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Gazzin A, Fornari F, Cardaropoli S, Carli D, Tartaglia M, Ferrero GB, Mussa A. Exploring New Drug Repurposing Opportunities for MEK Inhibitors in RASopathies: A Comprehensive Review of Safety, Efficacy, and Future Perspectives of Trametinib and Selumetinib. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:731. [PMID: 38929714 PMCID: PMC11204468 DOI: 10.3390/life14060731] [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: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The RASopathies are a group of syndromes caused by genetic variants that affect the RAS-MAPK signaling pathway, which is essential for cell response to diverse stimuli. These variants functionally converge towards the overactivation of the pathway, leading to various constitutional and mosaic conditions. These syndromes show overlapping though distinct clinical presentations and share congenital heart defects, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and lymphatic dysplasia as major clinical features, with highly variable prevalence and severity. Available treatments have mainly been directed to target the symptoms. However, repurposing MEK inhibitors (MEKis), which were originally developed for cancer treatment, to target evolutive aspects occurring in these disorders is a promising option. Animal models have shown encouraging results in treating various RASopathy manifestations, including HCM and lymphatic abnormalities. Clinical reports have also provided first evidence supporting the effectiveness of MEKi, especially trametinib, in treating life-threatening conditions associated with these disorders. Nevertheless, despite notable improvements, there are adverse events that occur, necessitating careful monitoring. Moreover, there is evidence indicating that multiple pathways can contribute to these disorders, indicating a current need to more accurate understand of the underlying mechanism of the disease to apply an effective targeted therapy. In conclusion, while MEKi holds promise in managing life-threatening complications of RASopathies, dedicated clinical trials are required to establish standardized treatment protocols tailored to take into account the individual needs of each patient and favor a personalized treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Gazzin
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy;
- Clinical Pediatrics Genetics Unit, Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Federico Fornari
- Postgraduate School of Pediatrics, Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Simona Cardaropoli
- Postgraduate School of Pediatrics, Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Diana Carli
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Marco Tartaglia
- Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Mussa
- Clinical Pediatrics Genetics Unit, Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Postgraduate School of Pediatrics, Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
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2
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Fasano G, Petrini S, Bonavolontà V, Paradisi G, Pedalino C, Tartaglia M, Lauri A. Assessment of the FRET-based Teen sensor to monitor ERK activation changes preceding morphological defects in a RASopathy zebrafish model and phenotypic rescue by MEK inhibitor. Mol Med 2024; 30:47. [PMID: 38594640 PMCID: PMC11005195 DOI: 10.1186/s10020-024-00807-w] [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: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND RASopathies are genetic syndromes affecting development and having variable cancer predisposition. These disorders are clinically related and are caused by germline mutations affecting key players and regulators of the RAS-MAPK signaling pathway generally leading to an upregulated ERK activity. Gain-of-function (GOF) mutations in PTPN11, encoding SHP2, a cytosolic protein tyrosine phosphatase positively controlling RAS function, underlie approximately 50% of Noonan syndromes (NS), the most common RASopathy. A different class of these activating mutations occurs as somatic events in childhood leukemias. METHOD Here, we evaluated the application of a FRET-based zebrafish ERK reporter, Teen, and used quantitative FRET protocols to monitor non-physiological RASopathy-associated changes in ERK activation. In a multi-level experimental workflow, we tested the suitability of the Teen reporter to detect pan-embryo ERK activity correlates of morphometric alterations driven by the NS-causing Shp2D61G allele. RESULTS Spectral unmixing- and acceptor photobleaching (AB)-FRET analyses captured pathological ERK activity preceding the manifestation of quantifiable body axes defects, a morphological pillar used to test the strength of SHP2 GoF mutations. Last, the work shows that by multi-modal FRET analysis, we can quantitatively trace back the modulation of ERK phosphorylation obtained by low-dose MEK inhibitor treatment to early development, before the onset of morphological defects. CONCLUSION This work proves the usefulness of FRET imaging protocols on both live and fixed Teen ERK reporter fish to readily monitor and quantify pharmacologically- and genetically-induced ERK activity modulations in early embryos, representing a useful tool in pre-clinical applications targeting RAS-MAPK signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Fasano
- Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Rome, 00146, Italy
| | - Stefania Petrini
- Microscopy facility, Research laboratories, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Rome, 00146, Italy
| | - Valeria Bonavolontà
- Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Rome, 00146, Italy
| | - Graziamaria Paradisi
- Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Rome, 00146, Italy
- Department for Innovation in Biological Agro-food and Forest systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, 01100, Italy
| | - Catia Pedalino
- Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Rome, 00146, Italy
| | - Marco Tartaglia
- Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Rome, 00146, Italy.
| | - Antonella Lauri
- Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Rome, 00146, Italy.
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3
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Tidyman WE, Goodwin AF, Maeda Y, Klein OD, Rauen KA. MEK-inhibitor-mediated rescue of skeletal myopathy caused by activating Hras mutation in a Costello syndrome mouse model. Dis Model Mech 2022; 15:272258. [PMID: 34553752 PMCID: PMC8617311 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Costello syndrome (CS) is a congenital disorder caused by heterozygous activating germline HRAS mutations in the canonical Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase (Ras/MAPK) pathway. CS is one of the RASopathies, a large group of syndromes caused by mutations within various components of the Ras/MAPK pathway. An important part of the phenotype that greatly impacts quality of life is hypotonia. To gain a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying hypotonia in CS, a mouse model with an activating HrasG12V allele was utilized. We identified a skeletal myopathy that was due, in part, to inhibition of embryonic myogenesis and myofiber formation, resulting in a reduction in myofiber size and number that led to reduced muscle mass and strength. In addition to hyperactivation of the Ras/MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways, there was a significant reduction in p38 signaling, as well as global transcriptional alterations consistent with the myopathic phenotype. Inhibition of Ras/MAPK pathway signaling using a MEK inhibitor rescued the HrasG12V myopathy phenotype both in vitro and in vivo, demonstrating that increased MAPK signaling is the main cause of the muscle phenotype in CS. Summary: A Costello syndrome (CS) mouse model carrying a heterozygous Hras p.G12V mutation was utilized to investigate Ras pathway dysregulation, revealing that increased MAPK signaling is the main cause of the muscle phenotype in CS.
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Affiliation(s)
- William E Tidyman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.,UC Davis MIND Institute, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Alice F Goodwin
- Department of Orofacial Sciences and Program in Craniofacial Biology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Yoshiko Maeda
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.,UC Davis MIND Institute, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Ophir D Klein
- Department of Orofacial Sciences and Program in Craniofacial Biology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.,Department of Pediatrics and Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Katherine A Rauen
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.,UC Davis MIND Institute, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
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Patton EE, Zon LI, Langenau DM. Zebrafish disease models in drug discovery: from preclinical modelling to clinical trials. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2021; 20:611-628. [PMID: 34117457 PMCID: PMC9210578 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-021-00210-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 60.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Numerous drug treatments that have recently entered the clinic or clinical trials have their genesis in zebrafish. Zebrafish are well established for their contribution to developmental biology and have now emerged as a powerful preclinical model for human disease, as their disease characteristics, aetiology and progression, and molecular mechanisms are clinically relevant and highly conserved. Zebrafish respond to small molecules and drug treatments at physiologically relevant dose ranges and, when combined with cell-specific or tissue-specific reporters and gene editing technologies, drug activity can be studied at single-cell resolution within the complexity of a whole animal, across tissues and over an extended timescale. These features enable high-throughput and high-content phenotypic drug screening, repurposing of available drugs for personalized and compassionate use, and even the development of new drug classes. Often, drugs and drug leads explored in zebrafish have an inter-organ mechanism of action and would otherwise not be identified through targeted screening approaches. Here, we discuss how zebrafish is an important model for drug discovery, the process of how these discoveries emerge and future opportunities for maximizing zebrafish potential in medical discoveries.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Elizabeth Patton
- MRC Human Genetics Unit and Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, MRC Institute of Genetics and Cancer, Western General Hospital Campus, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Leonard I Zon
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Department, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - David M Langenau
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Center of Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA.
