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Tanaka R, Yamada K. Genomic and Reverse Translational Analysis Discloses a Role for Small GTPase RhoA Signaling in the Pathogenesis of Schizophrenia: Rho-Kinase as a Novel Drug Target. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15623. [PMID: 37958606 PMCID: PMC10648424 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115623] [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: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is one of the most serious psychiatric disorders and is characterized by reductions in both brain volume and spine density in the frontal cortex. RhoA belongs to the RAS homolog (Rho) family and plays critical roles in neuronal development and structural plasticity via Rho-kinase. RhoA activity is regulated by GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) and guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs). Several variants in GAPs and GEFs associated with RhoA have been reported to be significantly associated with schizophrenia. Moreover, several mouse models carrying schizophrenia-associated gene variants involved in RhoA/Rho-kinase signaling have been developed. In this review, we summarize clinical evidence showing that variants in genes regulating RhoA activity are associated with schizophrenia. In the last half of the review, we discuss preclinical evidence indicating that RhoA/Rho-kinase is a potential therapeutic target of schizophrenia. In particular, Rho-kinase inhibitors exhibit anti-psychotic-like effects not only in Arhgap10 S490P/NHEJ mice, but also in pharmacologic models of schizophrenia (methamphetamine- and MK-801-treated mice). Accordingly, we propose that Rho-kinase inhibitors may have antipsychotic effects and reduce cognitive deficits in schizophrenia despite the presence or absence of genetic variants in small GTPase signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rinako Tanaka
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Hospital Pharmacy, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 466-8560, Japan;
| | - Kiyofumi Yamada
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Hospital Pharmacy, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 466-8560, Japan;
- International Center for Brain Science (ICBS), Fujita Health University, Toyoake 470-1192, Japan
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2
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Yoshida Y, Oikawa M, Shimada T, Shinomiya A, Watanabe Y. Neonatal malnutrition impacts fibroblast growth factor 21-induced neuron neurite outgrowth and growth hormone-releasing hormone secretion in neonatal mouse brain. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 676:121-131. [PMID: 37506473 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.07.041] [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: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Neonatal malnutrition is one of the most common causes of neurological disorders. However, the mechanism of action of the factors associated with neonatal nutrition in the brain remains unclear. In this study, we focused on fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 21 to elucidate the effects of malnutrition on the neonatal brain. FGF21 is an endocrine factor produced by the liver during lactation which is the main source of nutrition during the neonatal period. In this study, malnourishment during nursing mice induced decreased levels of Fgf21 mRNA in the liver and decreased levels of FGF21 in the serum. RNA-seq analysis of neonatal mouse brain tissue revealed that FGF21 controlled the expression of Kalrn-201 in the neonatal mouse brain. Kalrn-201 is a transcript of Kalirin, a Ras homologous guanine nucleotide exchange factor at the synapse. In mouse neurons, FGF21 induced the expression of Kalirin-7 (a Kalirin isoform) by down-regulating Kalrn-201. FGF21-induced Kalirin-7 stimulated neurite outgrowth in Neuro-2a cells. FGF21 also induced Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) expression in Neuro-2a cells. Kalirin-7 and GHRH expression induced by FGF21 was altered by inhibiting the activity of SH2-containing tyrosine phosphatase (SHP2) which is located downstream of the FGF receptor (FGFR). Additionally, malnourished nursing induced intron retention of the SHP2 gene (Ptpn11), resulting in the alteration of Kalirin-7 and GHRH expression by FGF21 signaling. Ptpn11 intron retention is suggested to be involved in regulating SHP2 activity. Taken together, these results suggest that FGF21 plays a critical role in the induction of neuronal neurite outgrowth and GHRH secretion in the neonatal brain, and this mechanism is regulated by SHP2. Thus, Ptpn11 intron retention induced by malnourished nursing may be involved in SHP2 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Yoshida
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Musashino University, Tokyo, 202-8585, Japan; Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Musashino University, Tokyo, 202-8585, Japan.
