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Ćuk M, Lovrenčić L, Unal B, Walker M, Hayes CP, Krakar G, Beluzić R, Sansović I, Pavliša G, Ghazani AA. Novel de Novo Nonsense Variants in AGO3 and KHSRP: Insights into Global Developmental Delay and Autism Spectrum Disorders through Whole Genome Analysis. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CASE REPORTS 2024; 25:e943641. [PMID: 38995884 PMCID: PMC11315612 DOI: 10.12659/ajcr.943641] [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: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) are umbrella disorders that encompass global developmental delay (GDD), intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders, motor developmental disorders, and sleep disorders. Both GDD and autism spectrum disorder are common and yet clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorders. Despite their high prevalence and the advent of sequencing detection methods, the genomic etiology of GDD and autism spectrum disorder in most patients is largely unknown. CASE REPORT In this study, we describe a 6-year-old girl with GDD, autistic features, and structural brain abnormalities, including a moderate reduction in periventricular white matter and bilateral optic nerve hypoplasia, Chiari malformation type I with normal myelinization. A comprehensive joint whole-genome analysis (WGS) of the proband and her unaffected parents was performed. The trio-WGS analysis identified novel de novo nonsense variants AGO3: c.1324C>T (p.Gln442*) and KHSRP: c.1573C>T (p.Gln525*). These variants have not been reported in gnomAD and published literature. AGO3 and KHSRP are not currently associated with a known phenotype in the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM); however, they may be involved in neuronal development. CONCLUSIONS This report highlights the utility of joint WGS analysis in identifying novel de novo genomic alterations in a patient with the spectrum of phenotypes of GDD and neurodevelopmental disorders. The role of these variants and genes in GDD requires further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Ćuk
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Centre Zagreb and University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Luka Lovrenčić
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Centre Zagreb and University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Busra Unal
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - McKenzie Walker
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Connor P. Hayes
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Goran Krakar
- Department of Child Neurology, Pediatric Clinic Sabol, Croatia Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Robert Beluzić
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivona Sansović
- Department of Medica and Laboratory Genetics, Endocrinology and Diabetology, Children’s Hospital Zagreb, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Goran Pavliša
- Department for Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, and University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Arezou A. Ghazani
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Heimdörfer D, Vorleuter A, Eschlböck A, Spathopoulou A, Suarez-Cubero M, Farhan H, Reiterer V, Spanjaard M, Schaaf CP, Huber LA, Kremser L, Sarg B, Edenhofer F, Geley S, de Araujo MEG, Huettenhofer A. Truncated variants of MAGEL2 are involved in the etiologies of the Schaaf-Yang and Prader-Willi syndromes. Am J Hum Genet 2024; 111:1383-1404. [PMID: 38908375 PMCID: PMC11267527 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2024.05.023] [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: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The neurodevelopmental disorders Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and Schaaf-Yang syndrome (SYS) both arise from genomic alterations within human chromosome 15q11-q13. A deletion of the SNORD116 cluster, encoding small nucleolar RNAs, or frameshift mutations within MAGEL2 result in closely related phenotypes in individuals with PWS or SYS, respectively. By investigation of their subcellular localization, we observed that in contrast to a predominant cytoplasmic localization of wild-type (WT) MAGEL2, a truncated MAGEL2 mutant was evenly distributed between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. To elucidate regulatory pathways that may underlie both diseases, we identified protein interaction partners for WT or mutant MAGEL2, in particular the survival motor neuron protein (SMN), involved in spinal muscular atrophy, and the fragile-X-messenger ribonucleoprotein (FMRP), involved in autism spectrum disorders. The interactome of the non-coding RNA SNORD116 was also investigated by RNA-CoIP. We show that WT and truncated MAGEL2 were both involved in RNA metabolism, while regulation of transcription was mainly observed for WT MAGEL2. Hence, we investigated the influence of MAGEL2 mutations on the expression of genes from the PWS locus, including the SNORD116 cluster. Thereby, we provide evidence for MAGEL2 mutants decreasing the expression of SNORD116, SNORD115, and SNORD109A, as well as protein-coding genes MKRN3 and SNRPN, thus bridging the gap between PWS and SYS.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Heimdörfer
- Institute of Genomics and RNomics, Biocenter Innsbruck, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Alexander Vorleuter
