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Arslan A. Pathogenic variants of human GABRA1 gene associated with epilepsy: A computational approach. Heliyon 2023; 9:e20218. [PMID: 37809401 PMCID: PMC10559982 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Critical for brain development, neurodevelopmental and network disorders, the GABRA1 gene encodes for the α1 subunit, an abundantly and developmentally expressed subunit of heteropentameric gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptors (GABAARs) mediating primary inhibition in the brain. Mutations of the GABAAR subunit genes including GABRA1 gene are associated with epilepsy, a group of syndromes, characterized by unprovoked seizures and diagnosed by integrative approach, that involves genetic testing. Despite the diagnostic use of genetic testing, a large fraction of the GABAAR subunit gene variants including the variants of GABRA1 gene is not known in terms of their molecular consequence, a challenge for precision and personalized medicine. Addressing this, one hundred thirty-seven GABRA1 gene variants of unknown clinical significance have been extracted from the ClinVar database and computationally analyzed for pathogenicity. Eight variants (L49H, P59L, W97R, D99G, G152S, V270G, T294R, P305L) are predicted as pathogenic and mapped to the α1 subunit's extracellular domain (ECD), transmembrane domains (TMDs) and extracellular linker. This is followed by the integration with relevant data for cellular pathology and severity of the epilepsy syndromes retrieved from the literature. Our results suggest that the pathogenic variants in the ECD of GABRA1 (L49H, P59L, W97R, D99G, G152S) will probably manifest decreased surface expression and reduced current with mild epilepsy phenotypes while V270G, T294R in the TMDs and P305L in the linker between the second and the third TMDs will likely cause reduced cell current with severe epilepsy phenotypes. The results presented in this study provides insights for clinical genetics and wet lab experimentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayla Arslan
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Üsküdar University, Istanbul, Turkey
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Wang X, Rao X, Zhang J, Gan J. Genetic mechanisms in generalized epilepsies. ACTA EPILEPTOLOGICA 2023. [DOI: 10.1186/s42494-023-00118-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractThe genetic generalized epilepsies (GGEs) have been proved to generate from genetic impact by twin studies and family studies. The genetic mechanisms of generalized epilepsies are always updating over time. Although the genetics of GGE is complex, there are always new susceptibility genes coming up as well as copy number variations which can lead to important breakthroughs in exploring the problem. At the same time, the development of ClinGen fades out some of the candidate genes. This means we have to figure out what accounts for a reliable gene for GGE, in another word, which gene has sufficient evidence for GGE. This will improve our understanding of the genetic mechanisms of GGE. In this review, important up-to-date genetic mechanisms of GGE were discussed.
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Feng Y, Wei ZH, Liu C, Li GY, Qiao XZ, Gan YJ, Zhang CC, Deng YC. Genetic variations in GABA metabolism and epilepsy. Seizure 2022; 101:22-29. [PMID: 35850019 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2022.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a paroxysmal brain disorder that results from an imbalance between neuronal excitation and inhibition. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the most important inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain and plays an important role in the occurrence and development of epilepsy. Abnormalities in all aspects of GABA metabolism, including GABA synthesis, transport, genes encoding GABA receptors, and GABA inactivation, may lead to epilepsy. GABRA1, GABRA2, GABRA5, GABRB1, GABRB2, GABRB3, GABRG2 and GABBR2 are genes that encode GABA receptors and are commonly associated with epilepsy. Mutations of these genes lead to a variety of epilepsy syndromes with different clinical phenotypes, primarily by down regulating receptor expression and reducing the amplitude of GABA-evoked potentials. GABA is metabolized by GABA transaminase and succinate semi aldehyde dehydrogenase, which are encoded by the ABAT and ALDH5A1 genes, respectively. Mutations of these genes result in symptoms related to deficiency of GABA transaminase and succinate semi aldehyde dehydrogenase, such as epilepsy and cognitive impairment. Most of the variation in genes associated with GABA metabolism are accompanied by developmental disorders. This review focuses on advances in understanding the relationship between genetic variation in GABA metabolism and epilepsy to establish a basis for the accurate diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Feng
- Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an 710021, People's Republic of China; Department of Neurology, Epilepsy Center of Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, People's Republic of China
| | - Zi-Han Wei
- Department of Neurology, Epilepsy Center of Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, People's Republic of China
| | - Chao Liu
- Department of Neurology, Epilepsy Center of Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, People's Republic of China
| | - Guo-Yan Li
- Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an 710021, People's Republic of China; Department of Neurology, Epilepsy Center of Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Zhi Qiao
- Department of Neurology, Epilepsy Center of Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, People's Republic of China
| | - Ya-Jing Gan
- Department of Neurology, Epilepsy Center of Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, People's Republic of China
| | - Chu-Chu Zhang
- Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an 710021, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan-Chun Deng
- Department of Neurology, Epilepsy Center of Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, People's Republic of China.
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Wang M, Cotter E, Wang YJ, Fu X, Whittsette AL, Lynch JW, Wiseman RL, Kelly JW, Keramidas A, Mu TW. Pharmacological activation of ATF6 remodels the proteostasis network to rescue pathogenic GABA A receptors. Cell Biosci 2022; 12:48. [PMID: 35477478 PMCID: PMC9044816 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-022-00783-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetic variants in the subunits of the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors are implicated in the onset of multiple pathologic conditions including genetic epilepsy. Previous work showed that pathogenic GABAA subunits promote misfolding and inefficient assembly of the GABAA receptors, limiting receptor expression and activity at the plasma membrane. However, GABAA receptors containing variant subunits can retain activity, indicating that enhancing the folding, assembly, and trafficking of these variant receptors offers a potential opportunity to mitigate pathology associated with genetic epilepsy. RESULTS Here, we demonstrate that pharmacologically enhancing endoplasmic reticulum (ER) proteostasis using small molecule activators of the ATF6 (Activating Transcription Factor 6) signaling arm of the unfolded protein response (UPR) increases the assembly, trafficking, and surface expression of variant GABAA receptors. These improvements are attributed to ATF6-dependent remodeling of the ER proteostasis environment, which increases protein levels of pro-folding ER proteostasis factors including the ER chaperone BiP (Immunoglobulin Binding Protein) and trafficking receptors, such as LMAN1 (Lectin Mannose-Binding 1) and enhances their interactions with GABAA receptors. Importantly, we further show that pharmacologic ATF6 activators increase the activity of GABAA receptors at the cell surface, revealing the potential for this strategy to restore receptor activity to levels that could mitigate disease pathogenesis. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that pharmacologic ATF6 activators offer an opportunity to restore GABAA receptor activity in diseases including genetic epilepsy and point to the potential for similar pharmacologic enhancement of ER proteostasis to improve trafficking of other disease-associated variant ion channels implicated in etiologically-diverse diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Wang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Edmund Cotter
- Queensland Brain Institute, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Ya-Juan Wang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Xu Fu
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Angela L Whittsette
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Joseph W Lynch
- Queensland Brain Institute, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - R Luke Wiseman
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Jeffery W Kelly
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Angelo Keramidas
- Queensland Brain Institute, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
| | - Ting-Wei Mu
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.