| | - Mana Oikawa
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Musashino University, Tokyo, 202-8585, Japan
| | - Taiga Shimada
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Musashino University, Tokyo, 202-8585, Japan
| | - Ai Shinomiya
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Musashino University, Tokyo, 202-8585, Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Watanabe
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Musashino University, Tokyo, 202-8585, Japan; Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Musashino University, Tokyo, 202-8585, Japan
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3
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Powis G, Meuillet EJ, Indarte M, Booher G, Kirkpatrick L. Pleckstrin Homology [PH] domain, structure, mechanism, and contribution to human disease. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 165:115024. [PMID: 37399719 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The pleckstrin homology [PH] domain is a structural fold found in more than 250 proteins making it the 11th most common domain in the human proteome. 25% of family members have more than one PH domain and some PH domains are split by one, or several other, protein domains although still folding to give functioning PH domains. We review mechanisms of PH domain activity, the role PH domain mutation plays in human disease including cancer, hyperproliferation, neurodegeneration, inflammation, and infection, and discuss pharmacotherapeutic approaches to regulate PH domain activity for the treatment of human disease. Almost half PH domain family members bind phosphatidylinositols [PIs] that attach the host protein to cell membranes where they interact with other membrane proteins to give signaling complexes or cytoskeleton scaffold platforms. A PH domain in its native state may fold over other protein domains thereby preventing substrate access to a catalytic site or binding with other proteins. The resulting autoinhibition can be released by PI binding to the PH domain, or by protein phosphorylation thus providing fine tuning of the cellular control of PH domain protein activity. For many years the PH domain was thought to be undruggable until high-resolution structures of human PH domains allowed structure-based design of novel inhibitors that selectively bind the PH domain. Allosteric inhibitors of the Akt1 PH domain have already been tested in cancer patients and for proteus syndrome, with several other PH domain inhibitors in preclinical development for treatment of other human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garth Powis
- PHusis Therapeutics Inc., 6019 Folsom Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
| | | | - Martin Indarte
- PHusis Therapeutics Inc., 6019 Folsom Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Garrett Booher
- PHusis Therapeutics Inc., 6019 Folsom Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Lynn Kirkpatrick
- PHusis Therapeutics Inc., 6019 Folsom Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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4
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A Novel Cis-Regulatory lncRNA, Kalnc2, Downregulates Kalrn Protein-Coding Transcripts in Mouse Neuronal Cells. Noncoding RNA 2023; 9:ncrna9010007. [PMID: 36649036 PMCID: PMC9844340 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna9010007] [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: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The KALRN gene encodes several multi-domain protein isoforms that localize to neuronal synapses, conferring the ability to grow and retract dendritic spines and shaping axonal outgrowth, dendrite morphology, and dendritic spine re-modeling. The KALRN genomic locus is implicated in several neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric diseases, including autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disease, and intellectual disability. We have previously shown that a novel brain-specific long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) arising from the 5' end of the kalrna gene, called durga, regulates neuronal morphology in zebrafish. Here, we characterized mammalian Kalrn loci, annotating and experimentally validating multiple novel non-coding RNAs, including linear and circular variants. Comparing the mouse and human loci, we show that certain non-coding RNAs and Kalrn protein-coding isoforms arising from the locus show similar expression dynamics during development. In humans, mice, and zebrafish, the 5' end of the Kalrn locus gives rise to a chromatin-associated lncRNA that is present in adult ovaries, besides being expressed during brain development and enriched in certain regions of the adult brain. Ectopic expression of this lncRNA led to the downregulation of all the major Kalrn mRNA isoforms. We propose that this lncRNA arising from the 5' end of the Kalrn locus is functionally the mammalian ortholog of zebrafish lncRNA durga.
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5
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Parnell E, Voorn RA, Martin-de-Saavedra MD, Loizzo DD, Dos Santos M, Penzes P. A developmental delay linked missense mutation in Kalirin-7 disrupts protein function and neuronal morphology. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:994513. [PMID: 36533124 PMCID: PMC9751355 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.994513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The Rac1 guanine exchange factor Kalirin-7 is a key regulator of dendritic spine morphology, LTP and dendritic arborization. Kalirin-7 dysfunction and genetic variation has been extensively linked to various neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Here we characterize a Kalirin-7 missense mutation, glu1577lys (E1577K), identified in a patient with severe developmental delay. The E1577K point mutation is located within the catalytic domain of Kalirin-7, and results in a robust reduction in Kalirin-7 Rac1 Guanosine exchange factor activity. In contrast to wild type Kalirin-7, the E1577K mutant failed to drive dendritic arborization, spine density, NMDAr targeting to, and activity within, spines. Together these results indicate that reduced Rac1-GEF activity as result of E1577K mutation impairs neuroarchitecture, connectivity and NMDAr activity, and is a likely contributor to impaired neurodevelopment in a patient with developmental delay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Euan Parnell
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Roos A. Voorn
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - M. Dolores Martin-de-Saavedra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Pharmacy, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel D. Loizzo
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Marc Dos Santos
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Peter Penzes
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
- Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopment, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
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6
