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Borkúti P, Kristó I, Szabó A, Kovács Z, Vilmos P. FERM domain-containing proteins are active components of the cell nucleus. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202302489. [PMID: 38296350 PMCID: PMC10830384 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The FERM domain is a conserved and widespread protein module that appeared in the common ancestor of amoebae, fungi, and animals, and is therefore now found in a wide variety of species. The primary function of the FERM domain is localizing to the plasma membrane through binding lipids and proteins of the membrane; thus, for a long time, FERM domain-containing proteins (FDCPs) were considered exclusively cytoskeletal. Although their role in the cytoplasm has been extensively studied, the recent discovery of the presence and importance of cytoskeletal proteins in the nucleus suggests that FDCPs might also play an important role in nuclear function. In this review, we collected data on their nuclear localization, transport, and possible functions, which are still scattered throughout the literature, with special regard to the role of the FERM domain in these processes. With this, we would like to draw attention to the exciting, new dimension of the role of FDCPs, their nuclear activity, which could be an interesting novel direction for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Anikó Szabó
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Kovács
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Multidisciplinary Medical Science, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Péter Vilmos
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
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2
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Lyulcheva-Bennett E, Genomics England Research Consortium, Bennett D. A retrospective analysis of phosphatase catalytic subunit gene variants in patients with rare disorders identifies novel candidate neurodevelopmental disease genes. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1107930. [PMID: 37056996 PMCID: PMC10086149 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1107930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Rare genetic disorders represent some of the most severe and life-limiting conditions that constitute a considerable burden on global healthcare systems and societies. Most individuals affected by rare disorders remain undiagnosed, highlighting the unmet need for improved disease gene discovery and novel variant interpretation. Aberrant (de) phosphorylation can have profound pathological consequences underpinning many disease processes. Numerous phosphatases and associated proteins have been identified as disease genes, with many more likely to have gone undiscovered thus far. To begin to address these issues, we have performed a systematic survey of de novo variants amongst 189 genes encoding phosphatase catalytic subunits found in rare disease patients recruited to the 100,000 Genomes Project (100 kGP), the largest national sequencing project of its kind in the United Kingdom. We found that 49% of phosphatases were found to carry de novo mutation(s) in this cohort. Only 25% of these phosphatases have been previously linked to genetic disorders. A gene-to-patient approach matching variants to phenotypic data identified 9 novel candidate rare-disease genes: PTPRD, PTPRG, PTPRT, PTPRU, PTPRZ1, MTMR3, GAK, TPTE2, PTPN18. As the number of patients undergoing whole genome sequencing increases and information sharing improves, we anticipate that reiterative analysis of genomic and phenotypic data will continue to identify candidate phosphatase disease genes for functional validation. This is the first step towards delineating the aetiology of rare genetic disorders associated with altered phosphatase function, leading to new biological insights and improved clinical outcomes for the affected individuals and their families.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Daimark Bennett
- Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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3
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Hendriks WJAJ, van Cruchten RTP, Pulido R. Hereditable variants of classical protein tyrosine phosphatase genes: Will they prove innocent or guilty? Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 10:1051311. [PMID: 36755664 PMCID: PMC9900141 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1051311] [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: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein tyrosine phosphatases, together with protein tyrosine kinases, control many molecular signaling steps that control life at cellular and organismal levels. Impairing alterations in the genes encoding the involved proteins is expected to profoundly affect the quality of life-if compatible with life at all. Here, we review the current knowledge on the effects of germline variants that have been reported for genes encoding a subset of the protein tyrosine phosphatase superfamily; that of the thirty seven classical members. The conclusion must be that the newest genome research tools produced an avalanche of data that suggest 'guilt by association' for individual genes to specific disorders. Future research should face the challenge to investigate these accusations thoroughly and convincingly, to reach a mature genotype-phenotype map for this intriguing protein family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiljan J. A. J. Hendriks
- Department of Cell Biology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands,*Correspondence: Wiljan J. A. J. Hendriks,
| | | | - Rafael Pulido
- Biomarkers in Cancer Unit, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain,Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
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4
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Progress in the mechanism of neuronal surface P antigen modulating hippocampal function and implications for autoimmune brain disease. Curr Opin Neurol 2022; 35:436-442. [PMID: 35674087 DOI: 10.1097/wco.0000000000001054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The aim of this study was to present a new regulation system in the hippocampus constituted by the neuronal surface P antigen (NSPA) and the tyrosine phosphatase PTPMEG/PTPN4, which provides mechanistic and therapeutic possibilities for cognitive dysfunction driven by antiribosomal P protein autoantibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). RECENT FINDINGS Mice models lacking the function of NSPA as an E3 ubiquitin ligase show impaired glutamatergic synaptic plasticity, decreased levels of NMDAR at the postsynaptic density in hippocampus and memory deficits. The levels of PTPMEG/PTPN4 are increased due to lower ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation, resulting in dephosphorylation of tyrosines that control endocytosis in GluN2 NMDAR subunits. Adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) that normally contributes to memory processes is also defective in the absence of NSPA. SUMMARY NSPA function is crucial in memory processes controlling the stability of NMDAR at PSD through the ubiquitination of PTPMEG/PTPN4 and also through AHN. As anti-P autoantibodies reproduce the impairments of glutamatergic transmission, plasticity and memory performance seen in the absence of NSPA, it might be expected to perturb the NSPA/PTPMEG/PTPN4 pathway leading to hypofunction of NMDAR. This neuropathogenic mechanism contrasts with that of anti-NMDAR antibodies also involved in lupus cognitive dysfunction. Testing this hypothesis might open new therapeutic possibilities for cognitive dysfunction in SLE patients bearing anti-P autoantibodies.