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Disruption of the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System and Elevated Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Epilepsy. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10030647. [PMID: 35327449 PMCID: PMC8945847 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10030647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The epilepsies are a broad group of conditions characterized by repeated seizures, and together are one of the most common neurological disorders. Additionally, epilepsy is comorbid with many neurological disorders, including lysosomal storage diseases, syndromic intellectual disability, and autism spectrum disorder. Despite the prevalence, treatments are still unsatisfactory: approximately 30% of epileptic patients do not adequately respond to existing therapeutics, which primarily target ion channels. Therefore, new therapeutic approaches are needed. Disturbed proteostasis is an emerging mechanism in epilepsy, with profound effects on neuronal health and function. Proteostasis, the dynamic balance of protein synthesis and degradation, can be directly disrupted by epilepsy-associated mutations in various components of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), or impairments can be secondary to seizure activity or misfolded proteins. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress can arise from failed proteostasis and result in neuronal death. In light of this, several treatment modalities that modify components of proteostasis have shown promise in the management of neurological disorders. These include chemical chaperones to assist proper folding of proteins, inhibitors of overly active protein degradation, and enhancers of endogenous proteolytic pathways, such as the UPS. This review summarizes recent work on the pathomechanisms of abnormal protein folding and degradation in epilepsy, as well as treatment developments targeting this area.
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Distinct Functional Alterations and Therapeutic Options of Two Pathological De Novo Variants of the T292 Residue of GABRA1 Identified in Children with Epileptic Encephalopathy and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052723. [PMID: 35269865 PMCID: PMC8911174 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations of GABAAR have reportedly led to epileptic encephalopathy and neurodevelopmental disorders. We have identified a novel de novo T292S missense variant of GABRA1 from a pediatric patient with grievous global developmental delay but without obvious epileptic activity. This mutation coincidentally occurs at the same residue as that of a previously reported GABRA1 variant T292I identified from a pediatric patient with severe epilepsy. The distinct phenotypes of these two patients prompted us to compare the impacts of the two mutants on the receptor function and to search for suitable therapeutics. In this study, we used biochemical techniques and patch-clamp recordings in HEK293 cells overexpressing either wild-type or mutated rat recombinant GABAARs. We found that the α1T292S variant significantly increased GABA-evoked whole-cell currents, shifting the dose-response curve to the left without altering the maximal response. In contrast, the α1T292I variant significantly reduced GABA-evoked currents, shifting the dose-response curve to the right with a severely diminished maximum response. Single-channel recordings further revealed that the α1T292S variant increased, while the α1T292I variant decreased the GABAAR single-channel open time and open probability. Importantly, we found that the T292S mutation-induced increase in GABAAR function could be fully normalized by the negative GABAAR modulator thiocolchicoside, whereas the T292I mutation-induced impairment of GABAAR function was largely rescued with a combination of the GABAAR positive modulators diazepam and verapamil. Our study demonstrated that α1T292 is a critical residue for controlling GABAAR channel gating, and mutations at this residue may produce opposite impacts on the function of the receptors. Thus, the present work highlights the importance of functionally characterizing each individual GABAAR mutation for ensuring precision medicine.
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Thakran S, Guin D, Singh P, Singh P, Kukal S, Rawat C, Yadav S, Kushwaha SS, Srivastava AK, Hasija Y, Saso L, Ramachandran S, Kukreti R. Genetic Landscape of Common Epilepsies: Advancing towards Precision in Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7784. [PMID: 33096746 PMCID: PMC7589654 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy, a neurological disease characterized by recurrent seizures, is highly heterogeneous in nature. Based on the prevalence, epilepsy is classified into two types: common and rare epilepsies. Common epilepsies affecting nearly 95% people with epilepsy, comprise generalized epilepsy which encompass idiopathic generalized epilepsy like childhood absence epilepsy, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, juvenile absence epilepsy and epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizure on awakening and focal epilepsy like temporal lobe epilepsy and cryptogenic focal epilepsy. In 70% of the epilepsy cases, genetic factors are responsible either as single genetic variant in rare epilepsies or multiple genetic variants acting along with different environmental factors as in common epilepsies. Genetic testing and precision treatment have been developed for a few rare epilepsies and is lacking for common epilepsies due to their complex nature of inheritance. Precision medicine for common epilepsies require a panoramic approach that incorporates polygenic background and other non-genetic factors like microbiome, diet, age at disease onset, optimal time for treatment and other lifestyle factors which influence seizure threshold. This review aims to comprehensively present a state-of-art review of all the genes and their genetic variants that are associated with all common epilepsy subtypes. It also encompasses the basis of these genes in the epileptogenesis. Here, we discussed the current status of the common epilepsy genetics and address the clinical application so far on evidence-based markers in prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment management. In addition, we assessed the diagnostic predictability of a few genetic markers used for disease risk prediction in individuals. A combination of deeper endo-phenotyping including pharmaco-response data, electro-clinical imaging, and other clinical measurements along with genetics may be used to diagnose common epilepsies and this marks a step ahead in precision medicine in common epilepsies management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarita Thakran
- Genomics and Molecular Medicine Unit, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Delhi 110007, India; (S.T.); (D.G.); (P.S.); (P.S.); (S.K.); (C.R.); (S.Y.)
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India;
| | - Debleena Guin
- Genomics and Molecular Medicine Unit, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Delhi 110007, India; (S.T.); (D.G.); (P.S.); (P.S.); (S.K.); (C.R.); (S.Y.)
- Department of Bioinformatics, Delhi Technological University, Shahbad Daulatpur, Main Bawana Road, Delhi 110042, India;
| | - Pooja Singh
- Genomics and Molecular Medicine Unit, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Delhi 110007, India; (S.T.); (D.G.); (P.S.); (P.S.); (S.K.); (C.R.); (S.Y.)
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India;
| | - Priyanka Singh
- Genomics and Molecular Medicine Unit, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Delhi 110007, India; (S.T.); (D.G.); (P.S.); (P.S.); (S.K.); (C.R.); (S.Y.)
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India;
| | - Samiksha Kukal
- Genomics and Molecular Medicine Unit, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Delhi 110007, India; (S.T.); (D.G.); (P.S.); (P.S.); (S.K.); (C.R.); (S.Y.)
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India;
| | - Chitra Rawat
- Genomics and Molecular Medicine Unit, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Delhi 110007, India; (S.T.); (D.G.); (P.S.); (P.S.); (S.K.); (C.R.); (S.Y.)
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India;
| | - Saroj Yadav
- Genomics and Molecular Medicine Unit, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Delhi 110007, India; (S.T.); (D.G.); (P.S.); (P.S.); (S.K.); (C.R.); (S.Y.)
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India;
| | - Suman S. Kushwaha
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences, Dilshad Garden, Delhi 110095, India;
| | - Achal K. Srivastava
- Department of Neurology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029, India;
| | - Yasha Hasija
- Department of Bioinformatics, Delhi Technological University, Shahbad Daulatpur, Main Bawana Road, Delhi 110042, India;
| | - Luciano Saso
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “Vittorio Erspamer”, Sapienza University of Rome, P. le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Srinivasan Ramachandran
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India;
- G N Ramachandran Knowledge Centre, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)—Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), New Delhi 110007, India
| | - Ritushree Kukreti
- Genomics and Molecular Medicine Unit, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Delhi 110007, India; (S.T.); (D.G.); (P.S.); (P.S.); (S.K.); (C.R.); (S.Y.)
