happ
- Department of Pediatrics and Children's Research Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Eric Weh
- Department of Pediatrics and Children's Research Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Deborah Costakos
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Linda M Reis
- Department of Pediatrics and Children's Research Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Elena V Semina
- Department of Pediatrics and Children's Research Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA. .,Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA. .,Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA.
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19
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Girisha KM, Kortüm F, Shah H, Alawi M, Dalal A, Bhavani GS, Kutsche K. A novel multiple joint dislocation syndrome associated with a homozygous nonsense variant in the EXOC6B gene. Eur J Hum Genet 2016; 24:1206-10. [PMID: 26669664 PMCID: PMC4970677 DOI: 10.1038/ejhg.2015.261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2015] [Revised: 11/04/2015] [Accepted: 11/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
We report two brothers from a consanguineous couple with spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia (SEMD), multiple joint dislocations at birth, severe joint laxity, scoliosis, gracile metacarpals and metatarsals, delayed bone age and poorly ossified carpal and tarsal bones, probably representing a yet uncharacterized SEMD with laxity and dislocations. This condition has clinical overlap with autosomal dominantly inherited SEMD with joint laxity, leptodactylic type caused by recurrent missense variants in the kinesin family member 22 gene (KIF22). Single-nucleotide polymorphism array analysis and whole-exome sequencing in the two affected siblings revealed a shared homozygous nonsense variant [c.906T>A/p.(Tyr302*)] in EXOC6B as the most likely cause. EXOC6B encodes a component of the exocyst complex required for tethering secretory vesicles to the plasma membrane. As transport of vesicles from the golgi apparatus to the plasma membrane occurs through kinesin motor proteins along microtubule tracks, the function of EXOC6B is linked to KIF22 suggesting a common pathogenic mechanism in skeletal dysplasias with joint laxity and dislocations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katta Mohan Girisha
- Department of Medical Genetics, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, India
| | - Fanny Kortüm
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hitesh Shah
- Division of Pediatric Orthopedics, Department of Orthopedics, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, India
| | - Malik Alawi
- University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Bioinformatics Service Facility, Hamburg, Germany
- Center for Bioinformatics, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- Heinrich-Pette-Institute, Leibniz-Institute for Experimental Virology, Virus Genomics, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ashwin Dalal
- Diagnostics Division, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad, India
| | | | - Kerstin Kutsche
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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20
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Amarillo IE, Nievera I, Hagan A, Huchthagowder V, Heeley J, Hollander A, Koenig J, Austin P, Wang T. Integrated small copy number variations and epigenome maps of disorders of sex development. Hum Genome Var 2016; 3:16012. [PMID: 27340555 PMCID: PMC4899613 DOI: 10.1038/hgv.2016.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Revised: 03/24/2016] [Accepted: 03/26/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Small copy number variations (CNVs) have typically not been analyzed or reported in clinical settings and hence have remained underrepresented in databases and the literature. Here, we focused our investigations on these small CNVs using chromosome microarray analysis (CMA) data previously obtained from patients with atypical characteristics or disorders of sex development (DSD). Using our customized CMA track targeting 334 genes involved in the development of urogenital and reproductive structures and a less stringent analysis filter, we uncovered small genes with recurrent and overlapping CNVs as small as 1 kb, and small regions of homozygosity (ROHs), imprinting and position effects. Detailed analysis of these high-resolution data revealed CNVs and ROHs involving structural and functional domains, repeat elements, active transcription sites and regulatory regions. Integration of these genomic data with DNA methylation, histone modification and predicted RNA expression profiles in normal testes and ovaries suggested spatiotemporal and tissue-specific gene regulation. This study emphasized a DSD-specific and gene-targeted CMA approach that uncovered previously unanalyzed or unreported small genes and CNVs, contributing to the growing resources on small CNVs and facilitating the narrowing of the genomic gap for identifying candidate genes or regions. This high-resolution analysis tool could improve the diagnostic utility of CMA, not only in patients with DSD but also in other clinical populations. These integrated data provided a better genomic-epigenomic landscape of DSD and greater opportunities for downstream research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ina E Amarillo
