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A Drosophila model to study retinitis pigmentosa pathology associated with mutations in the core splicing factor Prp8.

ABSTRACT: Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) represents genetically heterogeneous and clinically variable disease characterized by progressive degeneration of photoreceptors resulting in a gradual loss of vision. The autosomal dominant RP type 13 (RP13) has been linked to the malfunction of PRPF8, an essential component of the spliceosome. Over 20 different RP-associated PRPF8 mutations have been identified in human patients. However, the cellular and molecular consequences of their expression in vivo in specific tissue contexts remain largely unknown. Here, we establish a Drosophila melanogaster model for RP13 by introducing the nine distinct RP mutations into the fly PRPF8 ortholog prp8 and express the mutant proteins in precise spatiotemporal patterns using the Gal4/UAS system. We show that all nine RP-Prp8 mutant proteins negatively impact developmental timing, albeit to a different extent, when expressed in the endocrine cells producing the primary insect moulting hormone. In the developing eye primordium, uncommitted epithelial precursors rather than differentiated photoreceptors appeared sensitive to Prp8 malfunction. Expression of the two most pathogenic variants, Prp8S>F and Prp8H>R, induced apoptosis causing alterations to the adult eye morphology. The affected tissue mounted stress and cytoprotective responses, while genetic programs underlying neuronal function were attenuated. Importantly, the penetrance and expressivity increased under prp8 heterozygosity. In contrast, blocking apoptosis alleviated cell loss but not the redox imbalance. Remarkably, the pathogenicity of the RP-Prp8 mutations in Drosophila correlates with the severity of clinical phenotypes in patients carrying the equivalent mutations, highlighting the suitability of the Drosophila model for in-depth functional studies of the mechanisms underlying RP13 etiology.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

SUBMITTER: Stankovic D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7328144 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A Drosophila model to study retinitis pigmentosa pathology associated with mutations in the core splicing factor Prp8.

Stanković Dimitrije D Claudius Ann-Katrin AK Schertel Thomas T Bresser Tina T Uhlirova Mirka M

Disease models & mechanisms 20200626 6

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) represents genetically heterogeneous and clinically variable disease characterized by progressive degeneration of photoreceptors resulting in a gradual loss of vision. The autosomal dominant RP type 13 (RP13) has been linked to the malfunction of PRPF8, an essential component of the spliceosome. Over 20 different RP-associated PRPF8 mutations have been identified in human patients. However, the cellular and molecular consequences of their expression in vivo</i ...[more]

PMID: 32424050

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Project description:The essential process of pre-mRNA splicing must occur with high fidelity and efficiency for proper gene expression. The spliceosome employs DExD/H box helicases to promote on-pathway interactions while simultaneously minimizing errors. Prp8 and Snu114, an EF2-like GTPase, regulate the activity of the Brr2 helicase, promoting RNA unwinding by Brr2 at appro-priate points in the splicing cycle and repressing it at others. Mutations linked to Retinitis Pig-mentosa (RP), a disease that causes blindness in humans, map to the Brr2 regulatory region of Prp8. Previous In vitro studies of homologous mutations in Saccharomyces cerevisiae show that Prp8-RP mutants cause defects in spliceosome activation. Here we show a subset of RP muta-tions in Prp8 also cause defects in the transition between the 1st and 2nd catalytic steps of splic-ing. Though Prp8-RP mutants do not cause defects in splicing fidelity, they result in an overall decrease in splicing efficiency. Furthermore, genetic analyses link Snu114 GTP/GDP occupancy to Prp8-dependent regulation of Brr2. Our results implicate the transition between the 1st and 2nd catalytic steps as a critical place in the splicing cycle where Prp8-RP mutants influence splic-ing efficiency. The location of the Prp8-RP mutants, at the â??hingeâ?? that links the Prp8 Jab1-MPN regulatory â??tailâ?? to the globular portion of the domain, suggests that these Prp8-RP mutants inhibit regulated movement of the Prp8 Jab1/MPN domain into the Brr2 RNA binding channel to transiently inhibit Brr2 activity. Therefore, in Prp8-linked RP, disease likely results not only from defects in spliceosome assembly and activation, but also because of defects in splicing ca-talysis. paper to be submitted Two channel microarrays were used. RNA isolated from wt yeast grown simultaneously to the mutant was used as a reference. This reference was used in one of the channels for each hybridization and used in the statistical analysis to obtain an average expression-profile for each mutant relative to the wt. Three independent cultures were hybridized on two separate microarrays. For the first hybridization the Cy5 (red) labeled cRNA from the mutant is hybridized together with the Cy3 (green) labeled cRNA from the common reference. For the replicate hybridization, the labels are swapped. Each gene is represented twice on the microarray, resulting in four measurements per mutant. Strains, both WT and mutant, were grown at 37C until mid-log phase, OD600 of approximately 0.7. The mutated PRP8 gene is present on HIS marked CEN plasmid, and the corresponding genomic copy of PRP8 deleted. Strains labeled as wildtype also have the relevant genomic PRP8 deleted, but complemented with wildtype PRP8 on CEN plasmid.

Project description:PurposeAutosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (adRP) is characterized by an extensive genetic heterogeneity, implicating 27 genes, which account for 50 to 70% of cases. Here 86 Belgian probands with possible adRP underwent genetic testing to unravel the molecular basis and to assess the contribution of the genes underlying their condition.MethodsMutation detection methods evolved over the past ten years, including mutation specific methods (APEX chip analysis), linkage analysis, gene panel analysis (Sanger sequencing, targeted next-generation sequencing or whole exome sequencing), high-resolution copy number screening (customized microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization). Identified variants were classified following American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) recommendations.ResultsMolecular genetic screening revealed mutations in 48/86 cases (56%). In total, 17 novel pathogenic mutations were identified: four missense mutations in RHO, five frameshift mutations in RP1, six mutations in genes encoding spliceosome components (SNRNP200, PRPF8, and PRPF31), one frameshift mutation in PRPH2, and one frameshift mutation in TOPORS. The proportion of RHO mutations in our cohort (14%) is higher than reported in a French adRP population (10.3%), but lower than reported elsewhere (16.5-30%). The prevalence of RP1 mutations (10.5%) is comparable to other populations (3.5%-10%). The mutation frequency in genes encoding splicing factors is unexpectedly high (altogether 19.8%), with PRPF31 the second most prevalent mutated gene (10.5%). PRPH2 mutations were found in 4.7% of the Belgian cohort. Two families (2.3%) have the recurrent NR2E3 mutation p.(Gly56Arg). The prevalence of the recurrent PROM1 mutation p.(Arg373Cys) was higher than anticipated (3.5%).ConclusionsOverall, we identified mutations in 48 of 86 Belgian adRP cases (56%), with the highest prevalence in RHO (14%), RP1 (10.5%) and PRPF31 (10.5%). Finally, we expanded the molecular spectrum of PRPH2, PRPF8, RHO, RP1, SNRNP200, and TOPORS-associated adRP by the identification of 17 novel mutations.

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A Drosophila model to study retinitis pigmentosa pathology associated with mutations in the core splicing factor Prp8.

Publications

A <i>Drosophila</i> model to study retinitis pigmentosa pathology associated with mutations in the core splicing factor Prp8.

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