1
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Her Y, Pascual DM, Goldstone-Joubert Z, Marcogliese PC. Variant functional assessment in Drosophila by overexpression: what can we learn? Genome 2024; 67:158-167. [PMID: 38412472 DOI: 10.1139/gen-2023-0135] [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] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
The last decade has been highlighted by the increased use of next-generation DNA sequencing technology to identify novel human disease genes. A critical downstream part of this process is assigning function to a candidate gene variant. Functional studies in Drosophila melanogaster, the common fruit fly, have made a prominent contribution in annotating variant impact in an in vivo system. The use of patient-derived knock-in flies or rescue-based, "humanization", approaches are novel and valuable strategies in variant testing but have been recently widely reviewed. An often-overlooked strategy for determining variant impact has been GAL4/upstream activation sequence-mediated tissue-defined overexpression in Drosophila. This mini-review will summarize the recent contribution of ectopic overexpression of human reference and variant cDNA in Drosophila to assess variant function, interpret the consequence of the variant, and in some cases infer biological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yina Her
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Danielle M Pascual
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Zoe Goldstone-Joubert
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Paul C Marcogliese
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Excellence in Neurodevelopment and Rehabilitation Research in Child Health (ENRRICH) Theme, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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2
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Yamamoto S, Kanca O, Wangler MF, Bellen HJ. Integrating non-mammalian model organisms in the diagnosis of rare genetic diseases in humans. Nat Rev Genet 2024; 25:46-60. [PMID: 37491400 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-023-00633-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Next-generation sequencing technology has rapidly accelerated the discovery of genetic variants of interest in individuals with rare diseases. However, showing that these variants are causative of the disease in question is complex and may require functional studies. Use of non-mammalian model organisms - mainly fruitflies (Drosophila melanogaster), nematode worms (Caenorhabditis elegans) and zebrafish (Danio rerio) - enables the rapid and cost-effective assessment of the effects of gene variants, which can then be validated in mammalian model organisms such as mice and in human cells. By probing mechanisms of gene action and identifying interacting genes and proteins in vivo, recent studies in these non-mammalian model organisms have facilitated the diagnosis of numerous genetic diseases and have enabled the screening and identification of therapeutic options for patients. Studies in non-mammalian model organisms have also shown that the biological processes underlying rare diseases can provide insight into more common mechanisms of disease and the biological functions of genes. Here, we discuss the opportunities afforded by non-mammalian model organisms, focusing on flies, worms and fish, and provide examples of their use in the diagnosis of rare genetic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinya Yamamoto
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Oguz Kanca
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Michael F Wangler
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Hugo J Bellen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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3
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Driss LB, Lian J, Walker RG, Howard JA, Thompson TB, Rubin LL, Wagers AJ, Lee RT. GDF11 and aging biology - controversies resolved and pending. THE JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR AGING 2023; 3:42. [PMID: 38235060 PMCID: PMC10793994 DOI: 10.20517/jca.2023.23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Since the exogenous administration of GDF11, a TGF-ß superfamily member, was reported to have beneficial effects in some models of human disease, there have been many research studies in GDF11 biology. However, many studies have now confirmed that exogenous administration of GDF11 can improve physiology in disease models, including cardiac fibrosis, experimental stroke, and disordered metabolism. GDF11 is similar to GDF8 (also called Myostatin), differing only by 11 amino acids in their mature signaling domains. These two proteins are now known to be biochemically different both in vitro and in vivo. GDF11 is much more potent than GDF8 and induces more strongly SMAD2 phosphorylation in the myocardium compared to GDF8. GDF8 and GDF11 prodomain are only 52% identical and are cleaved by different Tolloid proteases to liberate the mature signaling domain from inhibition of the prodomain. Here, we review the state of GDF11 biology, highlighting both resolved and remaining controversies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Ben Driss
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - John Lian
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Ryan G. Walker
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - James A. Howard
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Thomas B. Thompson
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Lee L. Rubin
