1
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Rösing S, Ullrich F, Meisterfeld S, Schmidt F, Mlitzko L, Croon M, Nattrass RG, Eberl N, Mahlberg J, Schlee M, Wieland A, Simon P, Hilbig D, Reuner U, Rapp A, Bremser J, Mirtschink P, Drukewitz S, Zillinger T, Beissert S, Paeschke K, Hartmann G, Trifunovic A, Bartok E, Günther C. Chronic endoplasmic reticulum stress in myotonic dystrophy type 2 promotes autoimmunity via mitochondrial DNA release. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1534. [PMID: 38378748 PMCID: PMC10879130 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45535-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2) is a tetranucleotide CCTG repeat expansion disease associated with an increased prevalence of autoimmunity. Here, we identified an elevated type I interferon (IFN) signature in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and primary fibroblasts of DM2 patients as a trigger of chronic immune stimulation. Although RNA-repeat accumulation was prevalent in the cytosol of DM2-patient fibroblasts, type-I IFN release did not depend on innate RNA immune sensors but rather the DNA sensor cGAS and the prevalence of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in the cytoplasm. Sublethal mtDNA release was promoted by a chronic activation of the ATF6 branch of the unfolded protein response (UPR) in reaction to RNA-repeat accumulation and non-AUG translated tetrapeptide expansion proteins. ATF6-dependent mtDNA release and resulting cGAS/STING activation could also be recapitulated in human THP-1 monocytes exposed to chronic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Altogether, our study demonstrates a novel mechanism by which large repeat expansions cause chronic endoplasmic reticulum stress and associated mtDNA leakage. This mtDNA is, in turn, sensed by the cGAS/STING pathway and induces a type-I IFN response predisposing to autoimmunity. Elucidating this pathway reveals new potential therapeutic targets for autoimmune disorders associated with repeat expansion diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Rösing
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Fabian Ullrich
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Experimental Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Susann Meisterfeld
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Franziska Schmidt
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Laura Mlitzko
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marijana Croon
- Institute for Mitochondrial Diseases and Aging, Faculty of Medicine, CECAD Research Center, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Ryan G Nattrass
- Institute of Experimental Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Nadia Eberl
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Julia Mahlberg
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Martin Schlee
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Anja Wieland
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Philipp Simon
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
- Department of Oncology, Hematology, Rheumatology and Immune-Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Daniel Hilbig
- Department of Oncology, Hematology, Rheumatology and Immune-Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Ulrike Reuner
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Alexander Rapp
- Department of Biology, Cell biology and Epigenetic, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Julia Bremser
- Institute of Experimental Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Peter Mirtschink
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stephan Drukewitz
- Core Unit for Molecular Tumor Diagnostics (CMTD), National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden, Institute of Human Genetics, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Thomas Zillinger
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Stefan Beissert
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Katrin Paeschke
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
- Department of Oncology, Hematology, Rheumatology and Immune-Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Gunther Hartmann
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Aleksandra Trifunovic
- Institute for Mitochondrial Diseases and Aging, Faculty of Medicine, CECAD Research Center, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Eva Bartok
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Experimental Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
- Unit of Experimental Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Claudia Günther
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
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2
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Papp D, Hernandez LA, Mai TA, Haanen TJ, O’Donnell MA, Duran AT, Hernandez SM, Narvanto JE, Arguello B, Onwukwe MO, Mirkin SM, Kim JC. Massive contractions of myotonic dystrophy type 2-associated CCTG tetranucleotide repeats occur via double-strand break repair with distinct requirements for DNA helicases. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2024; 14:jkad257. [PMID: 37950892 PMCID: PMC10849350 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkad257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2) is a genetic disease caused by expanded CCTG DNA repeats in the first intron of CNBP. The number of CCTG repeats in DM2 patients ranges from 75 to 11,000, yet little is known about the molecular mechanisms responsible for repeat expansions or contractions. We developed an experimental system in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that enables the selection of large-scale contractions of (CCTG)100 within the intron of a reporter gene and subsequent genetic analysis. Contractions exceeded 80 repeat units, causing the final repetitive tract to be well below the threshold for disease. We found that Rad51 and Rad52 are involved in these massive contractions, indicating a mechanism that uses homologous recombination. Srs2 helicase was shown previously to stabilize CTG, CAG, and CGG repeats. Loss of Srs2 did not significantly affect CCTG contraction rates in unperturbed conditions. In contrast, loss of the RecQ helicase Sgs1 resulted in a 6-fold decrease in contraction rate with specific evidence that helicase activity is required for large-scale contractions. Using a genetic assay to evaluate chromosome arm loss, we determined that CCTG and reverse complementary CAGG repeats elevate the rate of chromosomal fragility compared to a short-track control. Overall, our results demonstrate that the genetic control of CCTG repeat contractions is notably distinct among disease-causing microsatellite repeat sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Papp
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA 92078, USA
| | - Luis A Hernandez
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA 92078, USA
| | - Theresa A Mai
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA 92078, USA
| | - Terrance J Haanen
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA 92078, USA
| | - Meghan A O’Donnell
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA 92078, USA
| | - Ariel T Duran
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA 92078, USA
| | - Sophia M Hernandez
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA 92078, USA
| | - Jenni E Narvanto
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA 92078, USA
| | - Berenice Arguello
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA 92078, USA
| | - Marvin O Onwukwe
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA 92078, USA
| | - Sergei M Mirkin
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Jane C Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA 92078, USA
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3
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Papp D, Hernandez LA, Mai TA, Haanen TJ, O’Donnell MA, Duran AT, Hernandez SM, Narvanto JE, Arguello B, Onwukwe MO, Kolar K, Mirkin SM, Kim JC. Massive contractions of Myotonic Dystrophy Type 2-associated CCTG tetranucleotide repeats occur via double strand break repair with distinct requirements for helicases. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.06.548036. [PMID: 37461657 PMCID: PMC10350092 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.06.548036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Myotonic Dystrophy Type 2 (DM2) is a genetic disease caused by expanded CCTG DNA repeats in the first intron of CNBP. The number of CCTG repeats in DM2 patients ranges from 75-11,000, yet little is known about the molecular mechanisms responsible for repeat expansions or contractions. We developed an experimental system in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that enables selection of large-scale contractions of (CCTG)100 within the intron of a reporter gene and subsequent genetic analysis. Contractions exceeded 80 repeat units, causing the final repetitive tract to be well below the threshold for disease. We found that Rad51 and Rad52 are required for these massive contractions, indicating a mechanism that involves homologous recombination. Srs2 helicase was shown previously to stabilize CTG, CAG, and CGG repeats. Loss of Srs2 did not significantly affect CCTG contraction rates in unperturbed conditions. In contrast, loss of the RecQ helicase Sgs1 resulted in a 6-fold decrease in contraction rate with specific evidence that helicase activity is required for large-scale contractions. Using a genetic assay to evaluate chromosome arm loss, we determined that CCTG and reverse complementary CAGG repeats elevate the rate of chromosomal fragility compared to a low-repeat control. Overall, our results demonstrate that the genetic control of CCTG repeat contractions is notably distinct among disease-causing microsatellite repeat sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Kara Kolar
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155
| | | | - Jane C. Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA 92078
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4
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Hernández Bustos A, Martiny E, Bom Pedersen N, Parvathaneni RP, Hansen J, Ji HP, Astakhova K. Short Tandem Repeat DNA Profiling Using Perylene-Oligonucleotide Fluorescence Assay. Anal Chem 2023; 95:7872-7879. [PMID: 37183373 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c00063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
We report an amplification-free genotyping method to determine the number of human short tandem repeats (STRs). DNA-based STR profiling is a robust method for genetic identification purposes such as forensics and biobanking and for identifying specific molecular subtypes of cancer. STR detection requires polymerase amplification, which introduces errors that obscure the correct genotype. We developed a new method that requires no polymerase. First, we synthesized perylene-nucleoside reagents and incorporated them into oligonucleotide probes that recognize five common human STRs. Using these probes and a bead-based hybridization approach, accurate STR detection was achieved in only 1.5 h, including DNA preparation steps, with up to a 1000-fold target DNA enrichment. This method was comparable to PCR-based assays. Using standard fluorometry, the limit of detection was 2.00 ± 0.07 pM for a given target. We used this assay to accurately identify STRs from 50 human subjects, achieving >98% consensus with sequencing data for STR genotyping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrián Hernández Bustos
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Region Hovedstaden 2800, Denmark
| | - Elisa Martiny
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Region Hovedstaden 2800, Denmark
| | - Nadia Bom Pedersen
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Region Hovedstaden 2800, Denmark
| | - Rohith Pavan Parvathaneni
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Region Hovedstaden 2800, Denmark
| | - Jonas Hansen
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Region Hovedstaden 2800, Denmark
- School of Medicine, Stanford University, 94305 Stanford, California, United States
| | - Hanlee P Ji
- School of Medicine, Stanford University, 94305 Stanford, California, United States
| | - Kira Astakhova
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Region Hovedstaden 2800, Denmark
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5
