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Zhao Z, Cui R, Chi H, Wan T, Ma D, Zhang J, Cai M. A novel IRF6 gene mutation impacting the regulation of TGFβ2-AS1 in the TGFβ pathway: A mechanism in the development of Van der Woude syndrome. Front Genet 2024; 15:1397410. [PMID: 38903762 PMCID: PMC11188484 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1397410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Several mutations in the IRF6 gene have been identified as a causative link to VWS. In this investigation, whole-exome sequencing (WES) and Sanger sequencing of a three-generation pedigree with an autosomal-dominant inheritance pattern affected by VWS identified a unique stop-gain mutation-c.748C>T:p.R250X-in the IRF6 gene that co-segregated exclusively with the disease phenotype. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that the IRF6-p.R250X mutation predominantly shifted its localization from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. WES and protein interaction analyses were conducted to understand this mutation's role in the pathogenesis of VWS. Using LC-MS/MS, we found that this mutation led to a reduction in the binding of IRF6 to histone modification-associated proteins (NAA10, SNRPN, NAP1L1). Furthermore, RNA-seq results show that the mutation resulted in a downregulation of TGFβ2-AS1 expression. The findings highlight the mutation's influence on TGFβ2-AS1 and its subsequent effects on the phosphorylation of SMAD2/3, which are critical in maxillofacial development, particularly the palate. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of VWS's molecular underpinnings and might inform future therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyang Zhao
- Department of Oral and Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Renjie Cui
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics & Endocrinology, The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Haoshu Chi
- Shanghai Xuhui District Dental Disease Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Teng Wan
- Department of Oral and Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Duan Ma
- Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ming Cai
- Department of Oral and Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
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2
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Varineau JE, Calo E. A common cellular response to broad splicing perturbations is characterized by metabolic transcript downregulation driven by the Mdm2-p53 axis. Dis Model Mech 2024; 17:dmm050356. [PMID: 38426258 PMCID: PMC10924232 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050356] [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: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Disruptions in core cellular processes elicit stress responses that drive cell-state changes leading to organismal phenotypes. Perturbations in the splicing machinery cause widespread mis-splicing, resulting in p53-dependent cell-state changes that give rise to cell-type-specific phenotypes and disease. However, a unified framework for how cells respond to splicing perturbations, and how this response manifests itself in nuanced disease phenotypes, has yet to be established. Here, we show that a p53-stabilizing Mdm2 alternative splicing event and the resulting widespread downregulation of metabolic transcripts are common events that arise in response to various splicing perturbations in both cellular and organismal models. Together, our results classify a common cellular response to splicing perturbations, put forth a new mechanism behind the cell-type-specific phenotypes that arise when splicing is broadly disrupted, and lend insight into the pleiotropic nature of the effects of p53 stabilization in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jade E. Varineau
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Eliezer Calo
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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3
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U5 snRNP Core Proteins Are Key Components of the Defense Response against Viral Infection through Their Roles in Programmed Cell Death and Interferon Induction. Viruses 2022; 14:v14122710. [PMID: 36560714 PMCID: PMC9785106 DOI: 10.3390/v14122710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The spliceosome is a massive ribonucleoprotein structure composed of five small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) complexes that catalyze the removal of introns from pre-mature RNA during constitutive and alternative splicing. EFTUD2, PRPF8, and SNRNP200 are core components of the U5 snRNP, which is crucial for spliceosome function as it coordinates and performs the last steps of the splicing reaction. Several studies have demonstrated U5 snRNP proteins as targeted during viral infection, with a limited understanding of their involvement in virus-host interactions. In the present study, we deciphered the respective impact of EFTUD2, PRPF8, and SNRNP200 on viral replication using mammalian reovirus as a model. Using a combination of RNA silencing, real-time cell analysis, cell death and viral replication assays, we discovered distinct and partially overlapping novel roles for EFTUD2, PRPF8, and SNRNP200 in cell survival, apoptosis, necroptosis, and the induction of the interferon response pathway. For instance, we demonstrated that EFTUD2 and SNRNP200 are required for both apoptosis and necroptosis, whereas EFTUD2 and PRPF8 are required for optimal interferon response against viral infection. Moreover, we demonstrated that EFTUD2 restricts viral replication, both in a single cycle and multiple cycles of viral replication. Altogether, these results establish U5 snRNP core components as key elements of the cellular antiviral response.
