1
|
Zeng J, Li J, Liu Y, Liang R, Wang L, Zhou Q, Sun J, Liu Z, Wang W, Zhu S. A Chinese patient with Rothmund-Thomson syndrome. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2024; 12:e2347. [PMID: 38131666 PMCID: PMC10767680 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.2347] [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: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Rothmund-Thomson syndrome (RTS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder that has been reported in all ethnicities, with several identifiable pathogenic variants. There have been reported cases indicating that RTS may lead to low birth weight in fetuses, but specific data on the fetal period are lacking. Genetic testing for RTS II is currently carried out by identifying pathogenic variants in RECQL4. METHODS In order to determine the cause, we performed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analysis on the patient and his parents. Variants detected by WGS were confirmed by Sanger sequencing and examined in family members. RESULTS After analyzing the WGS data, we found a heterozygous nonsense mutation c.2752G>T (p.Glu918Ter) and a novel frameshift insertion mutation c.1547dupC (p.Leu517AlafsTer23) of RECQL4, which is a known pathogenic/disease-causing variant of RTS. Further validation indicated these were compound heterozygous mutations from parents. CONCLUSION Our study expands the mutational spectrum of the RECQL4 gene and enriches the phenotype spectrum of Chinese RTS patients. Our information can assist the patient's parents in making informed decisions regarding their future pregnancies. This case offers a new perspective for clinicians to consider whether to perform prenatal diagnosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan Zeng
- Obstetrics DepartmentShenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare HospitalShenzhenGuangdong ProvinceChina
| | - Jiayi Li
- BGI‐ShenzhenShenzhenChina
- College of Life SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Yuwei Liu
- BGI‐ShenzhenShenzhenChina
- College of Life SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Sujun Zhu
- Obstetrics DepartmentShenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare HospitalShenzhenGuangdong ProvinceChina
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Martins DJ, Di Lazzaro Filho R, Bertola DR, Hoch NC. Rothmund-Thomson syndrome, a disorder far from solved. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2023; 4:1296409. [PMID: 38021400 PMCID: PMC10676203 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2023.1296409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Rothmund-Thomson syndrome (RTS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by a range of clinical symptoms, including poikiloderma, juvenile cataracts, short stature, sparse hair, eyebrows/eyelashes, nail dysplasia, and skeletal abnormalities. While classically associated with mutations in the RECQL4 gene, which encodes a DNA helicase involved in DNA replication and repair, three additional genes have been recently identified in RTS: ANAPC1, encoding a subunit of the APC/C complex; DNA2, which encodes a nuclease/helicase involved in DNA repair; and CRIPT, encoding a poorly characterized protein implicated in excitatory synapse formation and splicing. Here, we review the clinical spectrum of RTS patients, analyze the genetic basis of the disease, and discuss molecular functions of the affected genes, drawing some novel genotype-phenotype correlations and proposing avenues for future studies into this enigmatic disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Davi Jardim Martins
- Genomic Stability Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Di Lazzaro Filho
- Center for Human Genome Studies, Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Dasa Genômica/Genera, Genômica, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Debora Romeo Bertola
- Center for Human Genome Studies, Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Genetics Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Children’s Institute, Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nícolas Carlos Hoch
- Genomic Stability Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Xu X, Chang CW, Li M, Liu C, Liu Y. Molecular Mechanisms of the RECQ4 Pathogenic Mutations. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:791194. [PMID: 34869606 PMCID: PMC8637615 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.791194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The human RECQ4 gene encodes an ATP-dependent DNA helicase that contains a conserved superfamily II helicase domain located at the center of the polypeptide. RECQ4 is one of the five RECQ homologs in human cells, and its helicase domain is flanked by the unique amino and carboxyl termini with sequences distinct from other members of the RECQ helicases. Since the identification of the RECQ4 gene in 1998, multiple RECQ4 mutations have been linked to the pathogenesis of three clinical diseases, which are Rothmund-Thomson syndrome, Baller-Gerold syndrome, and RAPADILINO. Patients with these diseases show various developmental abnormalities. In addition, a subset of RECQ4 mutations are associated with high cancer risks, especially for osteosarcoma and/or lymphoma at early ages. The discovery of clinically relevant RECQ4 mutations leads to intriguing questions: how is the RECQ4 helicase responsible for preventing multiple clinical syndromes? What are the mechanisms by which the RECQ4 disease mutations cause tissue abnormalities and drive cancer formation? Furthermore, RECQ4 is highly overexpressed in many cancer types, raising the question whether RECQ4 acts not only as a tumor suppressor but also an oncogene that can be a potential new therapeutic target. Defining the molecular dysfunctions of different RECQ4 disease mutations is imperative to improving our understanding of the complexity of RECQ4 clinical phenotypes and the dynamic roles of RECQ4 in cancer development and prevention. We will review recent progress in examining the molecular and biochemical properties of the different domains of the RECQ4 protein. We will shed light on how the dynamic roles of RECQ4 in human cells may contribute to the complexity of RECQ4 clinical phenotypes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohua Xu