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Liu Y, Wan L, Ngai CK, Wang Y, Lam SL, Guo P. Structures and conformational dynamics of DNA minidumbbells in pyrimidine-rich repeats associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:1584-1592. [PMID: 36874156 PMCID: PMC9975016 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Expansions of short tandem repeats (STRs) are associated with approximately 50 human neurodegenerative diseases. These pathogenic STRs are prone to form non-B DNA structure, which has been considered as one of the causative factors for repeat expansions. Minidumbbell (MDB) is a relatively new type of non-B DNA structure formed by pyrimidine-rich STRs. An MDB is composed of two tetraloops or pentaloops, exhibiting a highly compact conformation with extensive loop-loop interactions. The MDB structures have been found to form in CCTG tetranucleotide repeats associated with myotonic dystrophy type 2, ATTCT pentanucleotide repeats associated with spinocerebellar ataxia type 10, and the recently discovered ATTTT/ATTTC repeats associated with spinocerebellar ataxia type 37 and familial adult myoclonic epilepsy. In this review, we first introduce the structures and conformational dynamics of MDBs with a focus on the high-resolution structural information determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Then we discuss the effects of sequence context, chemical environment, and nucleobase modification on the structure and thermostability of MDBs. Finally, we provide perspectives on further explorations of sequence criteria and biological functions of MDBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Liu
- South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, School of Emergent Soft Matter, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510640, China
| | - Liqi Wan
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Cheuk Kit Ngai
- Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin N.T., Hong Kong, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC) Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China
| | - Sik Lok Lam
- Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin N.T., Hong Kong, China
| | - Pei Guo
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC) Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China
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6
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Braun M, Shoshani S, Tabach Y. Transcriptome changes in DM1 patients’ tissues are governed by the RNA interference pathway. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:955753. [PMID: 36060259 PMCID: PMC9437208 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.955753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a multisystemic disease caused by pathogenic expansions of CTG repeats. The expanded repeats are transcribed to long RNA and induce cellular toxicity. Recent studies suggest that the CUG repeats are processed by the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway to generate small interfering repeated RNA (siRNA). However, the effects of the CTG repeat-derived siRNAs remain unclear. We hypothesize that the RNAi machinery in DM1 patients generates distinct gene expression patterns that determine the disease phenotype in the individual patient. The abundance of genes with complementary repeats that are targeted by siRNAs in each tissue determines the way that the tissue is affected in DM1. We integrated and analyzed published transcriptome data from muscle, heart, and brain biopsies of DM1 patients, and revealed shared, characteristic changes that correlated with disease phenotype. These signatures are overrepresented by genes and transcription factors bearing endogenous CTG/CAG repeats and are governed by aberrant activity of the RNAi machinery, miRNAs, and a specific gain-of-function of the CTG repeats. Computational analysis of the DM1 transcriptome enhances our understanding of the complex pathophysiology of the disease and may reveal a path for cure.
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7
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Mellor C, Perez C, Sale JE. Creation and resolution of non-B-DNA structural impediments during replication. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 2022; 57:412-442. [PMID: 36170051 PMCID: PMC7613824 DOI: 10.1080/10409238.2022.2121803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
During replication, folding of the DNA template into non-B-form secondary structures provides one of the most abundant impediments to the smooth progression of the replisome. The core replisome collaborates with multiple accessory factors to ensure timely and accurate duplication of the genome and epigenome. Here, we discuss the forces that drive non-B structure formation and the evidence that secondary structures are a significant and frequent source of replication stress that must be actively countered. Taking advantage of recent advances in the molecular and structural biology of the yeast and human replisomes, we examine how structures form and how they may be sensed and resolved during replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Mellor
- Division of Protein & Nucleic Acid Chemistry, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Consuelo Perez
- Division of Protein & Nucleic Acid Chemistry, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Julian E Sale
- Division of Protein & Nucleic Acid Chemistry, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
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8
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Characterisation of Non-Pathogenic Premutation-Range Myotonic Dystrophy Type 2 Alleles. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10173934. [PMID: 34501382 PMCID: PMC8432210 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10173934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2) is caused by expansion of a (CCTG)n repeat in the cellular retroviral nucleic acid-binding protein (CNBP) gene. The sequence of the repeat is most commonly interrupted and is stably inherited in the general population. Although expanded alleles, premutation range and, in rare cases, also non-disease associated alleles containing uninterrupted CCTG tracts have been described, the threshold between these categories is poorly characterised. Here, we describe four families with members reporting neuromuscular complaints, in whom we identified altogether nine ambiguous CNBP alleles containing uninterrupted CCTG repeats in the range between 32 and 42 repeats. While these grey-zone alleles are most likely not pathogenic themselves, since other pathogenic mutations were identified and particular family structures did not support their pathogenic role, they were found to be unstable during intergenerational transmission. On the other hand, there was no observable general microsatellite instability in the genome of the carriers of these alleles. Our results further refine the division of CNBP CCTG repeat alleles into two major groups, i.e., interrupted and uninterrupted alleles. Both interrupted and uninterrupted alleles with up to approximately 30 CCTG repeats were shown to be generally stable during intergenerational transmission, while intergenerational as well as somatic instability seems to gradually increase in uninterrupted alleles with tract length growing above this threshold.
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9
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Todorow V, Hintze S, Kerr ARW, Hehr A, Schoser B, Meinke P. Transcriptome Analysis in a Primary Human Muscle Cell Differentiation Model for Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:8607. [PMID: 34445314 PMCID: PMC8395314 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is caused by CTG-repeat expansions leading to a complex pathology with a multisystemic phenotype that primarily affects the muscles and brain. Despite a multitude of information, especially on the alternative splicing of several genes involved in the pathology, information about additional factors contributing to the disease development is still lacking. We performed RNAseq and gene expression analyses on proliferating primary human myoblasts and differentiated myotubes. GO-term analysis indicates that in myoblasts and myotubes, different molecular pathologies are involved in the development of the muscular phenotype. Gene set enrichment for splicing reveals the likelihood of whole, differentiation stage specific, splicing complexes that are misregulated in DM1. These data add complexity to the alternative splicing phenotype and we predict that it will be of high importance for therapeutic interventions to target not only mature muscle, but also satellite cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Todorow
- Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Baur-Institute, LMU Klinikum, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan Hintze
- Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Baur-Institute, LMU Klinikum, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Alastair R W Kerr
- Cancer Biomarker Centre, CRUK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester SK10 4TG, UK
| | - Andreas Hehr
- Centre for Human Genetics, 93047 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Benedikt Schoser
- Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Baur-Institute, LMU Klinikum, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Peter Meinke
- Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Baur-Institute, LMU Klinikum, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
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10
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Johnson SJ, Cooper TA. Overlapping mechanisms of lncRNA and expanded microsatellite RNA. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2021; 12:e1634. [PMID: 33191580 PMCID: PMC7880542 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
RNA has major regulatory roles in a wide range of biological processes and a surge of RNA research has led to the classification of numerous functional RNA species. One example is long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) that are structurally complex transcripts >200 nucleotides (nt) in length and lacking a canonical open reading frame (ORF). Despite a general lack of sequence conservation and low expression levels, many lncRNAs have been shown to have functionality in diverse biological processes as well as in mechanisms of disease. In parallel with the growing understanding of lncRNA functions, there is a growing subset of microsatellite expansion disorders in which the primary mechanism of pathogenesis is an RNA gain of function arising from RNA transcripts from the mutant allele. Microsatellite expansion disorders are caused by an expansion of short (3-10 nt) repeats located within coding genes. Expanded repeat-containing RNA mediates toxicity through multiple mechanisms, the details of which remain only partially understood. The purpose of this review is to highlight the links between functional mechanisms of lncRNAs and the potential pathogenic mechanisms of expanded microsatellite RNA. These shared mechanisms include protein sequestration, peptide translation, micro-RNA (miRNA) processing, and miRNA sequestration. Recognizing the parallels between the normal functions of lncRNAs and the negative impact of expanded microsatellite RNA on biological processes can provide reciprocal understanding to the roles of both RNA species. This article is categorized under: RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein-RNA Interactions: Functional Implications RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara J Johnson
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Thomas A Cooper
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
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11
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Alternative DNA Structures In Vivo: Molecular Evidence and Remaining Questions. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2020; 85:85/1/e00110-20. [PMID: 33361270 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00110-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Duplex DNA naturally folds into a right-handed double helix in physiological conditions. Some sequences of unusual base composition may nevertheless form alternative structures, as was shown for many repeated sequences in vitro However, evidence for the formation of noncanonical structures in living cells is difficult to gather. It mainly relies on genetic assays demonstrating their function in vivo or through genetic instability reflecting particular properties of such structures. Efforts were made to reveal their existence directly in a living cell, mainly by generating antibodies specific to secondary structures or using chemical ligands selected for their affinity to these structures. Among secondary structure-forming DNAs are G-quadruplexes, human fragile sites containing minisatellites, AT-rich regions, inverted repeats able to form cruciform structures, hairpin-forming CAG/CTG triplet repeats, and triple helices formed by homopurine-homopyrimidine GAA/TTC trinucleotide repeats. Many of these alternative structures are involved in human pathologies, such as neurological or developmental disorders, as in the case of trinucleotide repeats, or cancers triggered by translocations linked to fragile sites. This review will discuss and highlight evidence supporting the formation of alternative DNA structures in vivo and will emphasize the role of the mismatch repair machinery in binding mispaired DNA duplexes, triggering genetic instability.