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Chhetri G, Ke Y, Wang P, Usman M, Li Y, Sapp E, Wang J, Ghosh A, Islam MA, Wang X, Boudi A, DiFiglia M, Li X. Impaired XK recycling for importing manganese underlies striatal vulnerability in Huntington's disease. J Cell Biol 2022; 221:213461. [PMID: 36099524 PMCID: PMC9475296 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202112073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutant huntingtin, which causes Huntington's disease (HD), is ubiquitously expressed but induces preferential loss of striatal neurons by unclear mechanisms. Rab11 dysfunction mediates homeostatic disturbance of HD neurons. Here, we report that Rab11 dysfunction also underscores the striatal vulnerability in HD. We profiled the proteome of Rab11-positive endosomes of HD-vulnerable striatal cells to look for protein(s) linking Rab11 dysfunction to striatal vulnerability in HD and found XK, which triggers the selective death of striatal neurons in McLeod syndrome. XK was trafficked together with Rab11 and was diminished on the surface of immortalized HD striatal cells and striatal neurons in HD mouse brains. We found that XK participated in transporting manganese, an essential trace metal depleted in HD brains. Introducing dominantly active Rab11 into HD striatal cells improved XK dynamics and increased manganese accumulation in an XK-dependent manner. Our study suggests that impaired Rab11-based recycling of XK onto cell surfaces for importing manganese is a driver of striatal dysfunction in Huntington's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaurav Chhetri
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuting Ke
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
| | - Ping Wang
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA.,Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Ji'nan, China
| | - Muhammad Usman
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Li
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ellen Sapp
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
| | - Jing Wang
- Instrumental Analysis Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Arabinda Ghosh
- Department of Botany, Microbiology Division, Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Md Ariful Islam
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaolong Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Adel Boudi
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
| | - Marian DiFiglia
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
| | - Xueyi Li
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
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7
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Grubisha MJ, DeGiosio RA, Wills ZP, Sweet RA. Trio and Kalirin as unique enactors of Rho/Rac spatiotemporal precision. Cell Signal 2022; 98:110416. [PMID: 35872089 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2022.110416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Rac1 and RhoA are among the most widely studied small GTPases. The classic dogma surrounding their biology has largely focused on their activity as an "on/off switch" of sorts. However, the advent of more sophisticated techniques, such as genetically-encoded FRET-based sensors, has afforded the ability to delineate the spatiotemporal regulation of Rac1 and RhoA. As a result, there has been a shift from this simplistic global view to one incorporating the precision of spatiotemporal modularity. This review summarizes emerging data surrounding the roles of Rac1 and RhoA as cytoskeletal regulators and examines how these new data have led to a revision of the traditional dogma which placed Rac1 and RhoA in antagonistic pathways. This more recent evidence suggests that rather than absolute activity levels, it is the tight spatiotemporal regulation of Rac1 and RhoA across multiple roles, from oppositional to complementary, that is necessary to execute coordinated cytoskeletal processes affecting cell structure, function, and migration. We focus on how Kalirin and Trio, as dual GEFs that target Rac1 and RhoA, are uniquely designed to provide the spatiotemporally-precise shifts in Rac/Rho balance which mediate changes in neuronal structure and function, particularly by way of cytoskeletal rearrangements. Finally, we review how alterations in Trio and/or Kalirin function are associated with cellular abnormalities and neuropsychiatric disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Grubisha
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - R A DeGiosio
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Z P Wills
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - R A Sweet
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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8
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Lehman NL, Spassky N, Sak M, Webb A, Zumbar CT, Usubalieva A, Alkhateeb KJ, McElroy JP, Maclean KH, Fadda P, Liu T, Gangalapudi V, Carver J, Abdullaev Z, Timmers C, Parker JR, Pierson CR, Mobley BC, Gokden M, Hattab EM, Parrett T, Cooke RX, Lehman TD, Costinean S, Parwani A, Williams BJ, Jensen RL, Aldape K, Mistry AM. Astroblastomas exhibit radial glia stem cell lineages and differential expression of imprinted and X-inactivation escape genes. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2083. [PMID: 35440587 PMCID: PMC9018799 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29302-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Astroblastomas (ABs) are rare brain tumors of unknown origin. We performed an integrative genetic and epigenetic analysis of AB-like tumors. Here, we show that tumors traceable to neural stem/progenitor cells (radial glia) that emerge during early to later brain development occur in children and young adults, respectively. Tumors with MN1-BEND2 fusion appear to present exclusively in females and exhibit overexpression of genes expressed prior to 25 post-conception weeks (pcw), including genes enriched in early ventricular zone radial glia and ependymal tumors. Other, histologically classic ABs overexpress or harbor mutations of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway genes, outer and truncated radial glia genes, and genes expressed after 25 pcw, including neuronal and astrocyte markers. Findings support that AB-like tumors arise in the context of epigenetic and genetic changes in neural progenitors. Selective gene fusion, variable imprinting and/or chromosome X-inactivation escape resulting in biallelic overexpression may contribute to female predominance of AB molecular subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norman L Lehman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
- The Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
| | - Nathalie Spassky
- Institut de Biologie de l'ENS (IBENS), Inserm, CNRS, École Normale Supérieure, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Müge Sak
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Amy Webb
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Cory T Zumbar
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Aisulu Usubalieva
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Khaled J Alkhateeb
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Joseph P McElroy
- Center for Biostatistics, Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | | | - Paolo Fadda
- Department of Cancer Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Tom Liu
- Solid Tumor Translational Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Vineela Gangalapudi
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Jamie Carver
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Zied Abdullaev
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Cynthia Timmers
- Solid Tumor Translational Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - John R Parker
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Christopher R Pierson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Bret C Mobley
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Murat Gokden
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Services, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Eyas M Hattab
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Timothy Parrett
- Department of Pathology and Anatomic Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA