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
- Center of Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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5
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Ma J, Scott CA, Ho YN, Mahabaleshwar H, Marsay KS, Zhang C, Teow CK, Ng SS, Zhang W, Tergaonkar V, Partridge LJ, Roy S, Amaya E, Carney TJ. Matriptase activation of Gq drives epithelial disruption and inflammation via RSK and DUOX. eLife 2021; 10:66596. [PMID: 34165081 PMCID: PMC8291973 DOI: 10.7554/elife.66596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial tissues are primed to respond to insults by activating epithelial cell motility and rapid inflammation. Such responses are also elicited upon overexpression of the membrane-bound protease, Matriptase, or mutation of its inhibitor, Hai1. Unrestricted Matriptase activity also predisposes to carcinoma. How Matriptase leads to these cellular outcomes is unknown. We demonstrate that zebrafish hai1a mutants show increased H2O2, NfκB signalling, and IP3R -mediated calcium flashes, and that these promote inflammation, but do not generate epithelial cell motility. In contrast, inhibition of the Gq subunit in hai1a mutants rescues both the inflammation and epithelial phenotypes, with the latter recapitulated by the DAG analogue, PMA. We demonstrate that hai1a has elevated MAPK pathway activity, inhibition of which rescues the epidermal defects. Finally, we identify RSK kinases as MAPK targets disrupting adherens junctions in hai1a mutants. Our work maps novel signalling cascades mediating the potent effects of Matriptase on epithelia, with implications for tissue damage response and carcinoma progression. Cancer occurs when normal processes in the cell become corrupted or unregulated. Many proteins can contribute, including one enzyme called Matriptase that cuts other proteins at specific sites. Matriptase activity is tightly controlled by a protein called Hai1. In mice and zebrafish, when Hai1 cannot adequately control Matriptase activity, invasive cancers with severe inflammation develop. However, it is unclear how unregulated Matriptase leads to both inflammation and cancer invasion. One outcome of Matriptase activity is removal of proteins called Cadherins from the cell surface. These proteins have a role in cell adhesion: they act like glue to stick cells together. Without them, cells can dissociate from a tissue and move away, a critical step in cancer cells invading other organs. However, it is unknown exactly how Matriptase triggers the removal of Cadherins from the cell surface to promote invasion. Previous work has shown that Matriptase switches on a receptor called Proteinase-activated receptor 2, or Par2 for short, which is known to activate many enzymes, including one called phospholipase C. When activated, this enzyme releases two signals into the cell: a sugar called inositol triphosphate, IP3; and a lipid or fat called diacylglycerol, DAG. It is possible that these two signals have a role to play in how Matriptase removes Cadherins from the cell surface. To find out, Ma et al. mapped the effects of Matriptase in zebrafish lacking the Hai1 protein. This revealed that Matriptase increases IP3 and DAG levels, which initiate both inflammation and invasion. IP3 promotes inflammation by switching on pro-inflammatory signals inside the cell such as the chemical hydrogen peroxide. At the same time, DAG promotes cell invasion by activating a well-known cancer signalling pathway called MAPK. This pathway activates a protein called RSK. Ma et al. show that this protein is required to remove Cadherins from the surface of cells, thus connecting Matriptase’s activation of phospholipase C with its role in disrupting cell adhesion. An increase in the ratio of Matriptase to HAI-1 (the human equivalent of Hai1) is present in many cancers. For this reason, the signal cascades described by Ma et al. may be of interest in developing treatments for these cancers. Understanding how these signals work together could lead to more direct targeted anti-cancer approaches in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajia Ma
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Experimental Medicine Building, Yunnan Garden Campus, 59 Nanyang Drive, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Claire A Scott
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, Singapore.,Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Ying Na Ho
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Experimental Medicine Building, Yunnan Garden Campus, 59 Nanyang Drive, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Harsha Mahabaleshwar
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Experimental Medicine Building, Yunnan Garden Campus, 59 Nanyang Drive, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Katherine S Marsay
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Changqing Zhang
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Experimental Medicine Building, Yunnan Garden Campus, 59 Nanyang Drive, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Christopher Kj Teow
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Experimental Medicine Building, Yunnan Garden Campus, 59 Nanyang Drive, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ser Sue Ng
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Weibin Zhang
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Vinay Tergaonkar
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lynda J Partridge
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Sudipto Roy
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Pediatrics, Yong Loo Ling School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Enrique Amaya
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Tom J Carney
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Experimental Medicine Building, Yunnan Garden Campus, 59 Nanyang Drive, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.,Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, Singapore
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6
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Tiwari A, Rahi S, Mehan S. Elucidation of Abnormal Extracellular Regulated Kinase (ERK) Signaling and Associations with Syndromic and Non-syndromic Autism. Curr Drug Targets 2021; 22:1071-1086. [PMID: 33081671 DOI: 10.2174/1389450121666201020155010] [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: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Autism is a highly inherited and extremely complex disorder in which results from various cases indicate chromosome anomalies, unusual single-gene mutations, and multiplicative effects of particular gene variants, characterized primarily by impaired speech and social interaction and restricted behavior. The precise etiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is currently unclear. The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling mechanism affects neurogenesis and neuronal plasticity during the development of the central nervous mechanism. In this regard, the pathway of ERK has recently gained significant interest in the pathogenesis of ASD. The mutation occurs in a few ERK components. Besides, the ERK pathway dysfunction lies in the upstream of modified translation and contributes to synapse pathology in syndromic types of autism. In this review, we highlight the ERK pathway as a target for neurodevelopmental disorder autism. In addition, we summarize the regulation of the ERK pathway with ERK inhibitors in neurological disorders. In conclusion, a better understanding of the ERK signaling pathway provides a range of therapeutic options for autism spectrum disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aarti Tiwari
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India
| | - Saloni Rahi
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India
| | - Sidharth Mehan
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India
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7
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Amatruda JF. Modeling the developmental origins of pediatric cancer to improve patient outcomes. Dis Model Mech 2021; 14:14/2/dmm048930. [PMID: 33619212 PMCID: PMC7927656 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.048930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In the treatment of children and adolescents with cancer, multimodal approaches combining surgery, chemotherapy and radiation can cure most patients, but may cause lifelong health problems in survivors. Current therapies only modestly reflect increased knowledge about the molecular mechanisms of these cancers. Advances in next-generation sequencing have provided unprecedented cataloging of genetic aberrations in tumors, but understanding how these genetic changes drive cellular transformation, and how they can be effectively targeted, will require multidisciplinary collaboration and preclinical models that are truly representative of the in vivo environment. Here, I discuss some of the key challenges in pediatric cancer from my perspective as a physician-scientist, and touch on some promising new approaches that have the potential to transform our understanding of these diseases. Summary: This Perspective discusses the special features that make it challenging to develop new therapies for pediatric cancers, and the ways in which collaboration centered on improved models can meet these challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- James F Amatruda
- Cancer and Blood Disease Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
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8
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Armistead J, Hatzold J, van Roye A, Fahle E, Hammerschmidt M. Entosis and apical cell extrusion constitute a tumor-suppressive mechanism downstream of Matriptase. J Cell Biol 2020; 219:132730. [PMID: 31819976 PMCID: PMC7041680 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201905190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Armistead et al. show that in a bilayered epithelium in vivo, apical cell extrusion of basal cells is achieved via their engulfment by surface cells. In zebrafish hai1a mutants, this constitutes a tumor-suppressive mechanism, revealing a double face of Matriptase. The type II transmembrane serine protease Matriptase 1 (ST14) is commonly known as an oncogene, yet it also plays an understudied role in suppressing carcinogenesis. This double face is evident in the embryonic epidermis of zebrafish loss-of-function mutants in the cognate Matriptase inhibitor Hai1a (Spint1a). Mutant embryos display epidermal hyperplasia, but also apical cell extrusions, during which extruding outer keratinocytes carry out an entosis-like engulfment and entrainment of underlying basal cells, constituting a tumor-suppressive effect. These counteracting Matriptase effects depend on EGFR and the newly identified mediator phospholipase D (PLD), which promotes both mTORC1-dependent cell proliferation and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P)–dependent entosis and apical cell extrusion. Accordingly, hypomorphic hai1a mutants heal spontaneously, while otherwise lethal hai1a amorphs are efficiently rescued upon cotreatment with PLD inhibitors and S1P. Together, our data elucidate the mechanisms underlying the double face of Matriptase function in vivo and reveal the potential use of combinatorial carcinoma treatments when such double-face mechanisms are involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy Armistead
- Institute of Zoology, Developmental Biology Unit, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Julia Hatzold
- Institute of Zoology, Developmental Biology Unit, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Anna van Roye
- Institute of Zoology, Developmental Biology Unit, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Evelin Fahle
- Institute of Zoology, Developmental Biology Unit, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Matthias Hammerschmidt
- Institute of Zoology, Developmental Biology Unit, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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9
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Castel P, Rauen KA, McCormick F. The duality of human oncoproteins: drivers of cancer and congenital disorders. Nat Rev Cancer 2020; 20:383-397. [PMID: 32341551 PMCID: PMC7787056 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-020-0256-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Human oncoproteins promote transformation of cells into tumours by dysregulating the signalling pathways that are involved in cell growth, proliferation and death. Although oncoproteins were discovered many years ago and have been widely studied in the context of cancer, the recent use of high-throughput sequencing techniques has led to the identification of cancer-associated mutations in other conditions, including many congenital disorders. These syndromes offer an opportunity to study oncoprotein signalling and its biology in the absence of additional driver or passenger mutations, as a result of their monogenic nature. Moreover, their expression in multiple tissue lineages provides insight into the biology of the proto-oncoprotein at the physiological level, in both transformed and unaffected tissues. Given the recent paradigm shift in regard to how oncoproteins promote transformation, we review the fundamentals of genetics, signalling and pathogenesis underlying oncoprotein duality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pau Castel