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India;
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Di XJ, Wang YJ, Cotter E, Wang M, Whittsette AL, Han DY, Sangwung P, Brown R, Lynch JW, Keramidas A, Mu TW. Proteostasis Regulators Restore Function of Epilepsy-Associated GABA A Receptors. Cell Chem Biol 2020; 28:46-59.e7. [PMID: 32888501 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2020.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Proteostasis deficiency in mutated ion channels leads to a variety of ion channel diseases that are caused by excessive endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD) and inefficient membrane trafficking. We investigated proteostasis maintenance of γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors, the primary mediators of neuronal inhibition in the mammalian central nervous system. We screened a structurally diverse, Food and Drug Administration-approved drug library and identified dinoprost (DNP) and dihydroergocristine (DHEC) as highly efficacious enhancers of surface expression of four epilepsy-causing trafficking-deficient mutant receptors. Furthermore, DNP and DHEC restore whole-cell and synaptic currents by incorporating mutated subunits into functional receptors. Mechanistic studies revealed that both drugs reduce subunit degradation by attenuating the Grp94/Hrd1/Sel1L/VCP-mediated ERAD pathway and enhance the subunit folding by promoting subunit interactions with major GABAA receptors-interacting chaperones, BiP and calnexin. In summary, we report that DNP and DHEC remodel the endoplasmic reticulum proteostasis network to restore the functional surface expression of mutant GABAA receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Jing Di
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Ya-Juan Wang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Edmund Cotter
- Queensland Brain Institute, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Meng Wang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Angela L Whittsette
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Dong-Yun Han
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Panjamaporn Sangwung
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Renae Brown
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Joseph W Lynch
- Queensland Brain Institute, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Angelo Keramidas
- Queensland Brain Institute, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Ting-Wei Mu
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
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Gilsoul M, Grisar T, Delgado-Escueta AV, de Nijs L, Lakaye B. Subtle Brain Developmental Abnormalities in the Pathogenesis of Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:433. [PMID: 31611775 PMCID: PMC6776584 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), a lifelong disorder that starts during adolescence, is the most common of genetic generalized epilepsy syndromes. JME is characterized by awakening myoclonic jerks and myoclonic-tonic-clonic (m-t-c) grand mal convulsions. Unfortunately, one third of JME patients have drug refractory m-t-c convulsions and these recur in 70-80% who attempt to stop antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Behavioral studies documented impulsivity, but also impairment of executive functions relying on organization and feedback, which points to prefrontal lobe dysfunction. Quantitative voxel-based morphometry (VBM) revealed abnormalities of gray matter (GM) volumes in cortical (frontal and parietal) and subcortical structures (thalamus, putamen, and hippocampus). Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) found evidence of dysfunction of thalamic neurons. White matter (WM) integrity was disrupted in corpus callosum and frontal WM tracts. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) further unveiled anomalies in both GM and WM structures that were already present at the time of seizure onset. Aberrant growth trajectories of brain development occurred during the first 2 years of JME diagnosis. Because of genetic origin, disease causing variants were sought, first by positional cloning, and most recently, by next generation sequencing. To date, only six genes harboring pathogenic variants (GABRA1, GABRD, EFHC1, BRD2, CASR, and ICK) with Mendelian and complex inheritance and covering a limited proportion of the world population, are considered as major susceptibility alleles for JME. Evidence on the cellular role, developmental and cell-type expression profiles of these six diverse JME genes, point to their pathogenic variants driving the first steps of brain development when cell division, expansion, axial, and tangential migration of progenitor cells (including interneuron cortical progenitors) sculpture subtle alterations in brain networks and microcircuits during development. These alterations may explain "microdysgenesis" neuropathology, impulsivity, executive dysfunctions, EEG polyspike waves, and awakening m-t-c convulsions observed in JME patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Gilsoul
- GIGA-Stem Cells, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- GIGA-Neurosciences, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- GENESS International Consortium, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Thierry Grisar
- GENESS International Consortium, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Antonio V. Delgado-Escueta
- GENESS International Consortium, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Epilepsy Genetics/Genomics Lab, Neurology and Research Services, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Laurence de Nijs
- GENESS International Consortium, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Bernard Lakaye
- GIGA-Stem Cells, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- GIGA-Neurosciences, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- GENESS International Consortium, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Fu YL, Han DY, Wang YJ, Di XJ, Yu HB, Mu TW. Remodeling the endoplasmic reticulum proteostasis network restores proteostasis of pathogenic GABAA receptors. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0207948. [PMID: 30481215 PMCID: PMC6258528 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Biogenesis of membrane proteins is controlled by the protein homeostasis (proteostasis) network. We have been focusing on protein quality control of γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors, the major inhibitory neurotransmitter-gated ion channels in mammalian central nervous system. Proteostasis deficiency in GABAA receptors causes loss of their surface expression and thus function on the plasma membrane, leading to epilepsy and other neurological diseases. One well-characterized example is the A322D mutation in the α1 subunit that causes its extensive misfolding and expedited degradation in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), resulting in autosomal dominant juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. We aimed to correct misfolding of the α1(A322D) subunits in the ER as an approach to restore their functional surface expression. Here, we showed that application of BIX, a specific, potent ER resident HSP70 family protein BiP activator, significantly increases the surface expression of the mutant receptors in human HEK293T cells and neuronal SH-SY5Y cells. BIX attenuates the degradation of α1(A322D) and enhances their forward trafficking and function. Furthermore, because BiP is one major target of the two unfolded protein response (UPR) pathways: ATF6 and IRE1, we continued to demonstrate that modest activations of the ATF6 pathway and IRE1 pathway genetically enhance the plasma membrane trafficking of the α1(A322D) protein in HEK293T cells. Our results underlie the potential of regulating the ER proteostasis network to correct loss-of-function protein conformational diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Lin Fu
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Dong-Yun Han
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Ya-Juan Wang
- Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Xiao-Jing Di
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Hai-Bo Yu
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience & Molecular Horizons, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Ting-Wei Mu
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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11
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Lorenz-Guertin JM, Bambino MJ, Jacob TC. γ2 GABA AR Trafficking and the Consequences of Human Genetic Variation. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:265. [PMID: 30190672 PMCID: PMC6116786 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
GABA type A receptors (GABAARs) mediate the majority of fast inhibitory neurotransmission in the central nervous system (CNS). Most prevalent as heteropentamers composed of two α, two β, and a γ2 subunit, these ligand-gated ionotropic chloride channels are capable of extensive genetic diversity (α1-6, β1-3, γ1-3, δ, 𝜀, 𝜃, π, ρ1-3). Part of this selective GABAAR assembly arises from the critical role for γ2 in maintaining synaptic receptor localization and function. Accordingly, mutations in this subunit account for over half of the known epilepsy-associated genetic anomalies identified in GABAARs. Fundamental structure-function studies and cellular pathology investigations have revealed dynamic GABAAR trafficking and synaptic scaffolding as critical regulators of GABAergic inhibition. Here, we introduce in vitro and in vivo findings regarding the specific role of the γ2 subunit in receptor trafficking. We then examine γ2 subunit human genetic variation and assess disease related phenotypes and the potential role of altered GABAAR trafficking. Finally, we discuss new-age imaging techniques and their potential to provide novel insight into critical regulatory mechanisms of GABAAR function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua M Lorenz-Guertin
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Matthew J Bambino
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Tija C Jacob
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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12