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Amy J. Wagers
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging, Harvard Medical School, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Richard T. Lee
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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4
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Shao Y, Wang Y, Xu J, Yuan Y, Xing D. Growth differentiation factor 11: A new hope for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2023; 71-72:82-93. [PMID: 37414617 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2023.06.007] [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: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) is a member of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily that has garnered significant attention due to its anti-cardiac aging properties. Many studies have revealed that GDF11 plays an indispensable role in the onset of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Consequently, it has emerged as a potential target and novel therapeutic agent for CVD treatment. However, currently, no literature reviews comprehensively summarize the research on GDF11 in the context of CVDs. Therefore, herein, we comprehensively described GDF11's structure, function, and signaling in various tissues. Furthermore, we focused on the latest findings concerning its involvement in CVD development and its potential for clinical translation as a CVD treatment. We aim to provide a theoretical basis for the prospects and future research directions of the GDF11 application regarding CVDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingchun Shao
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Yanhong Wang
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Jiazhen Xu
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Yang Yuan
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Dongming Xing
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao 266071, China; School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
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5
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Lian J, Walker RG, D'Amico A, Vujic A, Mills MJ, Messemer KA, Mendello KR, Goldstein JM, Leacock KA, Epp S, Stimpfl EV, Thompson TB, Wagers AJ, Lee RT. Functional substitutions of amino acids that differ between GDF11 and GDF8 impact skeletal development and skeletal muscle. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:e202201662. [PMID: 36631218 PMCID: PMC9834663 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) and GDF8 (MSTN) are closely related TGF-β family proteins that interact with nearly identical signaling receptors and antagonists. However, GDF11 appears to activate SMAD2/3 more potently than GDF8 in vitro and in vivo. The ligands possess divergent structural properties, whereby substituting unique GDF11 amino acids into GDF8 enhanced the activity of the resulting chimeric GDF8. We investigated potentially distinct endogenous activities of GDF11 and GDF8 in vivo by genetically modifying their mature signaling domains. Full recoding of GDF8 to that of GDF11 yielded mice lacking GDF8, with GDF11 levels ∼50-fold higher than normal, and exhibiting modestly decreased muscle mass, with no apparent negative impacts on health or survival. Substitution of two specific amino acids in the fingertip region of GDF11 with the corresponding GDF8 residues resulted in prenatal axial skeletal transformations, consistent with Gdf11-deficient mice, without apparent perturbation of skeletal or cardiac muscle development or homeostasis. These experiments uncover distinctive features between the GDF11 and GDF8 mature domains in vivo and identify a specific requirement for GDF11 in early-stage skeletal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Lian
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ryan G Walker
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Andrea D'Amico
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ana Vujic
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Melanie J Mills
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kathleen A Messemer
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kourtney R Mendello
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jill M Goldstein
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Krystynne A Leacock
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Soraya Epp
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Emma V Stimpfl
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Thomas B Thompson
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Amy J Wagers
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Richard T Lee
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
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6
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Bajikar SS, Anderson AG, Zhou J, Durham MA, Trostle AJ, Wan YW, Liu Z, Zoghbi HY. MeCP2 regulates Gdf11, a dosage-sensitive gene critical for neurological function. eLife 2023; 12:e83806. [PMID: 36848184 PMCID: PMC9977283 DOI: 10.7554/elife.83806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Loss- and gain-of-function of MeCP2 causes Rett syndrome (RTT) and MECP2 duplication syndrome (MDS), respectively. MeCP2 binds methyl-cytosines to finely tune gene expression in the brain, but identifying genes robustly regulated by MeCP2 has been difficult. By integrating multiple transcriptomics datasets, we revealed that MeCP2 finely regulates growth differentiation factor 11 (Gdf11). Gdf11 is down-regulated in RTT mouse models and, conversely, up-regulated in MDS mouse models. Strikingly, genetically normalizing Gdf11 dosage levels improved several behavioral deficits in a mouse model of MDS. Next, we discovered that losing one copy of Gdf11 alone was sufficient to cause multiple neurobehavioral deficits in mice, most notably hyperactivity and decreased learning and memory. This decrease in learning and memory was not due to changes in proliferation or numbers of progenitor cells in the hippocampus. Lastly, loss of one copy of Gdf11 decreased survival in mice, corroborating its putative role in aging. Our data demonstrate that Gdf11 dosage is important for brain function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sameer S Bajikar