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12
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Murat P, Guilbaud G, Sale JE. DNA polymerase stalling at structured DNA constrains the expansion of short tandem repeats. Genome Biol 2020; 21:209. [PMID: 32819438 PMCID: PMC7441554 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-020-02124-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Short tandem repeats (STRs) contribute significantly to de novo mutagenesis, driving phenotypic diversity and genetic disease. Although highly diverse, their repetitive sequences induce DNA polymerase slippage and stalling, leading to length and sequence variation. However, current studies of DNA synthesis through STRs are restricted to a handful of selected sequences, limiting our broader understanding of their evolutionary behaviour and hampering the characterisation of the determinants of their abundance and stability in eukaryotic genomes. RESULTS We perform a comprehensive analysis of DNA synthesis at all STR permutations and interrogate the impact of STR sequence and secondary structure on their genomic representation and mutability. To do this, we developed a high-throughput primer extension assay that allows monitoring of the kinetics and fidelity of DNA synthesis through 20,000 sequences comprising all STR permutations in different lengths. By combining these measurements with population-scale genomic data, we show that the response of a model replicative DNA polymerase to variously structured DNA is sufficient to predict the complex genomic behaviour of STRs, including abundance and mutational constraints. We demonstrate that DNA polymerase stalling at DNA structures induces error-prone DNA synthesis, which constrains STR expansion. CONCLUSIONS Our data support a model in which STR length in eukaryotic genomes results from a balance between expansion due to polymerase slippage at repeated DNA sequences and point mutations caused by error-prone DNA synthesis at DNA structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Murat
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK.
| | - Guillaume Guilbaud
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Julian E Sale
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK.
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13
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Metformin inhibits RAN translation through PKR pathway and mitigates disease in C9orf72 ALS/FTD mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:18591-18599. [PMID: 32690681 PMCID: PMC7414156 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2005748117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Repeat-associated non-AUG (RAN) proteins accumulate in patient brains and contribute to a growing number of neurodegenerative diseases. There is an urgent need to understand why expression of these proteins does not require canonical or near-cognate AUG start codons and to develop ways to block RAN protein production. We show several types of repeat-expansion RNAs activate the double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) pathway and that blocking PKR reduces RAN protein levels in cells. PKR is activated in C9orf72 ALS/FTD human and mouse brains and PKR inhibition using AAV-PKR-K296R or the FDA-approved drug metformin decreases RAN protein levels and improves disease in ALS/FTD mice. Targeting PKR using gene therapy or metformin are promising therapeutic approaches for C9orf72 ALS/FTD and other expansion diseases. Repeat associated non-AUG (RAN) translation is found in a growing number of microsatellite expansion diseases, but the mechanisms remain unclear. We show that RAN translation is highly regulated by the double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR). In cells, structured CAG, CCUG, CAGG, and G4C2 expansion RNAs activate PKR, which leads to increased levels of multiple RAN proteins. Blocking PKR using PKR-K296R, the TAR RNA binding protein or PKR-KO cells, reduces RAN protein levels. p-PKR is elevated in C9orf72 ALS/FTD human and mouse brains, and inhibiting PKR in C9orf72 BAC transgenic mice using AAV-PKR-K296R or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug metformin, decreases RAN proteins, and improves behavior and pathology. In summary, targeting PKR, including by use of metformin, is a promising therapeutic approach for C9orf72 ALS/FTD and other expansion diseases.
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14
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Khristich AN, Mirkin SM. On the wrong DNA track: Molecular mechanisms of repeat-mediated genome instability. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:4134-4170. [PMID: 32060097 PMCID: PMC7105313 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.rev119.007678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Expansions of simple tandem repeats are responsible for almost 50 human diseases, the majority of which are severe, degenerative, and not currently treatable or preventable. In this review, we first describe the molecular mechanisms of repeat-induced toxicity, which is the connecting link between repeat expansions and pathology. We then survey alternative DNA structures that are formed by expandable repeats and review the evidence that formation of these structures is at the core of repeat instability. Next, we describe the consequences of the presence of long structure-forming repeats at the molecular level: somatic and intergenerational instability, fragility, and repeat-induced mutagenesis. We discuss the reasons for gender bias in intergenerational repeat instability and the tissue specificity of somatic repeat instability. We also review the known pathways in which DNA replication, transcription, DNA repair, and chromatin state interact and thereby promote repeat instability. We then discuss possible reasons for the persistence of disease-causing DNA repeats in the genome. We describe evidence suggesting that these repeats are a payoff for the advantages of having abundant simple-sequence repeats for eukaryotic genome function and evolvability. Finally, we discuss two unresolved fundamental questions: (i) why does repeat behavior differ between model systems and human pedigrees, and (ii) can we use current knowledge on repeat instability mechanisms to cure repeat expansion diseases?
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sergei M Mirkin
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155.