| | - Ralph X Cooke
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Trang D Lehman
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Contra Costa County Health System, Martinez, CA, 94553, USA
| | - Stefan Costinean
- Department of Pathology, Banner Gateway Medical Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Tempe, AZ, 85284, USA
| | - Anil Parwani
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Brian J Williams
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Randy L Jensen
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
| | - Kenneth Aldape
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Akshitkumar M Mistry
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
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9
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Abstract
The cognitive dysfunction experienced by patients with schizophrenia represents a major unmet clinical need. We believe that enhancing synaptic function and plasticity by targeting kalirin may provide a novel means to remediate these symptoms. Karilin (a protein encoded by the KALRN gene) has multiple functional domains, including two Dbl homology (DH) guanine exchange factor (GEF) domains, which act to enhance the activity of the Rho family guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-ases. Here, we provide an overview of kalirin's roles in brain function and its therapeutic potential in schizophrenia. We outline how it mediates diverse effects via a suite of distinct isoforms that couple to members of the Rho GTPase family to regulate synapse formation and stabilisation, and how genomic and post-mortem data implicate it in schizophrenia. We then review the current state of knowledge about the influence of kalirin on brain function at a systems level, based largely on evidence from transgenic mouse models, which support its proposed role in regulating dendritic spine function and plasticity. We demonstrate that, whilst the GTPases are classically considered to be 'undruggable', targeting kalirin and other Rho GEFs provides a means to indirectly modulate their activity. Finally, we integrate across the information presented to assess the therapeutic potential of kalirin for schizophrenia and highlight the key outstanding questions required to advance it in this capacity; namely, the need for more information about the diversity and function of its isoforms, how these change across neurodevelopment, and how they affect brain function in vivo.
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10
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Grubisha MJ, Sun T, Eisenman L, Erickson SL, Chou S, Helmer CD, Trudgen MT, Ding Y, Homanics GE, Penzes P, Wills ZP, Sweet RA. A Kalirin missense mutation enhances dendritic RhoA signaling and leads to regression of cortical dendritic arbors across development. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2022546118. [PMID: 34848542 PMCID: PMC8694055 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2022546118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Normally, dendritic size is established prior to adolescence and then remains relatively constant into adulthood due to a homeostatic balance between growth and retraction pathways. However, schizophrenia is characterized by accelerated reductions of cerebral cortex gray matter volume and onset of clinical symptoms during adolescence, with reductions in layer 3 pyramidal neuron dendritic length, complexity, and spine density identified in multiple cortical regions postmortem. Nogo receptor 1 (NGR1) activation of the GTPase RhoA is a major pathway restricting dendritic growth in the cerebral cortex. We show that the NGR1 pathway is stimulated by OMGp and requires the Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor Kalirin-9 (KAL9). Using a genetically encoded RhoA sensor, we demonstrate that a naturally occurring missense mutation in Kalrn, KAL-PT, that was identified in a schizophrenia cohort, confers enhanced RhoA activitation in neuronal dendrites compared to wild-type KAL. In mice containing this missense mutation at the endogenous locus, there is an adolescent-onset reduction in dendritic length and complexity of layer 3 pyramidal neurons in the primary auditory cortex. Spine density per unit length of dendrite is unaffected. Early adult mice with these structural deficits exhibited impaired detection of short gap durations. These findings provide a neuropsychiatric model of disease capturing how a mild genetic vulnerability may interact with normal developmental processes such that pathology only emerges around adolescence. This interplay between genetic susceptibility and normal adolescent development, both of which possess inherent individual variability, may contribute to heterogeneity seen in phenotypes in human neuropsychiatric disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie J Grubisha
- Department of Psychiatry, Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
| | - Tao Sun
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15261
| | - Leanna Eisenman
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261
| | - Susan L Erickson
- Department of Psychiatry, Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
| | - Shinnyi Chou
- Department of Psychiatry, Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
| | - Cassandra D Helmer
- Department of Psychiatry, Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
| | - Melody T Trudgen
- Department of Psychiatry, Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
| | - Ying Ding
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15261
| | - Gregg E Homanics
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261
| | - Peter Penzes
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611
| | - Zachary P Wills
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261
| | - Robert A Sweet
- Department of Psychiatry, Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213;
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
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11
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Parnell E, Shapiro LP, Voorn RA, Forrest MP, Jalloul HA, Loizzo DD, Penzes P. KALRN: A central regulator of synaptic function and synaptopathies. Gene 2020; 768:145306. [PMID: 33189799 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2020.145306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The synaptic regulator, kalirin, plays a key role in synaptic plasticity and formation of dendritic arbors and spines. Dysregulation of the KALRN gene has been linked to various neurological disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, addiction and intellectual disabilities. Both genetic and molecular studies highlight the importance of normal KALRN expression for healthy neurodevelopment and function. This review aims to give an in-depth analysis of the structure and molecular mechanisms of kalirin function, particularly within the brain. These data are correlated to genetic evidence of patient mutations within KALRN and animal models of Kalrn that together give insight into the manner in which this gene may be involved in neurodevelopment and the etiology of disease. The emerging links to human disease from post-mortem, genome wide association (GWAS) and exome sequencing studies are examined to highlight the disease relevance of kalirin, particularly in neurodevelopmental diseases. Finally, we will discuss efforts to pharmacologically regulate kalirin protein activity and the implications of such endeavors for the treatment of human disease. As multiple disease states arise from deregulated synapse formation and altered KALRN expression and function, therapeutics may be developed to provide control over KALRN activity and thus synapse dysregulation. As such, a detailed understanding of how kalirin regulates neuronal development, and the manner in which kalirin dysfunction promotes neurological disease, may support KALRN as a valuable therapeutic avenue for future pharmacological intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Euan Parnell
