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De Mori R, Tardivo S, Pollara L, Giliani SC, Ali E, Giordano L, Leuzzi V, Fischetto R, Gener B, Diprima S, Morelli MJ, Monti MC, Sottile V, Valente EM. Joubert syndrome-derived induced pluripotent stem cells show altered neuronal differentiation in vitro. Cell Tissue Res 2024; 396:255-267. [PMID: 38502237 PMCID: PMC11055696 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-024-03876-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Joubert syndrome (JS) is a recessively inherited congenital ataxia characterized by hypotonia, psychomotor delay, abnormal ocular movements, intellectual disability, and a peculiar cerebellar and brainstem malformation, the "molar tooth sign." Over 40 causative genes have been reported, all encoding for proteins implicated in the structure or functioning of the primary cilium, a subcellular organelle widely present in embryonic and adult tissues. In this paper, we developed an in vitro neuronal differentiation model using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), to evaluate possible neurodevelopmental defects in JS. To this end, iPSCs from four JS patients harboring mutations in distinct JS genes (AHI1, CPLANE1, TMEM67, and CC2D2A) were differentiated alongside healthy control cells to obtain mid-hindbrain precursors and cerebellar granule cells. Differentiation was monitored over 31 days through the detection of lineage-specific marker expression by qRT-PCR, immunofluorescence, and transcriptomics analysis. All JS patient-derived iPSCs, regardless of the mutant gene, showed a similar impairment to differentiate into mid-hindbrain and cerebellar granule cells when compared to healthy controls. In addition, analysis of primary cilium count and morphology showed notable ciliary defects in all differentiating JS patient-derived iPSCs compared to controls. These results confirm that patient-derived iPSCs are an accessible and relevant in vitro model to analyze cellular phenotypes connected to the presence of JS gene mutations in a neuronal context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta De Mori
- Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Unit, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Tardivo
- Neurogenetics Lab, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Lidia Pollara
- Neurogenetics Research Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Silvia Clara Giliani
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Eltahir Ali
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Lucio Giordano
- Paediatric Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Spedali Civili Children's Hospital, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Leuzzi
- Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Department of Human Neuroscience, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Fischetto
- Clinical Genetics Unit, Department of Pediatric Medicine, XXIII Children's Hospital, Bari, Giovanni, Italy
| | - Blanca Gener
- Department of Genetics, Cruces University Hospital, BioBizkaia Health Research Institute, 48903 Barakaldo, Cruces PlazaBizkaia, Spain
| | - Santo Diprima
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Maria Cristina Monti
- Unit of Biostatistics and Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Virginie Sottile
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Enza Maria Valente
- Neurogenetics Research Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy.
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
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2
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Clupper M, Gill R, Elsayyid M, Touroutine D, Caplan JL, Tanis JE. Kinesin-2 motors differentially impact biogenesis of extracellular vesicle subpopulations shed from sensory cilia. iScience 2022; 25:105262. [PMID: 36304122 PMCID: PMC9593189 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are bioactive lipid-bilayer enclosed particles released from nearly all cells. One specialized site for EV shedding is the primary cilium. Here, we discover the conserved ion channel CLHM-1 as a ciliary EV cargo. Imaging of EVs released from sensory neuron cilia of Caenorhabditis elegans expressing fluorescently tagged CLHM-1 and TRP polycystin-2 channel PKD-2 shows enrichment of these cargoes in distinct EV subpopulations that are differentially shed in response to mating partner availability. PKD-2 alone is present in EVs shed from the cilium distal tip, whereas CLHM-1 EVs bud from a secondary site(s), including the ciliary base. Heterotrimeric and homodimeric kinesin-2 motors have discrete impacts on PKD-2 and CLHM-1 colocalization in both cilia and EVs. Total loss of kinesin-2 activity decreases shedding of PKD-2 but not CLHM-1 EVs. Our data demonstrate that anterograde intraflagellar transport is required for selective enrichment of protein cargoes into heterogeneous EVs with different signaling potentials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Clupper
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Rachael Gill
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Malek Elsayyid
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Denis Touroutine
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Jeffrey L. Caplan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Jessica E. Tanis
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
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3