- Institute of Genomics and RNomics, Biocenter Innsbruck, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Alexander Eschlböck
- Institute for Molecular Biology, Genomics, Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine Group, University of Innsbruck and CMBI, Technikerstr. 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Angeliki Spathopoulou
- Institute for Molecular Biology, Genomics, Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine Group, University of Innsbruck and CMBI, Technikerstr. 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Marta Suarez-Cubero
- Institute for Molecular Biology, Genomics, Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine Group, University of Innsbruck and CMBI, Technikerstr. 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Hesso Farhan
- Institute of Pathophysiology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Veronika Reiterer
- Institute of Pathophysiology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Melanie Spanjaard
- Institute of Human Genetics, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christian P Schaaf
- Institute of Human Genetics, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lukas A Huber
- Institute of Cell Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Leopold Kremser
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Protein Core Facility, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Bettina Sarg
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Protein Core Facility, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Frank Edenhofer
- Institute for Molecular Biology, Genomics, Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine Group, University of Innsbruck and CMBI, Technikerstr. 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Stephan Geley
- Institute of Pathophysiology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Mariana E G de Araujo
- Institute of Cell Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Alexander Huettenhofer
- Institute of Genomics and RNomics, Biocenter Innsbruck, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
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3
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Paizula X, Wulaying A, Chen D, Ou J. KHSRP has oncogenic functions and regulates the expression and alternative splicing of DNA repair genes in breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14694. [PMID: 38926398 PMCID: PMC11208542 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64687-0] [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: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer has become the most common type of cancers worldwide. Its high prevalence and malignant features are associated with various environmental factors and molecules. The KH-type splicing regulatory protein (KHSRP) participates in the development of breast cancer, while the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. In this study, we silenced KHSRP expression in MDA-MB-231 cells by small interfering RNA (siKHSRP), and then assessed its effects on cellular features. Finally, we performed whole transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) experiments to explore the downstream targets of KHSRP, and validated their changed pattern using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. We found KHSRP showed higher expression level and was associated with worse prognosis in breast cancer patients. In siKHSRP samples, the proliferation, invasion, and migration abilities were significantly repressed compared with negative control (NC) samples, while the apoptosis level was increased. By investigating the RNA-seq data, we found KHSRP globally regulates the expression and alternative splicing profiles of MDA-MB-231 cells by identifying 1632 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 1630 HKSRP-regulated AS events (RASEs). Functional enriched analysis of DEGs demonstrated that cilium assembly and movement and extracellular matrix organization pathways were specifically enriched in up DEGs, consistent with the repressed migration and invasion abilities in siKHSRP cells. Interestingly, the cell cycle and DNA damage and repair associated pathways were enriched in both down DEGs and RASE genes, suggesting that KHSRP may modulate cell proliferation by regulating genes in these pathways. Finally, we validated the changed expression and AS patterns of genes in cell cycle and DNA damage/repair pathways. Expression levels of BIRC5, CCNA2, CDK1, FEN1, FOXM1, PTTG1, and UHRF1 were downregulated in siKHSRP samples. The AS patterns of PARK7, ERCC1, CENPX, and UBE2A were also dysregulated in siKHSRP samples and confirmed PCR experiments. In summary, our study comprehensively explored the downstream targets and their functions of KHSRP in breast cancer cells, highlighting the molecular mechanisms of KHSRP on the oncogenic features of breast cancer. The identified molecular targets could be served as potential therapeutic targets for breast cancer in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuelaiti Paizula
- The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Ürümqi, China
| | - Aliya Wulaying
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Ürümqi, China
| | - Dong Chen
- Innovation and Research Center, Wuhan Nissi Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Wuhan, China
| | - Jianghua Ou
- The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Ürümqi, China.
