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Kavousi S, Pourahmadiyan A, Soleymani F, Noruzinia M. Identification of a Novel de novo Splicing Mutation in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Gene in an Iranian Family. Mol Syndromol 2023; 14:331-340. [PMID: 37766830 PMCID: PMC10521217 DOI: 10.1159/000528035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) (NM_004006.3) is one of the most notable neuromuscular disorders of early years. The majority of DMD cases are caused by deletions or duplications in dystrophin, while point mutations are less prevalent in dystrophin abnormalities. It is a common knowledge that the severity of the disease depends on the effect of the mutation on the translational reading frame of the dystrophin mRNA. Case Report We studied an 8-year-old boy with relevant clinical presentations for DMD. Deletion/duplication screening was performed by using multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, and whole-exome sequencing was conducted in order to identify potential variants. A novel de novo splice site variant was identified in the DMD gene (DMD: c.8548-2A>G). To explore the effect of a novel variant in DMD, various in silico analyses were carried out to investigate the pathogenicity of the causative variant. To study the structure of a DMD protein and information on how the genetic variant impacts splicing site in models of wild-type and mutated DMD, we carried out different computational studies. Sanger sequencing was performed for the purpose of variant confirmation and familial segregation analysis. Discussion This novel de novo variant was predicted to have an effect on splicing, which leads to DMD due to its significant impacts on dystrophin functionality. The novel mutation would be expected to disrupt the protein structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeideh Kavousi
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | - Mehrdad Noruzinia
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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2
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Soussi S, Savchenko L, Rovina D, Iacovoni JS, Gottinger A, Vialettes M, Pioner JM, Farini A, Mallia S, Rabino M, Pompilio G, Parini A, Lairez O, Gowran A, Pizzinat N. IPSC derived cardiac fibroblasts of DMD patients show compromised actin microfilaments, metabolic shift and pro-fibrotic phenotype. Biol Direct 2023; 18:41. [PMID: 37501163 PMCID: PMC10373315 DOI: 10.1186/s13062-023-00398-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe form of muscular dystrophy caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. We characterized which isoforms of dystrophin were expressed by human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cardiac fibroblasts obtained from control and DMD patients. Distinct dystrophin isoforms were observed; however, highest molecular weight isoform was absent in DMD patients carrying exon deletions or mutations in the dystrophin gene. The loss of the full-length dystrophin isoform in hiPSC-derived cardiac fibroblasts from DMD patients resulted in deficient formation of actin microfilaments and a metabolic switch from mitochondrial oxidation to glycolysis. The DMD hiPSC-derived cardiac fibroblasts exhibited a dysregulated mitochondria network and reduced mitochondrial respiration, with enhanced compensatory glycolysis to sustain cellular ATP production. This metabolic remodeling was associated with an exacerbated myofibroblast phenotype and increased fibroblast activation in response to pro fibrotic challenges. As cardiac fibrosis is a critical pathological feature of the DMD heart, the myofibroblast phenotype induced by the absence of dystrophin may contribute to deterioration in cardiac function. Our study highlights the relationship between cytoskeletal dynamics, metabolism of the cell and myofibroblast differentiation and provides a new mechanism by which inactivation of dystrophin in non-cardiomyocyte cells may increase the severity of cardiopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salwa Soussi
- National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), I2MC, U1297, Toulouse, France
- University Toulouse III, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, CEDEX 9, Toulouse, France
| | - Lesia Savchenko
- National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), I2MC, U1297, Toulouse, France
- University Toulouse III, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, CEDEX 9, Toulouse, France
| | - Davide Rovina
- Unit of Vascular Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Jason S Iacovoni
- National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), I2MC, U1297, Toulouse, France
- National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) U1297 I2MC, Bioinformatic Core Facility, I2MC, Toulouse, France
| | - Andrea Gottinger
- National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), I2MC, U1297, Toulouse, France
| | - Maxime Vialettes
- University Toulouse III, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, CEDEX 9, Toulouse, France
| | | | - Andrea Farini
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Mallia
- Unit of Vascular Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Martina Rabino
- Unit of Vascular Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulio Pompilio
- Unit of Vascular Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Angelo Parini
- National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), I2MC, U1297, Toulouse, France
- University Toulouse III, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, CEDEX 9, Toulouse, France
| | - Olivier Lairez
- National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), I2MC, U1297, Toulouse, France
- University Toulouse III, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, CEDEX 9, Toulouse, France
| | - Aoife Gowran
- Unit of Vascular Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Nathalie Pizzinat
- National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), I2MC, U1297, Toulouse, France.