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Mew M, Caldwell KA, Caldwell GA. From bugs to bedside: functional annotation of human genetic variation for neurological disorders using invertebrate models. Hum Mol Genet 2022; 31:R37-R46. [PMID: 35994032 PMCID: PMC9585664 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The exponential accumulation of DNA sequencing data has opened new avenues for discovering the causative roles of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in neurological diseases. The opportunities emerging from this are staggering, yet only as good as our abilities to glean insights from this surplus of information. Whereas computational biology continues to improve with respect to predictions and molecular modeling, the differences between in silico and in vivo analysis remain substantial. Invertebrate in vivo model systems represent technically advanced, experimentally mature, high-throughput, efficient and cost-effective resources for investigating a disease. With a decades-long track record of enabling investigators to discern function from DNA, fly (Drosophila) and worm (Caenorhabditis elegans) models have never been better poised to serve as living engines of discovery. Both of these animals have already proven useful in the classification of genetic variants as either pathogenic or benign across a range of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders-including autism spectrum disorders, ciliopathies, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Pathogenic SNPs typically display distinctive phenotypes in functional assays when compared with null alleles and frequently lead to protein products with gain-of-function or partial loss-of-function properties that contribute to neurological disease pathogenesis. The utility of invertebrates is logically limited by overt differences in anatomical and physiological characteristics, and also the evolutionary distance in genome structure. Nevertheless, functional annotation of disease-SNPs using invertebrate models can expedite the process of assigning cellular and organismal consequences to mutations, ascertain insights into mechanisms of action, and accelerate therapeutic target discovery and drug development for neurological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Mew
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
| | - Kim A Caldwell
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
- Alabama Research Institute on Aging, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
- Center for Convergent Bioscience and Medicine, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
- Departments of Neurobiology and Neurology, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Nathan Shock Center of Excellence for Research in the Basic Biology of Aging, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Guy A Caldwell
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
- Center for Convergent Bioscience and Medicine, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
- Departments of Neurobiology and Neurology, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Nathan Shock Center of Excellence for Research in the Basic Biology of Aging, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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Lek M, Hmeljak J, Hooper KM. Genetic variance in human disease - modelling the future of genomic medicine. Dis Model Mech 2022; 15:275862. [PMID: 35771631 PMCID: PMC9254226 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Summary: DMM is launching a new Subject Focus on genetic variance in human disease. Here, we discuss this ongoing series of invited articles and reflect on advances in understanding the genotype–phenotype complexities in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monkol Lek
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Julija Hmeljak
- The Company of Biologists, Bidder Building, Station Road, Cambridge CB24 9LF, UK
| | - Kirsty M Hooper
- The Company of Biologists, Bidder Building, Station Road, Cambridge CB24 9LF, UK
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Lange KI, Best S, Tsiropoulou S, Berry I, Johnson CA, Blacque OE. Interpreting ciliopathy-associated missense variants of uncertain significance (VUS) in Caenorhabditis elegans. Hum Mol Genet 2022; 31:1574-1587. [PMID: 34964473 PMCID: PMC9122650 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Better methods are required to interpret the pathogenicity of disease-associated variants of uncertain significance (VUS), which cannot be actioned clinically. In this study, we explore the use of an animal model (Caenorhabditis elegans) for in vivo interpretation of missense VUS alleles of TMEM67, a cilia gene associated with ciliopathies. CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing was used to generate homozygous knock-in C. elegans worm strains carrying TMEM67 patient variants engineered into the orthologous gene (mks-3). Quantitative phenotypic assays of sensory cilia structure and function (neuronal dye filling, roaming and chemotaxis assays) measured how the variants impacted mks-3 gene function. Effects of the variants on mks-3 function were further investigated by looking at MKS-3::GFP localization and cilia ultrastructure. The quantitative assays in C. elegans accurately distinguished between known benign (Asp359Glu, Thr360Ala) and known pathogenic (Glu361Ter, Gln376Pro) variants. Analysis of eight missense VUS generated evidence that three are benign (Cys173Arg, Thr176Ile and Gly979Arg) and five are pathogenic (Cys170Tyr, His782Arg, Gly786Glu, His790Arg and Ser961Tyr). Results from worms were validated by a genetic complementation assay in a human TMEM67 knock-out hTERT-RPE1 cell line that tests a TMEM67 signalling function. We conclude that efficient genome editing and quantitative functional assays in C. elegans make it a tractable in vivo animal model for rapid, cost-effective interpretation of ciliopathy-associated missense VUS alleles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen I Lange