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4
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Craniofacial Defects in Embryos with Homozygous Deletion of Eftud2 in Their Neural Crest Cells Are Not Rescued by Trp53 Deletion. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169033. [PMID: 36012294 PMCID: PMC9409426 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryos with homozygous mutation of Eftud2 in their neural crest cells (Eftud2ncc−/−) have brain and craniofacial malformations, hyperactivation of the P53-pathway and die before birth. Treatment of Eftud2ncc−/− embryos with pifithrin-α, a P53-inhibitor, partly improved brain and craniofacial development. To uncover if craniofacial malformations and death were indeed due to P53 hyperactivation we generated embryos with homozygous loss of function mutations in both Eftud2 and Trp53 in the neural crest cells. We evaluated the molecular mechanism underlying craniofacial development in pifithrin-α-treated embryos and in Eftud2; Trp53 double homozygous (Eftud2ncc−/−; Trp53ncc−/−) mutant embryos. Eftud2ncc−/− embryos that were treated with pifithrin-α or homozygous mutant for Trp53 in their neural crest cells showed reduced apoptosis in their neural tube and reduced P53-target activity. Furthermore, although the number of SOX10 positive cranial neural crest cells was increased in embryonic day (E) 9.0 Eftud2ncc−/−; Trp53ncc−/− embryos compared to Eftud2ncc−/− mutants, brain and craniofacial development, and survival were not improved in double mutant embryos. Furthermore, mis-splicing of both P53-regulated transcripts, Mdm2 and Foxm1, and a P53-independent transcript, Synj2bp, was increased in the head of Eftud2ncc−/−; Trp53ncc−/− embryos. While levels of Zmat3, a P53- regulated splicing factor, was similar to those of wild-type. Altogether, our data indicate that both P53-regulated and P53-independent pathways contribute to craniofacial malformations and death of Eftud2ncc−/− embryos.
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5
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Banka S, Shalev S, Park SM, Wood KA, Thomas HB, Wright HL, Alyahya M, Bankier S, Alimi O, Chervinsky E, Zeef LAH, O’Keefe RT. Bi-allelic FRA10AC1 variants in a multisystem human syndrome. Brain 2022; 145:e86-e89. [DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Siddharth Banka
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester , Manchester , UK
- Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust , Manchester , UK
| | - Stavit Shalev
- The Genetics Institute, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Rappaport faculty of Medicine , Technion, Haifa , Israel
| | - Soo-Mi Park
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Addenbrooke's Treatment Centre, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , Cambridge , UK
| | - Katherine A Wood
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester , Manchester , UK
- Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust , Manchester , UK
| | - Huw B Thomas
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester , Manchester , UK
| | - Helen L Wright
- Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool , Liverpool UK
| | - Mohammed Alyahya
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester , Manchester , UK
- Department of Health support services, Ministry of Health , Saudi Arabia
- Wadi General Hospital, Ministry of Health , Saudi Arabia
| | - Sean Bankier
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester , Manchester , UK
| | - Ola Alimi
- The Genetics Institute, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Rappaport faculty of Medicine , Technion, Haifa , Israel
| | - Elena Chervinsky
- The Genetics Institute, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Rappaport faculty of Medicine , Technion, Haifa , Israel
| | - Leo A H Zeef
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, The Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Manchester , Manchester , UK
| | - Raymond T O’Keefe
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester , Manchester , UK
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6
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The Core Splicing Factors EFTUD2, SNRPB and TXNL4A Are Essential for Neural Crest and Craniofacial Development. J Dev Biol 2022; 10:jdb10030029. [PMID: 35893124 PMCID: PMC9326569 DOI: 10.3390/jdb10030029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mandibulofacial dysostosis (MFD) is a human congenital disorder characterized by hypoplastic neural-crest-derived craniofacial bones often associated with outer and middle ear defects. There is growing evidence that mutations in components of the spliceosome are a major cause for MFD. Genetic variants affecting the function of several core splicing factors, namely SF3B4, SF3B2, EFTUD2, SNRPB and TXNL4A, are responsible for MFD in five related but distinct syndromes known as Nager and Rodriguez syndromes (NRS), craniofacial microsomia (CFM), mandibulofacial dysostosis with microcephaly (MFDM), cerebro-costo-mandibular syndrome (CCMS) and Burn–McKeown syndrome (BMKS), respectively. Animal models of NRS and MFDM indicate that MFD results from an early depletion of neural crest progenitors through a mechanism that involves apoptosis. Here we characterize the knockdown phenotype of Eftud2, Snrpb and Txnl4a in Xenopus embryos at different stages of neural crest and craniofacial development. Our results point to defects in cranial neural crest cell formation as the likely culprit for MFD associated with EFTUD2, SNRPB and TXNL4A haploinsufficiency, and suggest a commonality in the etiology of these craniofacial spliceosomopathies.
