1
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Berger H, Gerstner S, Horstmann MF, Pauli S, Borchers A. Fbrsl1 is required for heart development in Xenopus laevis and de novo variants in FBRSL1 can cause human heart defects. Dis Model Mech 2024; 17:dmm050507. [PMID: 38501224 PMCID: PMC11128277 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
De novo truncating variants in fibrosin-like 1 (FBRSL1), a member of the AUTS2 gene family, cause a disability syndrome, including organ malformations such as heart defects. Here, we use Xenopus laevis to investigate whether Fbrsl1 plays a role in heart development. Xenopus laevis fbrsl1 is expressed in tissues relevant for heart development, and morpholino-mediated knockdown of Fbrsl1 results in severely hypoplastic hearts. Our data suggest that Fbrsl1 is required for the development of the first heart field, which contributes to the ventricle and the atria, but not for the second heart field, which gives rise to the outflow tract. The morphant heart phenotype could be rescued using a human N-terminal FBRSL1 isoform that contains an alternative exon, but lacks the AUTS2 domain. N-terminal isoforms carrying patient variants failed to rescue. Interestingly, a long human FBRSL1 isoform, harboring the AUTS2 domain, also did not rescue the morphant heart defects. Thus, our data suggest that different FBRSL1 isoforms may have distinct functions and that only the short N-terminal isoform, appears to be critical for heart development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Berger
- Department of Biology, Molecular Embryology, Philipps-University Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Sarah Gerstner
- Department of Biology, Molecular Embryology, Philipps-University Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Marc-Frederik Horstmann
- Department of Biology, Molecular Embryology, Philipps-University Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Silke Pauli
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Annette Borchers
- Department of Biology, Molecular Embryology, Philipps-University Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany
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2
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Ryan CW, Peirent ER, Regan SL, Guxholli A, Bielas SL. H2A monoubiquitination: insights from human genetics and animal models. Hum Genet 2024; 143:511-527. [PMID: 37086328 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-023-02557-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
Metazoan development arises from spatiotemporal control of gene expression, which depends on epigenetic regulators like the polycomb group proteins (PcG) that govern the chromatin landscape. PcG proteins facilitate the addition and removal of histone 2A monoubiquitination at lysine 119 (H2AK119ub1), which regulates gene expression, cell fate decisions, cell cycle progression, and DNA damage repair. Regulation of these processes by PcG proteins is necessary for proper development, as pathogenic variants in these genes are increasingly recognized to underly developmental disorders. Overlapping features of developmental syndromes associated with pathogenic variants in specific PcG genes suggest disruption of central developmental mechanisms; however, unique clinical features observed in each syndrome suggest additional non-redundant functions for each PcG gene. In this review, we describe the clinical manifestations of pathogenic PcG gene variants, review what is known about the molecular functions of these gene products during development, and interpret the clinical data to summarize the current evidence toward an understanding of the genetic and molecular mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles W Ryan
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5618, USA
- Medical Science Training Program, University of Michigan Medical School, 3703 Med Sci II, 1241 E. Catherine St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5618, USA
| | - Emily R Peirent
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5618, USA
| | - Samantha L Regan
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, 3703 Med Sci II, 1241 E. Catherine St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5618, USA
| | - Alba Guxholli
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, 3703 Med Sci II, 1241 E. Catherine St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5618, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48199-5618, USA
| | - Stephanie L Bielas
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5618, USA.
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5618, USA.
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, 3703 Med Sci II, 1241 E. Catherine St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5618, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48199-5618, USA.
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3
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Song Y, Seward CH, Chen CY, LeBlanc A, Leddy AM, Stubbs L. Isolated loss of the AUTS2 long isoform, brain-wide or targeted to Calbindin-lineage cells, generates a specific suite of brain, behavioral, and molecular pathologies. Genetics 2024; 226:iyad182. [PMID: 37816306 PMCID: PMC10763537 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyad182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Rearrangements within the AUTS2 region are associated with a rare syndromic disorder with intellectual disability, developmental delay, and behavioral abnormalities as core features. In addition, smaller regional variants are linked to wide range of neuropsychiatric disorders, underscoring the gene's essential role in brain development. Like many essential neurodevelopmental genes, AUTS2 is large and complex, generating distinct long (AUTS2-l) and short (AUTS2-s) protein isoforms from alternative promoters. Although evidence suggests unique isoform functions, the contributions of each isoform to specific AUTS2-linked phenotypes have not been clearly resolved. Furthermore, Auts2 is widely expressed across the developing brain, but cell populations most central to disease presentation have not been determined. In this study, we focused on the specific roles of AUTS2-l in brain development, behavior, and postnatal brain gene expression, showing that brain-wide AUTS2-l ablation leads to specific subsets of the recessive pathologies associated with mutations in 3' exons (exons 8-19) that disrupt both major isoforms. We identify downstream genes that could explain expressed phenotypes including hundreds of putative direct AUTS2-l target genes. Furthermore, in contrast to 3' Auts2 mutations which lead to dominant hypoactivity, AUTS2-l loss-of-function is associated with dominant hyperactivity and repetitive behaviors, phenotypes exhibited by many human patients. Finally, we show that AUTS2-l ablation in Calbindin 1-expressing cell lineages is sufficient to yield learning/memory deficits and hyperactivity with abnormal dentate gyrus granule cell maturation, but not other phenotypic effects. These data provide new clues to in vivo AUTS2-l functions and novel information relevant to genotype-phenotype correlations in the human AUTS2 region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunshu Song
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle WA 98122, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | | | - Chih-Ying Chen
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle WA 98122, USA
| | - Amber LeBlanc
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle WA 98122, USA
| | | | - Lisa Stubbs
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle WA 98122, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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4
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Tamagawa K, Sunobe T, Makino T, Kawata M. Transcriptomic signatures associated with underlying rapid changes in the early phase brain of bi-directional sex change in Trimma okinawae. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:231450. [PMID: 38077214 PMCID: PMC10698487 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Teleost fish exhibit remarkable sexual plasticity and divergent developmental systems, including sequential hermaphroditism. One of the more fascinating models of sexual plasticity is socially controlled sex change, which is often observed in coral reef fish. The Okinawa rubble goby, Trimma okinawae, is a bi-directional sex-changing fish. It can rapidly change sex in either direction based on social circumstances. Although behavioural and neuroendocrine sex change occurs immediately and is believed to trigger gonadal changes, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we conducted a de novo transcriptome analysis of the T. okinawae brain and identified genes that are differentially expressed between the sexes and genes that were immediately controlled by social stimulation implicating sex change. Several genes showed concordant expression shifts regardless of the sex change direction and were associated with histone modification in nerve cells. These genes are known to function in the neuroendocrine control of reproduction in nerve cells. Overall, we identified genes associated with the initiation of sex change, which provides insight into the regulation of sex change and sexual plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katsunori Tamagawa
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - Tomoki Sunobe
- Laboratory of Fish Behavioral Ecology, Tateyama Station, Field Science Center, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 670 Banda, Tateyama, Chiba 294-0308, Japan
| | - Takashi Makino
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - Masakado Kawata
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
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5
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Hu Z, Boschiero C, Li CJ, Connor EE, Baldwin RL, Liu GE. Unraveling the Genetic Basis of Feed Efficiency in Cattle through Integrated DNA Methylation and CattleGTEx Analysis. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:2121. [PMID: 38136943 PMCID: PMC10742843 DOI: 10.3390/genes14122121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Feed costs can amount to 75 percent of the total overhead cost of raising cows for milk production. Meanwhile, the livestock industry is considered a significant contributor to global climate change due to the production of greenhouse gas emissions, such as methane. Indeed, the genetic basis of feed efficiency (FE) is of great interest to the animal research community. Here, we explore the epigenetic basis of FE to provide base knowledge for the development of genomic tools to improve FE in cattle. The methylation level of 37,554 CpG sites was quantified using a mammalian methylation array (HorvathMammalMethylChip40) for 48 Holstein cows with extreme residual feed intake (RFI). We identified 421 CpG sites related to 287 genes that were associated with RFI, several of which were previously associated with feeding or digestion issues. Activator of transcription and developmental regulation (AUTS2) is associated with digestive disorders in humans, while glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase 2 (GPD2) encodes a protein on the inner mitochondrial membrane, which can regulate glucose utilization and fatty acid and triglyceride synthesis. The extensive expression and co-expression of these genes across diverse tissues indicate the complex regulation of FE in cattle. Our study provides insight into the epigenetic basis of RFI and gene targets to improve FE in dairy cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenbin Hu
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Clarissa Boschiero
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Cong-Jun Li
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Erin E. Connor
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Ransom L. Baldwin
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - George E. Liu
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
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Song Y, Seward CH, Chen CY, LeBlanc A, Leddy AM, Stubbs L. Isolated loss of the AUTS2 long isoform, brain-wide or targeted to Calbindin -lineage cells, generates a specific suite of brain, behavioral and molecular pathologies. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.04.539486. [PMID: 37205596 PMCID: PMC10187298 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.04.539486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Rearrangements within the AUTS2 region are associated with a rare syndromic disorder with intellectual disability, developmental delay and behavioral abnormalities as core features. In addition, smaller regional variants are linked to wide range of neuropsychiatric disorders, underscoring the gene's essential role in brain development. Like many essential neurodevelopmental genes, AUTS2 is large and complex, generating distinct long (AUTS2-l) and short (AUTS2-s) protein isoforms from alternative promoters. Although evidence suggests unique isoform functions, the contributions of each isoform to specific AUTS2- linked phenotypes have not been clearly resolved. Furthermore, Auts2 is widely expressed across the developing brain, but cell populations most central to disease presentation have not been determined. In this study, we focused on the specific roles of AUTS2-l in brain development, behavior, and postnatal brain gene expression, showing that brain-wide AUTS2-l ablation leads to specific subsets of the recessive pathologies associated with C-terminal mutations that disrupt both isoforms. We identify downstream genes that could explain expressed phenotypes including hundreds of putative direct AUTS2- l target genes. Furthermore, in contrast to C-terminal Auts2 mutations which lead to dominant hypoactivity, AUTS2-l loss-of-function is associated with dominant hyperactivity, a phenotype exhibited by many human patients. Finally, we show that AUTS2-l ablation in Calbindin 1 -expressing cell lineages is sufficient to yield learning/memory deficits and hyperactivity with abnormal dentate gyrus granule cell maturation, but not other phenotypic effects. These data provide new clues to in vivo AUTS2-l functions and novel information relevant to genotype-phenotype correlations in the human AUTS2 region.
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7
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Liu Y, Guo S, Sun Y, Zhang C, Gan J, Ning S, Wang J. CRS: a circadian rhythm score model for predicting prognosis and treatment response in cancer patients. J Transl Med 2023; 21:185. [PMID: 36895015 PMCID: PMC9996877 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04013-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Circadian rhythm regulates complex physiological activities in organisms. A strong link between circadian dysfunction and cancer has been identified. However, the factors of dysregulation and functional significance of circadian rhythm genes in cancer have received little attention. METHODS In 18 cancer types from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the differential expression and genetic variation of 48 circadian rhythm genes (CRGs) were examined. The circadian rhythm score (CRS) model was created using the ssGSEA method, and patients were divided into high and low groups based on the CRS. The Kaplan-Meier curve was created to assess the patient survival rate. Cibersort and estimate methods were used to identify the infiltration characteristics of immune cells between different CRS subgroups. Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset is used as verification queue and model stability evaluation queue. The CRS model's ability to predict chemotherapy and immunotherapy was assessed. Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to compare the differences of CRS among different patients. We use CRS to identify potential "clock-drugs" by the connective map method. RESULTS Transcriptomic and genomic analyses of 48 CRGs revealed that most core clock genes are up-regulated, while clock control genes are down-regulated. Furthermore, we show that copy number variation may affect CRGs aberrations. Based on CRS, patients can be classified into two groups with significant differences in survival and immune cell infiltration. Further studies showed that patients with low CRS were more sensitive to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Additionally, we identified 10 compounds (e.g. flubendazole, MLN-4924, ingenol) that are positively associated with CRS, and have the potential to modulate circadian rhythms. CONCLUSIONS CRS can be utilized as a clinical indicator to predict patient prognosis and responsiveness to therapy, and identify potential "clock-drugs".
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuwei Liu
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Shuang Guo
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Yue Sun
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Caiyu Zhang
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Jing Gan
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Shangwei Ning
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
| | - Junwei Wang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China.