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Katherine A Rauen
- MIND Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Frank McCormick
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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10
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Patterson VL, Burdine RD. Swimming toward solutions: Using fish and frogs as models for understanding RASopathies. Birth Defects Res 2020; 112:749-765. [PMID: 32506834 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The RAS signaling pathway regulates cell growth, survival, and differentiation, and its inappropriate activation is associated with disease in humans. The RASopathies, a set of developmental syndromes, arise when the pathway is overactive during development. Patients share a core set of symptoms, including congenital heart disease, craniofacial anomalies, and neurocognitive delay. Due to the conserved nature of the pathway, animal models are highly informative for understanding disease etiology, and zebrafish and Xenopus are emerging as advantageous model systems. Here we discuss these aquatic models of RASopathies, which recapitulate many of the core symptoms observed in patients. Craniofacial structures become dysmorphic upon expression of disease-associated mutations, resulting in wider heads. Heart defects manifest as delays in cardiac development and changes in heart size, and behavioral deficits are beginning to be explored. Furthermore, early convergence and extension defects cause elongation of developing embryos: this phenotype can be quantitatively assayed as a readout of mutation strength, raising interesting questions regarding the relationship between pathway activation and disease. Additionally, the observation that RAS signaling may be simultaneously hyperactive and attenuated suggests that downregulation of signaling may also contribute to etiology. We propose that models should be characterized using a standardized approach to allow easier comparison between models, and a better understanding of the interplay between mutation and disease presentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria L Patterson
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Rebecca D Burdine
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
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11
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Tomasovic A, Brand T, Schanbacher C, Kramer S, Hümmert MW, Godoy P, Schmidt-Heck W, Nordbeck P, Ludwig J, Homann S, Wiegering A, Shaykhutdinov T, Kratz C, Knüchel R, Müller-Hermelink HK, Rosenwald A, Frey N, Eichler J, Dobrev D, El-Armouche A, Hengstler JG, Müller OJ, Hinrichs K, Cuello F, Zernecke A, Lorenz K. Interference with ERK-dimerization at the nucleocytosolic interface targets pathological ERK1/2 signaling without cardiotoxic side-effects. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1733. [PMID: 32265441 PMCID: PMC7138859 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15505-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2) is linked to several diseases including heart failure, genetic syndromes and cancer. Inhibition of ERK1/2, however, can cause severe cardiac side-effects, precluding its wide therapeutic application. ERKT188-autophosphorylation was identified to cause pathological cardiac hypertrophy. Here we report that interference with ERK-dimerization, a prerequisite for ERKT188-phosphorylation, minimizes cardiac hypertrophy without inducing cardiac adverse effects: an ERK-dimerization inhibitory peptide (EDI) prevents ERKT188-phosphorylation, nuclear ERK1/2-signaling and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, protecting from pressure-overload-induced heart failure in mice whilst preserving ERK1/2-activity and cytosolic survival signaling. We also examine this alternative ERK1/2-targeting strategy in cancer: indeed, ERKT188-phosphorylation is strongly upregulated in cancer and EDI efficiently suppresses cancer cell proliferation without causing cardiotoxicity. This powerful cardio-safe strategy of interfering with ERK-dimerization thus combats pathological ERK1/2-signaling in heart and cancer, and may potentially expand therapeutic options for ERK1/2-related diseases, such as heart failure and genetic syndromes. Drugs targeting dysregulated ERK1/2 signaling can cause severe cardiac side effects, precluding their wide therapeutic application. Here, a new and cardio-safe targeting strategy is presented that interferes with ERK dimerization to prevent pathological ERK1/2 signaling in the heart and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Tomasovic
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, 97078, Würzburg, Germany.,Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften - ISAS-e.V., 44139, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Theresa Brand
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, 97078, Würzburg, Germany.,Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften - ISAS-e.V., 44139, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Constanze Schanbacher
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, 97078, Würzburg, Germany.,Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften - ISAS-e.V., 44139, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Sofia Kramer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, 97078, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Martin W Hümmert
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, 97078, Würzburg, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Patricio Godoy
- IfADo-Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at the Technical University Dortmund, 44139, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Schmidt-Heck
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology -Hans Knoell Institute-, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Peter Nordbeck
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, 97078, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jonas Ludwig
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Susanne Homann
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, 97078, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Armin Wiegering
- Department of General, Visceral, Transplant, Vascular and Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital of Würzburg, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Timur Shaykhutdinov
- Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften - ISAS-e.V., 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christoph Kratz
- Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften - ISAS-e.V., 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ruth Knüchel
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | | | - Andreas Rosenwald
- Institute of Pathology, University of Würzburg, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Norbert Frey
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Kiel, 24105, Kiel, Germany.,DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Kiel, Germany
| | - Jutta Eichler
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Dobromir Dobrev
- Institute of Pharmacology, West German Heart and Vascular Center, University Duisburg-Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Ali El-Armouche
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, TU Dresden, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jan G Hengstler
- IfADo-Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at the Technical University Dortmund, 44139, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Oliver J Müller
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Kiel, 24105, Kiel, Germany.,DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Kiel, Germany
| | - Karsten Hinrichs
- Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften - ISAS-e.V., 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Friederike Cuello
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, Cardiovascular Research Center, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.,DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Alma Zernecke
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital Würzburg, University of Würzburg, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Kristina Lorenz
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, 97078, Würzburg, Germany. .,Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften - ISAS-e.V., 44139, Dortmund, Germany. .,Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, 97078, Würzburg, Germany.
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12
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Baquedano Lobera I, Izquierdo Álvarez S, Oliván Del Cacho MJ. Rasopathies case report: concurrence of two pathogenic variations de novo in NF1 and KRAS genes in a patient. BMC Pediatr 2019; 19:92. [PMID: 30953504 PMCID: PMC6449997 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-019-1463-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Rasopathies are a group of genetic malformative syndromes including neurofibromatosis 1, Noonan, LEOPARD, Costello, cardio-facio-cutaneous, Legius, and capillary malformation-arteriovenous malformation syndromes. Case presentation We present a female newborn that consulted at the emergency department with refusal to eat and sleepiness. A shortened femur, thickened nucal fold and suspect for agenesis of the corpus callosum were observed in prenatal ultrasound. Her phenotype included hypertelorism, antimongoloid obliquity of the palpebral fissure, prominent forehead, long filtrum, thickened nucal fold, separated nipples, widespread thickened skinfolds and café-au-lait spots. She had a systolic murmur due to pulmonary valve stenosis. The NF1 gene testing found the pathogenic variant p.E2586X (c.7756G > T) in exon 53, not described in any international database or scientific publications yet. Also, a mutation in the Kras gene was detected (p.Val14lle), which is associated with mild Noonan phenotype. Both variations were de novo. Conclusions Not all genes and mutations have already been discovered, so it’s important to document new findings, like our patient’s, to enrich and update the international database and broaden all possible knowledge about rasopathies. This is the first case to be described presenting simultaneously two mutations in Kras and NF1 genes, whose possible synergic effect regarding its pathogenicity is unknown, but could be interesting towards therapeutic alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Baquedano Lobera
- Pediatrics Department, Miguel Servet Children's Hospital, Isabel la Católica Avenue 1-3, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain.
| | - Silvia Izquierdo Álvarez
- Clinical Genetics and Assisted Reproduction, Clinical Biochemistry Department, Miguel Servet Hospital, Padre Arrupe Street, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - María Jesús Oliván Del Cacho
- Neonatology Department, Miguel Servet Children's Hospital, Isabel la Católica Avenue 1-3, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain
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13
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Abstract
Deviations from the precisely coordinated programme of human head development can lead to craniofacial and orofacial malformations often including a variety of dental abnormalities too. Although the aetiology is still unknown in many cases, during the last decades different intracellular signalling pathways have been genetically linked to specific disorders. Among these pathways, the RAS/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signalling cascade is the focus of this review since it encompasses a large group of genes that when mutated cause some of the most common and severe developmental anomalies in humans. We present the components of the RAS/ERK pathway implicated in craniofacial and orodental disorders through a series of human and animal studies. We attempt to unravel the specific molecular targets downstream of ERK that act on particular cell types and regulate key steps in the associated developmental processes. Finally we point to ambiguities in our current knowledge that need to be clarified before RAS/ERK-targeting therapeutic approaches can be implemented.