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Luisier R, Andreassi C, Fournier L, Riccio A. The predicted RNA-binding protein regulome of axonal mRNAs. Genome Res 2023; 33:1497-1512. [PMID: 37582635 PMCID: PMC10620043 DOI: 10.1101/gr.277804.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Neurons are morphologically complex cells that rely on the compartmentalization of protein expression to develop and maintain their cytoarchitecture. The targeting of RNA transcripts to axons is one of the mechanisms that allows rapid local translation of proteins in response to extracellular signals. 3' Untranslated regions (UTRs) of mRNA are noncoding sequences that play a critical role in determining transcript localization and translation by interacting with specific RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). However, how 3' UTRs contribute to mRNA metabolism and the nature of RBP complexes responsible for these functions remains elusive. We performed 3' end sequencing of RNA isolated from cell bodies and axons of sympathetic neurons exposed to either nerve growth factor (NGF) or neurotrophin 3 (NTF3, also known as NT-3). NGF and NTF3 are growth factors essential for sympathetic neuron development through distinct signaling mechanisms. Whereas NTF3 acts mostly locally, NGF signal is retrogradely transported from axons to cell bodies. We discovered that both NGF and NTF3 affect transcription and alternative polyadenylation in the nucleus and induce the localization of specific 3' UTR isoforms to axons, including short 3' UTR isoforms found exclusively in axons. The integration of our data with CLIP sequencing data supports a model whereby long 3' UTR isoforms associate with RBP complexes in the nucleus and, upon reaching the axons, are remodeled locally into shorter isoforms. Our findings shed new light into the complex relationship between nuclear polyadenylation, mRNA localization, and local 3' UTR remodeling in developing neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphaëlle Luisier
- Idiap Research Institute, Martigny 1920, Switzerland;
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
| | - Catia Andreassi
- UCL Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Lisa Fournier
- Idiap Research Institute, Martigny 1920, Switzerland
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
| | - Antonella Riccio
- UCL Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
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5
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Cohen T, Shomron N. Can RNA Affect Memory Modulation? Implications for PTSD Understanding and Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12908. [PMID: 37629089 PMCID: PMC10454422 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Memories are a central aspect of our lives, but the mechanisms underlying their formation, consolidation, retrieval, and extinction remain poorly understood. In this review, we explore the molecular mechanisms of memory modulation and investigate the effects of RNA on these processes. Specifically, we examine the effects of time and location on gene expression alterations. We then discuss the potential for harnessing these alterations to modulate memories, particularly fear memories, to alleviate post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. The current state of research suggests that transcriptional changes play a major role in memory modulation and targeting them through microRNAs may hold promise as a novel approach for treating memory-related disorders such as PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tehila Cohen
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Noam Shomron
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Edmond J Safra Center for Bioinformatics, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Tel Aviv University Innovation Labs (TILabs), Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
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Gomila Pelegri N, Stanczak AM, Bottomley AL, Milthorpe BK, Gorrie CA, Padula MP, Santos J. Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Spontaneously Express Neural Markers When Grown in a PEG-Based 3D Matrix. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12139. [PMID: 37569515 PMCID: PMC10418654 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512139] [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: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurological diseases are among the leading causes of disability and death worldwide and remain difficult to treat. Tissue engineering offers avenues to test potential treatments; however, the development of biologically accurate models of brain tissues remains challenging. Given their neurogenic potential and availability, adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are of interest for creating neural models. While progress has been made in differentiating ADSCs into neural cells, their differentiation in 3D environments, which are more representative of the in vivo physiological conditions of the nervous system, is crucial. This can be achieved by modulating the 3D matrix composition and stiffness. Human ADSCs were cultured for 14 days in a 1.1 kPa polyethylene glycol-based 3D hydrogel matrix to assess effects on cell morphology, cell viability, proteome changes and spontaneous neural differentiation. Results showed that cells continued to proliferate over the 14-day period and presented a different morphology to 2D cultures, with the cells elongating and aligning with one another. The proteome analysis revealed 439 proteins changed in abundance by >1.5 fold. Cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNPase) markers were identified using immunocytochemistry and confirmed with proteomics. Findings indicate that ADSCs spontaneously increase neural marker expression when grown in an environment with similar mechanical properties to the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neus Gomila Pelegri
- Advanced Tissue Engineering and Stem Cell Biology Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia; (N.G.P.); (B.K.M.)
- Neural Injury Research Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia;
| | - Aleksandra M. Stanczak
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia; (A.M.S.); (M.P.P.)
| | - Amy L. Bottomley
- Microbial Imaging Facility, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia;
| | - Bruce K. Milthorpe
- Advanced Tissue Engineering and Stem Cell Biology Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia; (N.G.P.); (B.K.M.)
| | - Catherine A. Gorrie
- Neural Injury Research Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia;
| | - Matthew P. Padula
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia; (A.M.S.); (M.P.P.)
| | - Jerran Santos
- Advanced Tissue Engineering and Stem Cell Biology Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia; (N.G.P.); (B.K.M.)
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