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8
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Liu M, Chen Y, Sun M, Du Y, Bai Y, Lei G, Zhang C, Zhang M, Zhang Y, Xi C, Ma Y, Wang G. Auts2 regulated autism-like behavior, glucose metabolism and oxidative stress in mice. Exp Neurol 2023; 361:114298. [PMID: 36525998 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.114298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by abnormal social behavior and communication. The autism susceptibility candidate 2 (AUTS2) gene has been associated with multiple neurological diseases, including ASD. Glucose metabolism plays an important role in social behaviors associated with ASD, but the potential role of AUTS2 in glucose metabolism has not been studied. Here, we generated Auts2flox/flox; Emx1Cre+ conditional knockout mice with Auts2 deletion specifically in Exm1-positive neurons in the brain (Auts2-cKO mice) to evaluate the effects of Auts2 knockdown on social behaviors and metabolic pathways. Auts2-cKO mice exhibited ASD-like behaviors, including impaired social interactions and repetitive grooming behaviors. At the molecular level, we found that Auts2 knockdown reduced brain glucose uptake and inhibited the pentose phosphate pathway. Auts2 knockdown also resulted in signs of oxidative stress, and we documented increased levels of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde as well as decreased levels of antioxidant molecules, including glutathione and superoxide dismutases in Auts2-cKO mouse brains compared to controls. Finally, Auts2 knockdown significantly disrupted mitochondrial homeostasis and inhibited activity of the SIRT1-SIRT3 axis. Taken together, our findings indicate that loss of AUTS2 expression in Emx1-expressing cells induces multiple changes in metabolic pathways that have been linked to the pathology of ASD. Further characterization of the role of AUTS2 in Emx1-expressing cells in regulating the metabolism of brain neurons may identify opportunities to treat ASD and AUTS2-deficiency disorders with metabolism-targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Yimeng Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Miao Sun
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou 121000, China
| | - Yingjie Du
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Yafan Bai
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Guiyu Lei
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Congya Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Mingru Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Chunhua Xi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Yulong Ma
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
| | - Guyan Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, China.
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9
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Pang W, Wang M, Bi Q, Li H, Zhou Q, Ye X, Xiang W, Xiao L. Activity-Dependent Differential Regulation of Auts2 Isoforms In Vitro and In Vivo. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:2973-2985. [PMID: 36754912 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03241-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder of unknown cause, although one hypothesis suggests a potential imbalance between excitation and inhibition that leads to changes in neuronal activity and a disturbance in the brain network. However, the mechanisms through which neuronal activity contributes to the development of ASD remain largely unexplained. In this study, we described that neuronal activity at the transcriptional and translational levels regulated the expression of Auts2 isoforms. The prolonged stimulation of cultured cortical neurons significantly reduced the auts2 transcripts, accompanied by the decrease of FL-Auts2 protein, as well as one of the short isoforms (S-Auts2 var.1). Blocking neuronal activity increased the number of auts2 transcripts but not protein levels. Furthermore, blocking the NMDA receptors during stimulation could partially restore the FL-Auts2 and S-Auts2 var.1 at protein level, but not at mRNA level. Finally, Auts2 expression in the hippocampus was reduced in mice exposed to an enriched environment, a behavior paradigm designed to increase the brain activity through abundant sensory and social stimulations. Thus, our study revealed a novel regulatory effect of neuronal activity on the transcription and translation of ASD-risk gene auts2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbin Pang
- Hainan Women and Children's Medical Center, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
- School of Pediatrics, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Meijuan Wang
- School of Basic Medicine and Life Science, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Qingshang Bi
- School of Basic Medicine and Life Science, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Hongai Li
- Hainan Women and Children's Medical Center, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
- School of Pediatrics, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Qionglin Zhou
- School of Pediatrics, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Xiaoshan Ye
- School of Pediatrics, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Wei Xiang
- Hainan Women and Children's Medical Center, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China.
- School of Pediatrics, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China.
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Control of Tropical Diseases, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China.
| | - Le Xiao
- Hainan Women and Children's Medical Center, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China.
- School of Pediatrics, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China.
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10
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Geng Z, Wang Q, Miao W, Wolf T, Chavez J, Giddings E, Hobbs R, DeGraff DJ, Wang Y, Stafford J, Gao Z. AUTS2 Controls Neuronal Lineage Choice Through a Novel PRC1-Independent Complex and BMP Inhibition. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2023; 19:531-549. [PMID: 36258139 PMCID: PMC9905272 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-022-10459-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Despite a prominent risk factor for Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD), it remains unclear how Autism Susceptibility Candidate 2 (AUTS2) controls the neurodevelopmental program. Our studies investigated the role of AUTS2 in neuronal differentiation and discovered that AUTS2, together with WDR68 and SKI, forms a novel protein complex (AWS) specifically in neuronal progenitors and promotes neuronal differentiation through inhibiting BMP signaling. Genomic and biochemical analyses demonstrated that the AWS complex achieves this effect by recruiting the CUL4 E3 ubiquitin ligase complex to mediate poly-ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation of phosphorylated SMAD1/5/9. Furthermore, using primary cortical neurons, we observed aberrant BMP signaling and dysregulated expression of neuronal genes upon manipulating the AWS complex, indicating that the AWS-CUL4-BMP axis plays a role in regulating neuronal lineage specification in vivo. Thus, our findings uncover a sophisticated cellular signaling network mobilized by a prominent NDD risk factor, presenting multiple potential therapeutic targets for NDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuangzhuang Geng
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
| | - Qiang Wang
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
| | - Weili Miao
- Department of Chemistry, University of California at Riverside, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Trevor Wolf
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA
| | - Jessenia Chavez
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
| | - Emily Giddings
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA
| | - Ryan Hobbs
- Department of Dermatology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
| | - David J DeGraff
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
- Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
| | - Yinsheng Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of California at Riverside, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - James Stafford
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA
| | - Zhonghua Gao
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA.
- Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA.
- The Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Program, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA.
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11
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Liang S, Guo Z, Luo D, Tang J, Ji Z, Xie M, Hou S. Two variants of AUTS2 gene are associated with high lean meat percentage in Pekin ducks. Gene X 2023; 848:146864. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.146864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Bone Tissue and the Nervous System: What Do They Have in Common? Cells 2022; 12:cells12010051. [PMID: 36611845 PMCID: PMC9818711 DOI: 10.3390/cells12010051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Degenerative diseases affecting bone tissues and the brain represent important problems with high socio-economic impact. Certain bone diseases, such as osteoporosis, are considered risk factors for the progression of neurological disorders. Often, patients with neurodegenerative diseases have bone fractures or reduced mobility linked to osteoarthritis. The bone is a dynamic tissue involved not only in movement but also in the maintenance of mineral metabolism. Bone is also associated with the generation of both hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), and thus the generation of the immune system, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Bone marrow is a lymphoid organ and contains MSCs and HSCs, both of which are involved in brain health via the production of cytokines with endocrine functions. Hence, it seems clear that bone is involved in the regulation of the neuronal system and vice versa. This review summarizes the recent knowledge on the interactions between the nervous system and bone and highlights the importance of the interaction between nerve and bone cells. In addition, experimental models that study the interaction between nerve and skeletal cells are discussed, and innovative models are suggested to better evaluate the molecular interactions between these two cell types.
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13
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RINGs, DUBs and Abnormal Brain Growth-Histone H2A Ubiquitination in Brain Development and Disease. EPIGENOMES 2022; 6:epigenomes6040042. [PMID: 36547251 PMCID: PMC9778336 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes6040042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
During mammalian neurodevelopment, signaling pathways converge upon transcription factors (TFs) to establish appropriate gene expression programmes leading to the production of distinct neural and glial cell types. This process is partially regulated by the dynamic modulation of chromatin states by epigenetic systems, including the polycomb group (PcG) family of co-repressors. PcG proteins form multi-subunit assemblies that sub-divide into distinct, yet functionally related families. Polycomb repressive complexes 1 and 2 (PRC1 and 2) modify the chemical properties of chromatin by covalently modifying histone tails via H2A ubiquitination (H2AK119ub1) and H3 methylation, respectively. In contrast to the PRCs, the Polycomb repressive deubiquitinase (PR-DUB) complex removes H2AK119ub1 from chromatin through the action of the C-terminal hydrolase BAP1. Genetic screening has identified several PcG mutations that are causally associated with a range of congenital neuropathologies associated with both localised and/or systemic growth abnormalities. As PRC1 and PR-DUB hold opposing functions to control H2AK119ub1 levels across the genome, it is plausible that such neurodevelopmental disorders arise through a common mechanism. In this review, we will focus on advancements regarding the composition and opposing molecular functions of mammalian PRC1 and PR-DUB, and explore how their dysfunction contributes to the emergence of neurodevelopmental disorders.
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14
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Chen CY, Seward CH, Song Y, Inamdar M, Leddy AM, Zhang H, Yoo J, Kao WC, Pawlowski H, Stubbs LJ. Galnt17 loss-of-function leads to developmental delay and abnormal coordination, activity, and social interactions with cerebellar vermis pathology. Dev Biol 2022; 490:155-171. [PMID: 36002036 PMCID: PMC10671221 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2022.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
GALNT17 encodes a N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (GalNAc-T) protein specifically involved in mucin-type O-linked glycosylation of target proteins, a process important for cell adhesion, cell signaling, neurotransmitter activity, neurite outgrowth, and neurite sensing. GALNT17, also known as WBSCR17, is located at the edge of the Williams-Beuren Syndrome (WBS) critical region and adjacent to the AUTS2 locus, genomic regions associated with neurodevelopmental phenotypes that are thought to be co-regulated. Although previous data have implicated Galnt17 in neurodevelopment, the in vivo functions of this gene have not been investigated. In this study, we have analyzed behavioral, brain pathology, and molecular phenotypes exhibited by Galnt17 knockout (Galnt17-/-) mice. We show that Galnt17-/- mutants exhibit developmental neuropathology within the cerebellar vermis, along with abnormal activity, coordination, and social interaction deficits. Transcriptomic and protein analysis revealed reductions in both mucin type O-glycosylation and heparan sulfate synthesis in the developing mutant cerebellum along with disruption of pathways central to neuron differentiation, axon pathfinding, and synaptic signaling, consistent with the mutant neuropathology. These brain and behavioral phenotypes and molecular data confirm a specific role for Galnt17 in brain development and suggest new clues to factors that could contribute to phenotypes in certain WBS and AUTS2 syndrome patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Ying Chen
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, WA, 98122, USA; Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology and School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61802, USA.
| | - Christopher H Seward
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, WA, 98122, USA; Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology and School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61802, USA
| | - Yunshu Song
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, WA, 98122, USA; Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology and School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61802, USA
| | - Manasi Inamdar
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, WA, 98122, USA
| | - Analise M Leddy
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, WA, 98122, USA
| | - Huimin Zhang
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology and School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61802, USA
| | - Jennifer Yoo
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology and School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61802, USA
| | - Wei-Chun Kao
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology and School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61802, USA
| | - Hanna Pawlowski
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology and School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61802, USA
| | - Lisa J Stubbs
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, WA, 98122, USA; Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology and School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61802, USA.
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15
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Merdrignac C, Clément AE, Montfort J, Murat F, Bobe J. auts2 Features and Expression Are Highly Conserved during Evolution Despite Different Evolutionary Fates Following Whole Genome Duplication. Cells 2022; 11:2694. [PMID: 36078102 PMCID: PMC9454499 DOI: 10.3390/cells11172694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The AUTS2 gene plays major roles during brain development and is associated with various neuropathologies including autism. Data in non-mammalian species are scarce, and the aim of our study was to provide a comprehensive analysis of auts2 evolution in teleost fish, which are widely used for in vivo functional analysis and biomedical purposes. Comparative genomics in 78 species showed that auts2a and auts2b originate from the teleost-specific whole genome duplication (TGD). auts2a, which is highly similar to human AUTS2, was almost systematically retained following TGD. In contrast, auts2b, which encodes for a shorter protein similar to a short human AUTS2 isoform, was lost more frequently and independently during evolution. RNA-seq analysis in 10 species revealed a highly conserved profile with predominant expression of both genes in the embryo, brain, and gonads. Based on protein length, conserved domains, and expression profiles, we speculate that the long human isoform functions were retained by auts2a, while the short isoform functions were retained by auts2a and/or auts2b, depending on the lineage/species. auts2a showed a burst in expression during medaka brain formation, where it was expressed in areas of the brain associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Together, our data suggest a strong conservation of auts2 functions in vertebrates despite different evolutionary scenarios in teleosts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Julien Bobe
- INRAE, LPGP UR1037, Fish Physiology and Genomics, Campus de Beaulieu, F-35000 Rennes, France
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16
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Fair SR, Schwind W, Julian DL, Biel A, Guo G, Rutherford R, Ramadesikan S, Westfall J, Miller KE, Kararoudi MN, Hickey SE, Mosher TM, McBride KL, Neinast R, Fitch J, Lee DA, White P, Wilson RK, Bedrosian TA, Koboldt DC, Hester ME. Cerebral organoids containing an AUTS2 missense variant model microcephaly. Brain 2022; 146:387-404. [PMID: 35802027 PMCID: PMC9825673 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Variants in the AUTS2 gene are associated with a broad spectrum of neurological conditions characterized by intellectual disability, microcephaly, and congenital brain malformations. Here, we use a human cerebral organoid model to investigate the pathophysiology of a heterozygous de novo missense AUTS2 variant identified in a patient with multiple neurological impairments including primary microcephaly and profound intellectual disability. Proband cerebral organoids exhibit reduced growth, deficits in neural progenitor cell (NPC) proliferation and disrupted NPC polarity within ventricular zone-like regions compared to control cerebral organoids. We used CRISPR-Cas9-mediated gene editing to correct this variant and demonstrate rescue of impaired organoid growth and NPC proliferative deficits. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed a marked reduction of G1/S transition gene expression and alterations in WNT-β-catenin signalling within proband NPCs, uncovering a novel role for AUTS2 in NPCs during human cortical development. Collectively, these results underscore the value of cerebral organoids to investigate molecular mechanisms underlying AUTS2 syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Summer R Fair
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Wesley Schwind
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Dominic L Julian
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Alecia Biel
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Gongbo Guo
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Ryan Rutherford
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Swetha Ramadesikan
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jesse Westfall
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Katherine E Miller
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Meisam Naeimi Kararoudi
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Scott E Hickey
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA,Division of Genetic and Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Theresa Mihalic Mosher
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Kim L McBride
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA,Division of Genetic and Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA,Center for Cardiovascular Research, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Reid Neinast
- Center for Cardiovascular Research, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - James Fitch
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Dean A Lee
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Peter White
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Richard K Wilson
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Tracy A Bedrosian
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Daniel C Koboldt
- Correspondence may also be addressed to: Daniel C. Koboldt, MS E-mail:
| | - Mark E Hester
- Correspondence to: Mark E. Hester, PhD 575 Children’s Crossroad Columbus OH 43205-2716, USA E-mail:
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17
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Gill PS, Dweep H, Rose S, Wickramasinghe PJ, Vyas KK, McCullough S, Porter-Gill PA, Frye RE. Integrated microRNA–mRNA Expression Profiling Identifies Novel Targets and Networks Associated with Autism. J Pers Med 2022; 12:jpm12060920. [PMID: 35743705 PMCID: PMC9225282 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12060920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder, with mutations in hundreds of genes contributing to its risk. Herein, we studied lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) from children diagnosed with autistic disorder (n = 10) and controls (n = 7) using RNA and miRNA sequencing profiles. The sequencing analysis identified 1700 genes and 102 miRNAs differentially expressed between the ASD and control LCLs (p ≤ 0.05). The top upregulated genes were GABRA4, AUTS2, and IL27, and the top upregulated miRNAs were hsa-miR-6813-3p, hsa-miR-221-5p, and hsa-miR-21-5p. The RT-qPCR analysis confirmed the sequencing results for randomly selected candidates: AUTS2, FMR1, PTEN, hsa-miR-15a-5p, hsa-miR-92a-3p, and hsa-miR-125b-5p. The functional enrichment analysis showed pathways involved in ASD control proliferation of neuronal cells, cell death of immune cells, epilepsy or neurodevelopmental disorders, WNT and PTEN signaling, apoptosis, and cancer. The integration of mRNA and miRNA sequencing profiles by miRWalk2.0 identified correlated changes in miRNAs and their targets’ expression. The integration analysis found significantly dysregulated miRNA–gene pairs in ASD. Overall, these findings suggest that mRNA and miRNA expression profiles in ASD are greatly altered in LCLs and reveal numerous miRNA–gene interactions that regulate critical pathways involved in the proliferation of neuronal cells, cell death of immune cells, and neuronal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pritmohinder S. Gill
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA;
- Arkansas Children′s Research Institute, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA; (K.K.V.); (S.M.); (P.A.P.-G.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-501-364-2743
| | - Harsh Dweep
- The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (H.D.); (P.J.W.)