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5
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Detection of copy number variants and genes by chromosomal microarray in an Emirati neurodevelopmental disorders cohort. Neurogenetics 2022; 23:137-149. [DOI: 10.1007/s10048-022-00689-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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6
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Chmielewska JJ, Burkardt D, Granadillo JL, Slaugh R, Morgan S, Rotenberg J, Keren B, Mignot C, Escobar L, Turnpenny P, Zuteck M, Seaver LH, Ploski R, Dziembowska M, Wynshaw-Boris A, Adegbola A. PTPN4 germline variants result in aberrant neurodevelopment and growth. HGG ADVANCES 2021; 2:100033. [PMID: 34527963 PMCID: PMC8439436 DOI: 10.1016/j.xhgg.2021.100033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are pleomorphic regulators of eukaryotic cellular responses to extracellular signals that function by modulating the phosphotyrosine of specific proteins. A handful of PTPs have been implicated in germline and somatic human disease. Using exome sequencing, we identified missense and truncating variants in PTPN4 in six unrelated individuals with varying degrees of intellectual disability or developmental delay. The variants occurred de novo in all five subjects in whom segregation analysis was possible. Recurring features include postnatal growth deficiency or excess, seizures, and, less commonly, structural CNS, heart, or skeletal anomalies. PTPN4 is a widely expressed protein tyrosine phosphatase that regulates neuronal cell homeostasis by protecting neurons against apoptosis. We suggest that pathogenic variants in PTPN4 confer risk for growth and cognitive abnormalities in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna J. Chmielewska
- Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Synaptic Plasticity, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Deepika Burkardt
- Center for Human Genetics and Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Jorge Luis Granadillo
- Division of Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Rachel Slaugh
- Division of Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | | | | | - Boris Keren
- Département de Génétique, APHP, Sorbonne Université, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Cyril Mignot
- Département de Génétique, APHP, Sorbonne Université, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
- Centre de Référence Déficiences Intellectuelles de Causes Rares, Paris, France
| | - Luis Escobar
- Medical Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Center, Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Peter Turnpenny
- University of Exeter Medical School and Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, UK
| | - Melissa Zuteck
- Medical Genetics and Genomics, Spectrum Health/Helen Devos Children’s Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Laurie H. Seaver
- Medical Genetics and Genomics, Spectrum Health/Helen Devos Children’s Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Rafal Ploski
- Department of Medical Genetics, Warsaw Medical University, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Dziembowska
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Synaptic Plasticity, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anthony Wynshaw-Boris
- Center for Human Genetics and Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Abidemi Adegbola
- Center for Human Genetics and Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
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7
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Sub-genic intolerance, ClinVar, and the epilepsies: A whole-exome sequencing study of 29,165 individuals. Am J Hum Genet 2021; 108:965-982. [PMID: 33932343 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2021.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Both mild and severe epilepsies are influenced by variants in the same genes, yet an explanation for the resulting phenotypic variation is unknown. As part of the ongoing Epi25 Collaboration, we performed a whole-exome sequencing analysis of 13,487 epilepsy-affected individuals and 15,678 control individuals. While prior Epi25 studies focused on gene-based collapsing analyses, we asked how the pattern of variation within genes differs by epilepsy type. Specifically, we compared the genetic architectures of severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) and two generally less severe epilepsies, genetic generalized epilepsy and non-acquired focal epilepsy (NAFE). Our gene-based rare variant collapsing analysis used geographic ancestry-based clustering that included broader ancestries than previously possible and revealed novel associations. Using the missense intolerance ratio (MTR), we found that variants in DEE-affected individuals are in significantly more intolerant genic sub-regions than those in NAFE-affected individuals. Only previously reported pathogenic variants absent in available genomic datasets showed a significant burden in epilepsy-affected individuals compared with control individuals, and the ultra-rare pathogenic variants associated with DEE were located in more intolerant genic sub-regions than variants associated with non-DEE epilepsies. MTR filtering improved the yield of ultra-rare pathogenic variants in affected individuals compared with control individuals. Finally, analysis of variants in genes without a disease association revealed a significant burden of loss-of-function variants in the genes most intolerant to such variation, indicating additional epilepsy-risk genes yet to be discovered. Taken together, our study suggests that genic and sub-genic intolerance are critical characteristics for interpreting the effects of variation in genes that influence epilepsy.