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
| | - Ashley G Anderson
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
| | - Jian Zhou
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
| | - Mark A Durham
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - Alexander J Trostle
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - Ying-Wooi Wan
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
| | - Zhandong Liu
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - Huda Y Zoghbi
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
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7
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Lu S, Ma M, Mao X, Bacino CA, Jankovic J, Sutton VR, Bartley JA, Wang X, Rosenfeld JA, Beleza-Meireles A, Chauhan J, Pan X, Li M, Liu P, Prescott K, Amin S, Davies G, Wangler MF, Dai Y, Bellen HJ. De novo variants in FRMD5 are associated with developmental delay, intellectual disability, ataxia, and abnormalities of eye movement. Am J Hum Genet 2022; 109:1932-1943. [PMID: 36206744 PMCID: PMC9606480 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2022.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteins containing the FERM (four-point-one, ezrin, radixin, and moesin) domain link the plasma membrane with cytoskeletal structures at specific cellular locations and have been implicated in the localization of cell-membrane-associated proteins and/or phosphoinositides. FERM domain-containing protein 5 (FRMD5) localizes at cell adherens junctions and stabilizes cell-cell contacts. To date, variants in FRMD5 have not been associated with a Mendelian disease in OMIM. Here, we describe eight probands with rare heterozygous missense variants in FRMD5 who present with developmental delay, intellectual disability, ataxia, seizures, and abnormalities of eye movement. The variants are de novo in all for whom parental testing was available (six out of eight probands), and human genetic datasets suggest that FRMD5 is intolerant to loss of function (LoF). We found that the fly ortholog of FRMD5, CG5022 (dFrmd), is expressed in the larval and adult central nervous systems where it is present in neurons but not in glia. dFrmd LoF mutant flies are viable but are extremely sensitive to heat shock, which induces severe seizures. The mutants also exhibit defective responses to light. The human FRMD5 reference (Ref) cDNA rescues the fly dFrmd LoF phenotypes. In contrast, all the FRMD5 variants tested in this study (c.340T>C, c.1051A>G, c.1053C>G, c.1054T>C, c.1045A>C, and c.1637A>G) behave as partial LoF variants. In addition, our results indicate that two variants that were tested have dominant-negative effects. In summary, the evidence supports that the observed variants in FRMD5 cause neurological symptoms in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shenzhao Lu
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Mengqi Ma
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xiao Mao
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory for Birth Defect Research and Prevention, Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; Department of Medical Genetics, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Carlos A Bacino
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Joseph Jankovic
- Parkinson's Disease Center and Movement Disorders Clinic, Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - V Reid Sutton
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - James A Bartley
- Loma Linda University Children's Hospital, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Xueying Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710004, China
| | - Jill A Rosenfeld
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Baylor Genetics Laboratories, Houston, TX 77021, USA
| | - Ana Beleza-Meireles
- Clinical Genetics Department, St Michael's Hospital, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston, Bristol BS1 3NU, UK
| | - Jaynee Chauhan
- Yorkshire Regional Genetics Service, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds LS7 4SA, UK
| | - Xueyang Pan
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Megan Li
- Invitae, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA
| | - Pengfei Liu
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Baylor Genetics Laboratories, Houston, TX 77021, USA
| | - Katrina Prescott
- Yorkshire Regional Genetics Service, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds LS7 4SA, UK
| | - Sam Amin
- Paediatric Neurology Department, Bristol Royal Pediatric Hospital, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston, Bristol BS1 3NU, UK
| | | | - Michael F Wangler
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yuwei Dai
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory for Birth Defect Research and Prevention, Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China.