- Cytogenomics and Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Division of Laboratory and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA; Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine DSD Team, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Isabelle Nievera
- Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine DSD Team , St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Andrew Hagan
- Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University in St Louis , St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Vishwa Huchthagowder
- Cytogenomics and Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Division of Laboratory and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine , St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jennifer Heeley
- Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine DSD Team, St Louis, MO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Abby Hollander
- Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine DSD Team, St Louis, MO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Joel Koenig
- Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine DSD Team, St Louis, MO, USA; Department of Surgery, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Paul Austin
- Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine DSD Team, St Louis, MO, USA; Department of Surgery, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Genetics, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine , St Louis, MO, USA
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21
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Sanchez-Castro M, Eldjouzi H, Charpentier E, Busson PF, Hauet Q, Lindenbaum P, Delasalle-Guyomarch B, Baudry A, Pichon O, Pascal C, Lefort B, Bajolle F, Pezard P, Schott JJ, Dina C, Redon R, Gournay V, Bonnet D, Le Caignec C. Search for Rare Copy-Number Variants in Congenital Heart Defects Identifies Novel Candidate Genes and a Potential Role for FOXC1 in Patients With Coarctation of the Aorta. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 9:86-94. [DOI: 10.1161/circgenetics.115.001213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2015] [Accepted: 12/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Background—
Congenital heart defects are the most frequent malformations among newborns and a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality. Although genetic variation contributes to congenital heart defects, their precise molecular bases remain unknown in the majority of patients.
Methods and Results—
We analyzed, by high-resolution array comparative genomic hybridization, 316 children with sporadic, nonsyndromic congenital heart defects, including 76 coarctation of the aorta, 159 transposition of the great arteries, and 81 tetralogy of Fallot, as well as their unaffected parents. We identified by array comparative genomic hybridization, and validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, 71 rare de novo (n=8) or inherited (n=63) copy-number variants (CNVs; 50 duplications and 21 deletions) in patients. We identified 113 candidate genes for congenital heart defects within these CNVs, including
BTRC
,
CHRNB3
,
CSRP2BP
,
ERBB2
,
ERMARD
,
GLIS3
,
PLN
,
PTPRJ
,
RLN3
, and
TCTE3
. No de novo CNVs were identified in patients with transposition of the great arteries in contrast to coarctation of the aorta and tetralogy of Fallot (
P
=0.002; Fisher exact test). A search for transcription factor binding sites showed that 93% of the rare CNVs identified in patients with coarctation of the aorta contained at least 1 gene with FOXC1-binding sites. This significant enrichment (
P
<0.0001; permutation test) was not observed for the CNVs identified in patients with transposition of the great arteries and tetralogy of Fallot. We hypothesize that these CNVs may alter the expression of genes regulated by FOXC1. Foxc1 belongs to the forkhead transcription factors family, which plays a critical role in cardiovascular development in mice.
Conclusions—
These data suggest that deregulation of
FOXC1
or its downstream genes play a major role in the pathogenesis of coarctation of the aorta in humans.
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22
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Mayes MB, Morgan T, Winston J, Buxton DS, Kamat MA, Smith D, Williams M, Martin RL, Kleinjan DA, Cooper DN, Upadhyaya M, Chuzhanova N. Remotely acting SMCHD1 gene regulatory elements: in silico prediction and identification of potential regulatory variants in patients with FSHD. Hum Genomics 2015; 9:25. [PMID: 26446085 PMCID: PMC4597391 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-015-0047-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2015] [Accepted: 10/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is commonly associated with contraction of the D4Z4 macro-satellite repeat on chromosome 4q35 (FSHD1) or mutations in the SMCHD1 gene (FSHD2). Recent studies have shown that the clinical manifestation of FSHD1 can be modified by mutations in the SMCHD1 gene within a given family. The absence of either D4Z4 contraction or SMCHD1 mutations in a small cohort of patients suggests that the disease could also be due to disruption of gene regulation. In this study, we postulated that mutations responsible for exerting a modifier effect on FSHD might reside within remotely acting regulatory elements that have the potential to interact at a distance with their cognate gene promoter via chromatin looping. To explore this postulate, genome-wide Hi-C data were used to identify genomic fragments displaying the strongest interaction with the SMCHD1 gene. These fragments were then narrowed down to shorter regions using ENCODE and FANTOM data on transcription