| | - Shannon Rose
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA;
- Arkansas Children′s Research Institute, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA; (K.K.V.); (S.M.); (P.A.P.-G.)
| | | | - Kanan K. Vyas
- Arkansas Children′s Research Institute, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA; (K.K.V.); (S.M.); (P.A.P.-G.)
| | - Sandra McCullough
- Arkansas Children′s Research Institute, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA; (K.K.V.); (S.M.); (P.A.P.-G.)
| | - Patricia A. Porter-Gill
- Arkansas Children′s Research Institute, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA; (K.K.V.); (S.M.); (P.A.P.-G.)
| | - Richard E. Frye
- Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children′s Hospital, Phoenix, AZ 85016, USA;
- Department of Child Health, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
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18
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Biel A, Castanza AS, Rutherford R, Fair SR, Chifamba L, Wester JC, Hester ME, Hevner RF. AUTS2 Syndrome: Molecular Mechanisms and Model Systems. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:858582. [PMID: 35431798 PMCID: PMC9008325 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.858582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
AUTS2 syndrome is a genetic disorder that causes intellectual disability, microcephaly, and other phenotypes. Syndrome severity is worse when mutations involve 3' regions (exons 9-19) of the AUTS2 gene. Human AUTS2 protein has two major isoforms, full-length (1259 aa) and C-terminal (711 aa), the latter produced from an alternative transcription start site in exon 9. Structurally, AUTS2 contains the putative "AUTS2 domain" (∼200 aa) conserved among AUTS2 and its ohnologs, fibrosin, and fibrosin-like-1. Also, AUTS2 contains extensive low-complexity sequences and intrinsically disordered regions, features typical of RNA-binding proteins. During development, AUTS2 is expressed by specific progenitor cell and neuron types, including pyramidal neurons and Purkinje cells. AUTS2 localizes mainly in cell nuclei, where it regulates transcription and RNA metabolism. Some studies have detected AUTS2 in neurites, where it may regulate cytoskeletal dynamics. Neurodevelopmental functions of AUTS2 have been studied in diverse model systems. In zebrafish, auts2a morphants displayed microcephaly. In mice, excision of different Auts2 exons (7, 8, or 15) caused distinct phenotypes, variously including neonatal breathing abnormalities, cerebellar hypoplasia, dentate gyrus hypoplasia, EEG abnormalities, and behavioral changes. In mouse embryonic stem cells, AUTS2 could promote or delay neuronal differentiation. Cerebral organoids, derived from an AUTS2 syndrome patient containing a pathogenic missense variant in exon 9, exhibited neocortical growth defects. Emerging technologies for analysis of human cerebral organoids will be increasingly useful for understanding mechanisms underlying AUTS2 syndrome. Questions for future research include whether AUTS2 binds RNA directly, how AUTS2 regulates neurogenesis, and how AUTS2 modulates neural circuit formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alecia Biel
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Anthony S. Castanza
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Ryan Rutherford
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Summer R. Fair
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Lincoln Chifamba
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Jason C. Wester
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Mark E. Hester
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Robert F. Hevner
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
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19
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Li J, Sun X, You Y, Li Q, Wei C, Zhao L, Sun M, Meng H, Zhang T, Yue W, Wang L, Zhang D. Auts2 deletion involves in DG hypoplasia and social recognition deficit: The developmental and neural circuit mechanisms. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabk1238. [PMID: 35235353 PMCID: PMC8890717 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abk1238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The involvement of genetic risk and the underlying developmental and neural circuit mechanisms in autism-related social deficit are largely unclear. Here, we report that deletion of AUTS2, a high-susceptibility gene of ASDs, caused postnatal dentate gyrus (DG) hypoplasia, which was closely relevant to social recognition deficit. Furthermore, a previously unknown mechanism for neural cell migration in postnatal DG development was identified, in which Auts2-related signaling played a vital role as the transcription repressor. Moreover, the supramammillary nucleus (SuM)-DG-CA3 neural circuit was found to be involved in social recognition and affected in Auts2-deleted mice due to DG hypoplasia. Correction of DG-CA3 synaptic transmission by using a pharmacological approach or chemo/optogenetic activation of the SuM-DG circuit restored the social recognition deficit in Auts2-deleted mice. Our findings demonstrated the vital role of Auts2 in postnatal DG development, and this role was critical for SuM-DG-CA3 neural circuit-mediated social recognition behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Li
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Sun
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | - Yang You
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | - Qiongwei Li
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | - Chengwen Wei
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | - Linnan Zhao
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | - Mengwen Sun
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Hu Meng
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | - Tian Zhang
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | - Weihua Yue
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Lifang Wang
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | - Dai Zhang
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
- Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation (IBRR), Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
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20
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AUTS2 Gene: Keys to Understanding the Pathogenesis of Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Cells 2021; 11:cells11010011. [PMID: 35011572 PMCID: PMC8750789 DOI: 10.3390/cells11010011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID), are a large group of neuropsychiatric illnesses that occur during early brain development, resulting in a broad spectrum of syndromes affecting cognition, sociability, and sensory and motor functions. Despite progress in the discovery of various genetic risk factors thanks to the development of novel genomics technologies, the precise pathological mechanisms underlying the onset of NDDs remain elusive owing to the profound genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity of these conditions. Autism susceptibility candidate 2 (AUTS2) has emerged as a crucial gene associated with a wide range of neuropsychological disorders, such as ASD, ID, schizophrenia, and epilepsy. AUTS2 has been shown to be involved in multiple neurodevelopmental processes; in cell nuclei, it acts as a key transcriptional regulator in neurodevelopment, whereas in the cytoplasm, it participates in cerebral corticogenesis, including neuronal migration and neuritogenesis, through the control of cytoskeletal rearrangements. Postnatally, AUTS2 regulates the number of excitatory synapses to maintain the balance between excitation and inhibition in neural circuits. In this review, we summarize the knowledge regarding AUTS2, including its molecular and cellular functions in neurodevelopment, its genetics, and its role in behaviors.
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21
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Kanlayaprasit S, Thongkorn S, Panjabud P, Jindatip D, Hu VW, Kikkawa T, Osumi N, Sarachana T. Autism-Related Transcription Factors Underlying the Sex-Specific Effects of Prenatal Bisphenol A Exposure on Transcriptome-Interactome Profiles in the Offspring Prefrontal Cortex. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:13201. [PMID: 34947998 PMCID: PMC8708761 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental risk factor for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). BPA exposure dysregulates ASD-related genes in the hippocampus and neurological functions of offspring. However, whether prenatal BPA exposure has an impact on genes in the prefrontal cortex, another brain region highly implicated in ASD, and through what mechanisms have not been investigated. Here, we demonstrated that prenatal BPA exposure disrupts the transcriptome-interactome profiles of the prefrontal cortex of neonatal rats. Interestingly, the list of BPA-responsive genes was significantly enriched with known ASD candidate genes, as well as genes that were dysregulated in the postmortem brain tissues of ASD cases from multiple independent studies. Moreover, several differentially expressed genes in the offspring's prefrontal cortex were the targets of ASD-related transcription factors, including AR, ESR1, and RORA. The hypergeometric distribution analysis revealed that BPA may regulate the expression of such genes through these transcription factors in a sex-dependent manner. The molecular docking analysis of BPA and ASD-related transcription factors revealed novel potential targets of BPA, including RORA, SOX5, TCF4, and YY1. Our findings indicated that prenatal BPA exposure disrupts ASD-related genes in the offspring's prefrontal cortex and may increase the risk of ASD through sex-dependent molecular mechanisms, which should be investigated further.
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Grants
- FRB65_hea(80)_175_37_05 Fundamental Fund, Chulalongkorn University
- AHS-CU 61004 Faculty of Allied Health Sciences Research Fund, Chulalongkorn University
- GRU 6300437001-1 Ratchadapisek Somphot Fund for Supporting Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University
- GRU_64_033_37_004 Ratchadapisek Somphot Fund for Supporting Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University
- The 100th Anniversary Chulalongkorn University Fund for Doctoral Scholarship, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University
- The Overseas Research Experience Scholarship for Graduate Students from Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University
- PHD/0029/2561 The Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Programme Scholarship, Thailand Research Fund and National Research Council of Thailand
- National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT)
- GCUGR1125623067D-67 The 90th Anniversary Chulalongkorn University Fund (Ratchadaphiseksomphot Endowment Fund), Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University
- GCUGR1125632108D-108 The 90th Anniversary Chulalongkorn University Fund (Ratchadaphiseksomphot Endowment Fund), Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University
- 2073011 Chulalongkorn University Laboratory Animal Center (CULAC) Grant
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Affiliation(s)
- Songphon Kanlayaprasit
- The Ph.D. Program in Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; (S.K.); (S.T.); (P.P.)
| | - Surangrat Thongkorn
- The Ph.D. Program in Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; (S.K.); (S.T.); (P.P.)
| | - Pawinee Panjabud
- The Ph.D. Program in Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; (S.K.); (S.T.); (P.P.)
| | - Depicha Jindatip
- Systems Neuroscience of Autism and PSychiatric Disorders (SYNAPS) Research Unit, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Valerie W. Hu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA;
| | - Takako Kikkawa
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, United Centers for Advanced Research and Translational Medicine (ART), Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8577, Miyagi, Japan; (T.K.); (N.O.)
| | - Noriko Osumi
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, United Centers for Advanced Research and Translational Medicine (ART), Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8577, Miyagi, Japan; (T.K.); (N.O.)