- Department of Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Chou-Wei Chang
- Department of Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Min Li
- Department of Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Chao Liu
- Department of Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Yilun Liu
- Department of Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Rieckher M, Garinis GA, Schumacher B. Molecular pathology of rare progeroid diseases. Trends Mol Med 2021; 27:907-922. [PMID: 34272172 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2021.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Progeroid syndromes (PSs) are characterized by the premature onset of age-related pathologies. The genetic mutations underlying PSs are functionally linked to genome maintenance and repair, supporting the causative role of DNA damage accumulation in aging. Recent advances from studies in animal models of PSs have provided new insight into the role of DNA repair mechanisms in human disease and the physiological adaptations to accumulating DNA damage during aging. The molecular pathology of PSs is reminiscent of the natural aging process, highlighting the relevance for a wide range of age-related diseases. Recent progress has led to the development of novel therapeutic strategies against age-related diseases that are relevant to rare diseases as well as the general aging population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Rieckher
- Institute for Genome Stability in Aging and Disease, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 26, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD) and Center for Molecular Medicine (CMMC), University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 26, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - George A Garinis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, GR70013, Heraklion, Crete, Greece; Department of Biology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Björn Schumacher
- Institute for Genome Stability in Aging and Disease, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 26, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD) and Center for Molecular Medicine (CMMC), University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 26, 50931 Cologne, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kohzaki M, Ootsuyama A, Umata T, Okazaki R. Comparison of the fertility of tumor suppressor gene-deficient C57BL/6 mouse strains reveals stable reproductive aging and novel pleiotropic gene. Sci Rep 2021; 11:12357. [PMID: 34117297 PMCID: PMC8195996 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91342-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor suppressor genes are involved in maintaining genome integrity during reproduction (e.g., meiosis). Thus, deleterious alleles in tumor suppressor-deficient mice would exhibit higher mortality during the perinatal period. A recent aging model proposes that perinatal mortality and age-related deleterious changes might define lifespan. This study aimed to quantitatively understand the relationship between reproduction and lifespan using three established tumor suppressor gene (p53, APC, and RECQL4)-deficient mouse strains with the same C57BL/6 background. Transgenic mice delivered slightly reduced numbers of 1st pups than wild-type mice [ratio: 0.81–0.93 (p = 0.1–0.61)] during a similar delivery period, which suggest that the tumor suppressor gene-deficient mice undergo relatively stable reproduction. However, the transgenic 1st pups died within a few days after birth, resulting in a further reduction in litter size at 3 weeks after delivery compared with that of wild-type mice [ratio: 0.35–0.68 (p = 0.034–0.24)] without sex differences, although the lifespan was variable. Unexpectedly, the significance of reproductive reduction in transgenic mice was decreased at the 2nd or later delivery. Because mice are easily affected by environmental factors, our data underscore the importance of defining reproductive ability through experiments on aging-related reproduction that can reveal a trade-off between fecundity and aging and identify RECQL4 as a novel pleiotropic gene.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Masaoki Kohzaki
- Department of Radiobiology and Hygiene Management, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, 1-1 Iseigaoka Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan.
| | - Akira Ootsuyama
- Department of Radiation Biology and Health, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, 1-1 Iseigaoka Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Umata
- Radioisotope Research Center, Facility for Education and Research Support, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, 1-1 Iseigaoka Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan
| | - Ryuji Okazaki
- Department of Radiobiology and Hygiene Management, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, 1-1 Iseigaoka Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan
| |
Collapse
|