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7
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Lipshutz SE, Howell CR, Buechlein AM, Rusch DB, Rosvall KA, Derryberry EP. How thermal challenges change gene regulation in the songbird brain and gonad: implications for sexual selection in our changing world. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:3613-3626. [PMID: 35567363 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In a rapidly warming world, exposure to high temperatures may impact fitness, but the gene regulatory mechanisms that link sublethal heat to sexually selected traits are not well understood, particularly in endothermic animals. Our experiment used zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata), songbirds that experience extreme temperature fluctuations in their native Australia. We exposed captive males to an acute thermal challenge (43°C) compared with thermoneutral (35°C) and lower (27°C) temperatures. We found significantly more heat dissipation behaviors at 43°C, a temperature previously shown to reduce song production and fertility, and more heat retention behaviors at 27°C. Next, we characterized transcriptomic responses in tissues important for mating effort - the posterior telencephalon, for its role in song production, and the testis, for its role in fertility and hormone production. Differential expression of hundreds of genes in the testes, but few in the brain, suggest the brain is less responsive to extreme temperatures. Nevertheless, gene network analyses revealed that expression related to dopaminergic signaling in the brain co-varied with heat dissipation behaviors, providing a mechanism by which temporary thermal challenges may alter motivational circuits for song production. In both brain and testis, we observed correlations between thermally sensitive gene networks and individual differences in thermoregulatory behavior. Although we cannot directly relate these gene regulatory changes to mating success, our results suggest that individual variation in response to thermal challenges could impact sexually selected traits in a warming world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara E Lipshutz
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.,Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Clara R Howell
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA.,Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Aaron M Buechlein
- Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Douglas B Rusch
- Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | | | - Elizabeth P Derryberry
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
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8
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Lee HG, Wheeler MA, Quintana FJ. Function and therapeutic value of astrocytes in neurological diseases. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2022; 21:339-358. [PMID: 35173313 PMCID: PMC9081171 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-022-00390-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 78.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes are abundant glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS) that perform diverse functions in health and disease. Astrocyte dysfunction is found in numerous diseases, including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, Huntington disease and neuropsychiatric disorders. Astrocytes regulate glutamate and ion homeostasis, cholesterol and sphingolipid metabolism and respond to environmental factors, all of which have been implicated in neurological diseases. Astrocytes also exhibit significant heterogeneity, driven by developmental programmes and stimulus-specific cellular responses controlled by CNS location, cell-cell interactions and other mechanisms. In this Review, we highlight general mechanisms of astrocyte regulation and their potential as therapeutic targets, including drugs that alter astrocyte metabolism, and therapies that target transporters and receptors on astrocytes. Emerging ideas, such as engineered probiotics and glia-to-neuron conversion therapies, are also discussed. We further propose a concise nomenclature for astrocyte subsets that we use to highlight the roles of astrocytes and specific subsets in neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Gyun Lee
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael A Wheeler
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Francisco J Quintana
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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9