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Espinoza S, Arredondo SB, Barake F, Carvajal F, Guerrero FG, Segovia-Miranda F, Valenzuela DM, Wyneken U, Rojas-Fernández A, Cerpa W, Massardo L, Varela-Nallar L, González A. Neuronal surface P antigen (NSPA) modulates postsynaptic NMDAR stability through ubiquitination of tyrosine phosphatase PTPMEG. BMC Biol 2020; 18:164. [PMID: 33158444 PMCID: PMC7648380 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-020-00877-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cognitive dysfunction (CD) is common among patients with the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Anti-ribosomal P autoantibodies associate with this dysfunction and have neuropathogenic effects that are mediated by cross-reacting with neuronal surface P antigen (NSPA) protein. Elucidating the function of NSPA can then reveal CD pathogenic mechanisms and treatment opportunities. In the brain, NSPA somehow contributes to glutamatergic NMDA receptor (NMDAR) activity in synaptic plasticity and memory. Here we analyze the consequences of NSPA absence in KO mice considering its structural features shared with E3 ubiquitin ligases and the crucial role of ubiquitination in synaptic plasticity. Results Electrophysiological studies revealed a decreased long-term potentiation in CA3-CA1 and medial perforant pathway-dentate gyrus (MPP-DG) hippocampal circuits, reflecting glutamatergic synaptic plasticity impairment in NSPA-KO mice. The hippocampal dentate gyrus of these mice showed a lower number of Arc-positive cells indicative of decreased synaptic activity and also showed proliferation defects of neural progenitors underlying less adult neurogenesis. All this translates into poor spatial and recognition memory when NSPA is absent. A cell-based assay demonstrated ubiquitination of NSPA as a property of RBR-type E3 ligases, while biochemical analysis of synaptic regions disclosed the tyrosine phosphatase PTPMEG as a potential substrate. Mice lacking NSPA have increased levels of PTPMEG due to its reduced ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation, which correlated with lower levels of GluN2A and GluN2B NMDAR subunits only at postsynaptic densities (PSDs), indicating selective trafficking of these proteins out of PSDs. As both GluN2A and GluN2B interact with PTPMEG, tyrosine (Tyr) dephosphorylation likely drives their endocytic removal from the PSD. Actually, immunoblot analysis showed reduced phosphorylation of the GluN2B endocytic signal Tyr1472 in NSPA-KO mice. Conclusions NSPA contributes to hippocampal plasticity and memory processes ensuring appropriate levels of adult neurogenesis and PSD-located NMDAR. PTPMEG qualifies as NSPA ubiquitination substrate that regulates Tyr phosphorylation-dependent NMDAR stability at PSDs. The NSPA/PTPMEG pathway emerges as a new regulator of glutamatergic transmission and plasticity and may provide mechanistic clues and therapeutic opportunities for anti-P-mediated pathogenicity in SLE, a still unmet need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofía Espinoza
- Centro de Biología Celular y Biomedicina (CEBICEM), Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, 7510157, Santiago, Chile.,Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE), Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 8330025, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sebastián B Arredondo
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICB), Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidad Andrés Bello, 8370146, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisca Barake
- Centro de Biología Celular y Biomedicina (CEBICEM), Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, 7510157, Santiago, Chile.,Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE), Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 8330025, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Ciencia y Vida, 7780272, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisco Carvajal
- Laboratorio de Función y Patología Neuronal, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 8330028, Santiago, Chile.,Centro de Excelencia en Biomedicina de Magallanes (CEBIMA), 6213029, Punta Arenas, Chile
| | - Fernanda G Guerrero
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICB), Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidad Andrés Bello, 8370146, Santiago, Chile
| | - Fabian Segovia-Miranda
- Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE), Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 8330025, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Ursula Wyneken
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, 7620001, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alejandro Rojas-Fernández
- Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of the Nervous System (CISNe), Universidad Austral de Chile, 5090000, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Waldo Cerpa
- Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE), Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 8330025, Santiago, Chile.,Laboratorio de Función y Patología Neuronal, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 8330028, Santiago, Chile.,Centro de Excelencia en Biomedicina de Magallanes (CEBIMA), 6213029, Punta Arenas, Chile
| | - Loreto Massardo
- Centro de Biología Celular y Biomedicina (CEBICEM), Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, 7510157, Santiago, Chile
| | - Lorena Varela-Nallar