- School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Sunayna Best
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Leeds Institute of Medical Research, University of Leeds, Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK
| | - Sofia Tsiropoulou
- School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Ian Berry
- Bristol Genetics Laboratory, Pathology Sciences, Southmead Hospital, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK
| | - Colin A Johnson
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Leeds Institute of Medical Research, University of Leeds, Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK
| | - Oliver E Blacque
- School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
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Lee JH. Invertebrate Model Organisms as a Platform to Investigate Rare Human Neurological Diseases. Exp Neurobiol 2022; 31:1-16. [PMID: 35256540 PMCID: PMC8907251 DOI: 10.5607/en22003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients suffering from rare human diseases often go through a painful journey for finding a definite molecular diagnosis prerequisite of appropriate cures. With a novel variant isolated from a single patient, determination of its pathogenicity to end such "diagnostic odyssey" requires multi-step processes involving experts in diverse areas of interest, including clinicians, bioinformaticians and research scientists. Recent efforts in building large-scale genomic databases and in silico prediction platforms have facilitated identification of potentially pathogenic variants causative of rare human diseases of a Mendelian basis. However, the functional significance of individual variants remains elusive in many cases, thus requiring incorporation of versatile and rapid model organism (MO)-based platforms for functional analyses. In this review, the current scope of rare disease research is briefly discussed. In addition, an overview of invertebrate MOs for their key features relevant to rare neurological diseases is provided, with the characteristics of two representative invertebrate MOs, Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans, as well as the challenges against them. Finally, recently developed research networks integrating these MOs in collaborative research are portraited with an array of bioinformatical analyses embedded. A comprehensive survey of MO-based research activities provided in this review will help us to design a wellstructured analysis of candidate genes or potentially pathogenic variants for their roles in rare neurological diseases in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Hye Lee
- Department of Oral Pathology & Life Science in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50612, Korea.,Dental Life Science Institute, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50612, Korea.,Periodontal Disease Signaling Network Research Center, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50612, Korea
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Pollara L, Sottile V, Valente EM. Patient-derived cellular models of primary ciliopathies. J Med Genet 2022; 59:517-527. [DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2021-108315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Primary ciliopathies are rare inherited disorders caused by structural or functional defects in the primary cilium, a subcellular organelle present on the surface of most cells. Primary ciliopathies show considerable clinical and genetic heterogeneity, with disruption of over 100 genes causing the variable involvement of several organs, including the central nervous system, kidneys, retina, skeleton and liver. Pathogenic variants in one and the same gene may associate with a wide range of ciliopathy phenotypes, supporting the hypothesis that the individual genetic background, with potential additional variants in other ciliary genes, may contribute to a mutational load eventually determining the phenotypic manifestations of each patient. Functional studies in animal models have uncovered some of the pathophysiological mechanisms linking ciliary gene mutations to the observed phenotypes; yet, the lack of reliable human cell models has previously limited preclinical research and the development of new therapeutic strategies for primary ciliopathies. Recent technical advances in the generation of patient-derived two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) cellular models give a new spur to this research, allowing the study of pathomechanisms while maintaining the complexity of the genetic background of each patient, and enabling the development of innovative treatments to target specific pathways. This review provides an overview of available models for primary ciliopathies, from existing in vivo models to more recent patient-derived 2D and 3D in vitro models. We highlight the advantages of each model in understanding the functional basis of primary ciliopathies and facilitating novel regenerative medicine, gene therapy and drug testing strategies for these disorders.