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15
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Saha A, Nanavaty VP, Li B. Telomere and Subtelomere R-loops and Antigenic Variation in Trypanosomes. J Mol Biol 2019; 432:4167-4185. [PMID: 31682833 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2019] [Revised: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei is a kinetoplastid parasite that causes African trypanosomiasis, which is fatal if left untreated. T. brucei regularly switches its major surface antigen, VSG, to evade the host immune responses. VSGs are exclusively expressed from subtelomeric expression sites (ESs) where VSG genes are flanked by upstream 70 bp repeats and downstream telomeric repeats. The telomere downstream of the active VSG is transcribed into a long-noncoding RNA (TERRA), which forms RNA:DNA hybrids (R-loops) with the telomeric DNA. At an elevated level, telomere R-loops cause more telomeric and subtelomeric double-strand breaks (DSBs) and increase VSG switching rate. In addition, stabilized R-loops are observed at the 70 bp repeats and immediately downstream of ES-linked VSGs in RNase H defective cells, which also have an increased amount of subtelomeric DSBs and more frequent VSG switching. Although subtelomere plasticity is expected to be beneficial to antigenic variation, severe defects in subtelomere integrity and stability increase cell lethality. Therefore, regulation of the telomere and 70 bp repeat R-loop levels is important for the balance between antigenic variation and cell fitness in T. brucei. In addition, the high level of the active ES transcription favors accumulation of R-loops at the telomere and 70 bp repeats, providing an intrinsic mechanism for local DSB formation, which is a strong inducer of VSG switching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpita Saha
- Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease, Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, College of Science and Health Professions, Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115, USA
| | - Vishal P Nanavaty
- Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease, Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, College of Science and Health Professions, Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115, USA
| | - Bibo Li
- Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease, Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, College of Science and Health Professions, Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115, USA; Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
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16
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Mitchell ML, Leveille MP, Solecki RS, Tran T, Cannon B. Sequence-Dependent Effects of Monovalent Cations on the Structural Dynamics of Trinucleotide-Repeat DNA Hairpins. J Phys Chem B 2018; 122:11841-11851. [PMID: 30441902 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.8b07994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Repetitive trinucleotide DNA sequences at specific genetic loci are associated with numerous hereditary, neurodegenerative diseases. The propensity of single-stranded domains containing these sequences to form secondary structure via extensive self-complementarity disrupts normal DNA processing to create genetic instabilities. To investigate these intrastrand structural dynamics, a DNA hairpin system was devised for single-molecule fluorescence study of the folding kinetics and energetics for secondary structure formation between two interacting, repetitive domains with specific numbers of the same trinucleotide motif (CXG), where X = T or A. Single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) data show discrete conformational transitions between unstructured and closed hairpin states. The lifetimes of the closed hairpin states correlate with the number of repeats, with (CTG) N/(CTG) N domains maintaining longer-lived, closed states than equivalent-sized (CAG) N/(CAG) N domains. NaCl promotes similar degree of stabilization for the closed hairpin states of both repeat sequences. Temperature-based, smFRET experiments reveal that NaCl favors hairpin closing for (CAG) N/(CAG) N by preordering single-stranded repeat domains to accelerate the closing transition. In contrast, NaCl slows the opening transition of CTG hairpins; however, it promotes misfolded conformations that require unfolding. Energy diagrams illustrate the distinct folding pathways of (CTG) N and (CAG) N repeat domains and identify features that may contribute to their gene-destabilizing effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa L Mitchell
- Department of Physics , Loyola University Chicago , Chicago , Illinois 60660 , United States
| | - Michael P Leveille
- Department of Physics , Loyola University Chicago , Chicago , Illinois 60660 , United States
| | - Roman S Solecki
- Department of Physics , Loyola University Chicago , Chicago , Illinois 60660 , United States
| | - Thao Tran
- Department of Physics , Loyola University Chicago , Chicago , Illinois 60660 , United States
| | - Brian Cannon
- Department of Physics , Loyola University Chicago , Chicago , Illinois 60660 , United States
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17
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Spitalieri P, Talarico RV, Murdocca M, Fontana L, Marcaurelio M, Campione E, Massa R, Meola G, Serafino A, Novelli G, Sangiuolo F, Botta A. Generation and Neuronal Differentiation of hiPSCs From Patients With Myotonic Dystrophy Type 2. Front Physiol 2018; 9:967. [PMID: 30100878 PMCID: PMC6074094 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs)-patient specific are an innovative tool to reproduce a model of disease in vitro and summarize the pathological phenotype and the disease etiopathology. Myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2) is caused by an unstable (CCTG)n expansion in intron 1 of the CNBP gene, leading to a progressive multisystemic disease with muscle, heart and central nervous dysfunctions. The pathogenesis of CNS involvement in DM2 is poorly understood since no cellular or animal models fully recapitulate the molecular and clinical neurodegenerative phenotype of patients. In this study, we generated for the first time, two DM2 and two wild type hiPSC lines from dermal fibroblasts by polycistronic lentiviral vector (hSTEMCCA-loxP) expressing OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, and cMYC genes and containing loxP-sites, excisable by Cre recombinase. Specific morphological, molecular and immunocytochemical markers have confirmed the stemness of DM2 and wild type-derived hiPSCs. These cells are able to differentiate into neuronal population (NP) expressing tissue specific markers. hiPSCs-derived NP cells maintain (CCTG)n repeat expansion and intranuclear RNA foci exhibiting sequestration of MBNL1 protein, which are pathognomonic of the disease. DM2 hiPSCs represent an important tool for the study of CNS pathogenesis in patients, opening new perspectives for the development of cell-based therapies in the field of personalized medicine and drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Spitalieri
- Medical Genetics Section, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosa V Talarico
- Medical Genetics Section, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Michela Murdocca
- Medical Genetics Section, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Luana Fontana
- Medical Genetics Section, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Marzia Marcaurelio
- Medical Genetics Section, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Campione
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Massa
- Division of Neurology, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Meola
- Department of Biomedical Science for Health, Policlinico San Donato (IRCCS), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Annalucia Serafino
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Italian National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Novelli
- Medical Genetics Section, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.,Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo (IRCCS), Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Federica Sangiuolo
- Medical Genetics Section, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Annalisa Botta
- Medical Genetics Section, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
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18
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Abstract
Neurodegeneration is a leading cause of death in the developed world and a natural, albeit unfortunate, consequence of longer-lived populations. Despite great demand for therapeutic intervention, it is often the case that these diseases are insufficiently understood at the basic molecular level. What little is known has prompted much hopeful speculation about a generalized mechanistic thread that ties these disparate conditions together at the subcellular level and can be exploited for broad curative benefit. In this review, we discuss a prominent theory supported by genetic and pathological changes in an array of neurodegenerative diseases: that neurons are particularly vulnerable to disruption of RNA-binding protein dosage and dynamics. Here we synthesize the progress made at the clinical, genetic, and biophysical levels and conclude that this perspective offers the most parsimonious explanation for these mysterious diseases. Where appropriate, we highlight the reciprocal benefits of cross-disciplinary collaboration between disease specialists and RNA biologists as we envision a future in which neurodegeneration declines and our understanding of the broad importance of RNA processing deepens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin G Conlon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| | - James L Manley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
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19
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Yum K, Wang ET, Kalsotra A. Myotonic dystrophy: disease repeat range, penetrance, age of onset, and relationship between repeat size and phenotypes. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2017; 44:30-37. [PMID: 28213156 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2017.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Revised: 12/11/2016] [Accepted: 01/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy (DM) is an autosomal dominant neuromuscular disease primarily characterized by myotonia and progressive muscle weakness. The pathogenesis of DM involves microsatellite expansions in noncoding regions of transcripts that result in toxic RNA gain-of-function. Each successive generation of DM families carries larger repeat expansions, leading to an earlier age of onset with increasing disease severity. At present, diagnosis of DM is challenging and requires special genetic testing to account for somatic mosaicism and meiotic instability. While progress in genetic testing has been made, more rapid, accurate, and cost-effective approaches for measuring repeat lengths are needed to establish clear correlations between repeat size and disease phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Yum
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA
| | - Eric T Wang
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, Center for Neurogenetics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
| | - Auinash Kalsotra
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA; Institute of Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA.