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICB), Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidad Andrés Bello, 8370146, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alfonso González
- Centro de Biología Celular y Biomedicina (CEBICEM), Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, 7510157, Santiago, Chile. .,Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE), Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 8330025, Santiago, Chile. .,Fundación Ciencia y Vida, 7780272, Santiago, Chile.
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Benítez-Burraco A. Genes Positively Selected in Domesticated Mammals Are Significantly Dysregulated in the Blood of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Mol Syndromol 2020; 10:306-312. [PMID: 32021604 PMCID: PMC6995977 DOI: 10.1159/000505116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Human self-domestication (i.e., the presence of traits in our species that are commonly found in domesticated animals) has been hypothesized to have contributed to the emergence of many human-specific features, including aspects of our cognition and behavior. Signs of self-domestication have been claimed to be attenuated in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), this conceivably accounting for facets of their distinctive cognitive and behavioral profile, although this possibility needs to be properly tested. In this study, we have found that candidate genes for mammal domestication, but not for neural crest development and function, are significantly dysregulated in the blood of subjects with ASD. The set of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) is enriched in biological and molecular processes, as well as in pathological phenotypes, of relevance for the etiology of ASD, like lipid metabolism, cell apoptosis, the activity of the insulin-like growth factor, gene expression regulation, skin/hair anomalies, musculoskeletal abnormalities, and hearing impairment. Moreover, among the DEGs, there are known candidates for ASD and/or genes involved in biological processes known to be affected in ASD. Our findings give support to the view that one important aspect of the etiopathogenesis of ASD is the abnormal manifestation of features of human self-domestication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Benítez-Burraco
- Department of Spanish, Linguistics, and Theory of Literature (Linguistics), Faculty of Philology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
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10
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Heimer G, van Woerden GM, Barel O, Marek-Yagel D, Kol N, Munting JB, Borghei M, Atawneh OM, Nissenkorn A, Rechavi G, Anikster Y, Elgersma Y, Kushner SA, Ben Zeev B. Netrin-G2 dysfunction causes a Rett-like phenotype with areflexia. Hum Mutat 2019; 41:476-486. [PMID: 31692205 DOI: 10.1002/humu.23945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
We describe the underlying genetic cause of a novel Rett-like phenotype accompanied by areflexia in three methyl-CpG-binding protein 2-negative individuals from two unrelated families. Discovery analysis was performed using whole-exome sequencing followed by Sanger sequencing for validation and segregation. Functional studies using short-hairpin RNA for targeted gene knockdown were implemented by the transfection of mouse cultured primary hippocampal neurons and in vivo by in utero electroporation. All patients shared a common homozygous frameshift mutation (chr9:135073515, c.376dupT, p.(Ser126PhefsTer241)) in netrin-G2 (NTNG2, NM_032536.3) with predicted nonsense-mediated decay. The mutation fully segregated with the disease in both families. The knockdown of either NTNG2 or the related netrin-G family member NTNG1 resulted in severe neurodevelopmental defects of neuronal morphology and migration. While NTNG1 has previously been linked to a Rett syndrome (RTT)-like phenotype, this is the first description of a RTT-like phenotype caused by NTNG2 mutation. Netrin-G proteins have been shown to be required for proper axonal guidance during early brain development and involved in N-methyl- d-aspartate-mediated synaptic transmission. Our results demonstrating that knockdown of murine NTNG2 causes severe impairments of neuronal morphology and cortical migration are consistent with those of RTT animal models and the shared neurodevelopmental phenotypes between the individuals described here and typical RTT patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gali Heimer
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel.,The Pinchas Borenstein Talpiot Medical Leadership Program, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel.,The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Geeske M van Woerden
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ortal Barel
- The Genomic Unit, Sheba Cancer Research Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.,Wohl Institute for Translational Medicine, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Dina Marek-Yagel
- Metabolic Disease Unit, Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Nitzan Kol
- The Genomic Unit, Sheba Cancer Research Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.,Wohl Institute for Translational Medicine, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Johannes B Munting
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Minoeshka Borghei
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Andreea Nissenkorn