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14
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Abstract
The MAPK pathway is a prominent intracellular signaling pathway regulating various intracellular functions. Components of this pathway are mutated in a related collection of congenital syndromes collectively referred to as neuro-cardio-facio-cutaneous syndromes (NCFC) or Rasopathies. Recently, it has been appreciated that these disorders are associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In addition, idiopathic ASD has also implicated the MAPK signaling cascade as a common pathway that is affected by many of the genetic variants that have been found to be linked to ASDs. This chapter describes the components of the MAPK pathway and how it is regulated. Furthermore, this chapter will highlight the various functions of the MAPK pathway during both embryonic development of the central nervous system (CNS) and its roles in neuronal physiology and ultimately, behavior. Finally, we will summarize the perturbations to MAPK signaling in various models of autism spectrum disorders and Rasopathies to highlight how dysregulation of this pivotal pathway may contribute to the pathogenesis of autism.
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15
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Tajan M, Paccoud R, Branka S, Edouard T, Yart A. The RASopathy Family: Consequences of Germline Activation of the RAS/MAPK Pathway. Endocr Rev 2018; 39:676-700. [PMID: 29924299 DOI: 10.1210/er.2017-00232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2017] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Noonan syndrome [NS; Mendelian Inheritance in Men (MIM) #163950] and related syndromes [Noonan syndrome with multiple lentigines (formerly called LEOPARD syndrome; MIM #151100), Noonan-like syndrome with loose anagen hair (MIM #607721), Costello syndrome (MIM #218040), cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome (MIM #115150), type I neurofibromatosis (MIM #162200), and Legius syndrome (MIM #611431)] are a group of related genetic disorders associated with distinctive facial features, cardiopathies, growth and skeletal abnormalities, developmental delay/mental retardation, and tumor predisposition. NS was clinically described more than 50 years ago, and disease genes have been identified throughout the last 3 decades, providing a molecular basis to better understand their physiopathology and identify targets for therapeutic strategies. Most of these genes encode proteins belonging to or regulating the so-called RAS/MAPK signaling pathway, so these syndromes have been gathered under the name RASopathies. In this review, we provide a clinical overview of RASopathies and an update on their genetics. We then focus on the functional and pathophysiological effects of RASopathy-causing mutations and discuss therapeutic perspectives and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mylène Tajan
- INSERM UMR 1048, Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases (I2MC), University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Romain Paccoud
- INSERM UMR 1048, Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases (I2MC), University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Sophie Branka
- INSERM UMR 1048, Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases (I2MC), University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Thomas Edouard
- Endocrine, Bone Diseases, and Genetics Unit, Children's Hospital, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - Armelle Yart
- INSERM UMR 1048, Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases (I2MC), University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
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16
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Taguchi YH. Tensor Decomposition-Based Unsupervised Feature Extraction Can Identify the Universal Nature of Sequence-Nonspecific Off-Target Regulation of mRNA Mediated by MicroRNA Transfection. Cells 2018; 7:cells7060054. [PMID: 29867052 PMCID: PMC6025034 DOI: 10.3390/cells7060054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2018] [Revised: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNA (miRNA) transfection is known to degrade target mRNAs and to decrease mRNA expression. In contrast to the notion that most of the gene expression alterations caused by miRNA transfection involve downregulation, they often involve both up- and downregulation; this phenomenon is thought to be, at least partially, mediated by sequence-nonspecific off-target effects. In this study, I used tensor decomposition-based unsupervised feature extraction to identify genes whose expression is likely to be altered by miRNA transfection. These gene sets turned out to largely overlap with one another regardless of the type of miRNA or cell lines used in the experiments. These gene sets also overlap with the gene set associated with altered expression induced by a Dicer knockout. This result suggests that the off-target effect is at least as important as the canonical function of miRNAs that suppress translation. The off-target effect is also suggested to consist of competition for the protein machinery between transfected miRNAs and miRNAs in the cell. Because the identified genes are enriched in various biological terms, these genes are likely to play critical roles in diverse biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y-H Taguchi
- Department of Physics, Chuo University, Tokyo 112-8551, Japan.
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17
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Dard L, Bellance N, Lacombe D, Rossignol R. RAS signalling in energy metabolism and rare human diseases. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOENERGETICS 2018; 1859:845-867. [PMID: 29750912 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2018.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2018] [Revised: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The RAS pathway is a highly conserved cascade of protein-protein interactions and phosphorylation that is at the heart of signalling networks that govern proliferation, differentiation and cell survival. Recent findings indicate that the RAS pathway plays a role in the regulation of energy metabolism via the control of mitochondrial form and function but little is known on the participation of this effect in RAS-related rare human genetic diseases. Germline mutations that hyperactivate the RAS pathway have been discovered and linked to human developmental disorders that are known as RASopathies. Individuals with RASopathies, which are estimated to affect approximately 1/1000 human birth, share many overlapping characteristics, including cardiac malformations, short stature, neurocognitive impairment, craniofacial dysmorphy, cutaneous, musculoskeletal, and ocular abnormalities, hypotonia and a predisposition to developing cancer. Since the identification of the first RASopathy, type 1 neurofibromatosis (NF1), which is caused by the inactivation of neurofibromin 1, several other syndromes have been associated with mutations in the core components of the RAS-MAPK pathway. These syndromes include Noonan syndrome (NS), Noonan syndrome with multiple lentigines (NSML), which was formerly called LEOPARD syndrome, Costello syndrome (CS), cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome (CFC), Legius syndrome (LS) and capillary malformation-arteriovenous malformation syndrome (CM-AVM). Here, we review current knowledge about the bioenergetics of the RASopathies and discuss the molecular control of energy homeostasis and mitochondrial physiology by the RAS pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Dard
- Bordeaux University, 33000 Bordeaux, France; INSERM U1211, 33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - N Bellance
- Bordeaux University, 33000 Bordeaux, France; INSERM U1211, 33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - D Lacombe
- Bordeaux University, 33000 Bordeaux, France; INSERM U1211, 33000 Bordeaux, France; CHU de Bordeaux, Service de Génétique Médicale, F-33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - R Rossignol
- Bordeaux University, 33000 Bordeaux, France; INSERM U1211, 33000 Bordeaux, France; CELLOMET, CGFB-146 Rue Léo Saignat, Bordeaux, France.