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20
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Guo P, Lam SL. Unusual structures of CCTG repeats and their participation in repeat expansion. Biomol Concepts 2016; 7:331-340. [DOI: 10.1515/bmc-2016-0024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2016] [Accepted: 11/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractCCTG repeat expansion in intron 1 of the cellular nucleic acid-binding protein (CNBP) gene has been identified to be the genetic cause of myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2). Yet the underlying reasons for the genetic instability in CCTG repeats remain elusive. In recent years, CCTG repeats have been found to form various types of unusual secondary structures including mini-dumbbell (MDB), hairpin and dumbbell, revealing that there is a high structural diversity in CCTG repeats intrinsically. Upon strand slippage, the formation of unusual structures in the nascent strand during DNA replication has been proposed to be the culprit of CCTG repeat expansions. On the one hand, the thermodynamic stability, size, and conformational dynamics of these unusual structures affect the propensity of strand slippage. On the other hand, these structural properties determine whether the unusual structure can successfully escape from DNA repair. In this short overview, we first summarize the recent advances in elucidating the solution structures of CCTG repeats. We then discuss the potential pathways by which these unusual structures bring about variable sizes of repeat expansion, high strand slippage propensity and efficient repair escape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Guo
- 1Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
| | - Sik Lok Lam
- 1Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
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21
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Meola G, Cardani R. Myotonic Dystrophy Type 2: An Update on Clinical Aspects, Genetic and Pathomolecular Mechanism. J Neuromuscul Dis 2015; 2:S59-S71. [PMID: 27858759 PMCID: PMC5240594 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-150088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy (DM) is the most common adult muscular dystrophy, characterized by autosomal dominant progressive myopathy, myotonia and multiorgan involvement. To date two distinct forms caused by similar mutations have been identified. Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1, Steinert's disease) is caused by a (CTG)n expansion in DMPK, while myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2) is caused by a (CCTG)n expansion in CNBP. Despite clinical and genetic similarities, DM1 and DM2 are distinct disorders. The pathogenesis of DM is explained by a common RNA gain-of-function mechanism in which the CUG and CCUG repeats alter cellular function, including alternative splicing of various genes. However additional pathogenic mechanism like changes in gene expression, modifier genes, protein translation and micro-RNA metabolism may also contribute to disease pathology and to clarify the phenotypic differences between these two types of myotonic dystrophies.This review is an update on the latest findings specific to DM2, including explanations for the differences in clinical manifestations and pathophysiology between the two forms of myotonic dystrophies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Meola
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, University of Milan, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy
- Laboratory of Muscle Histopathology and Molecular Biology, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy
| | - Rosanna Cardani
- Laboratory of Muscle Histopathology and Molecular Biology, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy
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22
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Reduction of toxic RNAs in myotonic dystrophies type 1 and type 2 by the RNA helicase p68/DDX5. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:8041-5. [PMID: 26080402 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1422273112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophies type 1 (DM1) and type 2 (DM2) are neuromuscular diseases, caused by accumulation of CUG and CCUG RNAs in toxic aggregates. Here we report that the increased stability of the mutant RNAs in both types of DM is caused by deficiency of RNA helicase p68. We have identified p68 by studying CCUG-binding proteins associated with degradation of the mutant CCUG repeats. Protein levels of p68 are reduced in DM1 and DM2 biopsied skeletal muscle. Delivery of p68 in DM1/2 cells causes degradation of the mutant RNAs, whereas delivery of p68 in skeletal muscle of DM1 mouse model reduces skeletal muscle myopathy and atrophy. Our study shows that correction of p68 may reduce toxicity of the mutant RNAs in DM1 and in DM2.
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23
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Yu Z, Goodman LD, Shieh SY, Min M, Teng X, Zhu Y, Bonini NM. A fly model for the CCUG-repeat expansion of myotonic dystrophy type 2 reveals a novel interaction with MBNL1. Hum Mol Genet 2014; 24:954-62. [PMID: 25305073 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddu507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Expanded non-coding RNA repeats of CUG and CCUG are the underlying genetic causes for myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) and type 2 (DM2), respectively. A gain-of-function of these pathogenic repeat expansions is mediated at least in part by their abnormal interactions with RNA-binding proteins such as MBNL1 and resultant loss of activity of these proteins. To study pathogenic mechanisms of CCUG-repeat expansions in an animal model, we created a fly model of DM2 that expresses pure, uninterrupted CCUG-repeat expansions ranging from 16 to 720 repeats in length. We show that this fly model for DM2 recapitulates key features of human DM2 including RNA repeat-induced toxicity, ribonuclear foci formation and changes in alternative splicing. Interestingly, expression of two isoforms of MBNL1, MBNL135 and MBNL140, leads to cleavage and concurrent upregulation of the levels of the RNA-repeat transcripts, with MBNL140 having more significant effects than MBNL135. This property is shared with a fly CUG-repeat expansion model. Our results suggest a novel mechanism for interaction between the pathogenic RNA repeat expansions of myotonic dystrophy and MBNL1.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lindsey D Goodman
- Neurosciences Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Nancy M Bonini
- Department of Biology and Neurosciences Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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24
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Anvar SY, van der Gaag KJ, van der Heijden JWF, Veltrop MHAM, Vossen RHAM, de Leeuw RH, Breukel C, Buermans HPJ, Verbeek JS, de Knijff P, den Dunnen JT, Laros JFJ. TSSV: a tool for characterization of complex allelic variants in pure and mixed genomes. Bioinformatics 2014; 30:1651-9. [DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btu068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
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25
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Cao MD, Tasker E, Willadsen K, Imelfort M, Vishwanathan S, Sureshkumar S, Balasubramanian S, Bodén M. Inferring short tandem repeat variation from paired-end short reads. Nucleic Acids Res 2013; 42:e16. [PMID: 24353318 PMCID: PMC3919575 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt1313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The advances of high-throughput sequencing offer an unprecedented opportunity to study genetic variation. This is challenged by the difficulty of resolving variant calls in repetitive DNA regions. We present a Bayesian method to estimate repeat-length variation from paired-end sequence read data. The method makes variant calls based on deviations in sequence fragment sizes, allowing the analysis of repeats at lengths of relevance to a range of phenotypes. We demonstrate the method’s ability to detect and quantify changes in repeat lengths from short read genomic sequence data across genotypes. We use the method to estimate repeat variation among 12 strains of Arabidopsis thaliana and demonstrate experimentally that our method compares favourably against existing methods. Using this method, we have identified all repeats across the genome, which are likely to be polymorphic. In addition, our predicted polymorphic repeats also included the only known repeat expansion in A. thaliana, suggesting an ability to discover potential unstable repeats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minh Duc Cao
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, St Lucia QLD 4072, Australia, Clayton School of Information Technology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia and Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia
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26
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Kato T, Liang X, Asanuma H. Model of elongation of short DNA sequence by thermophilic DNA polymerase under isothermal conditions. Biochemistry 2012; 51:7846-53. [PMID: 22992125 DOI: 10.1021/bi3010413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Short DNA sequences, especially those that are repetitive or palindromic, can be used as the seeds for synthesis of long DNA by some DNA polymerases in an unusual manner. Although several elongation mechanisms have been proposed, there is no well-established model that explains highly efficient elongation under isothermal conditions. In the present study, we analyzed the elongation of nonrepetitive sequences with distinct hairpins at each end. These DNAs were elongated efficiently under isothermal conditions by thermophilic Vent (exo(-)) DNA polymerase, and the products were longer than 10 kb within 10 min of the reaction. A 20-nucleotide DNA with only one hairpin was also elongated. Sequence analysis revealed that the long products are mainly tandem repeats of the short seed sequences. The thermal melting temperatures of the products were much higher than the reaction temperature, indicating that most DNAs form duplexes during the reaction. Accordingly, a terminal hairpin formation and self-priming extension model was proposed in detail, and the efficient elongation was explained. Formation of the hairpin at the 5' end plays an important role during the elongation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomohiro Kato
- Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan
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27
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Kurosaki T, Ueda S, Ishida T, Abe K, Ohno K, Matsuura T. The unstable CCTG repeat responsible for myotonic dystrophy type 2 originates from an AluSx element insertion into an early primate genome. PLoS One 2012; 7:e38379. [PMID: 22723857 PMCID: PMC3378579 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0038379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2012] [Accepted: 05/04/2012] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2) is a subtype of the myotonic dystrophies, caused by expansion of a tetranucleotide CCTG repeat in intron 1 of the zinc finger protein 9 (ZNF9) gene. The expansions are extremely unstable and variable, ranging from 75–11,000 CCTG repeats. This unprecedented repeat size and somatic heterogeneity make molecular diagnosis of DM2 difficult, and yield variable clinical phenotypes. To better understand the mutational origin and instability of the ZNF9 CCTG repeat, we analyzed the repeat configuration and flanking regions in 26 primate species. The 3′-end of an AluSx element, flanked by target site duplications (5′-ACTRCCAR-3′or 5′-ACTRCCARTTA-3′), followed the CCTG repeat, suggesting that the repeat was originally derived from the Alu element insertion. In addition, our results revealed lineage-specific repetitive motifs: pyrimidine (CT)-rich repeat motifs in New World monkeys, dinucleotide (TG) repeat motifs in Old World monkeys and gibbons, and dinucleotide (TG) and tetranucleotide (TCTG and/or CCTG) repeat motifs in great apes and humans. Moreover, these di- and tetra-nucleotide repeat motifs arose from the poly (A) tail of the AluSx element, and evolved into unstable CCTG repeats during primate evolution. Alu elements are known to be the source of microsatellite repeats responsible for two other repeat expansion disorders: Friedreich ataxia and spinocerebellar ataxia type 10. Taken together, these findings raise questions as to the mechanism(s) by which Alu-mediated repeats developed into the large, extremely unstable expansions common to these three disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuaki Kurosaki
