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Eslahi A, Alizadeh F, Avan A, Ferns GA, Moghbeli M, Reza Abbaszadegan M, Mojarrad M. New advancements in CRISPR based gene therapy of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Gene 2023; 867:147358. [PMID: 36914142 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is caused by the dystrophin gene mutations and is one of the most common and lethal human hereditary disorders. A novel therapeutic approach using CRISPR technology has gained attention in the treatment of DMD. Gene replacement strategies are being proposed as a promising therapeutic option to compensate the loss of function mutations. Although, the large size of the dystrophin gene and the limitations of the existing gene replacement approach, could mean the gene delivery of shortened versions of dystrophin such as midystrophin and microdystrophins. There are also other approaches: including Targeted removal of dystrophin exons to restore the reading-frame; Dual sgRNA-directed DMD exon deletion, CRISPR-SKIP strategy; reframing of dystrophin using Prime Editing technology; exon removal using twin prime technology; TransCRISTI technology to targeted exon integration into dystrophin gene. Here we provide an overview of recent progresses in dystrophin gene editing using updated versions of CRISPR to introduce novel opportunities in DMD gene therapy. Overall, the novel CRISPR based technologies are improving and expanding to allow the application of more precise gene editing for the treatment of DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atieh Eslahi
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Farzaneh Alizadeh
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Amir Avan
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Basic Sciences Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Medical Genetics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Gordon A Ferns
- Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Division of Medical Education, Falmer, Brighton, Sussex BN1 9PH, UK
| | - Meysam Moghbeli
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Medical Genetics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Abbaszadegan
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Medical Genetics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
| | - Majid Mojarrad
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Medical Genetics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Genetic Center of Khorasan Razavi, Mashhad, Iran.
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Bakhshandeh M, Behroozi S, Ghorbani A. Next-generation sequencing approach to molecular diagnosis of Iranian patients with Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy: Several novel variants identified. eNeurologicalSci 2023; 30:100446. [PMID: 36845278 PMCID: PMC9945705 DOI: 10.1016/j.ensci.2023.100446] [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: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) constitute the second most prevalent muscular dystrophy, with large deletions or duplications accounting for 66% of cases. No effective treatment exists for DMD/BMD. At present, genetic diagnosis serves as the foundation for gene therapy treatments. In this study, a comprehensive molecular investigation was conducted. The subjects diagnosed with DMD/BMD were initially examined using multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) technology. The negative MLPA results were analyzed further using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology. The MLPA detected 201 deletions (65.9%) and 20 duplications (6.6%) along the dystrophin gene among the 305 Iranian patients examined. The deletion of exon 52 in the amenable skipping subgroup was associated with an earlier onset age and a more severe phenotype. Twenty-one of the small mutations found in 58 MLPA-negative patients were novel. The most prevalent variants were nonsense variants (46.5%), frameshift variants (31%), splicing variants (6.9%), missense variants (10.4%), and synonymous mutations (5.1%). Our results demonstrate that MLPA and NGS can be effective diagnostic tools for very young patients with a single exon deletion.
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Affiliation(s)
- MohammadKazem Bakhshandeh
- Hakim Children Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran,Corresponding author.
| | - Samira Behroozi
- Department of Medical Genetics, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
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Singh S, Singh T, Kunja C, Dhoat NS, Dhania NK. Gene-editing, immunological and iPSCs based therapeutics for muscular dystrophy. Eur J Pharmacol 2021; 912:174568. [PMID: 34656607 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Muscular dystrophy is a well-known genetically heterogeneous group of rare muscle disorders. This progressive disease causes the breakdown of skeletal muscles over time and leads to grave weakness. This breakdown is caused by a diverse pattern of mutations in dystrophin and dystrophin associated protein complex. These mutations lead to the production of altered proteins in response to which, the body stimulates production of various cytokines and immune cells, particularly reactive oxygen species and NFκB. Immune cells display/exhibit a dual role by inducing muscle damage and muscle repair. Various anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory and glucocorticoid drugs serve as potent therapeutics for muscular dystrophy. Along with the above mentioned therapeutics, induced pluripotent stem cells also serve as a novel approach paving a way for personalized treatment. These pluripotent stem cells allow regeneration of large numbers of regenerative myogenic progenitors that can be administered in muscular dystrophy patients which assist in the recovery of lost muscle fibers. In this review, we have summarized gene-editing, immunological and induced pluripotent stem cell based therapeutics for muscular dystrophy treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shagun Singh
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda-151001, Punjab, India
| | - Tejpal Singh
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda-151001, Punjab, India
| | - Chaitanya Kunja
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda-151001, Punjab, India
| | - Navdeep S Dhoat
- Department of Pediatrics Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bathinda, 151001, Punjab, India
| | - Narender K Dhania
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda-151001, Punjab, India.
