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Reduced dosage of ERF causes complex craniosynostosis in humans and mice and links ERK1/2 signaling to regulation of osteogenesis.

ABSTRACT: The extracellular signal-related kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) are key proteins mediating mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling downstream of RAS: phosphorylation of ERK1/2 leads to nuclear uptake and modulation of multiple targets. Here, we show that reduced dosage of ERF, which encodes an inhibitory ETS transcription factor directly bound by ERK1/2 (refs. 2,3,4,5,6,7), causes complex craniosynostosis (premature fusion of the cranial sutures) in humans and mice. Features of this newly recognized clinical disorder include multiple-suture synostosis, craniofacial dysmorphism, Chiari malformation and language delay. Mice with functional Erf levels reduced to ?30% of normal exhibit postnatal multiple-suture synostosis; by contrast, embryonic calvarial development appears mildly delayed. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation in mouse embryonic fibroblasts and high-throughput sequencing, we find that ERF binds preferentially to elements away from promoters that contain RUNX or AP-1 motifs. This work identifies ERF as a novel regulator of osteogenic stimulation by RAS-ERK signaling, potentially by competing with activating ETS factors in multifactor transcriptional complexes.

SUBMITTER: Twigg SR

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3683605 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Reduced dosage of ERF causes complex craniosynostosis in humans and mice and links ERK1/2 signaling to regulation of osteogenesis.

Twigg Stephen R F SR Vorgia Elena E McGowan Simon J SJ Peraki Ioanna I Fenwick Aimée L AL Sharma Vikram P VP Allegra Maryline M Zaragkoulias Andreas A Sadighi Akha Elham E Knight Samantha J L SJ Lord Helen H Lester Tracy T Izatt Louise L Lampe Anne K AK Mohammed Shehla N SN Stewart Fiona J FJ Verloes Alain A Wilson Louise C LC Healy Chris C Sharpe Paul T PT Hammond Peter P Hughes Jim J Taylor Stephen S Johnson David D Wall Steven A SA Mavrothalassitis George G Wilkie Andrew O M AO

Nature genetics 20130127 3

The extracellular signal-related kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) are key proteins mediating mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling downstream of RAS: phosphorylation of ERK1/2 leads to nuclear uptake and modulation of multiple targets. Here, we show that reduced dosage of ERF, which encodes an inhibitory ETS transcription factor directly bound by ERK1/2 (refs. 2,3,4,5,6,7), causes complex craniosynostosis (premature fusion of the cranial sutures) in humans and mice. Features of this newly recognize ...[more]

PMID: 23354439

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Project description:One diagnostic feature of craniosynostosis syndromes is mandibular dysgenesis. Using three mouse models of Apert, Crouzon and Pfeiffer craniosynostosis syndromes, we investigated how embryonic development of the mandible is affected by fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (Fgfr2) mutations. Quantitative analysis of skeletal form at birth revealed differences in mandibular morphology between mice carrying Fgfr2 mutations and their littermates that do not carry the mutations. Murine embryos with the mutations associated with Apert syndrome in humans (Fgfr2+/S252W and Fgfr2+/P253R ) showed an increase in the size of the osteogenic anlagen and Meckel's cartilage (MC). Changes in the microarchitecture and mineralization of the developing mandible were visualized using histological staining. The mechanism for mandibular dysgenesis in the Apert Fgfr2+/S252W mouse resulting in the most severe phenotypic effects was further analyzed in detail and found to occur to a lesser degree in the other craniosynostosis mouse models. Laser capture microdissection and RNA-seq analysis revealed transcriptomic changes in mandibular bone at embryonic day 16.5 (E16.5), highlighting increased expression of genes related to osteoclast differentiation and dysregulated genes active in bone mineralization. Increased osteoclastic activity was corroborated by TRAP assay and in situ hybridization of Csf1r and Itgb3 Upregulated expression of Enpp1 and Ank was validated in the mandible of Fgfr2+/S252W embryos, and found to result in elevated inorganic pyrophosphate concentration. Increased proliferation of osteoblasts in the mandible and chondrocytes forming MC was identified in Fgfr2+/S252W embryos at E12.5. These findings provide evidence that FGFR2 gain-of-function mutations differentially affect cartilage formation and intramembranous ossification of dermal bone, contributing to mandibular dysmorphogenesis in craniosynostosis syndromes.This article has an associated First Person interview with the joint first authors of the paper.

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Reduced dosage of ERF causes complex craniosynostosis in humans and mice and links ERK1/2 signaling to regulation of osteogenesis.

Publications

Reduced dosage of ERF causes complex craniosynostosis in humans and mice and links ERK1/2 signaling to regulation of osteogenesis.

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