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18
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Al-Olabi L, Polubothu S, Dowsett K, Andrews KA, Stadnik P, Joseph AP, Knox R, Pittman A, Clark G, Baird W, Bulstrode N, Glover M, Gordon K, Hargrave D, Huson SM, Jacques TS, James G, Kondolf H, Kangesu L, Keppler-Noreuil KM, Khan A, Lindhurst MJ, Lipson M, Mansour S, O'Hara J, Mahon C, Mosica A, Moss C, Murthy A, Ong J, Parker VE, Rivière JB, Sapp JC, Sebire NJ, Shah R, Sivakumar B, Thomas A, Virasami A, Waelchli R, Zeng Z, Biesecker LG, Barnacle A, Topf M, Semple RK, Patton EE, Kinsler VA. Mosaic RAS/MAPK variants cause sporadic vascular malformations which respond to targeted therapy. J Clin Invest 2018; 128:1496-1508. [PMID: 29461977 PMCID: PMC5873857 DOI: 10.1172/jci98589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 01/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND. Sporadic vascular malformations (VMs) are complex congenital anomalies of blood vessels that lead to stroke, life-threatening bleeds, disfigurement, overgrowth, and/or pain. Therapeutic options are severely limited, and multidisciplinary management remains challenging, particularly for high-flow arteriovenous malformations (AVM). METHODS. To investigate the pathogenesis of sporadic intracranial and extracranial VMs in 160 children in which known genetic causes had been excluded, we sequenced DNA from affected tissue and optimized analysis for detection of low mutant allele frequency. RESULTS. We discovered multiple mosaic-activating variants in 4 genes of the RAS/MAPK pathway, KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, and MAP2K1, a pathway commonly activated in cancer and responsible for the germline RAS-opathies. These variants were more frequent in high-flow than low-flow VMs. In vitro characterization and 2 transgenic zebrafish AVM models that recapitulated the human phenotype validated the pathogenesis of the mutant alleles. Importantly, treatment of AVM-BRAF mutant zebrafish with the BRAF inhibitor vemurafinib restored blood flow in AVM. CONCLUSION. Our findings uncover a major cause of sporadic VMs of different clinical types and thereby offer the potential of personalized medical treatment by repurposing existing licensed cancer therapies. FUNDING. This work was funded or supported by grants from the AVM Butterfly Charity, the Wellcome Trust (UK), the Medical Research Council (UK), the UK National Institute for Health Research, the L’Oreal-Melanoma Research Alliance, the European Research Council, and the National Human Genome Research Institute (US).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Al-Olabi
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine, University College London (UCL) Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Satyamaanasa Polubothu
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine, University College London (UCL) Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom.,Paediatric Dermatology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Katherine Dowsett
- MRC Human Genetics Unit and Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Edinburgh Centre, Medical Research Council (MRC) Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Katrina A Andrews
- Metabolic Research Laboratories, Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,The National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Paulina Stadnik
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine, University College London (UCL) Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Agnel P Joseph
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel Knox
- Metabolic Research Laboratories, Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,The National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Alan Pittman
- Molecular Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Graeme Clark
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - William Baird
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine, University College London (UCL) Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Neil Bulstrode
- Plastic Surgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mary Glover
- Paediatric Dermatology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kristiana Gordon
- Dermatology and Lymphovascular Medicine, St. George's Hospital NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Darren Hargrave
- Paediatric Oncology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Susan M Huson
- Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, St. Mary's Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas S Jacques
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Programme, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and Department of Histopathology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gregory James
- Paediatric Neurosurgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hannah Kondolf
- National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Loshan Kangesu
- Plastic Surgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Amjad Khan
- Paediatric Dermatology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Mark Lipson
- Paediatrics and Clinical Genetics, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Sahar Mansour
- Clinical Genetics, St. George's Hospital NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Justine O'Hara
- Plastic Surgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline Mahon
- Paediatric Dermatology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anda Mosica
- Paediatric Dermatology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Celia Moss
- Paediatric Dermatology, Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust Birmingham and University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Aditi Murthy
- Paediatric Dermatology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Juling Ong
- Plastic Surgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Victoria E Parker
- Metabolic Research Laboratories, Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,The National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Julie C Sapp
- National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Neil J Sebire
- Paediatric Pathology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rahul Shah
- Plastic Surgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Branavan Sivakumar
- Plastic Surgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Thomas
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine, University College London (UCL) Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alex Virasami
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Programme, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and Department of Histopathology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Regula Waelchli
- Paediatric Dermatology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Zhiqiang Zeng
- MRC Human Genetics Unit and Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Edinburgh Centre, Medical Research Council (MRC) Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | | | - Alex Barnacle
- Interventional Radiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maya Topf
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robert K Semple
- Metabolic Research Laboratories, Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,The National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,University of Edinburgh Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - E Elizabeth Patton
- MRC Human Genetics Unit and Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Edinburgh Centre, Medical Research Council (MRC) Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Veronica A Kinsler
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine, University College London (UCL) Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom.,Paediatric Dermatology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
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19
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van Boxtel AL, Economou AD, Heliot C, Hill CS. Long-Range Signaling Activation and Local Inhibition Separate the Mesoderm and Endoderm Lineages. Dev Cell 2018; 44:179-191.e5. [PMID: 29275993 PMCID: PMC5791662 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2017.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Revised: 10/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Specification of the three germ layers by graded Nodal signaling has long been seen as a paradigm for patterning through a single morphogen gradient. However, by exploiting the unique properties of the zebrafish embryo to capture the dynamics of signaling and cell fate allocation, we now demonstrate that Nodal functions in an incoherent feedforward loop, together with Fgf, to determine the pattern of endoderm and mesoderm specification. We show that Nodal induces long-range Fgf signaling while simultaneously inducing the cell-autonomous Fgf signaling inhibitor Dusp4 within the first two cell tiers from the margin. The consequent attenuation of Fgf signaling in these cells allows specification of endoderm progenitors, while the cells further from the margin, which receive Nodal and/or Fgf signaling, are specified as mesoderm. This elegant model demonstrates the necessity of feedforward and feedback interactions between multiple signaling pathways for providing cells with temporal and positional information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonius L van Boxtel
- Developmental Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Andrew D Economou
- Developmental Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Claire Heliot
- Developmental Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Caroline S Hill
- Developmental Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK.
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20
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Impaired Osteogenesis of Disease-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived from a CFC Syndrome Patient. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18122591. [PMID: 29194391 PMCID: PMC5751194 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18122591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Revised: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiofaciocutaneous (CFC) syndrome is a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling. However, little is known about how aberrant ERK signaling is associated with the defective bone development manifested in most CFC syndrome patients. In this study, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were generated from dermal fibroblasts of a CFC syndrome patient having rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma kinase B (BRAF) gain-of-function mutation. CFC-iPSCs were differentiated into mesenchymal stem cells (CFC-MSCs) and further induced to osteoblasts in vitro. The osteogenic defects of CFC-MSCs were revealed by alkaline phosphatase activity assay, mineralization assay, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and western blotting. Osteogenesis of CFC-MSCs was attenuated compared to wild-type (WT)-MSCs. In addition to activated ERK signaling, increased p-SMAD2 and decreased p-SMAD1 were observed in CFC-MSCs during osteogenesis. The defective osteogenesis of CFC-MSCs was rescued by inhibition of ERK signaling and SMAD2 signaling or activation of SMAD1 signaling. Importantly, activation of ERK signaling and SMAD2 signaling or inhibition of SMAD1 signaling recapitulated the impaired osteogenesis in WT-MSCs. Our findings indicate that SMAD2 signaling and SMAD1 signaling as well as ERK signaling are responsible for defective early bone development in CFC syndrome, providing a novel insight on the pathological mechanism and therapeutic targets.
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21
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Yeh CC, Fan Y, Yang YL, Mann MJ. Atrial ERK1/2 activation in the embryo leads to incomplete Septal closure: a novel mouse model of atrial Septal defect. J Biomed Sci 2017; 24:89. [PMID: 29178881 PMCID: PMC5702213 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-017-0392-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background MEK1 mutation and activated MAPK signaling has been found in patients with RASopathies and abnormal cardiac development. Previous studies have suggested that regulation of fetal MAPK signaling is essential for normal cardiac development. We investigated the effect of active MEK1 overexpression on fetal atrial septal development. Methods and results An inducible double transgenic (DTg) mouse model was developed in which cardiac-specific fetal expression of a constitutively active form of human MEK1 (aMEK1) was induced primarily in the atrium via the withdrawal of doxycycline from the drinking water of pregnant mice. Atrial septal defect (ASD) was found in 51% (23/45) of DTg mice. Fifty-two percent (12/23) of ASD mice died before weaning, and surviving ASD mice exhibited hypertrophic hearts with enlarged right atria and decreased fractional shorting (40 ± 2% vs. 48 ± 0%, p < 0.05). The model mimicked human ASD in several key clinical features: severe ASD was associated with growth impairment; ASD-specific mortality was highest within the early postnatal period; despite an even distribution of ASD among the sexes, early mortality was significantly higher in males. The expression of aMEK1 and increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2 was documented via Western blot in DTg fetal hearts, with the largest increases seen in atrial tissue. In an alternative transgenic aMEK1 model with elevated atrial MKP3 expression and corresponding suppression of increases in ERK1/2 phosphorylation, animals did not develop ASD. Conclusion This new model of ASD suggests that enhanced atrial MEK1-ERK1/2 signaling during fetal development disrupts normal atrial septation, possibly regulated by the balance of ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12929-017-0392-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Che-Chung Yeh
- Cardiothoracic Translational Research Laboratory, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Yanying Fan
- Cardiothoracic Translational Research Laboratory, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Yi-Lin Yang
- Cardiothoracic Translational Research Laboratory, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Michael J Mann
- Cardiothoracic Translational Research Laboratory, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. .,Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, 500 Parnassus Avenue, Suite W420, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
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22
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Suppression of RAC1-driven malignant melanoma by group A PAK inhibitors. Oncogene 2017; 37:944-952. [PMID: 29059171 PMCID: PMC5814328 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2017.400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2017] [Revised: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Activating mutations in the RAC1 gene have recently been discovered as driver events in malignant melanoma. Expression of this gene is associated with melanocyte proliferation, and melanoma cells bearing this mutation are insensitive to BRAF inhibitors such as vemurafenib and dabrafenib, and also may evade immune surveillance due to enhanced expression of PD-L1. Activating mutations in RAC1 are of special interest, as small molecule inhibitors for the RAC effector p21-activated kinase (PAK) are in late-stage clinical development and might impede oncogenic signaling from mutant RAC1. In this work, we explore the effects of PAK inhibition on RAC1P29S signaling in zebrafish embryonic development, in the proliferation, survival, and motility of RAC1P29S-mutant human melanoma cells, and on tumor formation and progression from such cells in mice. We report that RAC1P29S evokes a Rasopathy-like phenotype on zebrafish development that can be blocked by inhibitors of PAK or MEK. We also found and that RAC1 mutant human melanoma cells are resistant to clinical inhibitors of BRAF but are uniquely sensitive to PAK inhibitors. These data suggest that suppressing the PAK pathway might be of therapeutic benefit in this type of melanoma.