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, 60611 IL, USA
| | - Lauren P Shapiro
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, 60611 IL, USA
| | - Roos A Voorn
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, 60611 IL, USA
| | - Marc P Forrest
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, 60611 IL, USA
| | - Hiba A Jalloul
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, 60611 IL, USA
| | - Daniel D Loizzo
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, 60611 IL, USA
| | - Peter Penzes
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, 60611 IL, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, 60611 IL, USA; Northwestern University Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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12
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Nawa Y, Kimura H, Mori D, Kato H, Toyama M, Furuta S, Yu Y, Ishizuka K, Kushima I, Aleksic B, Arioka Y, Morikawa M, Okada T, Inada T, Kaibuchi K, Ikeda M, Iwata N, Suzuki M, Okahisa Y, Egawa J, Someya T, Nishimura F, Sasaki T, Ozaki N. Rare single-nucleotide DAB1 variants and their contribution to Schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder susceptibility. Hum Genome Var 2020; 7:37. [PMID: 33298905 PMCID: PMC7655853 DOI: 10.1038/s41439-020-00125-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Disabled 1 (DAB1) is an intracellular adaptor protein in the Reelin signaling pathway and plays an essential role in correct neuronal migration and layer formation in the developing brain. DAB1 has been repeatedly reported to be associated with neurodevelopmental disorders including schizophrenia (SCZ) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in genetic, animal, and postmortem studies. Recently, increasing attention has been given to rare single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) found by deep sequencing of candidate genes. In this study, we performed exon-targeted resequencing of DAB1 in 370 SCZ and 192 ASD patients using next-generation sequencing technology to identify rare SNVs with a minor allele frequency <1%. We detected two rare missense mutations (G382C, V129I) and then performed a genetic association study in a sample comprising 1763 SCZ, 380 ASD, and 2190 healthy control subjects. Although no statistically significant association with the detected mutations was observed for either SCZ or ASD, G382C was found only in the case group, and in silico analyses and in vitro functional assays suggested that G382C alters the function of the DAB1 protein. The rare variants of DAB1 found in the present study should be studied further to elucidate their potential functional relevance to the pathophysiology of SCZ and ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihiro Nawa
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Hiroki Kimura
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
| | - Daisuke Mori
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
- Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Hidekazu Kato
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Miho Toyama
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Sho Furuta
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yanjie Yu
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kanako Ishizuka
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Itaru Kushima
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
- Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Branko Aleksic
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yuko Arioka
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
- Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
- Center for Advanced Medicine and Clinical Research, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Mako Morikawa
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Takashi Okada
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Toshiya Inada
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kozo Kaibuchi
- Department of Cell Pharmacology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Masashi Ikeda
- Department of Psychiatry, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan
| | - Nakao Iwata
- Department of Psychiatry, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan
| | - Michio Suzuki
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, University of Toyama Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toyama, Japan
| | - Yuko Okahisa
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Jun Egawa
- Department of Psychiatry, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Someya
- Department of Psychiatry, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan
| | - Fumichika Nishimura
- Office for Mental Health Support, Center for Research on Counseling and Support Services, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tsukasa Sasaki
- Department of Physical and Health Education, Graduate School of Education, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Norio Ozaki
- Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
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13
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Mušo M, Dumbell R, Pulit S, Sinnott-Armstrong N, Laber S, Zolkiewski L, Bentley L, Claussnitzer M, Cox RD. A lead candidate functional single nucleotide polymorphism within the WARS2 gene associated with waist-hip-ratio does not alter RNA stability. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2020; 1863:194640. [PMID: 33007465 PMCID: PMC7695619 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2020.194640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
We have prioritised a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2645294 as one candidate functional SNP in the TBX15-WARS2 waist-hip-ratio locus using posterior probability analysis. This SNP is located in the 3' untranslated region of the WARS2 (tryptophanyl tRNA synthetase 2, mitochondrial) gene with which it has an expression quantitative trait in subcutaneous white adipose tissue. We show that transcripts of the WARS2 gene in a human white adipose cell line, heterozygous for the rs2645294 SNP, showed allelic imbalance. We tested whether the rs2645294 SNP altered WARS2 RNA stability using three different methods: actinomycin-D inhibition and RNA decay, mature and nascent RNA analysis and luciferase reporter assays. We found no evidence of a difference in RNA stability between the rs2645294 alleles indicating that the allelic expression imbalance was likely due to transcriptional regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milan Mušo
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Rebecca Dumbell
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Sara Pulit
- Department of Genetics, Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Center for Health Information and Discovery, Oxford University, Oxford, UK; Program in Medical Population Genetics, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Samantha Laber
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Louisa Zolkiewski
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Liz Bentley
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Melina Claussnitzer
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Gerontology Division, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Roger D Cox
- MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, UK.