- Division of Neurogenetics, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Shintaroh Ueda
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takafumi Ishida
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koji Abe
- Department of Neurology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Kinji Ohno
- Division of Neurogenetics, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Tohru Matsuura
- Division of Neurogenetics, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
- Department of Neurology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
- * E-mail:
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28
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Zheng B, Liu Y, Yuan G. Polyamide recognition-mass spectrometry for distinguishing hairpin DNA from coil DNA. J Mol Recognit 2012; 24:1018-24. [PMID: 22038808 DOI: 10.1002/jmr.1149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The discrimination between hairpin DNA and coil DNA has been well achieved through polyamides as probes by electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry. ESI mass spectra showed that polyamides bind to hairpin DNA with high selectivity, and almost no binding with coil DNA. In addition, the noncovalent interaction between polyamides and hairpin DNA was also studied; the results show that hairpin DNA with longer stem and polyamides with more heterocycles have higher binding affinity and stability in gas phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Zheng
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
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Abstract
CCTG tetranucleotide repeat expansion is associated with a hereditary neurological disease called myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2). The underlying reasons that lead to genetic instability and thus repeat expansion during DNA replication remains elusive. Here, we have shown CCTG repeats have a high propensity to form metastable hairpin and dumbbell structures using high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. When the repeat length is equal to three, a hairpin with a two-residue CT loop is formed. In addition to the hairpin, a dumbbell structure with two CT-loops is formed when the repeat length is equal to four. Nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) and chemical shift data reveal both the hairpin and dumbbell structures contain a flexible stem comprising a C-bulge and a T·T mismatch. With the aid of single-site mutation samples, NMR results show these peculiar structures undergo dynamic conformational exchange. In addition to the intrinsic flexibility in the stem region of these structures, the exchange process also serves as an origin of genetic instability that leads to repeat expansion during DNA replication. The structural features provide important drug target information for developing therapeutics to inhibit the expansion process and thus the onset of DM2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sik Lok Lam
- Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
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30
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Cleary JD, Tomé S, López Castel A, Panigrahi GB, Foiry L, Hagerman KA, Sroka H, Chitayat D, Gourdon G, Pearson CE. Tissue- and age-specific DNA replication patterns at the CTG/CAG-expanded human myotonic dystrophy type 1 locus. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2010; 17:1079-87. [DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.1876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2010] [Accepted: 06/24/2010] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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31
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Burrow AA, Marullo A, Holder LR, Wang YH. Secondary structure formation and DNA instability at fragile site FRA16B. Nucleic Acids Res 2010; 38:2865-77. [PMID: 20071743 PMCID: PMC2875025 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkp1245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Human chromosomal fragile sites are specific loci that are especially susceptible to DNA breakage following conditions of partial replication stress. They often are found in genes involved in tumorigenesis and map to over half of all known cancer-specific recurrent translocation breakpoints. While their molecular basis remains elusive, most fragile DNAs contain AT-rich flexibility islands predicted to form stable secondary structures. To understand the mechanism of fragile site instability, we examined the contribution of secondary structure formation to breakage at FRA16B. Here, we show that FRA16B forms an alternative DNA structure in vitro. During replication in human cells, FRA16B exhibited reduced replication efficiency and expansions and deletions, depending on replication orientation and distance from the origin. Furthermore, the examination of a FRA16B replication fork template demonstrated that the majority of the constructs contained DNA polymerase paused within the FRA16B sequence, and among the molecules, which completed DNA synthesis, 81% of them underwent fork reversal. These results strongly suggest that the secondary-structure-forming ability of FRA16B contributes to its fragility by stalling DNA replication, and this mechanism may be shared among other fragile DNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison A Burrow
- Department of Biochemistry, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1016, USA
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32
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Pemberton TJ, Sandefur CI, Jakobsson M, Rosenberg NA. Sequence determinants of human microsatellite variability. BMC Genomics 2009; 10:612. [PMID: 20015383 PMCID: PMC2806349 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-10-612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2009] [Accepted: 12/16/2009] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microsatellite loci are frequently used in genomic studies of DNA sequence repeats and in population studies of genetic variability. To investigate the effect of sequence properties of microsatellites on their level of variability we have analyzed genotypes at 627 microsatellite loci in 1,048 worldwide individuals from the HGDP-CEPH cell line panel together with the DNA sequences of these microsatellites in the human RefSeq database. RESULTS Calibrating PCR fragment lengths in individual genotypes by using the RefSeq sequence enabled us to infer repeat number in the HGDP-CEPH dataset and to calculate the mean number of repeats (as opposed to the mean PCR fragment length), under the assumption that differences in PCR fragment length reflect differences in the numbers of repeats in the embedded repeat sequences. We find the mean and maximum numbers of repeats across individuals to be positively correlated with heterozygosity. The size and composition of the repeat unit of a microsatellite are also important factors in predicting heterozygosity, with tetra-nucleotide repeat units high in G/C content leading to higher heterozygosity. Finally, we find that microsatellites containing more separate sets of repeated motifs generally have higher heterozygosity. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that sequence properties of microsatellites have a significant impact in determining the features of human microsatellite variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor J Pemberton
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
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33
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Perdoni F, Malatesta M, Cardani R, Giagnacovo M, Mancinelli E, Meola G, Pellicciari C. RNA/MBNL1-containing foci in myoblast nuclei from patients affected by myotonic dystrophy type 2: an immunocytochemical study. Eur J Histochem 2009; 53:e18. [PMID: 19864209 PMCID: PMC3168229 DOI: 10.4081/ejh.2009.e18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2009] [Accepted: 07/17/2009] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2) is a dominantly inherited autosomal disease with multi-systemic clinical features and it is caused by expansion of a CCTG tetranucleotide repeat in the first intron of the zinc finger protein 9 (ZNF9) gene in 3q21.The expanded-CCUG-containing transcripts are retained in the cell nucleus and accumulate in the form of focal aggregates which specifically sequester the muscleblind-like 1 (MBNL1) protein, a RNA binding factor involved in the regulation of alternative splicing. The structural organization and composition of the foci are still incompletely known. In this study, the nuclear foci occurring in cultured myoblasts from DM2 patients were characterised at fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy by using a panel of antibodies recognizing transcription and processing factors of pre-mRNAs. MBNL1 proved to co-locate in the nuclear foci with snRNPs and hnRNPs, whereas no co-location was observed with RNA polymerase II, the non-RNP splicing factor SC35, the cleavage factor CStF and the PML protein. At electron microscopy the MBNL1-containing nuclear foci appeared as roundish domains showing a rather homogeneous structure and proved to contain snRNPs and hnRNPs. The sequestration of splicing factors involved in early phases of pre-mRNA processing supports the hypothesis of a general alteration in the maturation of several mRNAs, which could lead to the multiple pathological dysfunctions observed in dystrophic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Perdoni
- Dipartimento di Biologia Animale, Laboratorio di Biologia cellulare e Neurobiologia, Università di Pavia, Italy
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Edwards SF, Hashem VI, Klysik EA, Sinden RR. Genetic instabilities of (CCTG)·(CAGG) and (ATTCT)·(AGAAT) disease-associated repeats reveal multiple pathways for repeat deletion. Mol Carcinog 2009; 48:336-49. [DOI: 10.1002/mc.20534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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35
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A Z-DNA sequence reduces slipped-strand structure formation in the myotonic dystrophy type 2 (CCTG) x (CAGG) repeat. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009; 106:3270-5. [PMID: 19218442 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0807699106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
All DNA repeats known to undergo expansion leading to human neurodegenerative disease can form one, or several, alternative conformations, including hairpin, slipped strand, triplex, quadruplex, or unwound DNA structures. These alternative structures may interfere with the normal cellular processes of transcription, DNA repair, replication initiation, or polymerase elongation and thereby contribute to the genetic instability of these repeat tracts. We show that (CCTG) x (CAGG) repeats, in the first intron of the ZNF9 gene associated with myotonic dystrophy type 2, form slipped-strand DNA structures in a length-dependent fashion upon reduplexing. The threshold for structure formation on reduplexing is between 36 and 42 repeats in length. Alternative DNA structures also form in (CCTG)(58) x (CAGG)(58) and larger repeat tracts in plasmids at physiological superhelical densities. This represents an example of a sequence that forms slipped-strand DNA from the energy of DNA supercoiling. Moreover, Z-DNA forms in a (TG) x (CA) tract within the complex repeat sequence 5' of the (CCTG)(n) x (CAGG)(n) repeat in the ZNF9 gene. Upon reduplexing, the presence of the flanking sequence containing the Z-DNA-forming tract reduced the extent of slipped-strand DNA formation by 62% for (CCTG)(57) x (CAGG)(57) compared with 58 pure repeats without the flanking sequence. This finding suggests that the Z-DNA-forming sequence in the DM2 gene locus may have a protective effect of reducing the potential for slipped-strand DNA formation in (CCTG)(n) x (CAGG)(n) repeats.