| | - Tewarit Sarachana
- Systems Neuroscience of Autism and PSychiatric Disorders (SYNAPS) Research Unit, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;
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22
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Pauli S, Berger H, Ufartes R, Borchers A. Comparing a Novel Malformation Syndrome Caused by Pathogenic Variants in FBRSL1 to AUTS2 Syndrome. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:779009. [PMID: 34805182 PMCID: PMC8602103 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.779009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Truncating variants in specific exons of Fibrosin-like protein 1 (FBRSL1) were recently reported to cause a novel malformation and intellectual disability syndrome. The clinical spectrum includes microcephaly, facial dysmorphism, cleft palate, skin creases, skeletal anomalies and contractures, postnatal growth retardation, global developmental delay as well as respiratory problems, hearing impairment and heart defects. The function of FBRSL1 is largely unknown, but pathogenic variants in the FBRSL1 paralog Autism Susceptibility Candidate 2 (AUTS2) are causative for an intellectual disability syndrome with microcephaly (AUTS2 syndrome). Some patients with AUTS2 syndrome also show additional symptoms like heart defects and contractures overlapping with the phenotype presented by patients with FBRSL1 mutations. For AUTS2, a dual function, depending on different isoforms, was described and suggested for FBRSL1. Both, nuclear FBRSL1 and AUTS2 are components of the Polycomb subcomplexes PRC1.3 and PRC1.5. These complexes have essential roles in developmental processes, cellular differentiation and proliferation by regulating gene expression via histone modification. In addition, cytoplasmic AUTS2 controls neural development, neuronal migration and neurite extension by regulating the cytoskeleton. Here, we review recent data on FBRSL1 in respect to previously published data on AUTS2 to gain further insights into its molecular function, its role in development as well as its impact on human genetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silke Pauli
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Hanna Berger
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Embryology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Roser Ufartes
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Annette Borchers
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Embryology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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23
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Liu S, Aldinger KA, Cheng CV, Kiyama T, Dave M, McNamara HK, Zhao W, Stafford JM, Descostes N, Lee P, Caraffi SG, Ivanovski I, Errichiello E, Zweier C, Zuffardi O, Schneider M, Papavasiliou AS, Perry MS, Humberson J, Cho MT, Weber A, Swale A, Badea TC, Mao CA, Garavelli L, Dobyns WB, Reinberg D. NRF1 association with AUTS2-Polycomb mediates specific gene activation in the brain. Mol Cell 2021; 81:4663-4676.e8. [PMID: 34637754 PMCID: PMC8604784 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The heterogeneous family of complexes comprising Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) is instrumental for establishing facultative heterochromatin that is repressive to transcription. However, two PRC1 species, ncPRC1.3 and ncPRC1.5, are known to comprise novel components, AUTS2, P300, and CK2, that convert this repressive function to that of transcription activation. Here, we report that individuals harboring mutations in the HX repeat domain of AUTS2 exhibit defects in AUTS2 and P300 interaction as well as a developmental disorder reflective of Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome, which is mainly associated with a heterozygous pathogenic variant in CREBBP/EP300. Moreover, the absence of AUTS2 or mutation in its HX repeat domain gives rise to misregulation of a subset of developmental genes and curtails motor neuron differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells. The transcription factor nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) has a novel and integral role in this neurodevelopmental process, being required for ncPRC1.3 recruitment to chromatin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanxiong Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Langone School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Kimberly A Aldinger
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Chi Vicky Cheng
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Takae Kiyama
- Ruiz Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USA; National Eye Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Mitali Dave
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Hanna K McNamara
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Wukui Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Langone School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - James M Stafford
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Langone School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Nicolas Descostes
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Langone School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Pedro Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Langone School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Stefano G Caraffi
- Struttura Semplice Dipartimentale di Genetica Medica, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Ivan Ivanovski
- Struttura Semplice Dipartimentale di Genetica Medica, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy; Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Edoardo Errichiello
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy; IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Christiane Zweier
- Institute of Human Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 10, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; Department of Human Genetics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Orsetta Zuffardi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Michael Schneider
- Carle Physicians Group, Section of Neurology, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Urbana, IL, USA
| | | | - M Scott Perry
- Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Jane and John Justin Neuroscience Center, Cook Children's Medical Center, Fort Worth, TX 76104, USA
| | - Jennifer Humberson
- Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia Children's Hospital, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | | | | | - Andrew Swale
- Liverpool Women's Hospital, Liverpool, UK; Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, Manchester, UK
| | - Tudor C Badea
- National Eye Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Research and Development Institute, Transilvania University of Brasov, School of Medicine, Brasov, Romania
| | - Chai-An Mao
- Ruiz Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USA; National Eye Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Livia Garavelli
- Struttura Semplice Dipartimentale di Genetica Medica, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - William B Dobyns
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Pediatrics (Genetic Medicine), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Danny Reinberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Langone School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA.
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24
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High Behavioral Variability Mediated by Altered Neuronal Excitability in auts2 Mutant Zebrafish. eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0493-20.2021. [PMID: 34544758 PMCID: PMC8503961 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0493-20.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are characterized by abnormal behavioral traits arising from neural circuit dysfunction. While a number of genes have been implicated in ASDs, in most cases, a clear understanding of how mutations in these genes lead to circuit dysfunction and behavioral abnormality is absent. The autism susceptibility candidate 2 (AUTS2) gene is one such gene, associated with ASDs, intellectual disability and a range of other neurodevelopmental conditions. However, the role of AUTS2 in neural development and circuit function is not at all known. Here, we undertook functional analysis of Auts2a, the main homolog of AUTS2 in zebrafish, in the context of the escape behavior. Escape behavior in wild-type zebrafish is critical for survival and is therefore, reliable, rapid, and has well-defined kinematic properties. auts2a mutant zebrafish are viable, have normal gross morphology and can generate escape behavior with normal kinematics. However, the behavior is unreliable and delayed, with high trial-to-trial variability in the latency. Using calcium imaging we probed the activity of Mauthner neurons during otic vesicle (OV) stimulation and observed lower probability of activation and reduced calcium transients in the mutants. With direct activation of Mauthner by antidromic stimulation, the threshold for activation in mutants was higher than that in wild-type, even when inhibition was blocked. Taken together, these results point to reduced excitability of Mauthner neurons in auts2a mutant larvae leading to unreliable escape responses. Our results show a novel role for Auts2a in regulating neural excitability and reliability of behavior.
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25
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Sanchez-Jimeno C, Blanco-Kelly F, López-Grondona F, Losada-Del Pozo R, Moreno B, Rodrigo-Moreno M, Martinez-Cayuelas E, Riveiro-Alvarez R, Fenollar-Cortés M, Ayuso C, Rodríguez de Alba M, Lorda-Sanchez I, Almoguera B. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity and Autism Spectrum Disorders as the Core Symptoms of AUTS2 Syndrome: Description of Five New Patients and Update of the Frequency of Manifestations and Genotype-Phenotype Correlation. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12091360. [PMID: 34573342 PMCID: PMC8471078 DOI: 10.3390/genes12091360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Haploinsufficiency of AUTS2 has been associated with a syndromic form of neurodevelopmental delay characterized by intellectual disability, autistic features, and microcephaly, also known as AUTS2 syndrome. While the phenotype associated with large deletions and duplications of AUTS2 is well established, clinical features of patients harboring AUTS2 sequence variants have not been extensively described. In this study, we describe the phenotype of five new patients with AUTS2 pathogenic variants, three of them harboring loss-of-function sequence variants. The phenotype of the patients was characterized by attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autistic features and mild global developmental delay (GDD) or intellectual disability (ID), all in 4/5 patients (80%), a frequency higher than previously reported for ADHD and autistic features. Microcephaly and short stature were found in 60% of the patients; and feeding difficulties, generalized hypotonia, and ptosis, were each found in 40%. We also provide the aggregated frequency of the 32 items included in the AUTS2 syndrome severity score (ASSS) in patients currently reported in the literature. The main characteristics of the syndrome are GDD/ID in 98% of patients, microcephaly in 65%, feeding difficulties in 62%, ADHD or hyperactivity in 54%, and autistic traits in 52%. Finally, using the location of 31 variants from the literature together with variants from the five patients, we found significantly higher ASSS values in patients with pathogenic variants affecting the 3′ end of the gene, confirming the genotype-phenotype correlation initially described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Sanchez-Jimeno
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, IIS–Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (C.S.-J.); (F.B.-K.); (F.L.-G.); (R.R.-A.); (C.A.); (M.R.d.A.); (I.L.-S.)
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), ISCIII, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Fiona Blanco-Kelly
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, IIS–Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (C.S.-J.); (F.B.-K.); (F.L.-G.); (R.R.-A.); (C.A.); (M.R.d.A.); (I.L.-S.)
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), ISCIII, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Fermina López-Grondona
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, IIS–Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (C.S.-J.); (F.B.-K.); (F.L.-G.); (R.R.-A.); (C.A.); (M.R.d.A.); (I.L.-S.)
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), ISCIII, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Rebeca Losada-Del Pozo
- Department of Pediatrics, IIS–Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (R.L.-D.P.); (B.M.); (M.R.-M.); (E.M.-C.)
| | - Beatriz Moreno
- Department of Pediatrics, IIS–Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (R.L.-D.P.); (B.M.); (M.R.-M.); (E.M.-C.)
| | - María Rodrigo-Moreno
- Department of Pediatrics, IIS–Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (R.L.-D.P.); (B.M.); (M.R.-M.); (E.M.-C.)
| | - Elena Martinez-Cayuelas
- Department of Pediatrics, IIS–Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (R.L.-D.P.); (B.M.); (M.R.-M.); (E.M.-C.)
| | - Rosa Riveiro-Alvarez
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, IIS–Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (C.S.-J.); (F.B.-K.); (F.L.-G.); (R.R.-A.); (C.A.); (M.R.d.A.); (I.L.-S.)
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), ISCIII, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - María Fenollar-Cortés
- Clinical Genetics Unit, Department of Clinical Analysis, Clínico San Carlos University Hospital, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
- IIS-Clínico San Carlos University Hospital (IsISSC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Ayuso
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, IIS–Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (C.S.-J.); (F.B.-K.); (F.L.-G.); (R.R.-A.); (C.A.); (M.R.d.A.); (I.L.-S.)
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), ISCIII, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Rodríguez de Alba
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, IIS–Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (C.S.-J.); (F.B.-K.); (F.L.-G.); (R.R.-A.); (C.A.); (M.R.d.A.); (I.L.-S.)
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), ISCIII, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Lorda-Sanchez
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, IIS–Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (C.S.-J.); (F.B.-K.); (F.L.-G.); (R.R.-A.); (C.A.); (M.R.d.A.); (I.L.-S.)
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), ISCIII, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Berta Almoguera
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, IIS–Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (C.S.-J.); (F.B.-K.); (F.L.-G.); (R.R.-A.); (C.A.); (M.R.d.A.); (I.L.-S.)
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), ISCIII, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence:
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26
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Tamburri S, Conway E, Pasini D. Polycomb-dependent histone H2A ubiquitination links developmental disorders with cancer. Trends Genet 2021; 38:333-352. [PMID: 34426021 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2021.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Cell identity is tightly controlled by specific transcriptional programs which require post-translational modifications of histones. These histone modifications allow the establishment and maintenance of active and repressed chromatin domains. Histone H2A lysine 119 ubiquitination (H2AK119ub1) has an essential role in building repressive chromatin domains during development. It is regulated by the counteracting activities of the Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) and the Polycomb repressive-deubiquitinase (PR-DUB) complexes, two multi-subunit ensembles that write and erase this modification, respectively. We have catalogued the recurrent genetic alterations in subunits of the PRC1 and PR-DUB complexes in both neurodevelopmental disorders and cancer. These genetic lesions are often shared across disorders, and we highlight common mechanisms of H2AK119ub1 dysregulation and how they affect development in multiple disease contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Tamburri
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Department of Experimental Oncology, Via Adamello 16, 20139 Milan, Italy; University of Milan, Department of Health Sciences, Via Antonio di Rudinì 8, 20142 Milan, Italy.
| | - Eric Conway
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Department of Experimental Oncology, Via Adamello 16, 20139 Milan, Italy
| | - Diego Pasini
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Department of Experimental Oncology, Via Adamello 16, 20139 Milan, Italy; University of Milan, Department of Health Sciences, Via Antonio di Rudinì 8, 20142 Milan, Italy.