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23
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Jindal GA, Goyal Y, Humphreys JM, Yeung E, Tian K, Patterson VL, He H, Burdine RD, Goldsmith EJ, Shvartsman SY. How activating mutations affect MEK1 regulation and function. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:18814-18820. [PMID: 29018093 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.c117.806067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2017] [Revised: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The MEK1 kinase directly phosphorylates ERK2, after the activation loop of MEK1 is itself phosphorylated by Raf. Studies over the past decade have revealed a large number of disease-related mutations in the MEK1 gene that lead to tumorigenesis and abnormal development. Several of these mutations result in MEK1 constitutive activity, but how they affect MEK1 regulation and function remains largely unknown. Here, we address these questions focusing on two pathogenic variants of the Phe-53 residue, which maps to the well-characterized negative regulatory region of MEK1. We found that these variants are phosphorylated by Raf faster than the wild-type enzyme, and this phosphorylation further increases their enzymatic activity. However, the maximal activities of fully phosphorylated wild-type and mutant enzymes are indistinguishable. On the basis of available structural information, we propose that the activating substitutions destabilize the inactive conformation of MEK1, resulting in its constitutive activity and making it more prone to Raf-mediated phosphorylation. Experiments in zebrafish revealed that the effects of activating variants on embryonic development reflect the joint control of the negative regulatory region and activating phosphorylation. Our results underscore the complexity of the effects of activating mutations on signaling systems, even at the level of a single protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Granton A Jindal
- From the Departments of Chemical and Biological Engineering and.,Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544 and.,Molecular Biology
| | - Yogesh Goyal
- From the Departments of Chemical and Biological Engineering and.,Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544 and.,Molecular Biology
| | - John M Humphreys
- the Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas 75390-8816
| | - Eyan Yeung
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544 and.,Molecular Biology
| | - Kaijia Tian
- From the Departments of Chemical and Biological Engineering and.,Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544 and
| | - Victoria L Patterson
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544 and.,Molecular Biology
| | - Haixia He
- the Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas 75390-8816
| | | | - Elizabeth J Goldsmith
- the Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas 75390-8816
| | - Stanislav Y Shvartsman
- From the Departments of Chemical and Biological Engineering and .,Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544 and.,Molecular Biology
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24
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Liu J, Hemphill J, Samanta S, Tsang M, Deiters A. Genetic Code Expansion in Zebrafish Embryos and Its Application to Optical Control of Cell Signaling. J Am Chem Soc 2017; 139:9100-9103. [PMID: 28657738 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b02145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Site-specific incorporation of unnatural amino acids into proteins provides a powerful tool to study protein function. Here we report genetic code expansion in zebrafish embryos and its application to the optogenetic control of cell signaling. We genetically encoded four unnatural amino acids with a diverse set of functional groups, which included a photocaged lysine that was applied to the light-activation of luciferase and kinase activity. This approach enables versatile manipulation of protein function in live zebrafish embryos, a transparent and commonly used model organism to study embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihe Liu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - James Hemphill
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Subhas Samanta
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Michael Tsang
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Alexander Deiters
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
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25
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In vivo severity ranking of Ras pathway mutations associated with developmental disorders. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:510-515. [PMID: 28049852 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1615651114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Germ-line mutations in components of the Ras/MAPK pathway result in developmental disorders called RASopathies, affecting about 1/1,000 human births. Rapid advances in genome sequencing make it possible to identify multiple disease-related mutations, but there is currently no systematic framework for translating this information into patient-specific predictions of disease progression. As a first step toward addressing this issue, we developed a quantitative, inexpensive, and rapid framework that relies on the early zebrafish embryo to assess mutational effects on a common scale. Using this assay, we assessed 16 mutations reported in MEK1, a MAPK kinase, and provide a robust ranking of these mutations. We find that mutations found in cancer are more severe than those found in both RASopathies and cancer, which, in turn, are generally more severe than those found only in RASopathies. Moreover, this rank is conserved in other zebrafish embryonic assays and Drosophila-specific embryonic and adult assays, suggesting that our ranking reflects the intrinsic property of the mutant molecule. Furthermore, this rank is predictive of the drug dose needed to correct the defects. This assay can be readily used to test the strengths of existing and newly found mutations in MEK1 and other pathway components, providing the first step in the development of rational guidelines for patient-specific diagnostics and treatment of RASopathies.
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26
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Grant MG, Patterson VL, Grimes DT, Burdine RD. Modeling Syndromic Congenital Heart Defects in Zebrafish. Curr Top Dev Biol 2017; 124:1-40. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2016.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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27
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Zhong J. RAS and downstream RAF-MEK and PI3K-AKT signaling in neuronal development, function and dysfunction. Biol Chem 2016; 397:215-22. [PMID: 26760308 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2015-0270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2015] [Accepted: 01/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In postmitotic neurons, the activation of RAS family small GTPases regulates survival, growth and differentiation. Dysregulation of RAS or its major effector pathway, the cascade of RAF-, mitogen-activated and extracellular-signal regulated kinase kinases (MEK), and extracellular-signal regulated kinases (ERK) causes the RASopathies, a group of neurodevelopmental disorders whose pathogenic mechanisms are the subject of intense research. I here summarize the functions of RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK signaling in neurons in vivo, and discuss perspectives for harnessing this pathway to enable novel treatments for nervous system injury, the RASopathies, and possibly other neurological conditions.
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28
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Jindal GA, Goyal Y, Burdine RD, Rauen KA, Shvartsman SY. RASopathies: unraveling mechanisms with animal models. Dis Model Mech 2016. [PMID: 26203125 PMCID: PMC4527292 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.020339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
RASopathies are developmental disorders caused by germline mutations in the Ras-MAPK pathway, and are characterized by a broad spectrum of functional and morphological abnormalities. The high incidence of these disorders (∼1/1000 births) motivates the development of systematic approaches for their efficient diagnosis and potential treatment. Recent advances in genome sequencing have greatly facilitated the genotyping and discovery of mutations in affected individuals, but establishing the causal relationships between molecules and disease phenotypes is non-trivial and presents both technical and conceptual challenges. Here, we discuss how these challenges could be addressed using genetically modified model organisms that have been instrumental in delineating the Ras-MAPK pathway and its roles during development. Focusing on studies in mice, zebrafish and Drosophila, we provide an up-to-date review of animal models of RASopathies at the molecular and functional level. We also discuss how increasingly sophisticated techniques of genetic engineering can be used to rigorously connect changes in specific components of the Ras-MAPK pathway with observed functional and morphological phenotypes. Establishing these connections is essential for advancing our understanding of RASopathies and for devising rational strategies for their management and treatment. Summary: Developmental disorders caused by germline mutations in the Ras-MAPK pathway are called RASopathies. Studies with animal models, including mice, zebrafish and Drosophila, continue to enhance our understanding of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Granton A Jindal
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Yogesh Goyal
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Rebecca D Burdine
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Katherine A Rauen
- Department of Pediatrics, MIND Institute, Division of Genomic Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Stanislav Y Shvartsman
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
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29
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Han KM, Kim SK, Kim D, Choi JY, Im I, Hwang KS, Kim CH, Lee BH, Yoo HW, Han YM. Enhanced SMAD1 Signaling Contributes to Impairments of Early Development in CFC-iPSCs. Stem Cells 2016; 33:1447-55. [PMID: 25639853 DOI: 10.1002/stem.1963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2014] [Accepted: 01/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Cardio-facio-cutaneous (CFC) syndrome is a developmental disorder caused by constitutively active ERK signaling manifesting mainly from BRAF mutations. Little is known about the role of elevated ERK signaling in CFC syndrome during early development. Here, we show that both SMAD1 and ERK signaling pathways may contribute to the developmental defects in CFC syndrome. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from dermal fibroblasts of a CFC syndrome patient (CFC-iPSCs) revealed early developmental defects in embryoid body (EB) development, β-catenin localization, and neuronal differentiation. Both SMAD1 and ERK signalings were significantly activated in CFC-iPSCs during EB formation. Most of the β-catenin was dissociated from the membrane and preferentially localized into the nucleus in CFC-EBs. Furthermore, activation of SMAD1 signaling recapitulated early developmental defects in wild-type iPSCs. Intriguingly, inhibition of SMAD1 signaling in CFC-iPSCs rescued aberrant EB morphology, impaired neuronal differentiation, and altered β-catenin localization. These results suggest that SMAD1 signaling may be a key pathway contributing the pathogenesis of CFC syndrome during early development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyu-Min Han
- Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Stem Cell Differentiation, KAIST, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
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30
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Moriya M, Inoue SI, Miyagawa-Tomita S, Nakashima Y, Oba D, Niihori T, Hashi M, Ohnishi H, Kure S, Matsubara Y, Aoki Y. Adult mice expressing a Braf Q241R mutation on an ICR/CD-1 background exhibit a cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome phenotype. Hum Mol Genet 2015; 24:7349-60. [PMID: 26472072 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddv435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Activation of the RAS pathway has been implicated in oncogenesis and developmental disorders called RASopathies. Germline mutations in BRAF have been identified in 50-75% of patients with cardio-facio-cutaneous (CFC) syndrome, which is characterized by congenital heart defects, distinctive facial features, short stature and ectodermal abnormalities. We recently demonstrated that mice expressing a Braf Q241R mutation, which corresponds to the most frequent BRAF mutation (Q257R) in CFC syndrome, on a C57BL/6J background are embryonic/neonatal lethal, with multiple congenital defects, preventing us from analyzing the phenotypic consequences after birth. Here, to further explore the pathogenesis of CFC syndrome, we backcrossed these mice onto a BALB/c or ICR/CD-1 genetic background. On a mixed (BALB/c and C57BL/6J) background, all heterozygous Braf(Q241R/+) mice died between birth and 24 weeks and exhibited growth retardation, sparse and ruffled fur, liver necrosis and atrial septal defects (ASDs). In contrast, 31% of the heterozygous Braf(Q241R/+) ICR mice survived over 74 weeks. The surviving Braf(Q241R/+) ICR mice exhibited growth retardation, sparse and ruffled fur, a hunched appearance, craniofacial dysmorphism, long and/or dystrophic nails, extra digits and ovarian cysts. The Braf(Q241R/+) ICR mice also showed learning deficits in the contextual fear-conditioning test. Echocardiography indicated the presence of pulmonary stenosis and ASDs in the Braf(Q241R/+) ICR mice, which were confirmed by histological analysis. These data suggest that the heterozygous Braf(Q241R/+) ICR mice show similar phenotypes as CFC syndrome after birth and will be useful for elucidating the pathogenesis and potential therapeutic strategies for RASopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sachiko Miyagawa-Tomita
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Division of Cardiovascular Development and Differentiation, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasumi Nakashima
- Department of Pediatrics, Seirei Hamamatsu General Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan
| | | | | | - Misato Hashi
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Gunma, Japan and
| | - Hiroshi Ohnishi
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Gunma, Japan and
| | - Shigeo Kure
- Department of Pediatrics, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yoichi Matsubara
- Department of Medical Genetics and National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
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31
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Goodwin AF, Kim R, Bush JO, Klein OD. From Bench to Bedside and Back: Improving Diagnosis and Treatment of Craniofacial Malformations Utilizing Animal Models. Curr Top Dev Biol 2015; 115:459-92. [PMID: 26589935 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2015.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Craniofacial anomalies are among the most common birth defects and are associated with increased mortality and, in many cases, the need for lifelong treatment. Over the past few decades, dramatic advances in the surgical and medical care of these patients have led to marked improvements in patient outcomes. However, none of the treatments currently in clinical use address the underlying molecular causes of these disorders. Fortunately, the field of craniofacial developmental biology provides a strong foundation for improved diagnosis and for therapies that target the genetic causes of birth defects. In this chapter, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the embryology of craniofacial conditions, and we focus on the use of animal models to guide rational therapies anchored in genetics and biochemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice F Goodwin
- Program in Craniofacial Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA; Department of Orofacial Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Rebecca Kim
- Program in Craniofacial Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA; Department of Orofacial Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Jeffrey O Bush
- Program in Craniofacial Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA; Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA; Institute for Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
| | - Ophir D Klein
- Program in Craniofacial Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA; Department of Orofacial Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA; Institute for Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
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32
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Abstract
The formation of the face and skull involves a complex series of developmental events mediated by cells derived from the neural crest, endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm. Although vertebrates boast an enormous diversity of adult facial morphologies, the fundamental signaling pathways and cellular events that sculpt the nascent craniofacial skeleton in the embryo have proven to be highly conserved from fish to man. The zebrafish Danio rerio, a small freshwater cyprinid fish from eastern India, has served as a popular model of craniofacial development since the 1990s. Unique strengths of the zebrafish model include a simplified skeleton during larval stages, access to rapidly developing embryos for live imaging, and amenability to transgenesis and complex genetics. In this chapter, we describe the anatomy of the zebrafish craniofacial skeleton; its applications as models for the mammalian jaw, middle ear, palate, and cranial sutures; the superior imaging technology available in fish that has provided unprecedented insights into the dynamics of facial morphogenesis; the use of the zebrafish to decipher the genetic underpinnings of craniofacial biology; and finally a glimpse into the most promising future applications of zebrafish craniofacial research.
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33
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Lundegaard PR, Anastasaki C, Grant NJ, Sillito RR, Zich J, Zeng Z, Paranthaman K, Larsen AP, Armstrong JD, Porteous DJ, Patton EE. MEK Inhibitors Reverse cAMP-Mediated Anxiety in Zebrafish. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 22:1335-46. [PMID: 26388333 PMCID: PMC4623357 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2015.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2015] [Revised: 08/11/2015] [Accepted: 08/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Altered phosphodiesterase (PDE)-cyclic AMP (cAMP) activity is frequently associated with anxiety disorders, but current therapies act by reducing neuronal excitability rather than targeting PDE-cAMP-mediated signaling pathways. Here, we report the novel repositioning of anti-cancer MEK inhibitors as anxiolytics in a zebrafish model of anxiety-like behaviors. PDE inhibitors or activators of adenylate cyclase cause behaviors consistent with anxiety in larvae and adult zebrafish. Small-molecule screening identifies MEK inhibitors as potent suppressors of cAMP anxiety behaviors in both larvae and adult zebrafish, while causing no anxiolytic behavioral effects on their own. The mechanism underlying cAMP-induced anxiety is via crosstalk to activation of the RAS-MAPK signaling pathway. We propose that targeting crosstalk signaling pathways can be an effective strategy for mental health disorders, and advance the repositioning of MEK inhibitors as behavior stabilizers in the context of increased cAMP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia R Lundegaard
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK; Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK; Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK; Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Danish National Research Foundation Centre for Cardiac Arrhythmia, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Corina Anastasaki
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK; Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK; Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Nicola J Grant
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK; Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Rowland R Sillito
- Actual Analytics Ltd, 2.05 Wilkie Building, 22-23 Teviot Row, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK
| | - Judith Zich
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK; Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK; Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Zhiqiang Zeng
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK; Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK; Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Karthika Paranthaman
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK; Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK; Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Anders Peter Larsen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Danish National Research Foundation Centre for Cardiac Arrhythmia, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - J Douglas Armstrong
- Actual Analytics Ltd, 2.05 Wilkie Building, 22-23 Teviot Row, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK; School of Informatics, Institute for Adaptive and Neural Computation, Informatics Forum, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AB, UK
| | - David J Porteous
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK; Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK.
| | - E Elizabeth Patton
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK; Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK; Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK.