- University Toulouse III, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, CEDEX 9, Toulouse, France.
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Egorova TV, Galkin II, Velyaev OA, Vassilieva SG, Savchenko IM, Loginov VA, Dzhenkova MA, Korshunova DS, Kozlova OS, Ivankov DN, Polikarpova AV. In-Frame Deletion of Dystrophin Exons 8-50 Results in DMD Phenotype. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24119117. [PMID: 37298068 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations that prevent the production of proteins in the DMD gene cause Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Most frequently, these are deletions leading to reading-frame shift. The "reading-frame rule" states that deletions that preserve ORF result in a milder Becker muscular dystrophy. By removing several exons, new genome editing tools enable reading-frame restoration in DMD with the production of BMD-like dystrophins. However, not every truncated dystrophin with a significant internal loss functions properly. To determine the effectiveness of potential genome editing, each variant should be carefully studied in vitro or in vivo. In this study, we focused on the deletion of exons 8-50 as a potential reading-frame restoration option. Using the CRISPR-Cas9 tool, we created the novel mouse model DMDdel8-50, which has an in-frame deletion in the DMD gene. We compared DMDdel8-50 mice to C57Bl6/CBA background control mice and previously generated DMDdel8-34 KO mice. We discovered that the shortened protein was expressed and correctly localized on the sarcolemma. The truncated protein, on the other hand, was unable to function like a full-length dystrophin and prevent disease progression. On the basis of protein expression, histological examination, and physical assessment of the mice, we concluded that the deletion of exons 8-50 is an exception to the reading-frame rule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana V Egorova
- Laboratory of Modeling and Therapy of Hereditary Diseases, Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
- Marlin Biotech LLC, Sochi 354340, Russia
| | - Ivan I Galkin
- Marlin Biotech LLC, Sochi 354340, Russia
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Oleg A Velyaev
- Laboratory of Modeling and Therapy of Hereditary Diseases, Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
| | - Svetlana G Vassilieva
- Laboratory of Modeling and Therapy of Hereditary Diseases, Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
| | - Irina M Savchenko
- Laboratory of Modeling and Therapy of Hereditary Diseases, Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
| | - Vyacheslav A Loginov
- Laboratory of Modeling and Therapy of Hereditary Diseases, Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
| | - Marina A Dzhenkova
- Laboratory of Modeling and Therapy of Hereditary Diseases, Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
| | - Diana S Korshunova
- Core Facilities, Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
| | - Olga S Kozlova
- Laboratory of Modeling and Therapy of Hereditary Diseases, Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
| | - Dmitry N Ivankov
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow 121205, Russia
| | - Anna V Polikarpova
- Laboratory of Modeling and Therapy of Hereditary Diseases, Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
- Marlin Biotech LLC, Sochi 354340, Russia
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Anitas EM. α-SAS: an integrative approach for structural modeling of biological macromolecules in solution. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2022; 78:1046-1063. [DOI: 10.1107/s2059798322006349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Modern small-angle scattering (SAS) experiments with neutrons (SANS) or X-rays (SAXS) combined with contrast variation provide comprehensive information about the structure of large multicomponent macromolecules in solution and allow the size, shape and relative arrangement of each component to be mapped out. To obtain such information, it is essential to perform well designed experiments, in which all necessary steps, from assessing sample suitability to structure modeling, are properly executed. This paper describes α-SAS, an integrative approach that is useful for effectively planning a biological contrast-variation SAS experiment. The accurate generation of expected experimental intensities using α-SAS allows the substantial acceleratation of research into the structure and function of biomacromolecules by minimizing the time and costs associated with performing a SAS experiment. The method is validated using a few basic structures with known analytical expressions for scattering intensity and using experimental SAXS data from Arabidopsis β-amylase 1 protein and SANS data from the histidine kinase–Sda complex and from human dystrophin without and with a membrane-mimicking nanodisk. Simulation of a SANS contrast-variation experiment is performed for synthetic nanobodies that effectively neutralize SARS-CoV-2.