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27
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Bakoev S, Traspov A, Getmantseva L, Belous A, Karpushkina T, Kostyunina O, Usatov A, Tatarinova TV. Detection of genomic regions associated malformations in newborn piglets: a machine-learning approach. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11580. [PMID: 34327051 PMCID: PMC8310618 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A significant proportion of perinatal losses in pigs occurs due to congenital malformations. The purpose of this study is the identification of genomic loci associated with fetal malformations in piglets. Methods The malformations were divided into two groups: associated with limb defects (piglet splay leg) and associated with other congenital anomalies found in newborn piglets. 148 Landrace and 170 Large White piglets were selected for the study. A genome-wide association study based on the gradient boosting machine algorithm was performed to identify markers associated with congenital anomalies and piglet splay leg. Results Forty-nine SNPs (23 SNPs in Landrace pigs and 26 SNPs in Large White) were associated with congenital anomalies, 22 of which were localized in genes. A total of 156 SNPs (28 SNPs in Landrace; 128 in Large White) were identified for piglet splay leg, of which 79 SNPs were localized in genes. We have demonstrated that the gradient boosting machine algorithm can identify SNPs and their combinations associated with significant selection indicators of studied malformations and productive characteristics. Data availability Genotyping and phenotyping data are available at http://www.compubioverne.group/data-and-software/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siroj Bakoev
- Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry named after Academy Member LK. Ernst, Dubrovitsy, Russia.,Centre for Strategic Planning and Management of Biomedical Health Risks, Moscow, Russia
| | - Aleksei Traspov
- Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry named after Academy Member LK. Ernst, Dubrovitsy, Russia.,Centre for Strategic Planning and Management of Biomedical Health Risks, Moscow, Russia
| | - Lyubov Getmantseva
- Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry named after Academy Member LK. Ernst, Dubrovitsy, Russia
| | - Anna Belous
- Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry named after Academy Member LK. Ernst, Dubrovitsy, Russia
| | - Tatiana Karpushkina
- Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry named after Academy Member LK. Ernst, Dubrovitsy, Russia
| | - Olga Kostyunina
- Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry named after Academy Member LK. Ernst, Dubrovitsy, Russia
| | | | - Tatiana V Tatarinova
- Department of Biology, University of La Verne, La Verne, CA, United States of America.,Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,Vavilov Institute for General Genetics, Moscow, Russia.,School of Fundamental Biology and Biotechnology, Siberian Federal University, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
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28
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Erotomania and phenotypic continuum in a family frameshift variant of AUTS2: a case report and review. BMC Psychiatry 2021; 21:360. [PMID: 34273950 PMCID: PMC8285776 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-021-03342-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pathogenic variants of the AUTS2 (Autism Susceptibility candidate 2) gene predispose to intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, facial dysmorphism and short stature. This phenotype is therefore associated with neurocognitive disturbances and social cognition, indicating potential functional maladjustment in the affected subjects, and a potentially significant impact on quality of life. Although many isolated cases have been reported in the literature, to date no families have been described. This case reports on a family (three generations) with a frameshift variant in the AUTS2 gene. CASE PRESENTATION The proband is 13 years old with short stature, dysmorphic features, moderate intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder. His mother is 49 years old and also has short stature and similar dysmorphic features. She does not have autism disorder but presents an erotomaniac delusion. Her cognitive performance is heterogeneous. The two aunts are also of short stature. The 50-year-old aunt has isolated social cognition disorders. The 45-year-old aunt has severe cognitive impairment and autism spectrum disorder. The molecular analysis of the three sisters and the proband shows the same AUTS2 heterozygous duplication leading to a frame shift expected to produce a premature stop codon, p.(Met593Tyrfs*85). Previously reported isolated cases revealed phenotypic and cognitive impairment variability. In this case report, these variabilities are present within the same family, presenting the same variant. CONCLUSIONS The possibility of a phenotypic spectrum within the same family highlights the need for joint psychiatry and genetics research.
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29
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Palmer EE, Whitton C, Hashem MO, Clark RD, Ramanathan S, Starr LJ, Velasco D, De Dios JK, Singh E, Cormier-Daire V, Chopra M, Rodan LH, Nellaker C, Lakhani S, Mallack EJ, Panzer K, Sidhu A, Wentzensen IM, Lacombe D, Michaud V, Alkuraya FS. CHEDDA syndrome is an underrecognized neurodevelopmental disorder with a highly restricted ATN1 mutation spectrum. Clin Genet 2021; 100:468-477. [PMID: 34212383 DOI: 10.1111/cge.14022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We describe the clinical features of nine unrelated individuals with rare de novo missense or in-frame deletions/duplications within the "HX motif" of exon 7 of ATN1. We previously proposed that individuals with such variants should be considered as being affected by the syndromic condition of congenital hypotonia, epilepsy, developmental delay, and digital anomalies (CHEDDA), distinct from dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) secondary to expansion variants in exon 5 of ATN1. We confirm that the universal phenotypic features of CHEDDA are distinctive facial features and global developmental delay. Infantile hypotonia and minor hand and feet differences are common and can present as arthrogryposis. Common comorbidities include severe feeding difficulties, often requiring gastrostomy support, as well as visual and hearing impairments. Epilepsy and congenital malformations of the brain, heart, and genitourinary systems are frequent but not universal. Our study confirms the clinical entity of CHEDDA secondary to a mutational signature restricted to exon 7 of ATN1. We propose a clinical schedule for assessment upon diagnosis, surveillance, and early intervention including the potential of neuroimaging for prognostication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth E Palmer
- Centre for Clinical Genetics, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Women's and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Chloe Whitton
- Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mais O Hashem
- Department of Translational Genomics, Center for Genomic Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Robin D Clark
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Subhadra Ramanathan
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Lois J Starr
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Danita Velasco
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - John Karl De Dios
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Dayton Children's Hospital, Dayton, Ohio, USA
| | - Emily Singh
- Division of Genetics, Medical College of Wisconsin with Children's Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Valerie Cormier-Daire
- Service de Génétique Clinique, INSERM UMR 1163, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Institut IMAGINE, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Maya Chopra
- Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lance H Rodan
- Department of Neurology, Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Christoffer Nellaker
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK.,Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Shenela Lakhani
- Centre for Neurogenetics, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eric J Mallack
- Centre for Neurogenetics, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Karin Panzer
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Alpa Sidhu
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | | | - Didier Lacombe
- Service de Génétique Médicale, Centre de Référence Anomalies du Développement et Syndromes Malformatifs, CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.,Maladies Rares, Génétique et Métabolisme (MRGM), U 1211 INSERM/Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Vincent Michaud
- Service de Génétique Médicale, Centre de Référence Anomalies du Développement et Syndromes Malformatifs, CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.,Maladies Rares, Génétique et Métabolisme (MRGM), U 1211 INSERM/Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Fowzan S Alkuraya
- Department of Translational Genomics, Center for Genomic Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Das M, Girirajan S. Genetic subtypes, allelic effects, and convergent neurodevelopmental mechanisms. Genome Med 2021; 13:99. [PMID: 34099044 PMCID: PMC8182898 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-021-00913-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
High-throughput sequencing of large affected cohorts have helped uncover a plethora of risk genes for complex neurodevelopmental disorders. However, untangling complex disease etiology also involves understanding the functional consequences of these mutations in order to connect risk variants to resulting phenotypes. Here, we highlight the efforts of Mannucci and colleagues to define a novel molecular subtype of neurodevelopmental disorder associated with mutations in DHX30 and characterize location-specific mutational effects in cell culture and zebrafish models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maitreya Das
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, 205A Life Sciences Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Santhosh Girirajan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, 205A Life Sciences Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
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31
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Castanza AS, Ramirez S, Tripathi PP, Daza RAM, Kalume FK, Ramirez JM, Hevner RF. AUTS2 Regulates RNA Metabolism and Dentate Gyrus Development in Mice. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:4808-4824. [PMID: 34013328 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Human AUTS2 mutations are linked to a syndrome of intellectual disability, autistic features, epilepsy, and other neurological and somatic disorders. Although it is known that this unique gene is highly expressed in developing cerebral cortex, the molecular and developmental functions of AUTS2 protein remain unclear. Using proteomics methods to identify AUTS2 binding partners in neonatal mouse cerebral cortex, we found that AUTS2 associates with multiple proteins that regulate RNA transcription, splicing, localization, and stability. Furthermore, AUTS2-containing protein complexes isolated from cortical tissue bound specific RNA transcripts in RNA immunoprecipitation and sequencing assays. Deletion of all major functional isoforms of AUTS2 (full-length and C-terminal) by conditional excision of exon 15 caused breathing abnormalities and neonatal lethality when Auts2 was inactivated throughout the developing brain. Mice with limited inactivation of Auts2 in cerebral cortex survived but displayed abnormalities of cerebral cortex structure and function, including dentate gyrus hypoplasia with agenesis of hilar mossy neurons, and abnormal spiking activity on EEG. Also, RNA transcripts that normally associate with AUTS2 were dysregulated in mutant mice. Together, these findings indicate that AUTS2 regulates RNA metabolism and is essential for development of cerebral cortex, as well as subcortical breathing centers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony S Castanza
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.,Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Sanja Ramirez
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Prem P Tripathi
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Ray A M Daza
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Franck K Kalume
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.,Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98014, USA
| | - Jan-Marino Ramirez
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.,Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98014, USA
| | - Robert F Hevner
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.,Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.,Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98014, USA
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32
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Latypova X, Vincent M, Mollé A, Adebambo OA, Fourgeux C, Khan TN, Caro A, Rosello M, Orellana C, Niyazov D, Lederer D, Deprez M, Capri Y, Kannu P, Tabet AC, Levy J, Aten E, den Hollander N, Splitt M, Walia J, Immken LL, Stankiewicz P, McWalter K, Suchy S, Louie RJ, Bell S, Stevenson RE, Rousseau J, Willem C, Retiere C, Yang XJ, Campeau PM, Martinez F, Rosenfeld JA, Le Caignec C, Küry S, Mercier S, Moradkhani K, Conrad S, Besnard T, Cogné B, Katsanis N, Bézieau S, Poschmann J, Davis EE, Isidor B. Haploinsufficiency of the Sin3/HDAC corepressor complex member SIN3B causes a syndromic intellectual disability/autism spectrum disorder. Am J Hum Genet 2021; 108:929-941. [PMID: 33811806 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2021.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteins involved in transcriptional regulation harbor a demonstrated enrichment of mutations in neurodevelopmental disorders. The Sin3 (Swi-independent 3)/histone deacetylase (HDAC) complex plays a central role in histone deacetylation and transcriptional repression. Among the two vertebrate paralogs encoding the Sin3 complex, SIN3A variants cause syndromic intellectual disability, but the clinical consequences of SIN3B haploinsufficiency in humans are uncharacterized. Here, we describe a syndrome hallmarked by intellectual disability, developmental delay, and dysmorphic facial features with variably penetrant autism spectrum disorder, congenital malformations, corpus callosum defects, and impaired growth caused by disruptive SIN3B variants. Using chromosomal microarray or exome sequencing, and through international data sharing efforts, we identified nine individuals with heterozygous SIN3B deletion or single-nucleotide variants. Five individuals harbor heterozygous deletions encompassing SIN3B that reside within a ∼230 kb minimal region of overlap on 19p13.11, two individuals have a rare nonsynonymous substitution, and two individuals have a single-nucleotide deletion that results in a frameshift and predicted premature termination codon. To test the relevance of SIN3B impairment to measurable aspects of the human phenotype, we disrupted the orthologous zebrafish locus by genome editing and transient suppression. The mutant and morphant larvae display altered craniofacial patterning, commissural axon defects, and reduced body length supportive of an essential role for Sin3 function in growth and patterning of anterior structures. To investigate further the molecular consequences of SIN3B variants, we quantified genome-wide enhancer and promoter activity states by using H3K27ac ChIP-seq. We show that, similar to SIN3A mutations, SIN3B disruption causes hyperacetylation of a subset of enhancers and promoters in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Together, these data demonstrate that SIN3B haploinsufficiency leads to a hitherto unknown intellectual disability/autism syndrome, uncover a crucial role of SIN3B in the central nervous system, and define the epigenetic landscape associated with Sin3 complex impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xenia Latypova
- Service de Génétique Médicale, CHU Nantes, 9 quai Moncousu, 44093 Nantes Cedex 1, France; Center for Human Disease Modeling, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27701, USA; L'Institut du Thorax, INSERM, CNRS, Université de Nantes, 44007 Nantes, France
| | - Marie Vincent
- Service de Génétique Médicale, CHU Nantes, 9 quai Moncousu, 44093 Nantes Cedex 1, France; L'Institut du Thorax, INSERM, CNRS, Université de Nantes, 44007 Nantes, France
| | - Alice Mollé
- Université de Nantes, CHU Nantes, Inserm, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, 44000 Nantes, France
| | | | - Cynthia Fourgeux
- Université de Nantes, CHU Nantes, Inserm, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Tahir N Khan
- Center for Human Disease Modeling, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27701, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, 46000 Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Alfonso Caro
- Unidad de Genética, Grupo de Investigación Traslacional en Genética, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - Monica Rosello
- Unidad de Genética, Grupo de Investigación Traslacional en Genética, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - Carmen Orellana
- Unidad de Genética, Grupo de Investigación Traslacional en Genética, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - Dmitriy Niyazov
- Department of Pediatrics, Ochsner Clinic, New Orleans, LA 70128, USA
| | - Damien Lederer
- Centre de Génétique Humaine, IPG, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Marie Deprez
- Service de Neuropédiatrie, Clinique Saint Elizabeth, 5000 Namur, Belgium
| | - Yline Capri
- Service de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital Robert Debré, 75019 Paris, France
| | - Peter Kannu
- Division of Clinical and Metabolic Genetics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada
| | | | - Jonathan Levy
- Service de Cytogénétique, Hôpital Robert Debré, 75019 Paris, France
| | - Emmelien Aten
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Nicolette den Hollander
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Miranda Splitt
- Northern Genetics Service, Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Jagdeep Walia
- Kingston General Hospital Research Institute, 76 Stuart Street, Kingston, ON K7L 2V7, Canada
| | - Ladonna L Immken
- Clinical Genetics, Dell Children's Medical Group, Austin, TX 78731, USA
| | - Pawel Stankiewicz
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Sharon Suchy
- GeneDx, 207 Perry Parkway, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, USA
| | - Raymond J Louie
- Greenwood Genetic Center, 106 Gregor Mendel Cir, Greenwood, SC 29646, USA
| | - Shannon Bell
- Greenwood Genetic Center, 106 Gregor Mendel Cir, Greenwood, SC 29646, USA
| | - Roger E Stevenson
- Greenwood Genetic Center, 106 Gregor Mendel Cir, Greenwood, SC 29646, USA
| | - Justine Rousseau
- Sainte-Justine Hospital, 3175, Cote-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Christelle Retiere
- Etablissement Français du Sang, 44000 Nantes, France; CRCINA, INSERM, CNRS, Université d'Angers, Université de Nantes, 44000 Nantes, France; LabEx IGO, Nantes 44000, France
| | - Xiang-Jiao Yang
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Research Center and Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Philippe M Campeau
- Sainte-Justine Hospital, 3175, Cote-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Francisco Martinez
- Unidad de Genética, Grupo de Investigación Traslacional en Genética, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - Jill A Rosenfeld
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Cédric Le Caignec
- Service de Génétique Médicale, CHU Nantes, 9 quai Moncousu, 44093 Nantes Cedex 1, France; L'Institut du Thorax, INSERM, CNRS, Université de Nantes, 44007 Nantes, France
| | - Sébastien Küry
- Service de Génétique Médicale, CHU Nantes, 9 quai Moncousu, 44093 Nantes Cedex 1, France; L'Institut du Thorax, INSERM, CNRS, Université de Nantes, 44007 Nantes, France
| | - Sandra Mercier
- Service de Génétique Médicale, CHU Nantes, 9 quai Moncousu, 44093 Nantes Cedex 1, France; L'Institut du Thorax, INSERM, CNRS, Université de Nantes, 44007 Nantes, France
| | - Kamran Moradkhani
- Service de Génétique Médicale, CHU Nantes, 9 quai Moncousu, 44093 Nantes Cedex 1, France
| | - Solène Conrad
- Service de Génétique Médicale, CHU Nantes, 9 quai Moncousu, 44093 Nantes Cedex 1, France
| | - Thomas Besnard
- Service de Génétique Médicale, CHU Nantes, 9 quai Moncousu, 44093 Nantes Cedex 1, France; L'Institut du Thorax, INSERM, CNRS, Université de Nantes, 44007 Nantes, France
| | - Benjamin Cogné
- Service de Génétique Médicale, CHU Nantes, 9 quai Moncousu, 44093 Nantes Cedex 1, France; L'Institut du Thorax, INSERM, CNRS, Université de Nantes, 44007 Nantes, France
| | - Nicholas Katsanis
- Center for Human Disease Modeling, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27701, USA; Advanced Center for Translational and Genetic Medicine, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Stéphane Bézieau
- Service de Génétique Médicale, CHU Nantes, 9 quai Moncousu, 44093 Nantes Cedex 1, France; L'Institut du Thorax, INSERM, CNRS, Université de Nantes, 44007 Nantes, France
| | - Jeremie Poschmann
- Université de Nantes, CHU Nantes, Inserm, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, 44000 Nantes, France.