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SULT4A1 Modulates Synaptic Development and Function by Promoting the Formation of PSD-95/NMDAR Complex. J Neurosci 2020; 40:7013-7026. [PMID: 32801157 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2194-19.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Sulfotransferase 4A1 (SULT4A1) is a cytosolic sulfotransferase that is highly conserved across species and extensively expressed in the brain. However, the biological function of SULT4A1 is unclear. SULT4A1 has been implicated in several neuropsychiatric disorders, such as Phelan-McDermid syndrome and schizophrenia. Here, we investigate the role of SULT4A1 within neuron development and function. Our data demonstrate that SULT4A1 modulates neuronal branching complexity and dendritic spines formation. Moreover, we show that SULT4A1, by negatively regulating the catalytic activity of Pin1 toward PSD-95, facilitates NMDAR synaptic expression and function. Finally, we demonstrate that the pharmacological inhibition of Pin1 reverses the pathologic phenotypes of neurons knocked down by SULT4A1 by specifically restoring dendritic spine density and rescuing NMDAR-mediated synaptic transmission. Together, these findings identify SULT4A1 as a novel player in neuron development and function by modulating dendritic morphology and synaptic activity.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Sulfotransferase 4A1 (SULT4A1) is a brain-specific sulfotransferase highly expressed in neurons. Different evidence has suggested that SULT4A1 has an important role in neuronal function and that SULT4A1 altered expression might represent a contributing factor in multiple neurodevelopmental disorders. However, the function of SULT4A1 in the mammalian brain is still unclear. Here, we demonstrate that SULT4A1 is highly expressed at postsynaptic sites where it sequesters Pin1, preventing its negative action on synaptic transmission. This study reveals a novel role of SULT4A1 in the modulation of NMDA receptor activity and strongly contributes to explaining the neuronal dysfunction observed in patients carrying deletions of SULTA41 gene.
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15
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Cai X, Yang ZH, Li HJ, Xiao X, Li M, Chang H. A Human-Specific Schizophrenia Risk Tandem Repeat Affects Alternative Splicing of a Human-Unique Isoform AS3MTd2d3 and Mushroom Dendritic Spine Density. Schizophr Bull 2020; 47:219-227. [PMID: 32662510 PMCID: PMC7825093 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbaa098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in functional genomics have facilitated the identification of multiple genes and isoforms associated with the genetic risk of schizophrenia, yet the causal variations remain largely unclear. A previous study reported that the schizophrenia risk single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs7085104 at 10q24.32 was in high linkage disequilibrium (LD) with a human-specific variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR), and both were significantly associated with the brain mRNA expression of a human-unique AS3MTd2d3 isoform in Europeans and African Americans. In this study, we have shown the direct regulation of the AS3MTd2d3 mRNA expression by this VNTR through an in vitro minigene splicing assay, suggesting that it is likely a causative functional variation. Intriguingly, we have further confirmed that the VNTR and rs7085104 are significantly associated with AS3MTd2d3 mRNA expression in brains of Han Chinese donors, and rs7085104 is also associated with risk of schizophrenia in East Asians. Finally, the overexpression of AS3MTd2d3 in cultured primary hippocampal neurons results in significantly reduced densities of mushroom dendritic spines, implicating its potential functional impact. Considering the crucial roles of dendritic spines in neuroplasticity, these results reveal the potential regulatory impact of the schizophrenia risk VNTR on AS3MTd2d3 and provide insights into the underlying biological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Cai
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Zhi-Hui Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Hui-Juan Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiao Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Ming Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China,KIZ/CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China,CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China,To whom correspondence should be addressed; Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, NO 32 Jiao-Chang Donglu, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China; tel: +86-871-65190612, fax: +86-871-65190612, e-mail:
| | - Hong Chang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
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16