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Chuang SH, Reddy DS. Genetic and Molecular Regulation of Extrasynaptic GABA-A Receptors in the Brain: Therapeutic Insights for Epilepsy. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2017; 364:180-197. [PMID: 29142081 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.117.244673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
GABA-A receptors play a pivotal role in many brain diseases. Epilepsy is caused by acquired conditions and genetic defects in GABA receptor channels regulating neuronal excitability in the brain. The latter is referred to as GABA channelopathies. In the last two decades, major advances have been made in the genetics of epilepsy. The presence of specific GABAergic genetic abnormalities leading to some of the classic epileptic syndromes has been identified. Advances in molecular cloning and recombinant systems have helped characterize mutations in GABA-A receptor subunit genes in clinical neurology. GABA-A receptors are the prime targets for neurosteroids (NSs). However, GABA-A receptors are not static but undergo rapid changes in their number or composition in response to the neuroendocrine milieu. This review describes the recent advances in the genetic and neuroendocrine control of extrasynaptic and synaptic GABA-A receptors in epilepsy and its impact on neurologic conditions. It highlights the current knowledge of GABA genetics in epilepsy, with an emphasis on the neuroendocrine regulation of extrasynaptic GABA-A receptors in network excitability and seizure susceptibility. Recent advances in molecular regulation of extrasynaptic GABA-A receptor-mediated tonic inhibition are providing unique new therapeutic approaches for epilepsy, status epilepticus, and certain brain disorders. The discovery of an extrasynaptic molecular mechanism represents a milestone for developing novel therapies such as NS replacement therapy for catamenial epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Hui Chuang
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas
| | - Doodipala Samba Reddy
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas
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13
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Ishii A, Kang JQ, Schornak CC, Hernandez CC, Shen W, Watkins JC, Macdonald RL, Hirose S. A de novo missense mutation of GABRB2 causes early myoclonic encephalopathy. J Med Genet 2016; 54:202-211. [PMID: 27789573 PMCID: PMC5384423 DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2016-104083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2016] [Revised: 09/27/2016] [Accepted: 09/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Background Early myoclonic encephalopathy (EME), a disease with a devastating prognosis, is characterised by neonatal onset of seizures and massive myoclonus accompanied by a continuous suppression-burst EEG pattern. Three genes are associated with EMEs that have metabolic features. Here, we report a pathogenic mutation of an ion channel as a cause of EME for the first time. Methods Sequencing was performed for 214 patients with epileptic seizures using a gene panel with 109 genes that are known or suspected to cause epileptic seizures. Functional assessments were demonstrated by using electrophysiological experiments and immunostaining for mutant γ-aminobutyric acid-A (GABAA) receptor subunits in HEK293T cells. Results We discovered a de novo heterozygous missense mutation (c.859A>C [p.Thr287Pro]) in the GABRB2-encoded β2 subunit of the GABAA receptor in an infant with EME. No GABRB2 mutations were found in three other EME cases or in 166 patients with infantile spasms. GABAA receptors bearing the mutant β2 subunit were poorly trafficked to the cell membrane and prevented γ2 subunits from trafficking to the cell surface. The peak amplitudes of currents from GABAA receptors containing only mutant β2 subunits were smaller than that of those from receptors containing only wild-type β2 subunits. The decrease in peak current amplitude (96.4% reduction) associated with the mutant GABAA receptor was greater than expected, based on the degree to which cell surface expression was reduced (66% reduction). Conclusion This mutation has complex functional effects on GABAA receptors, including reduction of cell surface expression and attenuation of channel function, which would significantly perturb GABAergic inhibition in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Ishii
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Jing-Qiong Kang
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Cara C Schornak
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Ciria C Hernandez
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Wangzhen Shen
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Joseph C Watkins
- Department of Mathematics, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Robert L Macdonald
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Shinichi Hirose
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
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14
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Di XJ, Wang YJ, Han DY, Fu YL, Duerfeldt AS, Blagg BSJ, Mu TW. Grp94 Protein Delivers γ-Aminobutyric Acid Type A (GABAA) Receptors to Hrd1 Protein-mediated Endoplasmic Reticulum-associated Degradation. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:9526-39. [PMID: 26945068 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.705004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteostasis maintenance of γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors dictates their function in controlling neuronal inhibition in mammalian central nervous systems. However, as a multisubunit, multispan, integral membrane protein, even wild type subunits of GABAA receptors fold and assemble inefficiently in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Unassembled and misfolded subunits undergo ER-associated degradation (ERAD), but this degradation process remains poorly understood for GABAA receptors. Here, using the α1 subunits of GABAA receptors as a model substrate, we demonstrated that Grp94, a metazoan-specific Hsp90 in the ER lumen, uses its middle domain to interact with the α1 subunits and positively regulates their ERAD. OS-9, an ER-resident lectin, acts downstream of Grp94 to further recognize misfolded α1 subunits in a glycan-dependent manner. This delivers misfolded α1 subunits to the Hrd1-mediated ubiquitination and the valosin-containing protein-mediated extraction pathway. Repressing the initial ERAD recognition step by inhibiting Grp94 enhances the functional surface expression of misfolding-prone α1(A322D) subunits, which causes autosomal dominant juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. This study clarifies a Grp94-mediated ERAD pathway for GABAA receptors, which provides a novel way to finely tune their function in physiological and pathophysiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Jing Di
- From the Department of Physiology and Biophysics
| | - Ya-Juan Wang
- Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106
| | - Dong-Yun Han
- From the Department of Physiology and Biophysics
| | - Yan-Lin Fu
- From the Department of Physiology and Biophysics
| | - Adam S Duerfeldt
- the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, and
| | - Brian S J Blagg
- the Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045
| | - Ting-Wei Mu
- From the Department of Physiology and Biophysics,
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15
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Arain F, Zhou C, Ding L, Zaidi S, Gallagher MJ. The developmental evolution of the seizure phenotype and cortical inhibition in mouse models of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Neurobiol Dis 2015; 82:164-175. [PMID: 26054439 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2015.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2015] [Revised: 05/13/2015] [Accepted: 05/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The GABA(A) receptor (GABA(A)R) α1 subunit mutation, A322D, causes autosomal dominant juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME). Previous in vitro studies demonstrated that A322D elicits α1(A322D) protein degradation and that the residual mutant protein causes a dominant-negative effect on wild type GABA(A)Rs. Here, we determined the effects of heterozygous A322D knockin (Het(α1)AD) and deletion (Het(α1)KO) on seizures, GABA(A)R expression, and motor cortex (M1) miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) at two developmental time-points, P35 and P120. Both Het(α1)AD and Het(α1)KO mice experience absence seizures at P35 that persist at P120, but have substantially more frequent spontaneous and evoked polyspike wave discharges and myoclonic seizures at P120. Both mutant mice have increased total and synaptic α3 subunit expression at both time-points and decreased α1 subunit expression at P35, but not P120. There are proportional reductions in α3, β2, and γ2 subunit expression between P35 and P120 in wild type and mutant mice. In M1, mutants have decreased mIPSC peak amplitudes and prolonged decay constants compared with wild type, and the Het(α1)AD mice have reduced mIPSC frequency and smaller amplitudes than Het(α1)KO mice. Wild type and mutants exhibit proportional increases in mIPSC amplitudes between P35 and P120. We conclude that Het(α1)KO and Het(α1)AD mice model the JME subsyndrome, childhood absence epilepsy persisting and evolving into JME. Both mutants alter GABA(A)R composition and motor cortex physiology in a manner expected to increase neuronal synchrony and excitability to produce seizures. However, developmental changes in M1 GABA(A)Rs do not explain the worsened phenotype at P120 in mutant mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fazal Arain
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232-8552 USA
| | - Chengwen Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232-8552 USA
| | - Li Ding
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232-8552 USA
| | - Sahar Zaidi
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232-8552 USA
| | - Martin J Gallagher
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232-8552 USA.