| | - Erica E Davis
- Advanced Center for Translational and Genetic Medicine, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
| | - Bertrand Isidor
- Service de Génétique Médicale, CHU Nantes, 9 quai Moncousu, 44093 Nantes Cedex 1, France; L'Institut du Thorax, INSERM, CNRS, Université de Nantes, 44007 Nantes, France.
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33
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Pang W, Yi X, Li L, Liu L, Xiang W, Xiao L. Untangle the Multi-Facet Functions of Auts2 as an Entry Point to Understand Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:580433. [PMID: 33967843 PMCID: PMC8102784 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.580433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders are psychiatric diseases that are usually first diagnosed in infancy, childhood and adolescence. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, characterized by core symptoms including impaired social communication, cognitive rigidity and repetitive behavior, accompanied by a wide range of comorbidities such as intellectual disability (ID) and dysmorphisms. While the cause remains largely unknown, genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors are believed to contribute toward the onset of the disease. Autism Susceptibility Candidate 2 (Auts2) is a gene highly associated with ID and ASD. Therefore, understanding the function of Auts2 gene can provide a unique entry point to untangle the complex neuronal phenotypes of neurodevelpmental disorders. In this review, we discuss the recent discoveries regarding the molecular and cellular functions of Auts2. Auts2 was shown to be a key-regulator of transcriptional network and a mediator of epigenetic regulation in neurodevelopment, the latter potentially providing a link for the neuronal changes of ASD upon environmental risk-factor exposure. In addition, Auts2 could synchronize the balance between excitation and inhibition through regulating the number of excitatory synapses. Cytoplasmic Auts2 could join the fine-tuning of actin dynamics during neuronal migration and neuritogenesis. Furthermore, Auts2 was expressed in developing mouse and human brain regions such as the frontal cortex, dorsal thalamus, and hippocampus, which have been implicated in the impaired cognitive and social function of ASD. Taken together, a comprehensive understanding of Auts2 functions can give deep insights into the cause of the heterogenous manifestation of neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbin Pang
- Key Laboratory of Brain Science Research & Transformation in Tropical Environment of Hainan Province, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Control of Tropical Diseases, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Xinan Yi
- Key Laboratory of Brain Science Research & Transformation in Tropical Environment of Hainan Province, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Ling Li
- Department of Pediatric Rehabilitation, Hainan Women and Children's Medical Center, Haikou, China
| | - Liyan Liu
- Department of Pediatric Rehabilitation, Hainan Women and Children's Medical Center, Haikou, China
| | - Wei Xiang
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Control of Tropical Diseases, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Le Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Brain Science Research & Transformation in Tropical Environment of Hainan Province, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
- Department of Pediatric Rehabilitation, Hainan Women and Children's Medical Center, Haikou, China
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34
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Mossink B, Negwer M, Schubert D, Nadif Kasri N. The emerging role of chromatin remodelers in neurodevelopmental disorders: a developmental perspective. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:2517-2563. [PMID: 33263776 PMCID: PMC8004494 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03714-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD), are a large group of disorders in which early insults during brain development result in a wide and heterogeneous spectrum of clinical diagnoses. Mutations in genes coding for chromatin remodelers are overrepresented in NDD cohorts, pointing towards epigenetics as a convergent pathogenic pathway between these disorders. In this review we detail the role of NDD-associated chromatin remodelers during the developmental continuum of progenitor expansion, differentiation, cell-type specification, migration and maturation. We discuss how defects in chromatin remodelling during these early developmental time points compound over time and result in impaired brain circuit establishment. In particular, we focus on their role in the three largest cell populations: glutamatergic neurons, GABAergic neurons, and glia cells. An in-depth understanding of the spatiotemporal role of chromatin remodelers during neurodevelopment can contribute to the identification of molecular targets for treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Britt Mossink
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Geert Grooteplein 10, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Moritz Negwer
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Geert Grooteplein 10, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Dirk Schubert
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Nael Nadif Kasri
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Geert Grooteplein 10, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboudumc, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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35
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Gieldon L, Jauch A, Obeid K, Kaufmann L, Hinderhofer K, Haug U, Moog U. Germ cell mosaicism for AUTS2 exon 6 deletion. Am J Med Genet A 2021; 185:1261-1265. [PMID: 33577136 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Haploinsufficiency of AUTS2 has been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders and dysmorphic features (MIM # 615834). More than 50 patients have been described, mostly carrying de novo deletions of one or more exons, including eight patients with exon 6 deletions. We report on two siblings, a girl and a boy aged 11 and 13 years, in whom the same pathogenic 85 kb deletion on 7q11.22 encompassing exon 6 of AUTS2 by SNP array analysis was identified. Both children had typical symptoms of AUTS2 syndrome such as intellectual impairment and behavioral problems, but with markedly different expression. SNP array analysis excluded the deletion in blood samples of both parents and a healthy brother. Conventional karyotyping of both parents and additional FISH analyses, marking the flanking regions of the deletion, did not show any structural rearrangements involving 7q11.22. A germ cell mosaicism was suggested as the most probable explanation for occurrence of the same deletion in these two siblings. To our knowledge this is the first report of germ cell mosaicism for AUTS2 syndrome. It additionally provides further evidence of intrafamilial phenotypic variability in AUTS2 syndrome and adds clinical information to the phenotypic spectrum of patients with AUTS2 exon 6 deletions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Gieldon
- Institute of Human Genetics, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anna Jauch
- Institute of Human Genetics, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katharina Obeid
- Institute of Human Genetics, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lilian Kaufmann
- Institute of Human Genetics, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Ulrich Haug
- Center for Child Neurology and Social Pediatrics Maulbronn, Maulbronn, Germany
| | - Ute Moog
- Institute of Human Genetics, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
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36
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Whole Exome Sequencing Reveals a Novel AUTS2 In-Frame Deletion in a Boy with Global Developmental Delay, Absent Speech, Dysmorphic Features, and Cerebral Anomalies. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12020229. [PMID: 33562463 PMCID: PMC7915150 DOI: 10.3390/genes12020229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are a group of highly prevalent, clinically and genetically heterogeneous pediatric disorders comprising, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th edition (DSM-V), intellectual disability, developmental delay, autism spectrum disorders, and other neurological and cognitive disorders manifesting in the developmental age. To date, more than 1000 genes have been implicated in the etiopathogenesis of NNDs. Among them, AUTS2 (OMIM # 607270) encodes a protein involved in neural migration and neuritogenesis, and causes NNDs with different molecular mechanisms including copy number variations, single or multiple exonic deletion and single nucleotide variants. We describes a 9-year-old boy with global developmental delay, absent speech, minor craniofacial anomalies, hypoplasia of the cerebellar vermis and thinning of the corpus callosum, resulted carrier of the de novo AUTS2 c.1603_1626del deletion at whole exome sequencing (WES) predicted to cause the loss of eight amino acids [p.(His535_Thr542del)]. Notably, our patient is the first reported so far in medical literature carrying an in-frame deletion and the first in which absent language, hypoplasia of the cerebellar vermis and thinning of the corpus callosum has been observed thus useful to expand the molecular spectrum of AUTS2 pathogenic variants and to broaden our knowledge on the clinical phenotype associated.
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37
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AUTS2 isoforms control neuronal differentiation. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:666-681. [PMID: 30953002 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0409-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2015] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in AUTS2 are associated with autism, intellectual disability, and microcephaly. AUTS2 is expressed in the brain and interacts with polycomb proteins, yet it is still unclear how mutations in AUTS2 lead to neurodevelopmental phenotypes. Here we report that when neuronal differentiation is initiated, there is a shift in expression from a long isoform to a short AUTS2 isoform. Yeast two-hybrid screen identified the splicing factor SF3B1 as an interactor of both isoforms, whereas the polycomb group proteins, PCGF3 and PCGF5, were found to interact exclusively with the long AUTS2 isoform. Reporter assays showed that the first exons of the long AUTS2 isoform function as a transcription repressor, but the part that consist of the short isoform acts as a transcriptional activator, both influenced by the cellular context. The expression levels of PCGF3 influenced the ability of the long AUTS2 isoform to activate or repress transcription. Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) with heterozygote mutations in Auts2 had an increase in cell death during in vitro corticogenesis, which was significantly rescued by overexpressing the human AUTS2 transcripts. mESCs with a truncated AUTS2 protein (missing exons 12-20) showed premature neuronal differentiation, whereas cells overexpressing AUTS2, especially the long transcript, showed increase in expression of pluripotency markers and delayed differentiation. Taken together, our data suggest that the precise expression of AUTS2 isoforms is essential for regulating transcription and the timing of neuronal differentiation.
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38
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Lee J, Park JE, Lee C, Kim AR, Kim BJ, Park WY, Ki CS, Lee J. Genomic Analysis of Korean Patient With Microcephaly. Front Genet 2021; 11:543528. [PMID: 33584783 PMCID: PMC7876370 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.543528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Microcephaly is a prevalent phenotype in patients with neurodevelopmental problems, often with genetic causes. We comprehensively investigated the clinical phenotypes and genetic background of microcephaly in 40 Korean patients. We analyzed their clinical phenotypes and radiologic images and conducted whole exome sequencing (WES) and analysis of copy number variation (CNV). Infantile hypotonia and developmental delay were present in all patients. Thirty-four patients (85%) showed primary microcephaly. The diagnostic yield from the WES and CNV analyses was 47.5%. With WES, we detected pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants that were previously associated with microcephaly in 12 patients (30%); nine of these were de novo variants with autosomal dominant inheritance. Two unrelated patients had mutations in the KMT2A gene. In 10 other patients, we found mutations in the GNB1, GNAO1, TCF4, ASXL1, SMC1A, VPS13B, ACTG1, EP300, and KMT2D genes. Seven patients (17.5%) were diagnosed with pathogenic CNVs. Korean patients with microcephaly show a genetic spectrum that is different from that of patients with microcephaly of other ethnicities. WES along with CNV analysis represents an effective approach for diagnosis of the underlying causes of microcephaly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiwon Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jong Eun Park
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Genetics, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Guri, South Korea
| | - Chung Lee
- Samsung Genome Institute, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ah Reum Kim
- Samsung Genome Institute, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Byung Joon Kim
- Department of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Woong-Yang Park
- Samsung Genome Institute, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | | | - Jeehun Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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Wanner NM, Colwell M, Drown C, Faulk C. Developmental cannabidiol exposure increases anxiety and modifies genome-wide brain DNA methylation in adult female mice. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:4. [PMID: 33407853 PMCID: PMC7789000 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-020-00993-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Use of cannabidiol (CBD), the primary non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis, has recently risen dramatically, while relatively little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms of its effects. Previous work indicates that direct CBD exposure strongly impacts the brain, with anxiolytic, antidepressant, antipsychotic, and other effects being observed in animal and human studies. The epigenome, particularly DNA methylation, is responsive to environmental input and can direct persistent patterns of gene regulation impacting phenotype. Epigenetic perturbation is particularly impactful during embryogenesis, when exogenous exposures can disrupt critical resetting of epigenetic marks and impart phenotypic effects lasting into adulthood. The impact of prenatal CBD exposure has not been evaluated; however, studies using the psychomimetic cannabinoid Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) have identified detrimental effects on psychological outcomes in developmentally exposed adult offspring. We hypothesized that developmental CBD exposure would have similar negative effects on behavior mediated in part by the epigenome. Nulliparous female wild-type Agouti viable yellow (Avy) mice were exposed to 20 mg/kg CBD or vehicle daily from two weeks prior to mating through gestation and lactation. Coat color shifts, a readout of DNA methylation at the Agouti locus in this strain, were measured in F1 Avy/a offspring. Young adult F1 a/a offspring were then subjected to tests of working spatial memory and anxiety/compulsive behavior. Reduced-representation bisulfite sequencing was performed on both F0 and F1 cerebral cortex and F1 hippocampus to identify genome-wide changes in DNA methylation for direct and developmental exposure, respectively. RESULTS F1 offspring exposed to CBD during development exhibited increased anxiety and improved memory behavior in a sex-specific manner. Further, while no significant coat color shift was observed in Avy/a offspring, thousands of differentially methylated loci (DMLs) were identified in both brain regions with functional enrichment for neurogenesis, substance use phenotypes, and other psychologically relevant terms. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate for the first time that despite positive effects of direct exposure, developmental CBD is associated with mixed behavioral outcomes and perturbation of the brain epigenome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole M Wanner
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, 1334 Eckles Avenue, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Mathia Colwell
- Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, 1334 Eckles Avenue, 225 Food Science, St. Paul, MN, 55018, USA
| | - Chelsea Drown
- Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, 1334 Eckles Avenue, 225 Food Science, St. Paul, MN, 55018, USA
| | - Christopher Faulk
- Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, 1334 Eckles Avenue, 225 Food Science, St. Paul, MN, 55018, USA.