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel.,The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Gideon Rechavi
- The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,The Genomic Unit, Sheba Cancer Research Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.,Wohl Institute for Translational Medicine, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Yair Anikster
- The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Metabolic Disease Unit, Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Ype Elgersma
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Steven A Kushner
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bruria Ben Zeev
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel.,The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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11
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Genetic intolerance analysis as a tool for protein science. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2019; 1862:183058. [PMID: 31494120 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2019.183058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2019] [Revised: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in whole genome and exome sequencing have dramatically increased the database of human gene variations. There are now enough sequenced human exomes and genomes to begin to identify gene variations that are notable because they are NOT observed in sequenced human genomes, apparently because they are subject to "purifying selection", exemplifying genetic intolerance. Such "dysprocreative" gene variations are embryonic lethal or prevent reproduction through any one of a number of possible mechanisms. Here we review an emerging quantitative approach, "Missense Tolerance Ratio" (MTR) analysis, that is used to assess protein-encoding gene (cDNA) sequence intolerance to missense mutations based on analysis of the >100 K and growing number of currently available human genome and exome sequences. This approach is already useful for analyzing intolerance to mutations in cDNA segments with a resolution on the order of 90 bases. Moreover, as the number of sequenced genomes/exomes increases by orders of magnitude it may eventually be possible to assess mutational tolerance in a statistically robust manner at or near single site resolution. Here we focus on how cDNA intolerance analysis complements other bioinformatic methods to illuminate structure-folding-function relationships for the encoded proteins. A set of disease-linked membrane proteins is employed to provide examples.
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12
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Maldonado-Ruiz R, Garza-Ocañas L, Camacho A. Inflammatory domains modulate autism spectrum disorder susceptibility during maternal nutritional programming. Neurochem Int 2019; 126:109-117. [PMID: 30880046 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2019.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disease which involves functional and structural defects in selective central nervous system (CNS) regions harming capability to process and respond to external stimuli. In addition to genetic background, etiological causes of ASD have not been fully clarified. Maternal immune activation (MIA) during pregnancy have been proposed as a potential etiological cause leading to aberrant synaptic pruning and microglia-mediated neurogenesis impairment. Several clinical studies suggest that pro-inflammatory profile during maternal obesity associates with a higher risk of having a child with autism. In this context, the effect of maternal programing by high fat diet overconsumption during pregnancy sets a pro-inflammatory profile partly dependent on an epigenetic program of immunity which promotes brain micro and macrostructural abnormalities in the offspring that might last through adulthood accompanied by phenotypic changes in ASD subjects. Of note, maternal programming of inflammation during development seems to integrate the CNS and peripheral immune system cross-talk which arrays central inflammatory domains coordinating ASD behavior. In this review, we discuss basic and clinical studies regarding the effects of obesity-induced MIA on peripheral immune cells and microglia priming and their relationship with brain structural alterations in ASD models. Also, we show supportive evidence stating the role of maternal programming on epigenetic gene activation in immune cells of ASD subjects. We suggest that maternal programming by hypercaloric diets during development sets a central and peripheral immune cross-talk which potentially might modulate brain macro and microstructural defects leading to autism susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger Maldonado-Ruiz
- Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo Leon, Facultad de Medicina, Biochemistry Department, Mexico; Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo Leon, Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias de la Salud, Neurometabolism Unit, Mexico
| | - Lourdes Garza-Ocañas
- Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Facultad de Medicina, Department of Pharmacology, Mexico
| | - Alberto Camacho
- Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo Leon, Facultad de Medicina, Biochemistry Department, Mexico; Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo Leon, Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias de la Salud, Neurometabolism Unit, Mexico.
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