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Forrer Charlier C, Martins RAP. Protective Mechanisms Against DNA Replication Stress in the Nervous System. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:E730. [PMID: 32630049 PMCID: PMC7397197 DOI: 10.3390/genes11070730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The precise replication of DNA and the successful segregation of chromosomes are essential for the faithful transmission of genetic information during the cell cycle. Alterations in the dynamics of genome replication, also referred to as DNA replication stress, may lead to DNA damage and, consequently, mutations and chromosomal rearrangements. Extensive research has revealed that DNA replication stress drives genome instability during tumorigenesis. Over decades, genetic studies of inherited syndromes have established a connection between the mutations in genes required for proper DNA repair/DNA damage responses and neurological diseases. It is becoming clear that both the prevention and the responses to replication stress are particularly important for nervous system development and function. The accurate regulation of cell proliferation is key for the expansion of progenitor pools during central nervous system (CNS) development, adult neurogenesis, and regeneration. Moreover, DNA replication stress in glial cells regulates CNS tumorigenesis and plays a role in neurodegenerative diseases such as ataxia telangiectasia (A-T). Here, we review how replication stress generation and replication stress response (RSR) contribute to the CNS development, homeostasis, and disease. Both cell-autonomous mechanisms, as well as the evidence of RSR-mediated alterations of the cellular microenvironment in the nervous system, were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rodrigo A. P. Martins
- Programa de Biologia Celular e do Desenvolvimento, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil;
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17
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Paskus JD, Herring BE, Roche KW. Kalirin and Trio: RhoGEFs in Synaptic Transmission, Plasticity, and Complex Brain Disorders. Trends Neurosci 2020; 43:505-518. [PMID: 32513570 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2020.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Changes in the actin cytoskeleton are a primary mechanism mediating the morphological and functional plasticity that underlies learning and memory. The synaptic Ras homologous (Rho) guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) Kalirin and Trio have emerged as central regulators of actin dynamics at the synapse. The increased attention surrounding Kalirin and Trio stems from the growing evidence for their roles in the etiology of a wide range of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. In this Review, we discuss recent findings revealing the unique and diverse functions of these paralog proteins in neurodevelopment, excitatory synaptic transmission, and plasticity. We additionally survey the growing literature implicating these proteins in various neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremiah D Paskus
- Receptor Biology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Bruce E Herring
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Katherine W Roche
- Receptor Biology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA.
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18
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Xiang B, Yang J, Zhang J, Yu M, Huang C, He W, Lei W, Chen J, Liu K. The role of genes affected by human evolution marker GNA13 in schizophrenia. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2020; 98:109764. [PMID: 31676466 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2019.109764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Revised: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Numerous variants associated with increased risk for SCZ have undergone positive selection and were associated with human brain development, but which brain regions and developmental stages were influenced by the positive selection for SCZ risk alleles are unclear. We analyzed SCZ using summary statistics from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC). Machine-learning scores were used to investigate two natural-selection scenarios: complete selection (loci where a selected allele has reached fixation) and incomplete selection (loci where a selected allele has not yet reached fixation). Based on the p value of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with selection scores in the top 5%, we formed five subgroups: p < 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01, 0.05, or 0.1. We found that 48 and 29 genes (p < 0.0001) in complete and incomplete selection, respectively, were enrichedfor the transcriptionalco-expressionprofilein theprenatal dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DFC), inferior parietal cortex (IPC), and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VFC). Core genes (GNA13, TBC1D19, and ZMYM4) involved in regulating early brain development were identified in these three brain regions. RNA sequencing for primary cortical neurons that were transfected Gna13 overexpressed lentivirus demonstrated that 135 gene expression levels changed in the Gna13 overexpressed groups compared with the controls. Gene-set analysis identified important associations among common variants of these 13 genes, which were associated with neurodevelopment and putamen volume [p = 0.031; family-wise error correction (FWEC)], SCZ (p = 0.022; FWEC). The study indicate that certain SCZ risk alleles were likely to undergo positive selection during human evolution due to their involvement in the development of prenatal DFC, IPC and VFC, and suggest that SCZ is related to abnormal neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Xiang
- Department of Psychiatry, Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China.
| | - Juanjuan Yang
- Department of cell Biology, School of Biology and Basic Medical, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Minglan Yu
- Medical Laboratory Center, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Chaohua Huang
- Department of Psychiatry, Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Wenying He
- Department of Psychiatry, Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Wei Lei
- Department of Psychiatry, Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Kezhi Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China.