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Martinez-Delgado B, Lopez-Martin E, Lara-Herguedas J, Monzon S, Cuesta I, Juliá M, Aquino V, Rodriguez-Martin C, Damian A, Gonzalo I, Gomez-Mariano G, Baladron B, Cazorla R, Iglesias G, Roman E, Ros P, Tutor P, Mellor S, Jimenez C, Cabrejas MJ, Gonzalez-Vioque E, Alonso J, Bermejo-Sánchez E, Posada M. De novo small deletion affecting transcription start site of short isoform of AUTS2 gene in a patient with syndromic neurodevelopmental defects. Am J Med Genet A 2020; 185:877-883. [PMID: 33346930 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Disruption of the autism susceptibility candidate 2 (AUTS2) gene through genomic rearrangements, copy number variations (CNVs), and intragenic deletions and mutations, has been recurrently involved in syndromic forms of developmental delay and intellectual disability, known as AUTS2 syndrome. The AUTS2 gene plays an important role in regulation of neuronal migration, and when altered, associates with a variable phenotype from severely to mildly affected patients. The more severe phenotypes significantly correlate with the presence of defects affecting the C-terminus part of the gene. This article reports a new patient with a syndromic neurodevelopmental disorder, who presents a deletion of 30 nucleotides in the exon 9 of the AUTS2 gene. Importantly, this deletion includes the transcription start site for the AUTS2 short transcript isoform, which has an important role in brain development. Gene expression analysis of AUTS2 full-length and short isoforms revealed that the deletion found in this patient causes a remarkable reduction in the expression level, not only of the short isoform, but also of the full AUTS2 transcripts. This report adds more evidence for the role of mutated AUTS2 short transcripts in the development of a severe phenotype in the AUTS2 syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Martinez-Delgado
- Institute of Rare Diseases Research (Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras/IIER), Carlos III Institute of Health (Instituto de Salud Carlos III/ISCIII), Madrid, Spain.,Consortium for Biomedical Research in Rare Diseases (CIBER de Enfermedades Raras/CIBERER) (CB06/07/1009), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.,Undiagnosed Diseases Network International, Madrid, Spain
| | - Estrella Lopez-Martin
- Institute of Rare Diseases Research (Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras/IIER), Carlos III Institute of Health (Instituto de Salud Carlos III/ISCIII), Madrid, Spain.,Consortium for Biomedical Research in Rare Diseases (CIBER de Enfermedades Raras/CIBERER) (CB06/07/1009), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.,Undiagnosed Diseases Network International, Madrid, Spain
| | - Julián Lara-Herguedas
- Department of Neuropediatrics, Puerta de Hierro University Teaching Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sara Monzon
- Undiagnosed Diseases Network International, Madrid, Spain.,Bioinformatics Unit, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Cuesta
- Undiagnosed Diseases Network International, Madrid, Spain.,Bioinformatics Unit, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Juliá
- Undiagnosed Diseases Network International, Madrid, Spain.,Bioinformatics Unit, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Virginia Aquino
- Institute of Rare Diseases Research (Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras/IIER), Carlos III Institute of Health (Instituto de Salud Carlos III/ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos Rodriguez-Martin
- Institute of Rare Diseases Research (Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras/IIER), Carlos III Institute of Health (Instituto de Salud Carlos III/ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandra Damian
- Institute of Rare Diseases Research (Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras/IIER), Carlos III Institute of Health (Instituto de Salud Carlos III/ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Irene Gonzalo
- Institute of Rare Diseases Research (Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras/IIER), Carlos III Institute of Health (Instituto de Salud Carlos III/ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Gema Gomez-Mariano
- Institute of Rare Diseases Research (Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras/IIER), Carlos III Institute of Health (Instituto de Salud Carlos III/ISCIII), Madrid, Spain.,Undiagnosed Diseases Network International, Madrid, Spain
| | - Beatriz Baladron
- Institute of Rare Diseases Research (Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras/IIER), Carlos III Institute of Health (Instituto de Salud Carlos III/ISCIII), Madrid, Spain.,Undiagnosed Diseases Network International, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosario Cazorla
- Department of Neuropediatrics, Puerta de Hierro University Teaching Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gema Iglesias
- Department of Neuropediatrics, Puerta de Hierro University Teaching Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Enriqueta Roman
- Department of Neuropediatrics, Puerta de Hierro University Teaching Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Pablo Tutor
- Department of Internal Medicine, Puerta de Hierro University Teaching Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Susana Mellor
- Department of Internal Medicine, Puerta de Hierro University Teaching Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos Jimenez
- Department of Neurology, Puerta de Hierro University Teaching Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Jose Cabrejas
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Puerta de Hierro University Teaching Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Emiliano Gonzalez-Vioque
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Puerta de Hierro University Teaching Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Alonso
- Institute of Rare Diseases Research (Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras/IIER), Carlos III Institute of Health (Instituto de Salud Carlos III/ISCIII), Madrid, Spain.,Consortium for Biomedical Research in Rare Diseases (CIBER de Enfermedades Raras/CIBERER) (CB06/07/1009), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.,Undiagnosed Diseases Network International, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eva Bermejo-Sánchez
- Institute of Rare Diseases Research (Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras/IIER), Carlos III Institute of Health (Instituto de Salud Carlos III/ISCIII), Madrid, Spain.,Undiagnosed Diseases Network International, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Posada
- Institute of Rare Diseases Research (Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras/IIER), Carlos III Institute of Health (Instituto de Salud Carlos III/ISCIII), Madrid, Spain.,Consortium for Biomedical Research in Rare Diseases (CIBER de Enfermedades Raras/CIBERER) (CB06/07/1009), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.,Undiagnosed Diseases Network International, Madrid, Spain
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41
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Sellers RA, Robertson DL, Tassabehji M. Ancestry of the AUTS2 family-A novel group of polycomb-complex proteins involved in human neurological disease. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0232101. [PMID: 33306672 PMCID: PMC7732068 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism susceptibility candidate 2 (AUTS2) is a neurodevelopmental regulator associated with an autosomal dominant intellectual disability syndrome, AUTS2 syndrome, and is implicated as an important gene in human-specific evolution. AUTS2 exists as part of a tripartite gene family, the AUTS2 family, which includes two relatively undefined proteins, Fibrosin (FBRS) and Fibrosin-like protein 1 (FBRSL1). Evolutionary ancestors of AUTS2 have not been formally identified outside of the Animalia clade. A Drosophila melanogaster protein, Tay bridge, with a role in neurodevelopment, has been shown to display limited similarity to the C-terminal of AUTS2, suggesting that evolutionary ancestors of the AUTS2 family may exist within other Protostome lineages. Here we present an evolutionary analysis of the AUTS2 family, which highlights ancestral homologs of AUTS2 in multiple Protostome species, implicates AUTS2 as the closest human relative to the progenitor of the AUTS2 family, and demonstrates that Tay bridge is a divergent ortholog of the ancestral AUTS2 progenitor gene. We also define regions of high relative sequence identity, with potential functional significance, shared by the extended AUTS2 protein family. Using structural predictions coupled with sequence conservation and human variant data from 15,708 individuals, a putative domain structure for AUTS2 was produced that can be used to aid interpretation of the consequences of nucleotide variation on protein structure and function in human disease. To assess the role of AUTS2 in human-specific evolution, we recalculated allele frequencies at previously identified human derived sites using large population genome data, and show a high prevalence of ancestral alleles, suggesting that AUTS2 may not be a rapidly evolving gene, as previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A. Sellers
- Evolution & Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - David L. Robertson
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Garscube Campus, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - May Tassabehji
- Evolution & Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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42
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Tsang B, Pritišanac I, Scherer SW, Moses AM, Forman-Kay JD. Phase Separation as a Missing Mechanism for Interpretation of Disease Mutations. Cell 2020; 183:1742-1756. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.11.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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43
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Yamashiro K, Hori K, Lai ESK, Aoki R, Shimaoka K, Arimura N, Egusa SF, Sakamoto A, Abe M, Sakimura K, Watanabe T, Uesaka N, Kano M, Hoshino M. AUTS2 Governs Cerebellar Development, Purkinje Cell Maturation, Motor Function and Social Communication. iScience 2020; 23:101820. [PMID: 33305180 PMCID: PMC7708818 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism susceptibility candidate 2 (AUTS2), a risk gene for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), is implicated in telencephalon development. Because AUTS2 is also expressed in the cerebellum where defects have been linked to ASDs, we investigated AUTS2 functions in the cerebellum. AUTS2 is specifically localized in Purkinje cells (PCs) and Golgi cells during postnatal development. Auts2 conditional knockout (cKO) mice exhibited smaller and deformed cerebella containing immature-shaped PCs with reduced expression of Cacna1a. Auts2 cKO and knock-down experiments implicated AUTS2 participation in elimination and translocation of climbing fiber synapses and restriction of parallel fiber synapse numbers. Auts2 cKO mice exhibited behavioral impairments in motor learning and vocal communications. Because Cacna1a is known to regulate synapse development in PCs, it suggests that AUTS2 is required for PC maturation to elicit normal development of PC synapses and thus the impairment of AUTS2 may cause cerebellar dysfunction related to psychiatric illnesses such as ASDs. Loss of Auts2 leads to the reduction of cerebellar size AUTS2 promotes the dendritic maturation of Purkinje cells AUTS2 participates in PF and CF synapse development of Purkinje cells Auts2 cKO mice exhibit the impaired motor learning and vocal communications
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunihiko Yamashiro
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo 187-8502, Japan.,Department of NCNP Brain Physiology and Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| | - Kei Hori
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo 187-8502, Japan
| | - Esther S K Lai
- Brain Mechanism for Behavior Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan.,Department of Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Ryo Aoki
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo 187-8502, Japan.,Department of NCNP Brain Physiology and Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| | - Kazumi Shimaoka
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo 187-8502, Japan
| | - Nariko Arimura
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo 187-8502, Japan
| | - Saki F Egusa
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo 187-8502, Japan
| | - Asami Sakamoto
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo 187-8502, Japan
| | - Manabu Abe
- Department of Animal Model Development, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata 951-8585, Japan
| | - Kenji Sakimura
- Department of Animal Model Development, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata 951-8585, Japan
| | - Takaki Watanabe
- Department of Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Naofumi Uesaka
- Department of Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.,Department of Cognitive Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| | - Masanobu Kano
- Department of Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Mikio Hoshino
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo 187-8502, Japan.,Department of NCNP Brain Physiology and Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
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44
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O'Connell KS, Shadrin A, Smeland OB, Bahrami S, Frei O, Bettella F, Krull F, Fan CC, Askeland RB, Knudsen GPS, Halmøy A, Steen NE, Ueland T, Walters GB, Davíðsdóttir K, Haraldsdóttir GS, Guðmundsson ÓÓ, Stefánsson H, Reichborn-Kjennerud T, Haavik J, Dale AM, Stefánsson K, Djurovic S, Andreassen OA. Identification of Genetic Loci Shared Between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Intelligence, and Educational Attainment. Biol Psychiatry 2020; 87:1052-1062. [PMID: 32061372 PMCID: PMC7255939 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Revised: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is consistently associated with lower levels of educational attainment. A recent large genome-wide association study identified common gene variants associated with ADHD, but most of the genetic architecture remains unknown. METHODS We analyzed independent genome-wide association study summary statistics for ADHD (19,099 cases and 34,194 controls), educational attainment (N = 842,499), and general intelligence (N = 269,867) using a conditional/conjunctional false discovery rate (FDR) statistical framework that increases power of discovery by conditioning the FDR on overlapping associations. The genetic variants identified were characterized in terms of function, expression, and biological processes. RESULTS We identified 58 linkage disequilibrium-independent ADHD-associated loci (conditional FDR < 0.01), of which 30 were shared between ADHD and educational attainment or general intelligence (conjunctional FDR < 0.01) and 46 were novel risk loci for ADHD. CONCLUSIONS These results expand on previous genetic and epidemiological studies and support the hypothesis of a shared genetic basis between these phenotypes. Although the clinical utility of the identified loci remains to be determined, they can be used as resources to guide future studies aiming to disentangle the complex etiologies of ADHD, educational attainment, and general intelligence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin S O'Connell
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Alexey Shadrin
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Olav B Smeland
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Shahram Bahrami
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Oleksandr Frei
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Francesco Bettella
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Florian Krull
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Chun C Fan
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California; Department of Cognitive Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Ragna B Askeland
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Gun Peggy S Knudsen
- Division of Health Data and Digitalisation, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anne Halmøy
- Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Nils Eiel Steen