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Rowlands CF, Taylor A, Rice G, Whiffin N, Hall HN, Newman WG, Black GCM, O'Keefe RT, Hubbard S, Douglas AGL, Baralle D, Briggs TA, Ellingford JM. MRSD: A quantitative approach for assessing suitability of RNA-seq in the investigation of mis-splicing in Mendelian disease. Am J Hum Genet 2022; 109:210-222. [PMID: 35065709 PMCID: PMC8874219 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2021.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Variable levels of gene expression between tissues complicates the use of RNA sequencing of patient biosamples to delineate the impact of genomic variants. Here, we describe a gene- and tissue-specific metric to inform the feasibility of RNA sequencing. This overcomes limitations of using expression values alone as a metric to predict RNA-sequencing utility. We have derived a metric, minimum required sequencing depth (MRSD), that estimates the depth of sequencing required from RNA sequencing to achieve user-specified sequencing coverage of a gene, transcript, or group of genes. We applied MRSD across four human biosamples: whole blood, lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs), skeletal muscle, and cultured fibroblasts. MRSD has high precision (90.1%-98.2%) and overcomes transcript region-specific sequencing biases. Applying MRSD scoring to established disease gene panels shows that fibroblasts, of these four biosamples, are the optimum source of RNA for 63.1% of gene panels. Using this approach, up to 67.8% of the variants of uncertain significance in ClinVar that are predicted to impact splicing could be assayed by RNA sequencing in at least one of the biosamples. We demonstrate the utility and benefits of MRSD as a metric to inform functional assessment of splicing aberrations, in particular in the context of Mendelian genetic disorders to improve diagnostic yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlie F Rowlands
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
| | - Algy Taylor
- Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
| | - Gillian Rice
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Nicola Whiffin
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Hildegard Nikki Hall
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - William G Newman
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
| | - Graeme C M Black
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
| | - Raymond T O'Keefe
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Simon Hubbard
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Andrew G L Douglas
- Wessex Clinical Genetics Service, Princess Anne Hospital, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Coxford Rd, Southampton SO16 5YA, UK; Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Duthie Building, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Diana Baralle
- Wessex Clinical Genetics Service, Princess Anne Hospital, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Coxford Rd, Southampton SO16 5YA, UK; Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Duthie Building, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Tracy A Briggs
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
| | - Jamie M Ellingford
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester M13 9WL, UK.
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10
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Over-activation of EFTUD2 correlates with tumor propagation and poor survival outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Transl Oncol 2021; 24:93-103. [PMID: 34282556 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-021-02673-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Elongation factor Tu GTP-binding domain containing 2 (EFTUD2) is an essential constituent of U5 small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) and plays a crucial role in spliceosome activation and cancer. The mechanism of EFTUD2 on carcinogenesis and development of liver cancer still need further study. METHODS Bioinformatic analysis was performed to find differential expressed genes and related pathways. Western blotting and quantitative PCR assays were used to verify the EFTUD2 expression in HCC cell lines and tumor tissues of liver cancer patients. Transfection of shRNAs in SKHEP1 and Huh7 cell lines was conducted to explore the mechanisms of EFTUD2 in HCC. CCK-8 method, colony formation, and cell cycle detection kit were used to detect the proliferation. A tumor model in nude mice was used to explore the role of EFTUD2 in liver cancer in vivo. RESULTS Based on the tumor tissues and para-tumor tissues in our HCC patients, we identified EFTUD2 as highly expressed in HCC tissues (P < 0.001). Bioinformatic analysis from the TCGA database also supported this biological phenomenon (P = 1.911e-17). Furtherly, the results of clinical specimens and TCGA data suggested that higher EFTUD2 expression levels correlated with high histologic grades, high pathological grades, and poor survival prognoses in HCC patients. And knockdown of EFTUD2 suppressed cell proliferation and colony formation in vitro. In vivo, knockdown of EFTUD2 constrained the tumor growing and expansion derived from SKHEP1 cells and induced a decrease in the tumor volume and tumor weight resected from nude mice. Furthermore, RNA sequencing based on EFTUD2 knockdown revealed that EFTUD2 affected target genes concerned with the cell cycle. Flow cytometric analyses in the SKHEP1 cell model revealed that knockdown significantly suppressed cell cycle course and caused cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase. CyclinD1 proteins were also inhibited by knocking down of EFTUD2. CONCLUSION EFTUD2 is markedly overexpressed in HCC tumor tissues. High EFTUD2 expression in HCC patients is associated with clinical features. Moreover, we confirmed that EFTUD2 shows a pivotal role in HCC cell proliferation and cell cycle course and could be a possible therapeutic avenue in HCC through disturbing EFTUD2.