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5
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Niu X, Menhart N. Structural Perturbations of Exon-Skipping Edits within the Dystrophin D20:24 Region. Biochemistry 2021; 60:765-779. [PMID: 33656846 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Exon skipping is a disease-modifying therapy in which oligonucleotide analogues mask specific exons, eliminating them from the mature mRNA, and also the cognate protein. That is one possible therapeutic aim, but it can also be used to restore the reading frame for diseases caused by frameshift mutations, which is the case for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). DMD most commonly arises as a result of large exonic deletions that create a frameshift and abolish protein expression. Loss of dystrophin protein leads to the pathology of the disease, which is severe, causing death generally in the second or third decade of life. Here, the primary aim of exon skipping is restoration of protein expression by reading frame correction. However, the therapeutically expressed protein is missing both the region of the underlying genetic defect and the therapeutically skipped exon. How removing some region from the middle of a protein affects its structure and function is unclear. Many different underlying deletions are known, and exon skipping can be applied in many ways, in some cases in different ways to the same defect. These vary in how severely perturbative they are, with possible clinical consequences. In this study, we examine a systematic, comprehensive panel of exon edits in a region of dystrophin and identify for the first time exon edits that are minimally perturbed and appear to keep the structural stability similar to that of wild-type protein. We also identify factors that appear to be correlated with how perturbative an edit is.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Niu
- Department of Biology, Illinois Institute of Technology, 3101 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois 60616, United States
| | - Nick Menhart
- Department of Biology, Illinois Institute of Technology, 3101 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois 60616, United States
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6
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Stephenson AA, Flanigan KM. Gene editing and modulation for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2021; 182:225-255. [PMID: 34175043 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2021.01.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive muscle disease caused by loss of dystrophin protein, encoded by the DMD gene. DMD manifests early in childhood as difficulty walking, progresses to loss of ambulation by the teens, and leads to death in early adulthood. Adeno-associated virus-vectorized gene therapies to restore dystrophin protein expression using gene replacement or antisense oligonucleotide-mediated pre-mRNA splicing modulation have emerged, making great strides in uncovering barriers to gene therapies for DMD and other genetic diseases. While this first-generation of DMD therapies are being evaluated in ongoing clinical trials, uncertainties regarding durability and therapeutic efficacy prompted the development of new experimental therapies for DMD that take advantage of somatic cell gene editing. These experimental therapies continue to advance toward clinic trials, but questions remain unanswered regarding safety and translatable efficacy. Here we review the advancements toward treatment of DMD using gene editing and modulation therapies, with an emphasis on those nearest to clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony A Stephenson
- Center for Gene Therapy, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Kevin M Flanigan
- Center for Gene Therapy, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States; Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States; Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.