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16
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Zhang X, Miller KW. Dodecyl maltopyranoside enabled purification of active human GABA type A receptors for deep and direct proteomic sequencing. Mol Cell Proteomics 2014; 14:724-38. [PMID: 25473089 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m114.042556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The challenge in high-quality membrane proteomics is all about sample preparation prior to HPLC, and the cell-to-protein step poses a long-standing bottleneck. Traditional protein extraction methods apply ionic or poly-disperse detergents, harsh denaturation, and repeated protein/peptide precipitation/resolubilization afterward, but suffer low yield, low reproducibility, and low sequence coverage. Contrary to attempts to subdue, we resolved this challenge by providing proteins nature-and-activity-promoting conditions throughout preparation. Using 285-kDa hetero-pentameric human GABA type A receptor overexpressed in HEK293 as a model, we describe a n-dodecyl-β-d-maltopyranoside/cholesteryl hemisuccinate (DDM/CHS)-based affinity purification method, that produced active receptors, supported protease activity, and allowed high performance with both in-gel and direct gel-free proteomic analyses-without detergent removal. Unlike conventional belief that detergents must be removed before HPLC MS, the high-purity low-dose nonionic detergent DDM did not interfere with peptides, and obviated removal or desalting. Sonication or dropwise addition of detergent robustly solubilized over 90% of membrane pellets. The purification conditions were comparable to those applied in successful crystallizations of most membrane proteins. These results enabled streamlined proteomics of human synaptic membrane proteins, and more importantly, allowed directly coupling proteomics with crystallography to characterize both static and dynamic structures of membrane proteins in crystallization pipelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Zhang
- From the ‡Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, §Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Keith W Miller
- From the ‡Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, §Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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17
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Han DY, Di XJ, Fu YL, Mu TW. Combining valosin-containing protein (VCP) inhibition and suberanilohydroxamic acid (SAHA) treatment additively enhances the folding, trafficking, and function of epilepsy-associated γ-aminobutyric acid, type A (GABAA) receptors. J Biol Chem 2014; 290:325-37. [PMID: 25406314 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.580324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
GABAA receptors are the primary inhibitory ion channels in the mammalian central nervous system. The A322D mutation in the α1 subunit results in its excessive endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation at the expense of plasma membrane trafficking, leading to autosomal dominant juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Presumably, valosin-containing protein (VCP)/p97 extracts misfolded subunits from the endoplasmic reticulum membrane to the cytosolic proteasome for degradation. Here we showed that inhibiting VCP using Eeyarestatin I reduces the endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation of the α1(A322D) subunit without an apparent effect on its dynamin-1 dependent endocytosis and that this treatment enhances its trafficking. Furthermore, coapplication of Eeyarestatin I and suberanilohydroxamic acid, a known small molecule that promotes chaperone-assisted folding, yields an additive restoration of surface expression of α1(A322D) subunits in HEK293 cells and neuronal SH-SY5Y cells. Consequently, this combination significantly increases GABA-induced chloride currents in whole-cell patch clamping experiments than either chemical compound alone in HEK293 cells. Our findings suggest that VCP inhibition without stress induction, together with folding enhancement, represents a new strategy to restore proteostasis of misfolding-prone GABAA receptors and, therefore, a potential remedy for idiopathic epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Yun Han
- From the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106
| | - Xiao-Jing Di
- From the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106
| | - Yan-Lin Fu
- From the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106
| | - Ting-Wei Mu
- From the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106
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18
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Lachance-Touchette P, Choudhury M, Stoica A, Di Cristo G, Cossette P. Single-cell genetic expression of mutant GABAA receptors causing Human genetic epilepsy alters dendritic spine and GABAergic bouton formation in a mutation-specific manner. Front Cell Neurosci 2014; 8:317. [PMID: 25352779 PMCID: PMC4196543 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2014.00317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2014] [Accepted: 09/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in genes encoding for GABAA receptor subunits is a well-established cause of genetic generalized epilepsy. GABA neurotransmission is implicated in several developmental processes including neurite outgrowth and synapse formation. Alteration in excitatory/inhibitory synaptic activities plays a critical role in epilepsy, thus here we investigated whether mutations in α1 subunit of GABAA receptor may affect dendritic spine and GABAergic bouton formation. In particular, we examined the effects of three mutations of the GABRA1 gene (D219N, A322D and K353delins18X) that were found in a cohort of French Canadian families with genetic generalized epilepsy. We used a novel single-cell genetic approach, by preparing cortical organotypic cultures from GABRA1flox/flox mice and simultaneously inactivating endogenous GABRA1 and transfecting mutant α1 subunits in single glutamatergic pyramidal cells and basket GABAergic interneurons by biolistic transfection. We found that GABRA1−/− GABAergic cells showed reduced innervation field, which was rescued by co-expressing α1-A322D and α1-WT but not α1-D219N. We further found that the expression of the most severe GABRA1 missense mutation (α1-A322D) induced a striking increase of spine density in pyramidal cells along with an increase in the number of mushroom-like spines. In addition, α1-A322D expression in GABAergic cells slightly increased perisomatic bouton density, whereas other mutations did not alter bouton formation. All together, these results suggest that the effects of different GABAAR mutations on GABAergic bouton and dendritic spine formation are specific to the mutation and cannot be always explained by a simple loss-of-function gene model. The use of single cell genetic manipulation in organotypic cultures may provide a better understanding of the specific and distinct neural circuit alterations caused by different GABAA receptor subunit mutations and will help define the pathophysiology of genetic generalized epilepsy syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Lachance-Touchette
- Centre d'Excellence en Neuromique de l'Université de Montréal, Centre de Recherche, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Université de Montréal Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Mayukh Choudhury
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Université de Montréal Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Ana Stoica
- Centre d'Excellence en Neuromique de l'Université de Montréal, Centre de Recherche, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Université de Montréal Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Graziella Di Cristo
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Université de Montréal Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Patrick Cossette
- Centre d'Excellence en Neuromique de l'Université de Montréal, Centre de Recherche, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Université de Montréal Montréal, QC, Canada
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19
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Abstract
The γ-aminobutyric acid receptor type A (GABAA receptor) is a ligand-gated chloride channel that mediates major inhibitory functions in the central nervous system. GABAA receptors function mainly as pentamers containing α, β, and either γ or δ subunits. A number of antiepileptic drugs have agonistic effects on GABAA receptors. Hence, dysfunctions of GABAA receptors have been postulated to play important roles in the etiology of epilepsy. In fact, mutations or genetic variations of the genes encoding the α1, α6, β2, β3, γ2, or δ subunits (GABRA1, GABRA6, GABRB2, GABRB3, GABRG2, and GABRD, respectively) have been associated with human epilepsy, both with and without febrile seizures. Epilepsy resulting from mutations is commonly one of following, genetic (idiopathic) generalized epilepsy (e.g., juvenile myoclonic epilepsy), childhood absence epilepsy, genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures, or Dravet syndrome. Recently, mutations of GABRA1, GABRB2, and GABRB3 were associated with infantile spasms and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. These mutations compromise hyperpolarization through GABAA receptors, which is believed to cause seizures. Interestingly, most of the insufficiencies are not caused by receptor gating abnormalities, but by complex mechanisms, including endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated degradation, nonsense-mediated mRNA decay, intracellular trafficking defects, and ER stress. Thus, GABAA receptor subunit mutations are now thought to participate in the pathomechanisms of epilepsy, and an improved understanding of these mutations should facilitate our understanding of epilepsy and the development of new therapies.