| | - Hugo J Bellen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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8
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Harnish JM, Li L, Rogic S, Poirier-Morency G, Kim SY, Boycott KM, Wangler MF, Bellen HJ, Hieter P, Pavlidis P, Liu Z, Yamamoto S. ModelMatcher: A scientist-centric online platform to facilitate collaborations between stakeholders of rare and undiagnosed disease research. Hum Mutat 2022; 43:743-759. [PMID: 35224820 PMCID: PMC9133126 DOI: 10.1002/humu.24364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Next-generation sequencing is a prevalent diagnostic tool for undiagnosed diseases and has played a significant role in rare disease gene discovery. Although this technology resolves some cases, others are given a list of possibly damaging genetic variants necessitating functional studies. Productive collaborations between scientists, clinicians, and patients (affected individuals) can help resolve such medical mysteries and provide insights into in vivo function of human genes. Furthermore, facilitating interactions between scientists and research funders, including nonprofit organizations or commercial entities, can dramatically reduce the time to translate discoveries from bench to bedside. Several systems designed to connect clinicians and researchers with a shared gene of interest have been successful. However, these platforms exclude some stakeholders based on their role or geography. Here we describe ModelMatcher, a global online matchmaking tool designed to facilitate cross-disciplinary collaborations, especially between scientists and other stakeholders of rare and undiagnosed disease research. ModelMatcher is integrated into the Rare Diseases Models and Mechanisms Network and Matchmaker Exchange, allowing users to identify potential collaborators in other registries. This living database decreases the time from when a scientist or clinician is making discoveries regarding their genes of interest, to when they identify collaborators and sponsors to facilitate translational and therapeutic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Michael Harnish
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Lucian Li
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, BCM, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Sanja Rogic
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Guillaume Poirier-Morency
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Seon-Young Kim
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, BCM, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | | | - Kym M. Boycott
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H8L1, Canada
| | - Michael F. Wangler
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Development, Disease Models & Therapeutics Graduate Program, BCM, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Hugo J. Bellen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Development, Disease Models & Therapeutics Graduate Program, BCM, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, BCM, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Philip Hieter
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Paul Pavlidis
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Zhandong Liu
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, BCM, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Quantitative and Computational Biosciences Graduate Program, BCM, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Shinya Yamamoto
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Development, Disease Models & Therapeutics Graduate Program, BCM, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, BCM, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
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9
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Lu S, Hernan R, Marcogliese PC, Huang Y, Gertler TS, Akcaboy M, Liu S, Chung HL, Pan X, Sun X, Oguz MM, Oztoprak U, de Baaij JH, Ivanisevic J, McGinnis E, Guillen Sacoto MJ, Chung WK, Bellen HJ. Loss-of-function variants in TIAM1 are associated with developmental delay, intellectual disability, and seizures. Am J Hum Genet 2022; 109:571-586. [PMID: 35240055 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2022.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
TIAM Rac1-associated GEF 1 (TIAM1) regulates RAC1 signaling pathways that affect the control of neuronal morphogenesis and neurite outgrowth by modulating the actin cytoskeletal network. To date, TIAM1 has not been associated with a Mendelian disorder. Here, we describe five individuals with bi-allelic TIAM1 missense variants who have developmental delay, intellectual disability, speech delay, and seizures. Bioinformatic analyses demonstrate that these variants are rare and likely pathogenic. We found that the Drosophila ortholog of TIAM1, still life (sif), is expressed in larval and adult central nervous system (CNS) and is mainly expressed in a subset of neurons, but not in glia. Loss of sif reduces the survival rate, and the surviving adults exhibit climbing defects, are prone to severe seizures, and have a short lifespan. The TIAM1 reference (Ref) cDNA partially rescues the sif loss-of-function (LoF) phenotypes. We also assessed the function associated with three TIAM1 variants carried by two of the probands and compared them to the TIAM1 Ref cDNA function in vivo. TIAM1 p.Arg23Cys has reduced rescue ability when compared to TIAM1 Ref, suggesting that it is a partial LoF variant. In ectopic expression studies, both wild-type sif and TIAM1 Ref are toxic, whereas the three variants (p.Leu862Phe, p.Arg23Cys, and p.Gly328Val) show reduced toxicity, suggesting that they are partial LoF variants. In summary, we provide evidence that sif is important for appropriate neural function and that TIAM1 variants observed in the probands are disruptive, thus implicating loss of TIAM1 in neurological phenotypes in humans.