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36
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Goers ES, Voelker RB, Gates DP, Berglund JA. RNA binding specificity of Drosophila muscleblind. Biochemistry 2008; 47:7284-94. [PMID: 18557632 DOI: 10.1021/bi702252d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Members of the muscleblind family of RNA binding proteins found in Drosophila and mammals are key players in both the human disease myotonic dystrophy and the regulation of alternative splicing. Recently, the mammalian muscleblind-like protein, MBNL1, has been shown to have interesting RNA binding properties with both endogenous and disease-related RNA targets. Here we report the characterization of RNA binding properties of the Drosophila muscleblind protein Mbl. Mutagenesis of double-stranded CUG repeats demonstrated that Mbl requires pyrimidine-pyrimidine mismatches for binding and that the identity and location of the C-G and G-C base pairs within the repeats are essential for Mbl binding. Systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) was used to identify RNA sequences that bind Mbl with much higher affinity than CUG repeats. The RNA sequences identified by SELEX are structured and contain a five-nucleotide consensus sequence of 5'-AGUCU-3'. RNase footprinting of one of the SELEX RNA sequences with Mbl showed that Mbl binds both double-stranded and single-stranded regions of the RNA. Three guanosines show the strongest footprint in the presence of Mbl; mutation of any of these three guanosines eliminates Mbl binding. It was also found that Mbl specifically bound a human MBNL1 RNA target, demonstrating the conservation of the muscleblind proteins in recognizing RNA targets. Our results reveal that Mbl recognizes complex RNA secondary structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily S Goers
- Department of Chemistry and Institute of Molecular Biology, 1229, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA
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37
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Warf MB, Berglund JA. MBNL binds similar RNA structures in the CUG repeats of myotonic dystrophy and its pre-mRNA substrate cardiac troponin T. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2007; 13:2238-51. [PMID: 17942744 PMCID: PMC2080590 DOI: 10.1261/rna.610607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy (DM) is a genetic disorder with multisystemic symptoms that is caused by expression (as RNA) of expanded repeats of CTG or CCTG in the genome. It is hypothesized that the RNA splicing factor muscleblind-like (MBNL) is sequestered to the expanded CUG or CCUG RNAs. Mislocalization of MBNL results in missplicing of a subset of pre-mRNAs that are linked to the symptoms found in DM patients. We demonstrate that MBNL can bind short structured CUG and CCUG repeats with high affinity and specificity. Only 6 base pairs are necessary for MBNL binding: two pyrimidine mismatches and four guanosine-cytosine base pairs in a stem. MBNL also has a preference for pyrimidine mismatches, but many other mismatches are tolerated with decreased affinity. We also demonstrate that MBNL binds the helical region of a stem-loop in the endogenous pre-mRNA target, the cardiac troponin T (cTNT) pre-mRNA. The stem-loop contains two mismatches and resembles both CUG and CCUG repeats. In vivo splicing results indicate that MBNL-regulated splicing is dependent upon the formation of stem-loops recognized by MBNL. These results suggest that MBNL may bind all of its RNA substrates, both normal and pathogenic, as structured stem-loops containing pyrimidine mismatches.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Bryan Warf
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA
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38
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Abstract
Nearly 30 hereditary disorders in humans result from an increase in the number of copies of simple repeats in genomic DNA. These DNA repeats seem to be predisposed to such expansion because they have unusual structural features, which disrupt the cellular replication, repair and recombination machineries. The presence of expanded DNA repeats alters gene expression in human cells, leading to disease. Surprisingly, many of these debilitating diseases are caused by repeat expansions in the non-coding regions of their resident genes. It is becoming clear that the peculiar structures of repeat-containing transcripts are at the heart of the pathogenesis of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergei M Mirkin
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA.
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39
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Posey JE, Pytlos MJ, Sinden RR, Roth DB. Target DNA structure plays a critical role in RAG transposition. PLoS Biol 2006; 4:e350. [PMID: 17105341 PMCID: PMC1618415 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0040350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2006] [Accepted: 08/22/2006] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Antigen receptor gene rearrangements are initiated by the RAG1/2 protein complex, which recognizes specific DNA sequences termed RSS (recombination signal sequences). The RAG recombinase can also catalyze transposition: integration of a DNA segment bounded by RSS into an unrelated DNA target. For reasons that remain poorly understood, such events occur readily in vitro, but are rarely detected in vivo. Previous work showed that non-B DNA structures, particularly hairpins, stimulate transposition. Here we show that the sequence of the four nucleotides at a hairpin tip modulates transposition efficiency over a surprisingly wide (>100-fold) range. Some hairpin targets stimulate extraordinarily efficient transposition (up to 15%); one serves as a potent and specific transposition inhibitor, blocking capture of targets and destabilizing preformed target capture complexes. These findings suggest novel regulatory possibilities and may provide insight into the activities of other transposases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer E Posey
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Program in Molecular Pathogenesis, Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, and Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Malgorzata J Pytlos
- Laboratory of DNA Structure and Mutagenesis, Center for Genome Research, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University System Health Sciences Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Richard R Sinden
- Laboratory of DNA Structure and Mutagenesis, Center for Genome Research, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University System Health Sciences Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - David B Roth
- Program in Molecular Pathogenesis, Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, and Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
- * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
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40
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M. Rindler P, Clark RM, Pollard LM, De Biase I, Bidichandani SI. Replication in mammalian cells recapitulates the locus-specific differences in somatic instability of genomic GAA triplet-repeats. Nucleic Acids Res 2006; 34:6352-61. [PMID: 17142224 PMCID: PMC1669776 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkl846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2006] [Revised: 10/09/2006] [Accepted: 10/09/2006] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Friedreich ataxia is caused by an expanded (GAA.TTC)n sequence in intron 1 of the FXN gene. Small pool PCR analysis showed that pure (GAA.TTC)44+ sequences at the FXN locus are unstable in somatic cells in vivo, displaying both expansions and contractions. On searching the entire human and mouse genomes we identified three other genomic loci with pure (GAA.TTC)44+ sequences. Alleles at these loci showed mutation loads of <1% compared with 6.3-30% for FXN alleles of similar length, indicating that somatic instability in vivo is regulated by locus-specific factors. Since distance between the origin of replication and the (CTG.CAG)n sequence modulates repeat instability in mammalian cells, we tested if this could also recapitulate the locus-specific differences for genomic (GAA.TTC)n sequences. Repeat instability was evaluated following replication of a (GAA.TTC)115 sequence in transfected COS1 cells under the control of the SV40 origin of replication located at one of five different distances from the repeat. Indeed, depending on the location of the SV40 origin relative to the (GAA.TTC)n sequence, we noted either no instability, predominant expansion or both expansion and contraction. These data suggest that mammalian DNA replication is a possible mechanism underlying locus-specific differences in instability of GAA triplet-repeat sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul M. Rindler
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyOklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Rhonda M. Clark
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyOklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Laura M. Pollard
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyOklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Irene De Biase
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyOklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Sanjay I. Bidichandani
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyOklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences CenterOklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
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41
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Pfeuty A, Dufresne C, Gueride M, Lecellier G. Mitochondrial upstream promoter sequences modulate in vivo the transcription of a gene in yeast mitochondria. Mitochondrion 2006; 6:289-98. [PMID: 17110175 DOI: 10.1016/j.mito.2006.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2006] [Revised: 09/28/2006] [Accepted: 10/10/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
An in vivo study of the importance of the length and/or structures of sequences upstream of a mitochondrial promoter was undertaken in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Short tandem mtDNA repeats were introduced upstream of the COX2 gene. Our data show that its expression is modulated by the sequence located over 200 bp upstream of the promoter. A deletion decreases the level of transcripts to about 50%. The initial level can be recovered by a fill-in AT-rich sequence or partially by the presence of a long repeat tract; on the contrary, a smaller number of copies tends to intensify the effect of the deletion. These results show that the length and base composition upstream of mitochondrial promoter are involved in vivo in the modulation of the gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Pfeuty