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34
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Koenighofer M, Hung CY, McCauley JL, Dallman J, Back EJ, Mihalek I, Gripp KW, Sol-Church K, Rusconi P, Zhang Z, Shi GX, Andres DA, Bodamer OA. Mutations in RIT1 cause Noonan syndrome - additional functional evidence and expanding the clinical phenotype. Clin Genet 2015; 89:359-66. [PMID: 25959749 DOI: 10.1111/cge.12608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2015] [Revised: 04/05/2015] [Accepted: 05/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
RASopathies are a clinically heterogeneous group of conditions caused by mutations in 1 of 16 proteins in the RAS-mitogen activated protein kinase (RAS-MAPK) pathway. Recently, mutations in RIT1 were identified as a novel cause for Noonan syndrome. Here we provide additional functional evidence for a causal role of RIT1 mutations and expand the associated phenotypic spectrum. We identified two de novo missense variants p.Met90Ile and p.Ala57Gly. Both variants resulted in increased MEK-ERK signaling compared to wild-type, underscoring gain-of-function as the primary functional mechanism. Introduction of p.Met90Ile and p.Ala57Gly into zebrafish embryos reproduced not only aspects of the human phenotype but also revealed abnormalities of eye development, emphasizing the importance of RIT1 for spatial and temporal organization of the growing organism. In addition, we observed severe lymphedema of the lower extremity and genitalia in one patient. We provide additional evidence for a causal relationship between pathogenic mutations in RIT1, increased RAS-MAPK/MEK-ERK signaling and the clinical phenotype. The mutant RIT1 protein may possess reduced GTPase activity or a diminished ability to interact with cellular GTPase activating proteins; however the precise mechanism remains unknown. The phenotypic spectrum is likely to expand and includes lymphedema of the lower extremities in addition to nuchal hygroma.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Koenighofer
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - C Y Hung
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - J L McCauley
- Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - J Dallman
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - E J Back
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - I Mihalek
- Bioinformatics Institute A*STAR Singapore, Singapore
| | - K W Gripp
- Division of Medical Genetics, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA
| | - K Sol-Church
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - P Rusconi
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Z Zhang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - G-X Shi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - D A Andres
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - O A Bodamer
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Kelly ML, Astsaturov A, Rhodes J, Chernoff J. A Pak1/Erk signaling module acts through Gata6 to regulate cardiovascular development in zebrafish. Dev Cell 2014; 29:350-9. [PMID: 24823378 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2014.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2013] [Revised: 01/31/2014] [Accepted: 04/01/2014] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Proper neural crest development and migration is critical during embryonic development, but the molecular mechanisms regulating this process remain incompletely understood. Here, we show that the protein kinase Erk, which plays a central role in a number of key developmental processes in vertebrates, is regulated in the developing neural crest by p21-activated protein kinase 1 (Pak1). Furthermore, we show that activated Erk signals by phosphorylating the transcription factor Gata6 on a conserved serine residue to promote neural crest migration and proper formation of craniofacial structures, pigment cells, and the outflow tract of the heart. Our data suggest an essential role for Pak1 as an Erk activator, and Gata6 as an Erk target, during neural crest development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mollie L Kelly
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
| | - Artyom Astsaturov
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Jennifer Rhodes
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Jonathan Chernoff
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA.
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Chang WN, Lee GH, Kao TT, Lin CY, Hsiao TH, Tsai JN, Chen BH, Chen YH, Wu HR, Tsai HJ, Fu TF. Knocking down 10-Formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase increased oxidative stress and impeded zebrafish embryogenesis by obstructing morphogenetic movement. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2014; 1840:2340-50. [PMID: 24747731 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2014.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2014] [Revised: 03/25/2014] [Accepted: 04/09/2014] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Folate is an essential nutrient for cell survival and embryogenesis. 10-Formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (FDH) is the most abundant folate enzyme in folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism. 10-Formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase converts 10-formyltetrahydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate and CO2, the only pathway responsible for formate oxidation in methanol intoxication. 10-Formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase has been considered a potential chemotherapeutic target because it was down-regulated in cancer cells. However, the normal physiological significance of 10-Formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase is not completely understood, hampering the development of therapeutic drug/regimen targeting 10-Formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase. METHODS 10-Formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase expression in zebrafish embryos was knocked-down using morpholino oligonucleotides. The morphological and biochemical characteristics of fdh morphants were examined using specific dye staining and whole-mount in-situ hybridization. Embryonic folate contents were determined by HPLC. RESULTS The expression of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase was consistent in whole embryos during early embryogenesis and became tissue-specific in later stages. Knocking-down fdh impeded morphogenetic movement and caused incorrect cardiac positioning, defective hematopoiesis, notochordmalformation and ultimate death of morphants. Obstructed F-actin polymerization and delayed epiboly were observed in fdh morphants. These abnormalities were reversed either by adding tetrahydrofolate or antioxidant or by co-injecting the mRNA encoding 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase N-terminal domain, supporting the anti-oxidative activity of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase and the in vivo function of tetrahydrofolate conservation for 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase N-terminal domain. CONCLUSIONS 10-Formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase functioned in conserving the unstable tetrahydrofolate and contributing to the intracellular anti-oxidative capacity of embryos, which was crucial in promoting proper cell migration during embryogenesis. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE These newly reported tetrahydrofolate conserving and anti-oxidative activities of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase shall be important for unraveling 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase biological significance and the drug development targeting 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Ni Chang
- Institute of Basic Medical Science and Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Gang-Hui Lee
- Institute of Basic Medical Science and Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Tseng-Ting Kao
- Institute of Basic Medical Science and Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Cha-Ying Lin
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Tsun-Hsien Hsiao
- Institute of Basic Medical Science and Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Jen-Ning Tsai
- School of Medical Laboratory and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Bing-Hung Chen
- Department of Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kao;hsiung 807, Taiwan
| | - Yau-Hung Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Tamkang University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Ru Wu
- Department of Chemistry, Tamkang University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Huai-Jen Tsai
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Fun Fu
- Institute of Basic Medical Science and Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan; Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan.
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Goodwin AF, Tidyman WE, Jheon AH, Sharir A, Zheng X, Charles C, Fagin JA, McMahon M, Diekwisch TGH, Ganss B, Rauen KA, Klein OD. Abnormal Ras signaling in Costello syndrome (CS) negatively regulates enamel formation. Hum Mol Genet 2013; 23:682-92. [PMID: 24057668 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddt455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
RASopathies are syndromes caused by gain-of-function mutations in the Ras signaling pathway. One of these conditions, Costello syndrome (CS), is typically caused by an activating de novo germline mutation in HRAS and is characterized by a wide range of cardiac, musculoskeletal, dermatological and developmental abnormalities. We report that a majority of individuals with CS have hypo-mineralization of enamel, the outer covering of teeth, and that similar defects are present in a CS mouse model. Comprehensive analysis of the mouse model revealed that ameloblasts, the cells that generate enamel, lacked polarity, and the ameloblast progenitor cells were hyperproliferative. Ras signals through two main effector cascades, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) pathways. To determine through which pathway Ras affects enamel formation, inhibitors targeting either PI3K or MEK 1 and 2 (MEK 1/2), kinases in the MAPK pathway, were utilized. MEK1/2 inhibition rescued the hypo-mineralized enamel, normalized the ameloblast polarity defect and restored normal progenitor cell proliferation. In contrast, PI3K inhibition only corrected the progenitor cell proliferation phenotype. We demonstrate for the first time the central role of Ras signaling in enamel formation in CS individuals and present the mouse incisor as a model system to dissect the roles of the Ras effector pathways in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice F Goodwin
- Department of Orofacial Sciences and Program in Craniofacial and Mesenchymal Biology
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Abstract
The RASopathies are a clinically defined group of medical genetic syndromes caused by germline mutations in genes that encode components or regulators of the Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. These disorders include neurofibromatosis type 1, Noonan syndrome, Noonan syndrome with multiple lentigines, capillary malformation-arteriovenous malformation syndrome, Costello syndrome, cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome, and Legius syndrome. Because of the common underlying Ras/MAPK pathway dysregulation, the RASopathies exhibit numerous overlapping phenotypic features. The Ras/MAPK pathway plays an essential role in regulating the cell cycle and cellular growth, differentiation, and senescence, all of which are critical to normal development. Therefore, it is not surprising that Ras/MAPK pathway dysregulation has profound deleterious effects on both embryonic and later stages of development. The Ras/MAPK pathway has been well studied in cancer and is an attractive target for small-molecule inhibition to treat various malignancies. The use of these molecules to ameliorate developmental defects in the RASopathies is under consideration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Rauen
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, and Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, California 94115;
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39
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Goodwin AF, Oberoi S, Landan M, Charles C, Groth J, Martinez A, Fairley C, Weiss LA, Tidyman WE, Klein OD, Rauen KA. Craniofacial and dental development in cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome: the importance of Ras signaling homeostasis. Clin Genet 2012; 83:539-44. [PMID: 22946697 DOI: 10.1111/cge.12005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2012] [Revised: 08/27/2012] [Accepted: 08/27/2012] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome (CFC) is a RASopathy that is characterized by craniofacial, dermatologic, gastrointestinal, ocular, cardiac, and neurologic anomalies. CFC is caused by activating mutations in the Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway that is downstream of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling. RTK signaling is known to play a central role in craniofacial and dental development, but to date, no studies have systematically examined individuals with CFC to define key craniofacial and dental features. To fill this critical gap in our knowledge, we evaluated the craniofacial and dental phenotype of a large cohort (n = 32) of CFC individuals who attended the 2009 and 2011 CFC International Family Conferences. We quantified common craniofacial features in CFC which include macrocephaly, bitemporal narrowing, convex facial profile, and hypoplastic supraorbital ridges. In addition, there is a characteristic dental phenotype in CFC syndrome that includes malocclusion with open bite, posterior crossbite, and a high-arched palate. This thorough evaluation of the craniofacial and dental phenotype in CFC individuals provides a step forward in our understanding of the role of RTK/MAPK signaling in human craniofacial development and will aid clinicians who treat patients with CFC.
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Affiliation(s)
- A F Goodwin
- Department of Orofacial Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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