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Kourakis S, Timpani CA, de Haan JB, Gueven N, Fischer D, Rybalka E. Targeting Nrf2 for the treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Redox Biol 2021; 38:101803. [PMID: 33246292 PMCID: PMC7695875 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2020.101803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Imbalances in redox homeostasis can result in oxidative stress, which is implicated in various pathological conditions including the fatal neuromuscular disease Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). DMD is a complicated disease, with many druggable targets at the cellular and molecular level including calcium-mediated muscle degeneration; mitochondrial dysfunction; oxidative stress; inflammation; insufficient muscle regeneration and dysregulated protein and organelle maintenance. Previous investigative therapeutics tended to isolate and focus on just one of these targets and, consequently, therapeutic activity has been limited. Nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor that upregulates many cytoprotective gene products in response to oxidants and other toxic stressors. Unlike other strategies, targeted Nrf2 activation has the potential to simultaneously modulate separate pathological features of DMD to amplify therapeutic benefits. Here, we review the literature providing theoretical context for targeting Nrf2 as a disease modifying treatment against DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Kourakis
- College of Health and Biomedicine, Victoria University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Cara A Timpani
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science, Victoria University, St Albans, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Judy B de Haan
- Oxidative Stress Laboratory, Basic Science Domain, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Nuri Gueven
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
| | - Dirk Fischer
- Division of Developmental- and Neuropediatrics, University Children's Hospital Basel (UKBB), University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Emma Rybalka
- College of Health and Biomedicine, Victoria University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science, Victoria University, St Albans, Victoria, Australia.
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Sivasubbu S, Scaria V. Genomics of rare genetic diseases-experiences from India. Hum Genomics 2019; 14:52. [PMID: 31554517 PMCID: PMC6760067 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-019-0215-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Home to a culturally heterogeneous population, India is also a melting pot of genetic diversity. The population architecture characterized by multiple endogamous groups with specific marriage patterns, including the widely prevalent practice of consanguinity, not only makes the Indian population distinct from rest of the world but also provides a unique advantage and niche to understand genetic diseases. Centuries of genetic isolation of population groups have amplified the founder effects, contributing to high prevalence of recessive alleles, which translates into genetic diseases, including rare genetic diseases in India.Rare genetic diseases are becoming a public health concern in India because a large population size of close to a billion people would essentially translate to a huge disease burden for even the rarest of the rare diseases. Genomics-based approaches have been demonstrated to accelerate the diagnosis of rare genetic diseases and reduce the socio-economic burden. The Genomics for Understanding Rare Diseases: India Alliance Network (GUaRDIAN) stands for providing genomic solutions for rare diseases in India. The consortium aims to establish a unique collaborative framework in health care planning, implementation, and delivery in the specific area of rare genetic diseases. It is a nation-wide collaborative research initiative catering to rare diseases across multiple cohorts, with over 240 clinician/scientist collaborators across 70 major medical/research centers. Within the GUaRDIAN framework, clinicians refer rare disease patients, generate whole genome or exome datasets followed by computational analysis of the data for identifying the causal pathogenic variations. The outcomes of GUaRDIAN are being translated as community services through a suitable platform providing low-cost diagnostic assays in India. In addition to GUaRDIAN, several genomic investigations for diseased and healthy population are being undertaken in the country to solve the rare disease dilemma.In summary, rare diseases contribute to a significant disease burden in India. Genomics-based solutions can enable accelerated diagnosis and management of rare diseases. We discuss how a collaborative research initiative such as GUaRDIAN can provide a nation-wide framework to cater to the rare disease community of India.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sridhar Sivasubbu
- CSIR Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi, 110025, India.
| | - Vinod Scaria
- CSIR Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi, 110025, India.