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11
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FKRP-dependent glycosylation of fibronectin regulates muscle pathology in muscular dystrophy. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2951. [PMID: 34012031 PMCID: PMC8134429 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23217-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The muscular dystrophies encompass a broad range of pathologies with varied clinical outcomes. In the case of patients carrying defects in fukutin-related protein (FKRP), these diverse pathologies arise from mutations within the same gene. This is surprising as FKRP is a glycosyltransferase, whose only identified function is to transfer ribitol-5-phosphate to α-dystroglycan (α-DG). Although this modification is critical for extracellular matrix attachment, α-DG's glycosylation status relates poorly to disease severity, suggesting the existence of unidentified FKRP targets. Here we reveal that FKRP directs sialylation of fibronectin, a process essential for collagen recruitment to the muscle basement membrane. Thus, our results reveal that FKRP simultaneously regulates the two major muscle-ECM linkages essential for fibre survival, and establishes a new disease axis for the muscular dystrophies.
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12
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Beauchamp MC, Djedid A, Bareke E, Merkuri F, Aber R, Tam AS, Lines MA, Boycott KM, Stirling PC, Fish JL, Majewski J, Jerome-Majewska LA. Mutation in Eftud2 causes craniofacial defects in mice via mis-splicing of Mdm2 and increased P53. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 30:739-757. [PMID: 33601405 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
EFTUD2 is mutated in patients with mandibulofacial dysostosis with microcephaly (MFDM). We generated a mutant mouse line with conditional mutation in Eftud2 and used Wnt1-Cre2 to delete it in neural crest cells. Homozygous deletion of Eftud2 causes brain and craniofacial malformations, affecting the same precursors as in MFDM patients. RNAseq analysis of embryonic heads revealed a significant increase in exon skipping and increased levels of an alternatively spliced Mdm2 transcript lacking exon 3. Exon skipping in Mdm2 was also increased in O9-1 mouse neural crest cells after siRNA knock-down of Eftud2 and in MFDM patient cells. Moreover, we found increased nuclear P53, higher expression of P53-target genes and increased cell death. Finally, overactivation of the P53 pathway in Eftud2 knockdown cells was attenuated by overexpression of non-spliced Mdm2, and craniofacial development was improved when Eftud2-mutant embryos were treated with Pifithrin-α, an inhibitor of P53. Thus, our work indicates that the P53-pathway can be targeted to prevent craniofacial abnormalities and shows a previously unknown role for alternative splicing of Mdm2 in the etiology of MFDM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Claude Beauchamp
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre at Glen Site, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Anissa Djedid
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0G1, Canada
| | - Eric Bareke
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0G1, Canada
| | - Fjodor Merkuri
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, USA
| | - Rachel Aber
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B2, Canada
| | - Annie S Tam
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada.,Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada
| | - Matthew A Lines
- CHEO Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1, Canada
| | - Kym M Boycott
- CHEO Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1, Canada
| | - Peter C Stirling
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada.,Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada
| | - Jennifer L Fish
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, USA
| | - Jacek Majewski
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0G1, Canada
| | - Loydie A Jerome-Majewska
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre at Glen Site, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada.,Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0G1, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B2, Canada.,Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
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13
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Wood KA, Eadsforth MA, Newman WG, O'Keefe RT. The Role of the U5 snRNP in Genetic Disorders and Cancer. Front Genet 2021; 12:636620. [PMID: 33584830 PMCID: PMC7876476 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.636620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Pre-mRNA splicing is performed by the spliceosome, a dynamic macromolecular complex consisting of five small uridine-rich ribonucleoprotein complexes (the U1, U2, U4, U5, and U6 snRNPs) and numerous auxiliary splicing factors. A plethora of human disorders are caused by genetic variants affecting the function and/or expression of splicing factors, including the core snRNP proteins. Variants in the genes encoding proteins of the U5 snRNP cause two distinct and tissue-specific human disease phenotypes – variants in PRPF6, PRPF8, and SNRP200 are associated with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), while variants in EFTUD2 and TXNL4A cause the craniofacial disorders mandibulofacial dysostosis Guion-Almeida type (MFDGA) and Burn-McKeown syndrome (BMKS), respectively. Furthermore, recurrent somatic mutations or changes in the expression levels of a number of U5 snRNP proteins (PRPF6, PRPF8, EFTUD2, DDX23, and SNRNP40) have been associated with human cancers. How and why variants in ubiquitously expressed spliceosome proteins required for pre-mRNA splicing in all human cells result in tissue-restricted disease phenotypes is not clear. Additionally, why variants in different, yet interacting, proteins making up the same core spliceosome snRNP result in completely distinct disease outcomes – RP, craniofacial defects or cancer – is unclear. In this review, we define the roles of different U5 snRNP proteins in RP, craniofacial disorders and cancer, including how disease-associated genetic variants affect pre-mRNA splicing and the proposed disease mechanisms. We then propose potential hypotheses for how U5 snRNP variants cause tissue specificity resulting in the restricted and distinct human disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Wood
- Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.,Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Megan A Eadsforth
- Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - William G Newman
- Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.,Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Raymond T O'Keefe
- Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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14
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Wood KA, Rowlands CF, Thomas HB, Woods S, O’Flaherty J, Douzgou S, Kimber SJ, Newman WG, O’Keefe RT. Modelling the developmental spliceosomal craniofacial disorder Burn-McKeown syndrome using induced pluripotent stem cells. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0233582. [PMID: 32735620 PMCID: PMC7394406 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The craniofacial developmental disorder Burn-McKeown Syndrome (BMKS) is caused by biallelic variants in the pre-messenger RNA splicing factor gene TXNL4A/DIB1. The majority of affected individuals with BMKS have a 34 base pair deletion in the promoter region of one allele of TXNL4A combined with a loss-of-function variant on the other allele, resulting in reduced TXNL4A expression. However, it is unclear how reduced expression of this ubiquitously expressed spliceosome protein results in craniofacial defects during development. Here we reprogrammed peripheral mononuclear blood cells from a BMKS patient and her unaffected mother into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and differentiated the iPSCs into induced neural crest cells (iNCCs), the key cell type required for correct craniofacial development. BMKS patient-derived iPSCs proliferated more slowly than both mother- and unrelated control-derived iPSCs, and RNA-Seq analysis revealed significant differences in gene expression and alternative splicing. Patient iPSCs displayed defective differentiation into iNCCs compared to maternal and unrelated control iPSCs, in particular a delay in undergoing an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). RNA-Seq analysis of differentiated iNCCs revealed widespread gene expression changes and mis-splicing in genes relevant to craniofacial and embryonic development that highlight a dampened response to WNT signalling, the key pathway activated during iNCC differentiation. Furthermore, we identified the mis-splicing of TCF7L2 exon 4, a key gene in the WNT pathway, as a potential cause of the downregulated WNT response in patient cells. Additionally, mis-spliced genes shared common sequence properties such as length, branch point to 3’ splice site (BPS-3’SS) distance and splice site strengths, suggesting that splicing of particular subsets of genes is particularly sensitive to changes in TXNL4A expression. Together, these data provide the first insight into how reduced TXNL4A expression in BMKS patients might compromise splicing and NCC function, resulting in defective craniofacial development in the embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A. Wood
- Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Charlie F. Rowlands
- Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Huw B. Thomas
- Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Steven Woods
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Julieta O’Flaherty
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Sofia Douzgou
- Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Susan J. Kimber
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - William G. Newman
- Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Raymond T. O’Keefe
- Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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15
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Vendredy L, Adriaenssens E, Timmerman V. Small heat shock proteins in neurodegenerative diseases. Cell Stress Chaperones 2020; 25:679-699. [PMID: 32323160 PMCID: PMC7332613 DOI: 10.1007/s12192-020-01101-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Small heat shock proteins are ubiquitously expressed chaperones, yet mutations in some of them cause tissue-specific diseases. Here, we will discuss how small heat shock proteins give rise to neurodegenerative disorders themselves while we will also highlight how these proteins can fulfil protective functions in neurodegenerative disorders caused by protein aggregation. The first half of this paper will be focused on how mutations in HSPB1, HSPB3, and HSPB8 are linked to inherited peripheral neuropathies like Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease and distal hereditary motor neuropathy (dHMN). The second part of the paper will discuss how small heat shock proteins are linked to neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leen Vendredy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Institute Born Bunge, Peripheral Neuropathy Research Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Elias Adriaenssens
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Institute Born Bunge, Peripheral Neuropathy Research Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Vincent Timmerman
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Institute Born Bunge, Peripheral Neuropathy Research Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