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7
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Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a severe, progressive, muscle-wasting disease that leads to difficulties with movement and, eventually, to the need for assisted ventilation and premature death. The disease is caused by mutations in DMD (encoding dystrophin) that abolish the production of dystrophin in muscle. Muscles without dystrophin are more sensitive to damage, resulting in progressive loss of muscle tissue and function, in addition to cardiomyopathy. Recent studies have greatly deepened our understanding of the primary and secondary pathogenetic mechanisms. Guidelines for the multidisciplinary care for Duchenne muscular dystrophy that address obtaining a genetic diagnosis and managing the various aspects of the disease have been established. In addition, a number of therapies that aim to restore the missing dystrophin protein or address secondary pathology have received regulatory approval and many others are in clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongsheng Duan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Department of Neurology, School of Medicine; Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine; Department of Biomedical, Biological & Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Nathalie Goemans
- Department of Child Neurology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Eugenio Mercuri
- Centro Clinico Nemo, Policlinico Gemelli, Rome, Italy
- Peadiatric Neurology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Annemieke Aartsma-Rus
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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8
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Dowling P, Gargan S, Murphy S, Zweyer M, Sabir H, Swandulla D, Ohlendieck K. The Dystrophin Node as Integrator of Cytoskeletal Organization, Lateral Force Transmission, Fiber Stability and Cellular Signaling in Skeletal Muscle. Proteomes 2021; 9:9. [PMID: 33540575 PMCID: PMC7931087 DOI: 10.3390/proteomes9010009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The systematic bioanalytical characterization of the protein product of the DMD gene, which is defective in the pediatric disorder Duchenne muscular dystrophy, led to the discovery of the membrane cytoskeletal protein dystrophin. Its full-length muscle isoform Dp427-M is tightly linked to a sarcolemma-associated complex consisting of dystroglycans, sarcoglyans, sarcospan, dystrobrevins and syntrophins. Besides these core members of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex, the wider dystrophin-associated network includes key proteins belonging to the intracellular cytoskeleton and microtubular assembly, the basal lamina and extracellular matrix, various plasma membrane proteins and cytosolic components. Here, we review the central role of the dystrophin complex as a master node in muscle fibers that integrates cytoskeletal organization and cellular signaling at the muscle periphery, as well as providing sarcolemmal stabilization and contractile force transmission to the extracellular region. The combination of optimized tissue extraction, subcellular fractionation, advanced protein co-purification strategies, immunoprecipitation, liquid chromatography and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis with modern mass spectrometry-based proteomics has confirmed the composition of the core dystrophin complex at the sarcolemma membrane. Importantly, these biochemical and mass spectrometric surveys have identified additional members of the wider dystrophin network including biglycan, cavin, synemin, desmoglein, tubulin, plakoglobin, cytokeratin and a variety of signaling proteins and ion channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Dowling
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, National University of Ireland, W23F2H6 Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland; (P.D.); (S.G.)
- Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research, Maynooth University, W23F2H6 Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Stephen Gargan
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, National University of Ireland, W23F2H6 Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland; (P.D.); (S.G.)
- Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research, Maynooth University, W23F2H6 Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Sandra Murphy
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE24HH, UK;
| | - Margit Zweyer
- Department of Neonatology and Paediatric Intensive Care, Children’s Hospital, University of Bonn, D53113 Bonn, Germany; (M.Z.); (H.S.)
| | - Hemmen Sabir
- Department of Neonatology and Paediatric Intensive Care, Children’s Hospital, University of Bonn, D53113 Bonn, Germany; (M.Z.); (H.S.)
| | - Dieter Swandulla
- Institute of Physiology II, University of Bonn, D53115 Bonn, Germany;
| | - Kay Ohlendieck
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, National University of Ireland, W23F2H6 Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland; (P.D.); (S.G.)
- Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research, Maynooth University, W23F2H6 Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
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Aartsma-Rus A, Morgan J, Lonkar P, Neubert H, Owens J, Binks M, Montolio M, Phadke R, Datson N, Van Deutekom J, Morris GE, Rao VA, Hoffman EP, Muntoni F, Arechavala-Gomeza V. Report of a TREAT-NMD/World Duchenne Organisation Meeting on Dystrophin Quantification Methodology. J Neuromuscul Dis 2020; 6:147-159. [PMID: 30614809 PMCID: PMC6398559 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-180357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Representatives of academia, patient organisations, industry and the United States Food and Drug Administration attended a workshop on dystrophin quantification methodology. The aims of the workshop were to provide an overview of methods used to quantify dystrophin levels in human skeletal muscle and their applicability to clinical trial samples, outline the gaps with regards to validating the methods for robust clinical applications prior to regulatory agency review, and to align future efforts towards further optimizing these methods. The workshop facilitated a constructive but also critical discussion on the potential and limitations of techniques currently used in the field of translational research (western blot and immunofluorescence analysis) and emerging techniques (mass spectrometry and capillary western immunoassay). Notably, all participants reported variation in dystrophin levels between muscle biopsies from different healthy individuals and agreed on the need for a common reference sample.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jennifer Morgan
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Hendrik Neubert
- Pfizer Inc, BioMedicine Design 1 Burtt Road, Andover, MA, USA
| | - Jane Owens
- Pfizer Inc, Rare Disease Research Unit, 610 Main Street, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Michael Binks
- Pfizer Inc, Rare Disease Research Unit, 610 Main Street, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Marisol Montolio
- Department of Cell Biology, Fisiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona.,Duchenne Parent Project Spain, Spain
| | - Rahul Phadke
- National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Glenn E Morris
- Wolfson Centre for Inherited Neuromuscular Disease, Keele University and RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry, UK
| | - V Ashutosh Rao
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, MD, USA
| | - Eric P Hoffman
- Binghamton University-SUNY, Binghamton, NY, USA and AGADA BioSciences, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Francesco Muntoni
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom.,National Institute for Health Research, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, London WC1, N 1EH, United Kingdom
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How the central domain of dystrophin acts to bridge F-actin to sarcolemmal lipids. J Struct Biol 2019; 209:107411. [PMID: 31689503 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2019.107411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Dystrophin is a large intracellular protein that prevents sarcolemmal ruptures by providing a mechanical link between the intracellular actin cytoskeleton and the transmembrane dystroglycan complex. Dystrophin deficiency leads to the severe muscle wasting disease Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and the milder allelic variant, Becker Muscular Dystrophy (DMD and BMD). Previous work has shown that concomitant interaction of the actin binding domain 2 (ABD2) comprising spectrin like repeats 11 to 15 (R11-15) of the central domain of dystrophin, with both actin and membrane lipids, can greatly increase membrane stiffness. Based on a combination of SAXS and SANS measurements, mass spectrometry analysis of cross-linked complexes and interactive low-resolution simulations, we explored in vitro the molecular properties of dystrophin that allow the formation of ABD2-F-actin and ABD2-membrane model complexes. In dystrophin we identified two subdomains interacting with F-actin, one located in R11 and a neighbouring region in R12 and another one in R15, while a single lipid binding domain was identified at the C-terminal end of R12. Relative orientations of the dystrophin central domain with F-actin and a membrane model were obtained from docking simulation under experimental constraints. SAXS-based models were then built for an extended central subdomain from R4 to R19, including ABD2. Overall results are compatible with a potential F-actin/dystrophin/membrane lipids ternary complex. Our description of this selected part of the dystrophin associated complex bridging muscle cell membrane and cytoskeleton opens the way to a better understanding of how cell muscle scaffolding is maintained through this essential protein.
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11
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Wells DJ. What is the level of dystrophin expression required for effective therapy of Duchenne muscular dystrophy? J Muscle Res Cell Motil 2019; 40:141-150. [PMID: 31289969 DOI: 10.1007/s10974-019-09535-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a fatal X-linked muscle wasting disease. The disease is due to mutations in the DMD gene that encodes for a large intracellular protein called dystrophin. Dystrophin plays a critical role in linking the internal cytoskeleton of the striated muscle cell with the extracellular matrix as well as having cell signalling functions. In its absence muscle contraction is associated with cycles of damage, repair, inflammation and fibrosis with eventual loss of muscle and replacement with fat. Experiments in animal models of DMD have generated a number of different approaches to the induction of dystrophin including viral vector mediated delivery of a recombinant dystrophin gene, antisense oligonucleotide mediated exon-skipping to restore the open reading frame in the dystrophin mRNA, read-through of premature stop mutations, genome modification using CRISPR-Cas9 or cell based transfer of a functional dystrophin gene. In all cases, it will be important to understand how much dystrophin expression is required for a clinically effective therapy and this review examines the data from humans and animal models to estimate the percentage of endogenous dystrophin that is likely to have significant clinical benefit. While there are a number of important caveats to consider, including the appropriate outcome measures, this review suggests that approximately 20% of endogenous levels uniformly distributed within the skeletal muscles and the heart may be sufficient to largely prevent disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic J Wells
- Neuromuscular Diseases Group, Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Royal College Street, London, NW1 0TU, UK.