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Marcogliese PC, Deal SL, Andrews J, Harnish JM, Bhavana VH, Graves HK, Jangam S, Luo X, Liu N, Bei D, Chao YH, Hull B, Lee PT, Pan H, Bhadane P, Huang MC, Longley CM, Chao HT, Chung HL, Haelterman NA, Kanca O, Manivannan SN, Rossetti LZ, German RJ, Gerard A, Schwaibold EMC, Fehr S, Guerrini R, Vetro A, England E, Murali CN, Barakat TS, van Dooren MF, Wilke M, van Slegtenhorst M, Lesca G, Sabatier I, Chatron N, Brownstein CA, Madden JA, Agrawal PB, Keren B, Courtin T, Perrin L, Brugger M, Roser T, Leiz S, Mau-Them FT, Delanne J, Sukarova-Angelovska E, Trajkova S, Rosenhahn E, Strehlow V, Platzer K, Keller R, Pavinato L, Brusco A, Rosenfeld JA, Marom R, Wangler MF, Yamamoto S. Drosophila functional screening of de novo variants in autism uncovers damaging variants and facilitates discovery of rare neurodevelopmental diseases. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110517. [PMID: 35294868 PMCID: PMC8983390 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit an increased burden of de novo mutations (DNMs) in a broadening range of genes. While these studies have implicated hundreds of genes in ASD pathogenesis, which DNMs cause functional consequences in vivo remains unclear. We functionally test the effects of ASD missense DNMs using Drosophila through "humanization" rescue and overexpression-based strategies. We examine 79 ASD variants in 74 genes identified in the Simons Simplex Collection and find 38% of them to cause functional alterations. Moreover, we identify GLRA2 as the cause of a spectrum of neurodevelopmental phenotypes beyond ASD in 13 previously undiagnosed subjects. Functional characterization of variants in ASD candidate genes points to conserved neurobiological mechanisms and facilitates gene discovery for rare neurodevelopmental diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul C Marcogliese
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Samantha L Deal
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Program in Developmental Biology, BCM, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jonathan Andrews
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - J Michael Harnish
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - V Hemanjani Bhavana
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hillary K Graves
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sharayu Jangam
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xi Luo
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, BCM, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ning Liu
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Baylor Genetics Laboratories, Houston, TX 77021, USA
| | - Danqing Bei
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yu-Hsin Chao
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Brooke Hull
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Pei-Tseng Lee
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hongling Pan
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Pradnya Bhadane
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Mei-Chu Huang
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Colleen M Longley
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Program in Developmental Biology, BCM, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hsiao-Tuan Chao
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, BCM, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Neuroscience, BCM, Houston, TX 77030, USA; McNair Medical Institute, The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation, Houston, TX 77030, USA; TCH, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Development, Disease Models & Therapeutics Graduate Program, BCM, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hyung-Lok Chung
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Nele A Haelterman
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Oguz Kanca
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sathiya N Manivannan
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Linda Z Rossetti
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ryan J German
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Amanda Gerard
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; TCH, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Sarah Fehr
- Praxis für Humangenetik Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Renzo Guerrini
- Neuroscience Department, Children's Hospital Meyer-University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Annalisa Vetro
- Neuroscience Department, Children's Hospital Meyer-University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Eleina England
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Chaya N Murali
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; TCH, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Tahsin Stefan Barakat
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marieke F van Dooren
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Martina Wilke
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marjon van Slegtenhorst
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Gaetan Lesca
- Department of Medical Genetics, Lyon University Hospital, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France; Institut NeuroMyoGène, CNRS UMR 5310 - INSERM U1217, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Isabelle Sabatier
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Lyon University Hospitals, Lyon, France
| | - Nicolas Chatron
- Department of Medical Genetics, Lyon University Hospital, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France; Institut NeuroMyoGène, CNRS UMR 5310 - INSERM U1217, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Catherine A Brownstein