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Di XJ, Han DY, Wang YJ, Chance MR, Mu TW. SAHA enhances Proteostasis of epilepsy-associated α1(A322D)β2γ2 GABA(A) receptors. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 20:1456-68. [PMID: 24211135 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2013.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2013] [Revised: 09/23/2013] [Accepted: 09/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
GABA(A) receptors are the primary inhibitory ion channels in the mammalian central nervous system. The A322D mutation in the α1 subunit of GABA(A) receptors is known to result in its degradation and reduce its cell surface expression, leading to loss of GABAA receptor function in autosomal dominant juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Here, we show that SAHA, a FDA-approved drug, increases the transcription of the α1(A322D) subunit, enhances its folding and trafficking posttranslationally, increases its cell surface level, and restores the GABA-induced maximal current in HEK293 cells expressing α1(A322D)β2γ2 receptors to 10% of that for wild-type receptors. To enhance the trafficking efficiency of the α1(A322D) subunit, SAHA increases the BiP protein level and the interaction between the α1(A322D) subunit and calnexin. SAHA is a drug that enhances epilepsy-associated GABAA receptor proteostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Jing Di
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Dong-Yun Han
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Ya-Juan Wang
- Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Mark R Chance
- Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Ting-Wei Mu
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
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21
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Deng H, Xiu X, Song Z. The molecular biology of genetic-based epilepsies. Mol Neurobiol 2013; 49:352-67. [PMID: 23934645 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-013-8523-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2013] [Accepted: 07/24/2013] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders characterized by abnormal electrical activity in the central nervous system. The clinical features of this disorder are recurrent seizures, difference in age onset, type, and frequency, leading to motor, sensory, cognitive, psychic, or autonomic disturbances. Since the discovery of the first monogenic gene mutation in 1995, it is proposed that genetic factor plays an important role in the mechanism of epilepsy. Genes discovered in idiopathic epilepsies encode for ion channel or neurotransmitter receptor proteins, whereas syndromes with epilepsy as a main feature are caused by genes that are involved in functions such as cortical development, mitochondrial function, and cell metabolism. The identification of these monogenic epilepsy-causing genes provides new insight into the pathogenesis of epilepsies. Although most of the identified gene mutations present a monogenic inheritance, most of idiopathic epilepsies are complex genetic diseases exhibiting a polygenic or oligogenic inheritance. This article reviews recent genetic and molecular progresses in exploring the pathogenesis of epilepsy, with special emphasis on monogenic epilepsy-causing genes, including voltage-gated channels (Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+), Cl(-), and HCN), ligand-gated channels (nicotinic acetylcholine and GABAA receptors), non-ion channel genes as well as the mitochondrial DNA genes. These progresses have improved our understanding of the complex neurological disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Deng
- Center for Experimental Medicine, the Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Tongzipo Road 138, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, People's Republic of China,
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22
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Chaumont S, André C, Perrais D, Boué-Grabot E, Taly A, Garret M. Agonist-dependent endocytosis of γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors revealed by a γ2(R43Q) epilepsy mutation. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:28254-65. [PMID: 23935098 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.470807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
GABA-gated chloride channels (GABAARs) trafficking is involved in the regulation of fast inhibitory transmission. Here, we took advantage of a γ2(R43Q) subunit mutation linked to epilepsy in humans that considerably reduces the number of GABAARs on the cell surface to better understand the trafficking of GABAARs. Using recombinant expression in cultured rat hippocampal neurons and COS-7 cells, we showed that receptors containing γ2(R43Q) were addressed to the cell membrane but underwent clathrin-mediated dynamin-dependent endocytosis. The γ2(R43Q)-dependent endocytosis was reduced by GABAAR antagonists. These data, in addition to a new homology model, suggested that a conformational change in the extracellular domain of γ2(R43Q)-containing GABAARs increased their internalization. This led us to show that endogenous and recombinant wild-type GABAAR endocytosis in both cultured neurons and COS-7 cells can be amplified by their agonists. These findings revealed not only a direct relationship between endocytosis of GABAARs and a genetic neurological disorder but also that trafficking of these receptors can be modulated by their agonist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Severine Chaumont
- From the Université Bordeaux, Institut de Neurosciences Cognitives et Intégratives d'Aquitaine (INCIA), UMR 5287, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
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23
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Delgado-Escueta AV, Koeleman BPC, Bailey JN, Medina MT, Durón RM. The quest for juvenile myoclonic epilepsy genes. Epilepsy Behav 2013; 28 Suppl 1:S52-7. [PMID: 23756480 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2012.06.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2012] [Accepted: 06/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Introduced into a specific population, a juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) mutation generates linkage disequilibrium (LD). Linkage disequilibrium is strongest when the JME mutation is of recent origin, still "hitchhiking" alleles surrounding it, as a haplotype into the next thousands of generations. Recombinations decay LD over tens of thousands of generations causing JME alleles to produce smaller genetic displacements, requiring other genes or environment to produce an epilepsy phenotype. Family-based linkage analysis captures rare epilepsy alleles and their "hitchhiking" haplotypes, transmitted as Mendelian traits, supporting the common disease/multiple rare allele model. Genome-wide association studies identify JME alleles whose linkage disequilibrium has decayed through thousands of generations and are sorting out the common disease/common allele versus rare allele models. Five Mendelian JME genes have been identified, namely, CACNB4, CASR, GABRa1, GABRD, and Myoclonin1/EFHC1. Three SNP alleles in BRD2, Cx-36, and ME2 and microdeletions in 15q13.3, 15q11.2, and 16p13.11 also contribute risk to JME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio V Delgado-Escueta
- Epilepsy Genetics/Genomics Laboratories, Neurology and Research Services, VA GLAHS-West Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Zhou C, Huang Z, Ding L, Deel ME, Arain FM, Murray CR, Patel RS, Flanagan CD, Gallagher MJ. Altered cortical GABAA receptor composition, physiology, and endocytosis in a mouse model of a human genetic absence epilepsy syndrome. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:21458-21472. [PMID: 23744069 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.444372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with generalized epilepsy exhibit cerebral cortical disinhibition. Likewise, mutations in the inhibitory ligand-gated ion channels, GABAA receptors (GABAARs), cause generalized epilepsy syndromes in humans. Recently, we demonstrated that heterozygous knock-out (Hetα1KO) of the human epilepsy gene, the GABAAR α1 subunit, produced absence epilepsy in mice. Here, we determined the effects of Hetα1KO on the expression and physiology of GABAARs in the mouse cortex. We found that Hetα1KO caused modest reductions in the total and surface expression of the β2 subunit but did not alter β1 or β3 subunit expression, results consistent with a small reduction of GABAARs. Cortices partially compensated for Hetα1KO by increasing the fraction of residual α1 subunit on the cell surface and by increasing total and surface expression of α3, but not α2, subunits. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that Hetα1KO increased the fraction of α1 subunits, and decreased the fraction of α3 subunits, that associated in hybrid α1α3βγ receptors. Patch clamp electrophysiology studies showed that Hetα1KO layer VI cortical neurons exhibited reduced inhibitory postsynaptic current peak amplitudes, prolonged current rise and decay times, and altered responses to benzodiazepine agonists. Finally, application of inhibitors of dynamin-mediated endocytosis revealed that Hetα1KO reduced base-line GABAAR endocytosis, an effect that probably contributes to the observed changes in GABAAR expression. These findings demonstrate that Hetα1KO exerts two principle disinhibitory effects on cortical GABAAR-mediated inhibitory neurotransmission: 1) a modest reduction of GABAAR number and 2) a partial compensation with GABAAR isoforms that possess physiological properties different from those of the otherwise predominant α1βγ GABAARs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengwen Zhou
- From the Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232
| | - Zhiling Huang
- From the Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232
| | - Li Ding
- From the Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232
| | - M Elizabeth Deel
- From the Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232
| | - Fazal M Arain
- From the Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232
| | - Clark R Murray
- From the Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232
| | - Ronak S Patel
- From the Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232
| | | | - Martin J Gallagher
- From the Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232.
