Correlation between genetic variations in Hox clusters and Hirschsprung's disease

Interactions between migrating neural crest cells and the environment of the gut are crucial for the development of the enteric nervous system (ENS). A key signalling mediator is the RET-receptor-tyrosine-kinase which, when defective, causes Hirschprung's disease (HSCR, colon aganglionosis). RET mutations alone cannot account for the variable HSCR phenotype, invoking interactions with as yet unknown, and probably inter-related, loci involved in ENS development. Homeobox (HOX) genes have a major role in gut development as depicted by the enteric Hox code. We investigated whether DNA alterations in HOX genes, either alone or in combination with RET, are implicated in HSCR. Genotyping effort was minimized by applying the HapMap data on Han Chinese from Beijing (CHB). 194 HSCR patients and 168 controls were genotyped using Sequenom technology for 72 tag, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) distributed along the HOX clusters. The HapMap frequencies were compared to those in our population and standard statistics were used for frequency comparisons. The multifactor-dimensionality-reduction method was used for multilocus analysis, in which RET promoter SNP genotypes were included. Genetic interactions were found between two HOX loci (5'-HOXA13 and 3'UTR-HOXB7) and the RET loci tested. Minor allele frequencies (MAF) of the SNPs tested in our sample were not significantly different from those reported by HapMap when the sample sizes of the populations compared were considered. This is the first evaluation of the HOX genes in HSCR and the first application of HapMap data in a Chinese population. The interacting HOX loci may affect the penetrance of the RET risk allele. HapMap data for the CHB population correlated well with the general Chinese population.

CIPP, a novel multivalent PDZ domain protein, selectively interacts with Kir4.0 family members, NMDA receptor subunits, neurexins, and neuroligins

We report a novel multivalent PDZ domain protein, CIPP (for channel-interacting PDZ domain protein), which is expressed exclusively in brain and kidney. Within the brain, the highest CIPP mRNA levels were found in neurons of the cerebellum, inferior colliculus, vestibular nucleus, facial nucleus, and thalamus. Furthermore, we identified the inward rectifier K+ (Kir) channel, Kir4.1 (also called "Kir1.2"), as a cellular CIPP ligand. Among several other Kir channels tested, only the closely related Kir4.2 (or "Kir1.3") also interacted with CIPP. In addition, specific PDZ domains within CIPP associated selectively with the C-termini of N-methyl-D-aspartate subtypes of glutamate receptors, as well as neurexins and neuroligins, cell surface molecules enriched in synaptic membranes. Thus, CIPP may serve as a scaffold that brings structurally diverse but functionally connected proteins into close proximity at the synapse. The functional consequences of CIPP expression on Kir4.1 channels were studied using whole-cell voltage clamp techniques in Kir4.1 transfected COS-7 cells. On average, Kir4.1 current densities were doubled by cotransfection with CIPP.