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19
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The genome-wide risk alleles for psychiatric disorders at 3p21.1 show convergent effects on mRNA expression, cognitive function, and mushroom dendritic spine. Mol Psychiatry 2020; 25:48-66. [PMID: 31723243 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0592-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Revised: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (BPD) are believed to share clinical features, etiological factors, and disease pathologies (such as impaired cognitive functions and dendritic spine pathology). Meanwhile, there is growing evidence of shared genetic risk between schizophrenia and BPD, despite that our knowledge of the functional risk variations and biological mechanisms is still limited. Here, we conduct summary data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) analyses through combining the statistical data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of both schizophrenia and BPD and multiple expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) datasets of the human brain dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) tissues. These integrative investigations identify a lead risk locus at the chromosome 3p21.1 region, which contains numerous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in varied linkage disequilibrium (LD) and encompasses more than 20 genes. Further analyses suggest that many SNPs at 3p21.1 are significantly associated with both schizophrenia and BPD, and even depression, and the psychiatric risk alleles at 3p21.1 are correlated with mRNA expression of multiple genes such as NEK4, GNL3, and PBRM1. We also identify a 335-bp functional Alu polymorphism rs71052682 in significant LD with the psychiatric GWAS risk SNP rs2251219, and confirm the regulatory effects of this Alu polymorphism on transcription activities. We then explore the involvement of the 3p21.1 locus in the common clinical features and etiology of these illnesses. We reveal that psychiatric risk alleles at 3p21.1 in low-to-high LD consistently predict worse cognitive functions in humans, and manipulating the gene expression (NEK4, GNL3, and PBRM1) linked with higher genetic risk could reduce the density of mushroom dendritic spines in rat primary cortical neurons, mirroring the spine pathology in the prefrontal cortex of psychiatric patients. Our results find that, although the risk alleles at 3p21.1 are in low-to-moderate LD spanning a large genomic area, their underlying biological mechanisms in psychiatric disorders likely converge. These results provide essential insights into the neural mechanisms underlying the chromosome 3p21.1 risk locus in the shared pathological and etiological features of both schizophrenia and BPD.
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20
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Abstract
The structure of neuronal circuits that subserve cognitive functions in the brain is shaped and refined throughout development and into adulthood. Evidence from human and animal studies suggests that the cellular and synaptic substrates of these circuits are atypical in neuropsychiatric disorders, indicating that altered structural plasticity may be an important part of the disease biology. Advances in genetics have redefined our understanding of neuropsychiatric disorders and have revealed a spectrum of risk factors that impact pathways known to influence structural plasticity. In this Review, we discuss the importance of recent genetic findings on the different mechanisms of structural plasticity and propose that these converge on shared pathways that can be targeted with novel therapeutics.
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Lima Caldeira G, Peça J, Carvalho AL. New insights on synaptic dysfunction in neuropsychiatric disorders. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2019; 57:62-70. [PMID: 30743178 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2019.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 01/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Growing evidence implicates synaptic proteins in the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability (ID) and schizophrenia. In fact, mutations in genes encoding synaptic proteins are enriched and overlap among different conditions highlighting the complex and pleiotropic nature of these disorders. In this review, we discuss recently described candidate genes that affect excitatory synapse function and result in changes in spine number and morphology. Spine pathology has been observed in several animal models of disease and in human brain post-mortem samples from ID, ASD, and schizophrenia patients. Recent data point to convergent mechanisms, such as dysregulation of the actin cytoskeleton and dysfunction of microglia synaptic remodeling, underlying dendritic spine dysgenesis. Interestingly, the reversion of important pathologic features, including spine abnormalities, has been observed in adult animal models of neuropsychiatric disorders, suggesting that therapies may not be restricted to a specific developmental window. Shedding light on the specific mechanisms impacted in neuropsychiatric disorders will undeniably contribute to the development of more directed and personalized therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gladys Lima Caldeira
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; IIIUC-Interdisciplinary Research Institute, University of Coimbra, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - João Peça
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; IIIUC-Interdisciplinary Research Institute, University of Coimbra, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Luísa Carvalho
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal.
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Both rare and common genetic variants contribute to autism in the Faroe Islands. NPJ Genom Med 2019; 4:1. [PMID: 30675382 PMCID: PMC6341098 DOI: 10.1038/s41525-018-0075-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The number of genes associated with autism is increasing, but few studies have been performed on epidemiological cohorts and in isolated populations. Here, we investigated 357 individuals from the Faroe Islands including 36 individuals with autism, 136 of their relatives and 185 non-autism controls. Data from SNP array and whole exome sequencing revealed that individuals with autism had a higher burden of rare exonic copy-number variants altering autism associated genes (deletions (p = 0.0352) or duplications (p = 0.0352)), higher inbreeding status (p = 0.023) and a higher load of rare homozygous deleterious variants (p = 0.011) compared to controls. Our analysis supports the role of several genes/loci associated with autism (e.g., NRXN1, ADNP, 22q11 deletion) and identified new truncating (e.g., GRIK2, ROBO1, NINL, and IMMP2L) or recessive deleterious variants (e.g., KIRREL3 and CNTNAP2) affecting autism-associated genes. It also revealed three genes involved in synaptic plasticity, RIMS4, KALRN, and PLA2G4A, carrying de novo deleterious variants in individuals with autism without intellectual disability. In summary, our analysis provides a better understanding of the genetic architecture of autism in isolated populations by highlighting the role of both common and rare gene variants and pointing at new autism-risk genes. It also indicates that more knowledge about how multiple genetic hits affect neuronal function will be necessary to fully understand the genetic architecture of autism.
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Powell TR. Translating Schizophrenia Population Genetics Findings to Neurobiological Mechanisms: The Case of KALRN-9. Biol Psychiatry 2018; 83:e41-e42. [PMID: 29429502 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy R Powell
- King's College London, Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, London, United Kingdom.
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