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Molecular and Histopathological Characterization of Patients Presenting with the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Phenotype in a Tertiary Care Center in Southern India. Indian Pediatr 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s13312-019-1553-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Yuan R, Yi J, Xie Z, Zheng Y, Han M, Hou Y, Wang Z, Yuan Y. Genotype-phenotype correlation in Becker muscular dystrophy in Chinese patients. J Hum Genet 2018; 63:1041-1048. [PMID: 29976999 DOI: 10.1038/s10038-018-0480-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Revised: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Large deletions and duplications are the most frequent causative mutations in Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD), but genetic profile varied greatly among reports. We performed a comprehensive molecular investigation in 95 Chinese BMD patients. All patients were divided into three subtypes: normal muscle strength (type 1) in 18 cases, quadriceps myopathy (type 2) in 20 cases, and limb-girdle weakness (type 3) in 57 cases. Nineteen cases (20.0%) had small mutations and 76 cases (80.0%) had major rearrangements, including 67 cases (70.5%) of exonic deletions and 9 cases (9.5%) of exonic duplications. We identified 50 cases (65.8%) of in-frame mutations, and 26 cases (34.2%) of frame-shift mutations. The frequency of deletion in exons 13-19 was 30.6% in type 1 patients, 9.7% in type 2 patients, and 10.4% in type 3 patients. The frequency of deletion in exons 45-55 was 28.6% in type 1 patients, 40.8% in type 2, and 50.0% in type 3 patients. All major rearrangements of DMD gene in type 1 patients were also observed in type 3 patients. Our study suggested that frame-shift mutation was not rare in Chinese BMD patients. Although no difference was observed on the forms of DMD gene mutations among the three types of patients, the mutation in proximal region of DMD gene has higher frequency for patients without weakness. Effect of exon skipping for DMD depends on the size and location of the mutation. Additional studies are required to determine whether exon-skipping strategies in proximal region of DMD gene could yield more functional dystrophin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiyi Yuan
- Department of Neurology, First Hospital, Peking University, 100034, Beijing, China.,Haverford Collage, Haverford, PA, 19041, USA
| | - Junfei Yi
- Department of Neurology, First Hospital, Peking University, 100034, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiying Xie
- Department of Neurology, First Hospital, Peking University, 100034, Beijing, China
| | - Yimeng Zheng
- Department of Neurology, First Hospital, Peking University, 100034, Beijing, China
| | - Miao Han
- Department of Neurology, First Hospital, Henan University, Kaifeng Shi, China
| | - Yue Hou
- Department of Neurology, Traditional Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhaoxia Wang
- Department of Neurology, First Hospital, Peking University, 100034, Beijing, China
| | - Yun Yuan
- Department of Neurology, First Hospital, Peking University, 100034, Beijing, China.