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Davies KE, Guiraud S. Micro-dystrophin Genes Bring Hope of an Effective Therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Mol Ther 2019; 27:486-488. [PMID: 30765324 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2019.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kay E Davies
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK.
| | - Simon Guiraud
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
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Mias-Lucquin D, Chéron A, Le Rumeur E, Hubert JF, Delalande O. Fine mapping of hydrophobic contacts reassesses the organization of the first three dystrophin coiled-coil repeats. Protein Sci 2018; 28:561-570. [PMID: 30468271 DOI: 10.1002/pro.3557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 11/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Coiled-coil domain is a structural motif found in proteins crucial for achievement of central biological processes, such as cellular cohesion or neuro-transmission. The coiled-coil fold consists of alpha-helices bundle that can be repeated to form larger filament. Hydrophobic residues, distributed following a regular seven-residues' pattern, named heptad pattern, are commonly admitted to be essential for the formation and the stability of canonical coiled-coil repeats. Here we investigated the first three coiled-coil repeats (R1-R3) of the central domain of dystrophin, a scaffolding protein in muscle cells whose deficiency leads to Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophies. By an atomic description of the hydrophobic interactions, we highlighted (i) that coiled-coil filament conformational changes are associated to specific patterns of inter-helices hydrophobic contacts, (ii) that inter-repeat hydrophobic interactions determine the behavior of linker regions including filament kinks, and (iii) that a non-strict conservation of the heptad patterns is leading to a relative plasticity of the dystrophin coiled-coil repeats. These structural features and modulations of the coiled-coil fold could better explain the mechanical properties of the central domain of dystrophin. This contribution to the understanding of the structure-function relationship of dystrophin, and especially of the R1-R3 fragment frequently used in the design of protein for gene therapies, should help in the improvement of the strategies for the cure of muscular dystrophies.
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Patel A, Zhao J, Yue Y, Zhang K, Duan D, Lai Y. Dystrophin R16/17-syntrophin PDZ fusion protein restores sarcolemmal nNOSμ. Skelet Muscle 2018; 8:36. [PMID: 30466494 PMCID: PMC6251231 DOI: 10.1186/s13395-018-0182-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Loss of sarcolemmal nNOSμ is a common manifestation in a wide variety of muscle diseases and contributes to the dysregulation of multiple muscle activities. Given the critical role sarcolemmal nNOSμ plays in muscle, restoration of sarcolemmal nNOSμ should be considered as an important therapeutic goal. Methods nNOSμ is anchored to the sarcolemma by dystrophin spectrin-like repeats 16 and 17 (R16/17) and the syntrophin PDZ domain (Syn PDZ). To develop a strategy that can independently restore sarcolemmal nNOSμ, we engineered an R16/17-Syn PDZ fusion construct and tested whether this construct alone is sufficient to anchor nNOSμ to the sarcolemma in three different mouse models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Results Membrane-associated nNOSμ is completely lost in DMD. Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated delivery of the R16/17-Syn PDZ fusion construct successfully restored sarcolemmal nNOSμ in all three models. Further, nNOS restoration was independent of the dystrophin-associated protein complex. Conclusions Our results suggest that the R16/17-Syn PDZ fusion construct is sufficient to restore sarcolemmal nNOSμ in the dystrophin-null muscle. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13395-018-0182-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aman Patel
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Medical Sciences Building, One Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA
| | - Junling Zhao
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Medical Sciences Building, One Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA
| | - Yongping Yue
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Medical Sciences Building, One Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA
| | - Keqing Zhang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Medical Sciences Building, One Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA
| | - Dongsheng Duan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Medical Sciences Building, One Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA. .,Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA. .,Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA. .,Department of Bioengineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA.
| | - Yi Lai
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Medical Sciences Building, One Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA.