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16
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Beauchamp MC, Alam SS, Kumar S, Jerome-Majewska LA. Spliceosomopathies and neurocristopathies: Two sides of the same coin? Dev Dyn 2020; 249:924-945. [PMID: 32315467 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in core components of the spliceosome are responsible for a group of syndromes collectively known as spliceosomopathies. Patients exhibit microcephaly, micrognathia, malar hypoplasia, external ear anomalies, eye anomalies, psychomotor delay, intellectual disability, limb, and heart defects. Craniofacial malformations in these patients are predominantly found in neural crest cells-derived structures of the face and head. Mutations in eight genes SNRPB, RNU4ATAC, SF3B4, PUF60, EFTUD2, TXNL4, EIF4A3, and CWC27 are associated with craniofacial spliceosomopathies. In this review, we provide a brief description of the normal development of the head and the face and an overview of mutations identified in genes associated with craniofacial spliceosomopathies. We also describe a model to explain how and when these mutations are most likely to impact neural crest cells. We speculate that mutations in a subset of core splicing factors lead to disrupted splicing in neural crest cells because these cells have increased sensitivity to inefficient splicing. Hence, disruption in splicing likely activates a cellular stress response that includes increased skipping of regulatory exons in genes such as MDM2 and MDM4, key regulators of P53. This would result in P53-associated death of neural crest cells and consequently craniofacial malformations associated with spliceosomopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Claude Beauchamp
- Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,McGill University Health Centre at Glen Site, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sabrina Shameen Alam
- McGill University Health Centre at Glen Site, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Shruti Kumar
- McGill University Health Centre at Glen Site, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Loydie Anne Jerome-Majewska
- Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,McGill University Health Centre at Glen Site, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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17
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Thomas HB, Wood KA, Buczek WA, Gordon CT, Pingault V, Attié-Bitach T, Hentges KE, Varghese VC, Amiel J, Newman WG, O'Keefe RT. EFTUD2 missense variants disrupt protein function and splicing in mandibulofacial dysostosis Guion-Almeida type. Hum Mutat 2020; 41:1372-1382. [PMID: 32333448 DOI: 10.1002/humu.24027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Pathogenic variants in the core spliceosome U5 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein gene EFTUD2/SNU114 cause the craniofacial disorder mandibulofacial dysostosis Guion-Almeida type (MFDGA). MFDGA-associated variants in EFTUD2 comprise large deletions encompassing EFTUD2, intragenic deletions and single nucleotide truncating or missense variants. These variants are predicted to result in haploinsufficiency by loss-of-function of the variant allele. While the contribution of deletions within EFTUD2 to allele loss-of-function are self-evident, the mechanisms by which missense variants are disease-causing have not been characterized functionally. Combining bioinformatics software prediction, yeast functional growth assays, and a minigene (MG) splicing assay, we have characterized how MFDGA missense variants result in EFTUD2 loss-of-function. Only four of 19 assessed missense variants cause EFTUD2 loss-of-function through altered protein function when modeled in yeast. Of the remaining 15 missense variants, five altered the normal splicing pattern of EFTUD2 pre-messenger RNA predominantly through exon skipping or cryptic splice site activation, leading to the introduction of a premature termination codon. Comparison of bioinformatic predictors for each missense variant revealed a disparity amongst different software packages and, in many cases, an inability to correctly predict changes in splicing subsequently determined by MG interrogation. This study highlights the need for laboratory-based validation of bioinformatic predictions for EFTUD2 missense variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huw B Thomas
- Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Katherine A Wood
- Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Weronika A Buczek
- Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Christopher T Gordon
- Laboratory of Embryology and Genetics of Human Malformation, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) UMR 1163, Institut Imagine, Paris, France.,Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Institut Imagine, Paris, France
| | - Véronique Pingault
- Laboratory of Embryology and Genetics of Human Malformation, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) UMR 1163, Institut Imagine, Paris, France.,Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Institut Imagine, Paris, France.,Département de Génétique, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Tania Attié-Bitach
- Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Institut Imagine, Paris, France.,Département de Génétique, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, AP-HP, Paris, France.,INSERM UMR 1163, Institut Imagine, Paris, France
| | - Kathryn E Hentges
- Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Jeanne Amiel
- Laboratory of Embryology and Genetics of Human Malformation, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) UMR 1163, Institut Imagine, Paris, France.,Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Institut Imagine, Paris, France.,Département de Génétique, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - William G Newman
- Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK.,Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Center for Genomic Medicine, St. Mary's Hospital, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Raymond T O'Keefe
- Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
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18
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Leonard RJ, Preston CC, Gucwa ME, Afeworki Y, Selya AS, Faustino RS. Protein Subdomain Enrichment of NUP155 Variants Identify a Novel Predicted Pathogenic Hotspot. Front Cardiovasc Med 2020; 7:8. [PMID: 32118046 PMCID: PMC7019101 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2020.00008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Functional variants in nuclear envelope genes are implicated as underlying causes of cardiopathology. To examine the potential association of single nucleotide variants of nucleoporin genes with cardiac disease, we employed a prognostic scoring approach to investigate variants of NUP155, a nucleoporin gene clinically linked with atrial fibrillation. Here we implemented bioinformatic profiling and predictive scoring, based on the gnomAD, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute-Exome Sequencing Project (NHLBI-ESP) Exome Variant Server, and dbNSFP databases to identify rare single nucleotide variants (SNVs) of NUP155 potentially associated with cardiopathology. This predictive scoring revealed 24 SNVs of NUP155 as potentially cardiopathogenic variants located primarily in the N-terminal crescent-shaped domain of NUP155. In addition, a predicted NUP155 R672G variant prioritized in our study was mapped to a region within the alpha helical stack of the crescent domain of NUP155. Bioinformatic analysis of inferred protein-protein interactions of NUP155 revealed over representation of top functions related to molecular transport, RNA trafficking, and RNA post-transcriptional modification. Topology analysis revealed prioritized hubs critical for maintaining network integrity and informational flow that included FN1, SIRT7, and CUL7 with nodal enrichment of RNA helicases in the topmost enriched subnetwork. Furthermore, integration of the top 5 subnetworks to capture network topology of an expanded framework revealed that FN1 maintained its hub status, with elevation of EED, CUL3, and EFTUD2. This is the first study to report novel discovery of a NUP155 subdomain hotspot that enriches for allelic variants of NUP155 predicted to be clinically damaging, and supports a role for RNA metabolism in cardiac disease and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riley J. Leonard
- Genetics and Genomics Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, United States
- Department of Biology, College of St. Benedict/St. John's University, Collegeville, MN, United States
| | - Claudia C. Preston
- Genetics and Genomics Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, United States
| | - Melanie E. Gucwa
- Genetics and Genomics Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, United States
- Department of Biology, Carthage College, Kenosha, WI, United States
| | - Yohannes Afeworki
- Functional Genomics & Bioinformatics Core Facility, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, United States
| | - Arielle S. Selya
- Behavioral Sciences Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, United States
| | - Randolph S. Faustino
- Genetics and Genomics Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine of the University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD, United States
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19
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Creus-Muncunill J, Ehrlich ME. Cell-Autonomous and Non-cell-Autonomous Pathogenic Mechanisms in Huntington's Disease: Insights from In Vitro and In Vivo Models. Neurotherapeutics 2019; 16:957-978. [PMID: 31529216 PMCID: PMC6985401 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-019-00782-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by an expansion in the trinucleotide CAG repeat in exon-1 in the huntingtin gene, located on chromosome 4. When the number of trinucleotide CAG exceeds 40 repeats, disease invariably is manifested, characterized by motor, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms. The huntingtin (Htt) protein and its mutant form (mutant huntingtin, mHtt) are ubiquitously expressed but although multiple brain regions are affected, the most vulnerable brain region is the striatum. Striatal medium-sized spiny neurons (MSNs) preferentially degenerate, followed by the cortical pyramidal neurons located in layers V and VI. Proposed HD pathogenic mechanisms include, but are not restricted to, excitotoxicity, neurotrophic support deficits, collapse of the protein degradation mechanisms, mitochondrial dysfunction, transcriptional alterations, and disorders of myelin. Studies performed in cell type-specific and regionally selective HD mouse models implicate both MSN cell-autonomous properties and cell-cell interactions, particularly corticostriatal but also with non-neuronal cell types. Here, we review the intrinsic properties of MSNs that contribute to their selective vulnerability and in addition, we discuss how astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes, together with aberrant corticostriatal connectivity, contribute to HD pathophysiology. In addition, mHtt causes cell-autonomous dysfunction in cell types other than MSNs. These findings have implications in terms of therapeutic strategies aimed at preventing neuronal dysfunction and degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Creus-Muncunill
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Michelle E Ehrlich
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
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