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Torill Ueland
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - G Bragi Walters
- deCODE Genetics/Amgen, Reykjavik, Iceland; Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Katrín Davíðsdóttir
- The Centre for Child Development and Behaviour, Capital Area Primary Health Care, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Gyða S Haraldsdóttir
- The Centre for Child Development and Behaviour, Capital Area Primary Health Care, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Ólafur Ó Guðmundsson
- deCODE Genetics/Amgen, Reykjavik, Iceland; Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, National University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | | | - Ted Reichborn-Kjennerud
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jan Haavik
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Anders M Dale
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California; Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California; Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California; Center for Multimodal Imaging and Genetics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Kári Stefánsson
- deCODE Genetics/Amgen, Reykjavik, Iceland; Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Srdjan Djurovic
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
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45
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AUTS2 Regulation of Synapses for Proper Synaptic Inputs and Social Communication. iScience 2020; 23:101183. [PMID: 32498016 PMCID: PMC7267731 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Impairments in synapse development are thought to cause numerous psychiatric disorders. Autism susceptibility candidate 2 (AUTS2) gene has been associated with various psychiatric disorders, such as autism and intellectual disabilities. Although roles for AUTS2 in neuronal migration and neuritogenesis have been reported, its involvement in synapse regulation remains unclear. In this study, we found that excitatory synapses were specifically increased in the Auts2-deficient primary cultured neurons as well as Auts2 mutant forebrains. Electrophysiological recordings and immunostaining showed increases in excitatory synaptic inputs as well as c-fos expression in Auts2 mutant brains, suggesting that an altered balance of excitatory and inhibitory inputs enhances brain excitability. Auts2 mutant mice exhibited autistic-like behaviors including impairments in social interaction and altered vocal communication. Together, these findings suggest that AUTS2 regulates excitatory synapse number to coordinate E/I balance in the brain, whose impairment may underlie the pathology of psychiatric disorders in individuals with AUTS2 mutations. AUTS2 regulates excitatory synapse number in forebrain pyramidal neurons Loss of Auts2 leads to increased spine formation in development and adulthood Loss of Auts2 alters the balance of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs Auts2 mutant mice exhibit cognitive and sociobehavioral deficits
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46
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Ufartes R, Berger H, Till K, Salinas G, Sturm M, Altmüller J, Nürnberg P, Thiele H, Funke R, Apeshiotis N, Langen H, Wollnik B, Borchers A, Pauli S. De novo mutations in FBRSL1 cause a novel recognizable malformation and intellectual disability syndrome. Hum Genet 2020; 139:1363-1379. [PMID: 32424618 PMCID: PMC7519918 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-020-02175-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
We report truncating de novo variants in specific exons of FBRSL1 in three unrelated children with an overlapping syndromic phenotype with respiratory insufficiency, postnatal growth restriction, microcephaly, global developmental delay and other malformations. The function of FBRSL1 is largely unknown. Interestingly, mutations in the FBRSL1 paralogue AUTS2 lead to an intellectual disability syndrome (AUTS2 syndrome). We determined human FBRSL1 transcripts and describe protein-coding forms by Western blot analysis as well as the cellular localization by immunocytochemistry stainings. All detected mutations affect the two short N-terminal isoforms, which show a ubiquitous expression in fetal tissues. Next, we performed a Fbrsl1 knockdown in Xenopus laevis embryos to explore the role of Fbrsl1 during development and detected craniofacial abnormalities and a disturbance in neurite outgrowth. The aberrant phenotype in Xenopus laevis embryos could be rescued with a human N-terminal isoform, while the long isoform and the N-terminal isoform containing the mutation p.Gln163* isolated from a patient could not rescue the craniofacial defects caused by Fbrsl1 depletion. Based on these data, we propose that the disruption of the validated N-terminal isoforms of FBRSL1 at critical timepoints during embryogenesis leads to a hitherto undescribed complex neurodevelopmental syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roser Ufartes
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Heinrich-Düker-Weg 12, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Hanna Berger
- Department of Biology, Molecular Embryology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Till
- Department of Biology, Molecular Embryology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Gabriela Salinas
- NGS Integrative Genomics Core Unit, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marc Sturm
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, Calwerstr. 7, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Janine Altmüller
- Cologne Center for Genomics (CCG), University of Cologne, Weyertal 115b, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Peter Nürnberg
- Cologne Center for Genomics (CCG), University of Cologne, Weyertal 115b, 50931, Cologne, Germany.,Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Robert-Koch Str. 21, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Holger Thiele
- Cologne Center for Genomics (CCG), University of Cologne, Weyertal 115b, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Rudolf Funke
- Department of Neuropediatrics, Sozialpädiatrisches Zentrum, Mönchebergstr. 41-43, 34125, Kassel, Germany
| | | | - Hendrik Langen
- Department of Neuropediatrics, Sozialpädiatrisches Zentrum Hannover, Janusz-Korczak-Allee 8, 30173, Hannover, Germany
| | - Bernd Wollnik
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Heinrich-Düker-Weg 12, 37073, Göttingen, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: From Molecular Machines To Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Annette Borchers
- Department of Biology, Molecular Embryology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany. .,DFG Research Training Group, Membrane Plasticity in Tissue Development and Remodeling, GRK 2213, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
| | - Silke Pauli
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Heinrich-Düker-Weg 12, 37073, Göttingen, Germany.
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Barone R, Gulisano M, Amore R, Domini C, Milana MC, Giglio S, Madia F, Mattina T, Casabona A, Fichera M, Rizzo R. Clinical correlates in children with autism spectrum disorder and CNVs: Systematic investigation in a clinical setting. Int J Dev Neurosci 2020; 80:276-286. [PMID: 32159884 DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with various molecular mechanisms including copy number variants (CNVs). We investigated possible associations between CNVs and ASD clinical correlates. We evaluated pertinent physical characteristics and phenotypic measures such as cognitive level, severity of ASD symptoms and comorbid conditions in ASD patients consecutively recruited over the study period. Children with causative (C-CNVs), non-causative (NC-CNVs) and without CNVs (W-CNVs) were compared. Out of 109 patients, 31 imbalances (16 duplications and 15 deletions) were detected in 25 subjects. Seven (6.4%) had C-CNVs and 18 (16.5%) had NC-CNVs. Paired post hoc comparisons with Bonferroni adjustment showed that dysmorphisms and microcephaly were significantly more frequent in the C-CNVs group. Patients with C-CNVs had more severe autistic core symptoms, while comorbid internalizing behavioral symptoms were more represented among participants with NC-CNVs. No significant differences were observed for distribution of macrocephaly, intellectual disability, epilepsy, isolated electroencephalogram abnormalities and studied neuroimaging characteristics among groups. Recurrent and rare C-CNVs highlighting genes relevant to neurodevelopment had a statistically higher occurrence in children with more severe ASD symptoms and further developmental abnormalities. This study documents the importance of measuring the physical and neurobehavioural correlates of ASD phenotypes to unravel the underlying molecular mechanisms in patient subgroups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Barone
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
- CNR-Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials IPCB, Catania, Italy
| | - Mariangela Gulisano
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Renata Amore
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Carla Domini
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Maria Chiara Milana
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Sabrina Giglio
- Medical Genetics Unit, Meyer Children's Hospital, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Francesca Madia
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Teresa Mattina
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Medical Genetics, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Antonino Casabona
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Physiology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Marco Fichera
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Medical Genetics, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
- Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, Troina, Italy
| | - Renata Rizzo
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
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48
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To better understand the shared basis of language and mental health, this review examines the behavioral and neurobiological features of aberrant language in five major neuropsychiatric conditions. Special attention is paid to genes implicated in both language and neuropsychiatric disorders, as they reveal biological domains likely to underpin the processes controlling both. RECENT FINDINGS Abnormal language and communication are common manifestations of neuropsychiatric conditions, and children with impaired language are more likely to develop psychiatric disorders than their peers. Major themes in the genetics of both language and psychiatry include master transcriptional regulators, like FOXP2; key developmental regulators, like AUTS2; and mediators of neurotransmission, like GRIN2A and CACNA1C.
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49
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Weisner PA, Chen CY, Sun Y, Yoo J, Kao WC, Zhang H, Baltz ET, Troy JM, Stubbs L. A Mouse Mutation That Dysregulates Neighboring Galnt17 and Auts2 Genes Is Associated with Phenotypes Related to the Human AUTS2 Syndrome. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2019; 9:3891-3906. [PMID: 31554716 PMCID: PMC6829118 DOI: 10.1534/g3.119.400723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
AUTS2 was originally discovered as the gene disrupted by a translocation in human twins with Autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and epilepsy. Since that initial finding, AUTS2-linked mutations and variants have been associated with a very broad array of neuropsychiatric disorders, sugg esting that AUTS2 is required for fundamental steps of neurodevelopment. However, genotype-phenotype correlations in this region are complicated, because most mutations could also involve neighboring genes. Of particular interest is the nearest downstream neighbor of AUTS2, GALNT17, which encodes a brain-expressed N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase of unknown brain function. Here we describe a mouse (Mus musculus) mutation, T(5G2;8A1)GSO (abbreviated 16Gso), a reciprocal translocation that breaks between Auts2 and Galnt17 and dysregulates both genes. Despite this complex regulatory effect, 16Gso homozygotes model certain human AUTS2-linked phenotypes very well. In addition to abnormalities in growth, craniofacial structure, learning and memory, and behavior, 16Gso homozygotes display distinct pathologies of the cerebellum and hippocampus that are similar to those associated with autism and other types of AUTS2-linked neurological disease. Analyzing mutant cerebellar and hippocampal transcriptomes to explain this pathology, we identified disturbances in pathways related to neuron and synapse maturation, neurotransmitter signaling, and cellular stress, suggesting possible cellular mechanisms. These pathways, coupled with the translocation's selective effects on Auts2 isoforms and coordinated dysregulation of Galnt17, suggest novel hypotheses regarding the etiology of the human "AUTS2 syndrome" and the wide array of neurodevelopmental disorders linked to variance in this genomic region.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Anne Weisner
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology
- Neuroscience Program
| | - Chih-Ying Chen
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, and
| | - Younguk Sun
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, and
| | | | | | | | | | - Joseph M Troy
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology
- Illinois Informatics Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana IL 61802
| | - Lisa Stubbs
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology,
- Neuroscience Program
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, and
- Illinois Informatics Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana IL 61802
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50
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Saeki S, Enokizono T, Imagawa K, Fukushima H, Kajikawa D, Sakai A, Tanaka M, Ohto T, Suzuki H, Uehara T, Takenouchi T, Kenjiro K, Takada H. A case of autism spectrum disorder with cleft lip and palate carrying a mutation in exon 8 of AUTS2. Clin Case Rep 2019; 7:2059-2063. [PMID: 31788251 PMCID: PMC6878208 DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.2377] [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: 03/21/2019] [Revised: 06/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
We report a patient with autism and cleft lip and palate carrying a de novo heterozygous AUTS2 mutation, c.1464_1467del ACTC (p.Tyr488*). Although the causal relationship between cleft lip and palate and this mutation is unclear, this case report may expand the clinical phenotype of AUTS2 syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saki Saeki
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of TsukubaTsukubaJapan
| | - Takashi Enokizono
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of TsukubaTsukubaJapan
| | - Kazuo Imagawa
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of TsukubaTsukubaJapan
| | - Hiroko Fukushima
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of TsukubaTsukubaJapan
- Department of Child Health, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of TsukubaTsukubaJapan
| | - Daigo Kajikawa
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of TsukubaTsukubaJapan
| | - Aiko Sakai
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of TsukubaTsukubaJapan
| | - Mai Tanaka
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of TsukubaTsukubaJapan
| | - Tatsuyuki Ohto
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of TsukubaTsukubaJapan
- Department of Child Health, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of TsukubaTsukubaJapan
| | - Hisato Suzuki
- Center for Medical GeneticsKeio University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Tomoko Uehara
- Center for Medical GeneticsKeio University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | | | - Kosaki Kenjiro
- Center for Medical GeneticsKeio University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Hidetoshi Takada
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of TsukubaTsukubaJapan
- Department of Child Health, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of TsukubaTsukubaJapan
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