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; The Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jill A Madden
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; The Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Pankaj B Agrawal
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; The Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Boris Keren
- Genetic Department, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, APHP.Sorbonne Université, Paris 75013, France
| | - Thomas Courtin
- Genetic Department, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, APHP.Sorbonne Université, Paris 75013, France
| | - Laurence Perrin
- Genetic Department, Robert Debré Hospital, APHP.Nord-Université de Paris, Paris 75019, France
| | - Melanie Brugger
- Institute of Human Genetics, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Timo Roser
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Developmental Medicine and Social Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Lindwurmstraße 4, 80337 Munich, Germany
| | - Steffen Leiz
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Hospital Dritter Orden, Munich, Germany
| | - Frederic Tran Mau-Them
- INSERM U1231, LNC UMR1231 GAD, Burgundy University, 21000 Dijon, France; Laboratoire de Génétique, Innovation en Diagnostic Génomique des Maladies Rares UF6254, Plateau Technique de Biologie, CHU Dijon, 14 Rue Paul Gaffarel, BP 77908, 21079 Dijon, France
| | - Julian Delanne
- INSERM U1231, LNC UMR1231 GAD, Burgundy University, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - Elena Sukarova-Angelovska
- Department of Endocrinology and Genetics, University Clinic for Children's Diseases, Medical Faculty, University Sv. Kiril i Metodij, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
| | - Slavica Trajkova
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Erik Rosenhahn
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Vincent Strehlow
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Konrad Platzer
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Roberto Keller
- Adult Autism Center, Mental Health Department, Health Unit ASL Città di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Lisa Pavinato
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Turin, Italy; Institute of Human Genetics and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Alfredo Brusco
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Turin, Italy; Medical Genetics Unit, Città della Salute e della Scienza, University Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - Jill A Rosenfeld
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Baylor Genetics Laboratories, Houston, TX 77021, USA
| | - Ronit Marom
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; TCH, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Michael F Wangler
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX 77030, USA; TCH, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Development, Disease Models & Therapeutics Graduate Program, BCM, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Shinya Yamamoto
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital (TCH), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Program in Developmental Biology, BCM, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Neuroscience, BCM, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Development, Disease Models & Therapeutics Graduate Program, BCM, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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11
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Lee JH. Invertebrate Model Organisms as a Platform to Investigate Rare Human Neurological Diseases. Exp Neurobiol 2022; 31:1-16. [PMID: 35256540 PMCID: PMC8907251 DOI: 10.5607/en22003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients suffering from rare human diseases often go through a painful journey for finding a definite molecular diagnosis prerequisite of appropriate cures. With a novel variant isolated from a single patient, determination of its pathogenicity to end such "diagnostic odyssey" requires multi-step processes involving experts in diverse areas of interest, including clinicians, bioinformaticians and research scientists. Recent efforts in building large-scale genomic databases and in silico prediction platforms have facilitated identification of potentially pathogenic variants causative of rare human diseases of a Mendelian basis. However, the functional significance of individual variants remains elusive in many cases, thus requiring incorporation of versatile and rapid model organism (MO)-based platforms for functional analyses. In this review, the current scope of rare disease research is briefly discussed. In addition, an overview of invertebrate MOs for their key features relevant to rare neurological diseases is provided, with the characteristics of two representative invertebrate MOs, Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans, as well as the challenges against them. Finally, recently developed research networks integrating these MOs in collaborative research are portraited with an array of bioinformatical analyses embedded. A comprehensive survey of MO-based research activities provided in this review will help us to design a wellstructured analysis of candidate genes or potentially pathogenic variants for their roles in rare neurological diseases in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Hye Lee
- Department of Oral Pathology & Life Science in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50612, Korea.,Dental Life Science Institute, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50612, Korea.,Periodontal Disease Signaling Network Research Center, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50612, Korea
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