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Maurya AK, Sengupta P. xbx-4, a homolog of the Joubert syndrome gene FAM149B1, acts via the CCRK and RCK kinase cascade to regulate cilia morphology. Curr Biol 2021; 31:5642-5649.e5. [PMID: 34731674 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.10.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Primary cilia are microtubule (MT)-based organelles that mediate sensory functions in multiple cell types. Disruption of cilia structure or function leads to a diverse collection of diseases termed ciliopathies.1-3 The highly conserved CCRK and RCK kinases (ICK/MOK/MAK) negatively regulate cilia length and structure in Chlamydomonas, C. elegans, and mammalian cells.4-10 How the activity of this kinase cascade is tuned to precisely regulate cilia architecture is unclear. Mutations in the Domain of Unknown Function 3719 (DUF3719)-containing protein FAM149B1 have recently been shown to elongate cilia via unknown mechanisms and result in the ciliopathy Joubert syndrome.11 Here we identify XBX-4, a DUF3719-containing protein related to human FAM149B1, as a regulator of the DYF-18 CCRK and DYF-5 MAK kinase pathway in C. elegans. As in dyf-18 and dyf-5 mutants,10 sensory neuron cilia are elongated in xbx-4 mutants and exhibit stabilized axonemal MTs. XBX-4 promotes DYF-18 CCRK function to regulate localization and function of DYF-5 MAK. We find that Joubert syndrome-associated mutations in the XBX-4 DUF3719 domain also elongate cilia in C. elegans. Our results identify a new metazoan-specific regulator of this highly conserved kinase pathway and suggest that FAM149B1 may similarly act via the CCRK/RCK kinase pathway to regulate ciliary homeostasis in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashish K Maurya
- Department of Biology, MS008, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454, USA.
| | - Piali Sengupta
- Department of Biology, MS008, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454, USA.
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Hooper KM, Justice MJ, Patton EE. Developmental disorders Journal Meeting: a collaboration between Development and Disease Models & Mechanisms. Dis Model Mech 2021; 14:272141. [PMID: 34515289 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kirsty M Hooper
- The Company of Biologists, Station Road, Histon, Cambridge CB24 9LF, UK
| | - Monica J Justice
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, and Department of Molecular Genetics, The University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - E Elizabeth Patton
- MRC Human Genetics Unit and Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, MRC Institute of Genetics and Cancer, The University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
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Kropp PA, Bauer R, Zafra I, Graham C, Golden A. Caenorhabditis elegans for rare disease modeling and drug discovery: strategies and strengths. Dis Model Mech 2021; 14:dmm049010. [PMID: 34370008 PMCID: PMC8380043 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Although nearly 10% of Americans suffer from a rare disease, clinical progress in individual rare diseases is severely compromised by lack of attention and research resources compared to common diseases. It is thus imperative to investigate these diseases at their most basic level to build a foundation and provide the opportunity for understanding their mechanisms and phenotypes, as well as potential treatments. One strategy for effectively and efficiently studying rare diseases is using genetically tractable organisms to model the disease and learn about the essential cellular processes affected. Beyond investigating dysfunctional cellular processes, modeling rare diseases in simple organisms presents the opportunity to screen for pharmacological or genetic factors capable of ameliorating disease phenotypes. Among the small model organisms that excel in rare disease modeling is the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. With a staggering breadth of research tools, C. elegans provides an ideal system in which to study human disease. Molecular and cellular processes can be easily elucidated, assayed and altered in ways that can be directly translated to humans. When paired with other model organisms and collaborative efforts with clinicians, the power of these C. elegans studies cannot be overstated. This Review highlights studies that have used C. elegans in diverse ways to understand rare diseases and aid in the development of treatments. With continuing and advancing technologies, the capabilities of this small round worm will continue to yield meaningful and clinically relevant information for human health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Andy Golden
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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First person – Karen Lange. Dis Model Mech 2021. [PMCID: PMC7859699 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.048553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
First Person is a series of interviews with the first authors of a selection of papers published in Disease Models & Mechanisms, helping early-career researchers promote themselves alongside their papers. Karen Lange is first author on ‘Interpreting the pathogenicity of Joubert syndrome missense variants in Caenorhabditis elegans’, published in DMM. Karen is a postdoc in the lab of Oliver Blacque at University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland, using genome-editing techniques in worms to investigate ciliopathies, rare genetic disorders caused by defects in cilia.
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