factor binding sites and epigenetic marks characteristic of promoters, enhancers and silencers. Results We identified two regions, located respectively ~14 and ~85 kb upstream of the SMCHD1 gene, which were then sequenced in 229 FSHD/FSHD-like patients (200 with D4Z4 repeat units <11). Three heterozygous sequence variants were found ~14 kb upstream of the SMCHD1 gene. One of these variants was found to be of potential functional significance based on DNA methylation analysis. Further functional ascertainment will be required in order to establish the clinical/functional significance of the variants found. Conclusions In this study, we propose an improved approach to predict the possible locations of remotely acting regulatory elements that might influence the transcriptional regulation of their associated gene(s). It represents a new way to screen for disease-relevant mutations beyond the immediate vicinity of the specific disease gene. It promises to be useful for investigating disorders in which mutations could occur in remotely acting regulatory elements. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40246-015-0047-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary B Mayes
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Lane, Nottingham, NG11 8NS, UK
| | - Taniesha Morgan
- Institute of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Jincy Winston
- Institute of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Daniel S Buxton
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Lane, Nottingham, NG11 8NS, UK
| | - Mihir Anant Kamat
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Lane, Nottingham, NG11 8NS, UK.,Present address: Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB1 8RN, UK
| | - Debbie Smith
- Blood Sciences Department and Bristol Genetics Laboratory, Southmead Hospital, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, BS10 5NB, UK
| | - Maggie Williams
- Blood Sciences Department and Bristol Genetics Laboratory, Southmead Hospital, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, BS10 5NB, UK
| | - Rebecca L Martin
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Lane, Nottingham, NG11 8NS, UK
| | - Dirk A Kleinjan
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - David N Cooper
- Institute of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Meena Upadhyaya
- Institute of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Nadia Chuzhanova
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Lane, Nottingham, NG11 8NS, UK.
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23
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Drgonova J, Walther D, Singhal S, Johnson K, Kessler B, Troncoso J, Uhl GR. Altered CSMD1 Expression Alters Cocaine-Conditioned Place Preference: Mutual Support for a Complex Locus from Human and Mouse Models. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0120908. [PMID: 26171607 PMCID: PMC4501703 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0120908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2014] [Accepted: 01/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The CUB and sushi multiple domains 1 (CSMD1) gene harbors signals provided by clusters of nearby SNPs with 10-2 > p > 10-8 associations in genome wide association (GWAS) studies of addiction-related phenotypes. A CSMD1 intron 3 SNP displays p < 10-8 association with schizophrenia and more modest associations with individual differences in performance on tests of cognitive abilities. CSDM1 encodes a cell adhesion molecule likely to influence development, connections and plasticity of brain circuits in which it is expressed. We tested association between CSMD1 genotypes and expression of its mRNA in postmortem human brains (n = 181). Expression of CSMD1 mRNA in human postmortem cerebral cortical samples differs 15-25%, in individuals with different alleles of simple sequence length and SNP polymorphisms located in the gene's third/fifth introns, providing nominal though not Bonferroni-corrected significance. These data support mice with altered CSMD1 expression as models for common human CSMD1 allelic variation. We tested baseline and/or cocaine-evoked addiction, emotion, motor and memory-related behaviors in +/- and -/- csmd1 knockout mice on mixed and on C57-backcrossed genetic backgrounds. Initial csmd1 knockout mice on mixed genetic backgrounds displayed a variety of coat colors and sizable individual differences in responses during behavioral testing. Backcrossed mice displayed uniform black coat colors. Cocaine conditioned place preference testing revealed significant influences of genotype (p = 0.02). Homozygote knockouts displayed poorer performance on aspects of the Morris water maze task. They displayed increased locomotion in some, though not all, environments. The combined data thus support roles for common level-of-expression CSMD1 variation in a drug reward phenotype relevant to addiction and in cognitive differences that might be relevant to schizophrenia. Mouse model results can complement data from human association findings of modest magnitude that identify likely polygenic influences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Drgonova
- Molecular Nuropsychiatry Research Branch, NIH-IRP, NIDA, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Donna Walther
- Molecular Nuropsychiatry Research Branch, NIH-IRP, NIDA, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sulabh Singhal
- Molecular Nuropsychiatry Research Branch, NIH-IRP, NIDA, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Kennedy Johnson