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Dos Santos Morais R, Delalande O, Pérez J, Mias-Lucquin D, Lagarrigue M, Martel A, Molza AE, Chéron A, Raguénès-Nicol C, Chenuel T, Bondon A, Appavou MS, Le Rumeur E, Combet S, Hubert JF. Human Dystrophin Structural Changes upon Binding to Anionic Membrane Lipids. Biophys J 2018; 115:1231-1239. [PMID: 30197181 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2018.07.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Revised: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Scaffolding proteins play important roles in supporting the plasma membrane (sarcolemma) of muscle cells. Among them, dystrophin strengthens the sarcolemma through protein-lipid interactions, and its absence due to gene mutations leads to the severe Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Most of the dystrophin protein consists of a central domain made of 24 spectrin-like coiled-coil repeats (R). Using small angle neutron scattering (SANS) and the contrast variation technique, we specifically probed the structure of the three first consecutive repeats 1-3 (R1-3), a part of dystrophin known to physiologically interact with membrane lipids. R1-3 free in solution was compared to its structure adopted in the presence of phospholipid-based bicelles. SANS data for the protein/lipid complexes were obtained with contrast-matched bicelles under various phospholipid compositions to probe the role of electrostatic interactions. When bound to anionic bicelles, large modifications of the protein three-dimensional structure were detected, as revealed by a significant increase of the protein gyration radius from 42 ± 1 to 60 ± 4 Å. R1-3/anionic bicelle complexes were further analyzed by coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. From these studies, we report an all-atom model of R1-3 that highlights the opening of the R1 coiled-coil repeat when bound to the membrane lipids. This model is totally in agreement with SANS and click chemistry/mass spectrometry data. We conclude that the sarcolemma membrane anchoring that occurs during the contraction/elongation process of muscles could be ensured by this coiled-coil opening. Therefore, understanding these structural changes may help in the design of rationalized shortened dystrophins for gene therapy. Finally, our strategy opens up new possibilities for structure determination of peripheral and integral membrane proteins not compatible with different high-resolution structural methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael Dos Santos Morais
- Université de Rennes, Rennes, France; Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes, CNRS UMR 6290, Rennes, France; Laboratoire Léon-Brillouin, UMR 12 CEA-CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, CEA-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France; SWING Beamline, Synchrotron SOLEIL, L'Orme des Merisiers, Saint-Aubin, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Olivier Delalande
- Université de Rennes, Rennes, France; Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes, CNRS UMR 6290, Rennes, France
| | - Javier Pérez
- SWING Beamline, Synchrotron SOLEIL, L'Orme des Merisiers, Saint-Aubin, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Dominique Mias-Lucquin
- Université de Rennes, Rennes, France; Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes, CNRS UMR 6290, Rennes, France
| | - Mélanie Lagarrigue
- Université de Rennes, Rennes, France; Inserm U1085, Protim-Plate-forme Protéomique, Rennes, France
| | | | - Anne-Elisabeth Molza
- Université de Rennes, Rennes, France; Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes, CNRS UMR 6290, Rennes, France
| | - Angélique Chéron
- Université de Rennes, Rennes, France; Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes, CNRS UMR 6290, Rennes, France
| | - Céline Raguénès-Nicol
- Université de Rennes, Rennes, France; Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes, CNRS UMR 6290, Rennes, France
| | - Thomas Chenuel
- Université de Rennes, Rennes, France; Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes, CNRS UMR 6290, Rennes, France
| | - Arnaud Bondon
- CNRS 6226, Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes, PRISM, Rennes, France
| | - Marie-Sousai Appavou
- Jülich Centre for Neutron Science at Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Garching, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Le Rumeur
- Université de Rennes, Rennes, France; Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes, CNRS UMR 6290, Rennes, France
| | - Sophie Combet
- Laboratoire Léon-Brillouin, UMR 12 CEA-CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, CEA-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
| | - Jean-François Hubert
- Université de Rennes, Rennes, France; Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes, CNRS UMR 6290, Rennes, France.
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