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Macdonald RL, Kang JQ. mRNA surveillance and endoplasmic reticulum quality control processes alter biogenesis of mutant GABAA receptor subunits associated with genetic epilepsies. Epilepsia 2013; 53 Suppl 9:59-70. [PMID: 23216579 DOI: 10.1111/epi.12035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies from our and other groups have demonstrated that the majority of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)(A) receptor subunit mutations produce mutant subunits with impaired biogenesis and trafficking. These GABA(A) receptor mutations include missense, nonsense, deletion, or insertion mutations that result in a frameshift with premature translation-termination codons (PTCs) and splice-site mutations. Frameshift or splice-site mutations produce mutant proteins with PTCs, thus generating nonfunctional truncated proteins. All of these mutant GABA(A) receptor subunits are subject to cellular quality control at the messenger RNA (mRNA) or protein level. These quality-control checkpoints shape the cell's response to the presence of the mutant subunits and attempt to reduce the impact of the mutant subunit on GABA(A) receptor expression and function. The check points prevent nonfunctioning or malfunctioning GABA(A) receptor subunits from trafficking to the cell surface or to synapses, and help to ensure that the receptor channels trafficked to the membrane and synapses are indeed functional. However, if and how these quality control or check points impact the posttranslational modifications of functional GABA(A) receptor channels such as receptor phosphorylation and ubiquitination and their involvement in mediating GABAergic inhibitory synaptic strength needs to be investigated in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert L Macdonald
- Department of Neurology Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-8552, USA.
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26
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Tian M, Mei D, Freri E, Hernandez CC, Granata T, Shen W, Macdonald RL, Guerrini R. Impaired surface αβγ GABA(A) receptor expression in familial epilepsy due to a GABRG2 frameshift mutation. Neurobiol Dis 2012; 50:135-41. [PMID: 23069679 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2012.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2012] [Revised: 09/27/2012] [Accepted: 10/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to explore the pathogenic mechanisms underlying generalized epilepsy and febrile seizures plus (GEFS+) in a family with a novel γ2 subunit gene (GABRG2) frameshift mutation. Four affected and one unaffected individuals carried a c.1329delC GABRG2 mutation resulting in a subunit [γ2S(S443delC)] with a modified and elongated carboxy-terminus that is different from that of the wildtype γ2S subunit. We expressed the wildtype γ2S subunit and the predicted mutant γ2S(S443delC) subunit cDNAs in HEK293T cells and performed immunoblotting, flow cytometry and electrophysiology studies. The mutant subunit was translated as a stable protein that was larger than the wildtype γ2S subunit and was retained in the ER and not expressed on the cell surface membrane, suggesting GABRG2 haploinsufficiency. Peak GABA-evoked currents recorded from cells cotransfected with wildtype α1 and β2 subunits and mutant γ2S subunits were significantly decreased and were comparable to α1β2 receptor currents. S443delC is the first GABR epilepsy mutation predicted to abolish the natural stop codon and produce a stop codon in the 3' UTR that leads to translation of an extended peptide. The GEFS+ phenotype observed in this family is likely caused by γ2S subunit loss-of-function and possibly to dominant-negative suppression of α1β2γ2 receptors. Many GABRG2 truncation mutations result in GEFS+, but the spectrum of phenotypic severity is wider, ranging from asymptomatic individuals to the Dravet syndrome. Mechanisms influencing the severity of the phenotype are therefore complex and difficult to correlate with its demonstrable functional effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengnan Tian
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37212, USA.
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27
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Lemoine D, Jiang R, Taly A, Chataigneau T, Specht A, Grutter T. Ligand-gated ion channels: new insights into neurological disorders and ligand recognition. Chem Rev 2012; 112:6285-318. [PMID: 22988962 DOI: 10.1021/cr3000829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Damien Lemoine
- Laboratoire de Biophysicochimie des Récepteurs Canaux, UMR 7199 CNRS, Conception et Application de Molécules Bioactives, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg , 67400 Illkirch, France
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28
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Arain FM, Boyd KL, Gallagher MJ. Decreased viability and absence-like epilepsy in mice lacking or deficient in the GABAA receptor α1 subunit. Epilepsia 2012; 53:e161-5. [PMID: 22812724 DOI: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2012.03596.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Autosomal dominant mutations S326fs328X and A322D in the GABA(A) receptor α1 subunit are associated with human absence epilepsy and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, respectively. Because these mutations substantially reduce α1 subunit protein expression in vitro, it was hypothesized that they produce epilepsy by causing α1 subunit haploinsufficiency. However, in a mixed background strain of mice, α1 subunit deletion does not reduce viability or cause visually apparent seizures; the effects of α1 subunit deletion on electroencephalography (EEG) waveforms were not investigated. Here, we determined the effects of α1 subunit loss on viability, EEG spike-wave discharges and seizures in congenic C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice. Deletion of α1 subunit caused strain- and sex-dependent reductions in viability. Heterozygous mice experienced EEG discharges and absence-like seizures within both background strains, and exhibited a sex-dependent effect on the discharges and viability in the C57BL/6J strain. These findings suggest that α1 subunit haploinsufficiency can produce epilepsy and may be a major mechanism by which the S326fs328X and A322D mutations cause these epilepsy syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fazal M Arain
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-8552, USA
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Hernandez CC, Gurba KN, Hu N, Macdonald RL. The GABRA6 mutation, R46W, associated with childhood absence epilepsy, alters 6β22 and 6β2 GABA(A) receptor channel gating and expression. J Physiol 2011; 589:5857-78. [PMID: 21930603 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.218883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
A GABA(A) receptor α6 subunit mutation, R46W, was identified as a susceptibility gene that may contribute to the pathogenesis of childhood absence epilepsy (CAE), but the molecular basis for alteration of GABA(A) receptor function is unclear. The R46W mutation is located in a region homologous to a GABA(A) receptor γ2 subunit missense mutation, R82Q, that is associated with CAE and febrile seizures in humans. To determine how this mutation reduces GABAergic inhibition, we expressed wild-type (α6β2γ2L and α6β2δ) and mutant (α6(R46W)β2γ2L and α6(R46W)β2δ) receptors in HEK 293T cells and characterize their whole-cell and single-channel currents, and surface and total levels. We demonstrated that gating and assembly of both α6(R46W)β2γ2L and α6(R46W)β2δ receptors were impaired. Compared to wild-type currents, α6(R46W)β2γ2L and α6(R46W)β2δ receptors had a reduced current density, α6(R46W)β2γ2L currents desensitized to a greater extent and deactivated at a slower rate, α6(R46W)β2δ receptors did not desensitize but deactivated faster and both α6(R46W)β2γ2L and α6(R46W)β2δ single-channel current mean open times and burst durations were reduced. Surface levels of coexpressed α6(R46W), β2 and δ, but not γ2L, subunits were decreased. 'Heterozygous' coexpression of α6(R46W) and α6 subunits with β2 and γ2L subunits produced intermediate macroscopic current amplitudes by increasing incorporation of wild-type and decreasing incorporation of mutant subunits into receptors trafficked to the surface. Finally, these findings suggest that similar to the γ2(R82Q) mutation, the CAE-associated α6(R46W) mutation could cause neuronal disinhibition and thus increase susceptibility to generalized seizures through a reduction of αβγ and αβδ receptor function and expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciria C Hernandez