- Molecular Nuropsychiatry Research Branch, NIH-IRP, NIDA, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Brice Kessler
- Molecular Nuropsychiatry Research Branch, NIH-IRP, NIDA, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Juan Troncoso
- Division of Neuropathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore MD, United States of America
| | - George R. Uhl
- Office of Research & Development, New Mexico VA Healthcare System, Albuquerque, NM, United States of America
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24
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Bhatia S, Gordon CT, Foster RG, Melin L, Abadie V, Baujat G, Vazquez MP, Amiel J, Lyonnet S, van Heyningen V, Kleinjan DA. Functional assessment of disease-associated regulatory variants in vivo using a versatile dual colour transgenesis strategy in zebrafish. PLoS Genet 2015; 11:e1005193. [PMID: 26030420 PMCID: PMC4452300 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2014] [Accepted: 04/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Disruption of gene regulation by sequence variation in non-coding regions of the genome is now recognised as a significant cause of human disease and disease susceptibility. Sequence variants in cis-regulatory elements (CREs), the primary determinants of spatio-temporal gene regulation, can alter transcription factor binding sites. While technological advances have led to easy identification of disease-associated CRE variants, robust methods for discerning functional CRE variants from background variation are lacking. Here we describe an efficient dual-colour reporter transgenesis approach in zebrafish, simultaneously allowing detailed in vivo comparison of spatio-temporal differences in regulatory activity between putative CRE variants and assessment of altered transcription factor binding potential of the variant. We validate the method on known disease-associated elements regulating SHH, PAX6 and IRF6 and subsequently characterise novel, ultra-long-range SOX9 enhancers implicated in the craniofacial abnormality Pierre Robin Sequence. The method provides a highly cost-effective, fast and robust approach for simultaneously unravelling in a single assay whether, where and when in embryonic development a disease-associated CRE-variant is affecting its regulatory function. Cis-regulatory elements (CREs) play a vital role in gene regulation by providing spatial and temporal specificity to the expression of their target genes. Understanding how these regions of the genome work is of vital importance for human health as it has been demonstrated that genetic changes in these regions can result in incorrect gene expression, leading to a variety of human diseases. Functional characterization of putative CREs and the effects of mutations on their activity is currently a major bottleneck in many studies towards understanding the causes and mechanisms of disease and disease susceptibility. We describe a robust in-vivo approach using dual-colour reporter transgenesis in zebrafish for unambiguous assessment of the effects of disease-associated CRE mutations on CRE activity during the entire time-course of embryonic development. The highly efficient, cost-effective and modular design of the assay allows rapid analysis of several CRE-variants in parallel. We illustrate the robustness of our approach using examples of CRE-variants associated with a broad spectrum of genetic diseases including brain, limb, eye and jaw disorders. In a single assay the method can address where and when in development the CRE variant affects its activity, what potential target genes are misregulated by the change and what upstream trans-acting factors are likely to mediate this effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shipra Bhatia
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (SB); (VvH); (DAK)
| | - Christopher T. Gordon
- INSERM U781, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades and Université Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité, Institute Imagine, Paris, France
| | - Robert G. Foster
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Lucie Melin
- INSERM U781, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades and Université Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité, Institute Imagine, Paris, France
| | - Véronique Abadie
- Service de Pédiatrie Générale, Université Paris Descartes, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris, France
| | - Geneviève Baujat
- Departement de Génétique, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, AP-HP, Paris France
| | - Marie-Paule Vazquez
- Service de Chirurgie Maxillo-Faciale et Plastique, CRMR des Malformations de la Face et de la Cavité Buccale, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris, France
| | - Jeanne Amiel
- INSERM U781, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades and Université Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité, Institute Imagine, Paris, France
- Departement de Génétique, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, AP-HP, Paris France
| | - Stanislas Lyonnet
- INSERM U781, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades and Université Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité, Institute Imagine, Paris, France
- Departement de Génétique, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, AP-HP, Paris France
| | - Veronica van Heyningen
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (SB); (VvH); (DAK)
| | - Dirk A. Kleinjan
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (SB); (VvH); (DAK)
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