- Université de Versailles-Saint Quentin en Yvelines, Laboratoire de Génétique et Biologie Cellulaire, 45 Avenue des Etats-Unis, 78035 Versailles, Cedex, France
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42
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Wojciechowska M, Napierala M, Larson JE, Wells RD. Non-B DNA conformations formed by long repeating tracts of myotonic dystrophy type 1, myotonic dystrophy type 2, and Friedreich's ataxia genes, not the sequences per se, promote mutagenesis in flanking regions. J Biol Chem 2006; 281:24531-43. [PMID: 16793772 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m603888200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The expansions of long repeating tracts of CTG.CAG, CCTG.CAGG, and GAA.TTC are integral to the etiology of myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2), and Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA). Essentially all studies on the molecular mechanisms of this expansion process invoke an important role for non-B DNA conformations which may be adopted by these repeat sequences. We have directly evaluated the role(s) of the repeating sequences per se, or of the non-B DNA conformations formed by these sequences, in the mutagenic process. Studies in Escherichia coli and three types of mammalian (COS-7, CV-1, and HEK-293) fibroblast-like cells revealed that conditions which promoted the formation of the non-B DNA structures enhanced the genetic instabilities, both within the repeat sequences and in the flanking sequences of up to approximately 4 kbp. The three strategies utilized included: the in vivo modulation of global negative supercoil density using topA and gyrB mutant E. coli strains; the in vivo cleavage of hairpin loops, which are an obligate consequence of slipped-strand structures, cruciforms, and intramolecular triplexes, by inactivation of the SbcC protein; and by genetic instability studies with plasmids containing long repeating sequence inserts that do, and do not, adopt non-B DNA structures in vitro. Hence, non-B DNA conformations are critical for these mutagenesis mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzena Wojciechowska
- Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Center for Genome Research, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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43
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Dere R, Wells RD. DM2 CCTG•CAGG Repeats are Crossover Hotspots that are More Prone to Expansions than the DM1 CTG•CAG Repeats in Escherichia coli. J Mol Biol 2006; 360:21-36. [PMID: 16753177 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2006.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2006] [Revised: 04/27/2006] [Accepted: 05/04/2006] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2) is caused by the extreme expansion of the repeating tetranucleotide CCTG*CAGG sequence from <30 repeats in normal individuals to approximately 11,000 for the full mutation in certain patients. This repeat is in intron 1 of the zinc finger protein 9 gene on chromosome 3q21. Since prior work demonstrated that CTG*CAG and GAA*TTC triplet repeats (responsible for DM1 and Friedreich's ataxia, respectively) can expand by genetic recombination, we investigated the capacity of the DM2 tetranucleotide repeats to also expand during this process. Both gene conversion and unequal crossing over are attractive mechanisms to effect these very large expansions. (CCTG*CAGG)n (where n=30, 75, 114 or 160) repeats showed high recombination crossover frequencies (up to 27-fold higher than the non-repeating control) in an intramolecular plasmid system in Escherichia coli. Furthermore, a distinct orientation effect was observed where orientation II (CAGG on the leading strand template) was more prone to recombine. Expansions of up to double the length of the tetranucleotide repeats were found. Also, the repeating tetranucleotide sequence was more prone to expansions (to give lengths longer than a single repeating tract) than deletions as observed for the CTG*CAG and GAA*TTC repeats. We determined that the DM2 tetranucleotide repeats showed a lower thermodynamic stability when compared to the DM1 trinucleotide repeats, which could make them better targets for DNA repair events, thus explaining their expansion-prone behavior. Genetic studies in SOS-repair mutants revealed high frequencies of recombination crossovers although the SOS-response itself was not induced. Thus, the genetic instabilities of the CCTG*CAGG repeats may be mediated by a recombination-repair mechanism that is influenced by DNA structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruhee Dere
- Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Center for Genome Research, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, Texas Medical Center, 2121 W. Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030-3303, USA
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44
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Abstract
Hypermutable tandem repeat sequences (TRSs) are present in the genomes of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Numerous studies have been conducted in several laboratories over the past decade to investigate the mechanisms responsible for expansions and contractions of microsatellites (a subset of TRSs with a repeat length of 1-6 nucleotides) in the model prokaryotic organism Escherichia coli. Both the frequency of tandem repeat instability (TRI), and the types of mutational events that arise, are markedly influenced by the DNA sequence of the repeat, the number of unit repeats, and the types of cellular pathways that process the TRS. DNA strand slippage is a general mechanism invoked to explain instability in TRSs. Misaligned DNA sequences are stabilized both by favorable base pairing of complementary sequences and by the propensity of TRSs to form relatively stable secondary structures. Several cellular processes, including replication, recombination and a variety of DNA repair pathways, have been shown to interact with such structures and influence TRI in bacteria. This paper provides an overview of our current understanding of mechanisms responsible for TRI in bacteria, with an emphasis on studies that have been carried out in E. coli. In addition, new experimental data are presented, suggesting that TLS polymerases (PolII, PolIV and PolV) do not contribute significantly to TRI in E. coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Bichara
- Département Intégrité du Génome de l'UMR 7175, PolAP1, Boulevard Sébastien Brant 67400, Strasbourg-Illkirch, France
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45
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Wells RD, Dere R, Hebert ML, Napierala M, Son LS. Advances in mechanisms of genetic instability related to hereditary neurological diseases. Nucleic Acids Res 2005; 33:3785-98. [PMID: 16006624 PMCID: PMC1174910 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gki697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 185] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Substantial progress has been realized in the past several years in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for the expansions and deletions (genetic instabilities) of repeating tri-, tetra- and pentanucleotide repeating sequences associated with a number of hereditary neurological diseases. These instabilities occur by replication, recombination and repair processes, probably acting in concert, due to slippage of the DNA complementary strands relative to each other. The biophysical properties of the folded-back repeating sequence strands play a critical role in these instabilities. Non-B DNA structural elements (hairpins and slipped structures, DNA unwinding elements, tetraplexes, triplexes and sticky DNA) are described. The replication mechanisms are influenced by pausing of the replication fork, orientation of the repeat strands, location of the repeat sequences relative to replication origins and the flap endonuclease. Methyl-directed mismatch repair, nucleotide excision repair, and repair of damage caused by mutagens are discussed. Genetic recombination and double-strand break repair advances in Escherichia coli, yeast and mammalian models are reviewed. Furthermore, the newly discovered capacities of certain triplet repeat sequences to cause gross chromosomal rearrangements are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert D Wells
- Center for Genome Research, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, Texas Medical Center, 2121 W. Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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46
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Cleary JD, Pearson CE. Replication fork dynamics and dynamic mutations: the fork-shift model of repeat instability. Trends Genet 2005; 21:272-80. [PMID: 15851063 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2005.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Gene-specific repeat instability is responsible for >36 human diseases. Active instability varies in a tissue-, developmental stage- and locus-specific manner and occurs in both proliferative and non-proliferative cells. In proliferative cells, DNA replication can contribute to repeat instability either by switching the direction of replication, which changes the repeat sequence that serves as the lagging-strand template (origin switching), or by shifting the location of the origin of replication without altering the replication direction (origin shifting). We propose that changes in the dynamics of replication-fork progression, or architecture, will alter the location of the repeat within the single-stranded lagging-strand template, thereby influencing instability (fork shifting). The fork-shift model, which does not require origin relocation, is influenced by cis-elements and trans-factors associated with driving and maintaining replication forks. The fork-shift model can explain some of the complex behaviours of repeat instability because it is dynamic and responsive to variations in epigenomic and locus activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- John D Cleary
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, University of Toronto, The Hospital for Sick Children, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8
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