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
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Altered GABA signaling in early life epilepsies. Neural Plast 2011; 2011:527605. [PMID: 21826277 PMCID: PMC3150203 DOI: 10.1155/2011/527605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2011] [Revised: 05/04/2011] [Accepted: 05/27/2011] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The incidence of seizures is particularly high in the early ages of life. The immaturity of inhibitory systems, such as GABA, during normal brain development and its further dysregulation under pathological conditions that predispose to seizures have been speculated to play a major role in facilitating seizures. Seizures can further impair or disrupt GABAA signaling by reshuffling the subunit composition of its receptors or causing aberrant reappearance of depolarizing or hyperpolarizing GABAA receptor currents. Such effects may not result in epileptogenesis as frequently as they do in adults. Given the central role of GABAA signaling in brain function and development, perturbation of its physiological role may interfere with neuronal morphology, differentiation, and connectivity, manifesting as cognitive or neurodevelopmental deficits. The current GABAergic antiepileptic drugs, while often effective for adults, are not always capable of stopping seizures and preventing their sequelae in neonates. Recent studies have explored the therapeutic potential of chloride cotransporter inhibitors, such as bumetanide, as adjunctive therapies of neonatal seizures. However, more needs to be known so as to develop therapies capable of stopping seizures while preserving the age- and sex-appropriate development of the brain.
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Fine architecture and mutation mapping of human brain inhibitory system ligand gated ion channels by high-throughput homology modeling. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2011; 80:117-52. [PMID: 21109219 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-381264-3.00004-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The common architecture of the brain inhibitory system ligand-gated ion-channels was examined at the level of each of the subunits and in their assembled pentameric arrangements. Structural modeling of the GABAA receptor, GlyR1, and the serotonin receptor, 5HTR3A, was carried out on a multi-homolog basis employing a high-throughput homology modeling pipeline. The locations of all the known mutations of each of the subunits of the receptor subfamily were mapped upon their computed structures and structural relationships between patterns of mutations in different subunits were identified, resulting in the zoning of mutations to four specific regions of the common subunit structure. These classifications may be of value in discerning probable molecular mechanisms and functional manifestations of emerging mutations and polymorphisms, providing the foundation for a family-specific predictive algorithm that may allow researchers to focus experimental effort on the most probable molecular indicators of compromised receptor function and disease mechanism.
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32
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Jia P, Ewers JM, Zhao Z. Prioritization of epilepsy associated candidate genes by convergent analysis. PLoS One 2011; 6:e17162. [PMID: 21390307 PMCID: PMC3044734 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0017162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2010] [Accepted: 01/21/2011] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Epilepsy is a severe neurological disorder affecting a large number of individuals, yet the underlying genetic risk factors for epilepsy remain unclear. Recent studies have revealed several recurrent copy number variations (CNVs) that are more likely to be associated with epilepsy. The responsible gene(s) within these regions have yet to be definitively linked to the disorder, and the implications of their interactions are not fully understood. Identification of these genes may contribute to a better pathological understanding of epilepsy, and serve to implicate novel therapeutic targets for further research. Methodology/Principal Findings In this study, we examined genes within heterozygous deletion regions identified in a recent large-scale study, encompassing a diverse spectrum of epileptic syndromes. By integrating additional protein-protein interaction data, we constructed subnetworks for these CNV-region genes and also those previously studied for epilepsy. We observed 20 genes common to both networks, primarily concentrated within a small molecular network populated by GABA receptor, BDNF/MAPK signaling, and estrogen receptor genes. From among the hundreds of genes in the initial networks, these were designated by convergent evidence for their likely association with epilepsy. Importantly, the identified molecular network was found to contain complex interrelationships, providing further insight into epilepsy's underlying pathology. We further performed pathway enrichment and crosstalk analysis and revealed a functional map which indicates the significant enrichment of closely related neurological, immune, and kinase regulatory pathways. Conclusions/Significance The convergent framework we proposed here provides a unique and powerful approach to screening and identifying promising disease genes out of typically hundreds to thousands of genes in disease-related CNV-regions. Our network and pathway analysis provides important implications for the underlying molecular mechanisms for epilepsy. The strategy can be applied for the study of other complex diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peilin Jia
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
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Botzolakis EJ, Zhao J, Gurba KN, Macdonald RL, Hedera P. The effect of HSP-causing mutations in SPG3A and NIPA1 on the assembly, trafficking, and interaction between atlastin-1 and NIPA1. Mol Cell Neurosci 2010; 46:122-35. [PMID: 20816793 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2010.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2009] [Revised: 08/17/2010] [Accepted: 08/25/2010] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite its genetic heterogeneity, hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) is characterized by similar clinical phenotypes, suggesting that a common biochemical pathway underlies its pathogenesis. In support of this hypothesis, we used a combination of immunoprecipitation, confocal microscopy, and flow cytometry to demonstrate that two HSP-associated proteins, atlastin-1 and NIPA1, are direct binding partners, and interestingly, that the endogenous expression and trafficking of these proteins is highly dependent upon their coexpression. In addition, we demonstrated that the cellular distribution of atlastin-1:NIPA1 complexes was dramatically altered by HSP-causing mutations, as missense mutations in atlastin-1 (R239C and R495W) and NIPA1 (T45R and G106R) caused protein sequestration in the Golgi complex (GC) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER), respectively. Moreover, we demonstrated that HSP-causing mutations in both atlastin-1 and NIPA1 reduced axonal and dendritic sprouting in cultured rat cortical neurons. Together, these findings support the hypothesis that NIPA1 and atlastin-1 are members of a common biochemical pathway that supports axonal maintenance, which may explain in part the characteristic degeneration of long spinal pathways observed in patients with HSP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel J Botzolakis
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232-8552, USA
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