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Venugopal A, Chandran M, Eruppakotte N, Kizhakkillach S, Breezevilla SC, Vellingiri B. Monogenic diseases in India. MUTATION RESEARCH-REVIEWS IN MUTATION RESEARCH 2018; 776:23-31. [PMID: 29807575 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrrev.2018.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2017] [Revised: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Studies on monogenic diseases are considered valuable because they give insights and expand our knowledge on gene function and regulation. Despite all the current advancement in science and technology, a deep understanding and knowledge as to why only those particular genes are affected in a disease is still vague. We also lack profound illumination as to why only certain mutations are seen in a disease. Though useful from a research perspective, a majority of these diseases are lethal resulting in death of the affected individual. Unfortunately, in the fast - growing land of India, the incidence of monogenic diseases is very high with few counter-measures in place. This article encompasses a list of all monogenic diseases ever to be reported in India with special focus on five diseases which has been stated to have the highest incidence in India. Here, we discuss about the limited research carried out in India on these high incidence monogenic diseases, the other diseases related to those genes, the range of treatments available for these diseases in India in contrast to its availability around the world and the need to develop treatment strategies to reduce the mortality and morbidity due to these rare but daunting diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anila Venugopal
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, 641 046, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Manojkumar Chandran
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, 641 046, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Nimmisha Eruppakotte
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, 641 046, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Soumya Kizhakkillach
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, 641 046, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Sanuj C Breezevilla
- Post Graduate & Research Department of Zoology, Sree Narayana College, Cherthala, 688582, Kerala, India
| | - Balachandar Vellingiri
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, 641 046, Tamil Nadu, India.
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Li Y, Liu Z, OuYang S, Zhu Y, Wang L, Wu J. Distribution of dystrophin gene deletions in a Chinese population. J Int Med Res 2016; 44:99-108. [PMID: 26786758 PMCID: PMC5536562 DOI: 10.1177/0300060515613223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2015] [Accepted: 09/29/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To describe the deletion patterns and distribution characteristics of the dystrophin gene in a Chinese population of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) or Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD). Methods Patients with DMD/BMD were recruited. Deletions in 19 exons of the dystrophin gene were evaluated using accurate multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Result Multiplex PCR identified deletions in 238/401 (59.4%) patients with DMD/BMD. Of these, 196 (82.4%) were in the distal hotspot, 32 (13.4%) were in the proximal hotspot, five (2.1%) were in both regions and five (2.1%) were in neither hotspot. Deletions were classified into 54 patterns. Exon 49 was the most frequently deleted. The reading frame rule was upheld for 91.9% of cases. Conclusion Accurate multiplex PCR for 19 exons is an effective diagnostic tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Li
- Department of Biochemistry, Capital Institute of Paediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Zhuo Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, Capital Institute of Paediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Shengrong OuYang
- Department of Biochemistry, Capital Institute of Paediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Yanli Zhu
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Children's Hospital, Capital Institute of Paediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Liwen Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Children's Hospital, Capital Institute of Paediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Jianxin Wu
- Department of Biochemistry, Capital Institute of Paediatrics, Beijing, China
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Liang Y, Chen S, Zhu J, Zhou X, Yang C, Yao L, Zhang C. Dystrophin hydrophobic regions in the pathogenesis of Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies. Bosn J Basic Med Sci 2015; 15:42-9. [PMID: 26042512 DOI: 10.17305/bjbms.2015.300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2015] [Revised: 03/03/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of our study was to determine the role of dystrophin hydrophobic regions in the pathogenesis of Duchenne (DMD) and Becker (BMD) muscular dystrophies, by the Kyte-Doolittle scale mean hydrophobicity profile and 3D molecular models. A total of 1038 cases diagnosed with DMD or BMD with the in-frame mutation were collected in our hospital and the Leiden DMD information database in the period 2002-2013. Correlation between clinical types and genotypes were determined on the basis of these two sources. In addition, the Kyte-Doolittle scale mean hydrophobicity of dystrophin was analyzed using BioEdit software and the models of the hydrophobic domains of dystrophin were constructed. The presence of four hydrophobic regions is confirmed. They include the calponin homology CH2 domain on the actin-binding domain (ABD), spectrin-type repeat 16, hinge III and the EF Hand domain. The severe symptoms of DMD usually develop as a result of the mutational disruption in the hydrophobic regions I, II and IV of dystrophin - those that bind associated proteins of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC). On the other hand, when the hydrophobic region III is deleted, the connection of the ordered repeat domains of the central rod domain remains intact, resulting in the less severe clinical presentation. We conclude that mutational changes in the structure of hydrophobic regions of dystrophin play an important role in the pathogenesis of DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingyin Liang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province.
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