Project description:Autosomal recessive forms of retinitis punctata albescens (RPA) have been described. RPA is characterized by progressive retinal degeneration due to alteration in visual cycle and consequent deposit of photopigments in retinal pigment epithelium. Five loci have been linked to RPA onset. Among these, the retinaldehyde-binding protein 1 gene, RLBP1, is the most frequently involved and several founder mutations were reported. We report results of a genetic molecular investigation performed on a large Sicilian family in which appears a young woman with RPA.The proband is in homozygous condition for a novel RLBP1 single-pair deletion, and her healthy parents, both heterozygous, are not consanguineous. Thenovelc.398delC (p.P133Qfs*258) involves the exon 6 and leads to a premature stop codon, resulting in a truncated protein entirely missing of CRAL-TRIO lipid-binding domain. Pedigree analysis showed other non-consanguineous relatives heterozygous for the same mutation in the family. Extension of mutation research in the native town of the proband revealed its presence also in healthy subjects, in a heterozygous condition.A novel RLBP1 truncating mutation was detected in a young girl affected by RPA. Although her parents are not consanguineous, the mutation was observed in a homozygous condition. Being them native of the same small Sicilian town of Fiumedinisi, the hypothesis of a geographical area-related mutation was assessed and confirmed.
Project description:In the present study, we screened 529 Brazilian individuals affected by inherited retinal disorders. A total of seven unrelated and nonsyndromic patients with RP1 biallelic variants (OMIM # 180100) were diagnosed in our centre and included in the study. They had classic retinitis pigmentosa with diagnosis at the first decade of life. The visual acuities were severely affected at a young age. The fundus aspects were similar among all patients. An atrophic ring was present around the fovea in several cases. All patients had molecular diagnosis, with six different RP1 variants. This study reports two new pathogenic variants - two frameshift duplications (c.1234dupA p.Met412Asnfs*7 and c.1265dupC p.Ala423Cysfs*2) and reinforces other four known pathogenic variants - two frameshift deletions (c.469delG p.Val157Trpfs*16 and c.3843delT p.Pro1282Leufs*12) and two stop gain mutations (c.1186 C > T p.Arg396* and c.1625C > G p.Ser542*). These findings broaden the spectrum of RP1 variants. This study also reviewed the fundus characteristics that clinically could raise the hypothesis of a retinitis pigmentosa due to RP1 gene. It is worthwhile to try to identify the disease-causing variants in each patient since it can provide prognostic information and be useful in genetic consultation and diagnosis in the future.
Project description:Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a genetically heterogeneous retinal degeneration characterized by photoreceptor death, which results in visual failure. Here, we used a combination of homozygosity mapping and exome sequencing to identify mutations in ARL2BP, which encodes an effector protein of the small GTPases ARL2 and ARL3, as causative for autosomal-recessive RP (RP66). In a family affected by RP and situs inversus, a homozygous, splice-acceptor mutation, c.101-1G>C, which alters pre-mRNA splicing of ARLBP2 in blood RNA, was identified. In another family, a homozygous c.134T>G (p.Met45Arg) mutation was identified. In the mouse retina, ARL2BP localized to the basal body and cilium-associated centriole of photoreceptors and the periciliary extension of the inner segment. Depletion of ARL2BP caused cilia shortening. Moreover, depletion of ARL2, but not ARL3, caused displacement of ARL2BP from the basal body, suggesting that ARL2 is vital for recruiting or anchoring ARL2BP at the base of the cilium. This hypothesis is supported by the finding that the p.Met45Arg amino acid substitution reduced binding to ARL2 and caused the loss of ARL2BP localization at the basal body in ciliated nasal epithelial cells. These data demonstrate a role for ARL2BP and ARL2 in primary cilia function and that this role is essential for normal photoreceptor maintenance and function.
Project description:Cellular retinaldehyde-binding protein (CRALBP) chaperones 11-cis-retinal to convert opsin receptor molecules into photosensitive retinoid pigments of the eye. We report a thermal secondary isomerase activity of CRALBP when bound to 9-cis-retinal. UV/vis and (1)H NMR spectroscopy were used to characterize the product as 9,13-dicis-retinal. The X-ray structure of the CRALBP mutant R234W:9-cis-retinal complex at 1.9 Å resolution revealed a niche in the binding pocket for 9-cis-aldehyde different from that reported for 11-cis-retinal. Combined computational, kinetic, and structural data lead us to propose an isomerization mechanism catalyzed by a network of buried waters. Our findings highlight a specific role of water molecules in both CRALBP-assisted specificity toward 9-cis-retinal and its thermal isomerase activity yielding 9,13-dicis-retinal. Kinetic data from two point mutants of CRALBP support an essential role of Glu202 as the initial proton donor in this isomerization reaction.
Project description:Cellular retinaldehyde-binding protein (CRALBP) is essential for mammalian vision by routing 11-cis-retinoids for the conversion of photobleached opsin molecules into photosensitive visual pigments. The arginine-to-tryptophan missense mutation in position 234 (R234W) in the human gene RLBP1 encoding CRALBP compromises visual pigment regeneration and is associated with Bothnia dystrophy. Here we report the crystal structures of both wild-type human CRALBP and of its mutant R234W as binary complexes complemented with the endogenous ligand 11-cis-retinal, at 3.0 and 1.7 A resolution, respectively. Our structural model of wild-type CRALBP locates R234 to a positively charged cleft at a distance of 15 A from the hydrophobic core sequestering 11-cis-retinal. The R234W structural model reveals burial of W234 and loss of dianion-binding interactions within the cleft with physiological implications for membrane docking. The burial of W234 is accompanied by a cascade of side-chain flips that effect the intrusion of the side-chain of I238 into the ligand-binding cavity. As consequence of the intrusion, R234W displays 5-fold increased resistance to light-induced photoisomerization relative to wild-type CRALBP, indicating tighter binding to 11-cis-retinal. Overall, our results reveal an unanticipated domino-like structural transition causing Bothnia-type retinal dystrophy by the impaired release of 11-cis-retinal from R234W.
Project description:Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) refers to a genetically heterogeneous group of progressive neurodegenerative diseases that result in dysfunction and/or death of rod and cone photoreceptors in the retina. So far, 18 genes have been identified for autosomal-dominant (ad) RP. Here, we describe an adRP locus (RP42) at chromosome 7p15 through linkage analysis in a six-generation Scandinavian family and identify a disease-causing mutation, c.449G-->A (p.S150N), in exon 6 of the KLHL7 gene. Mutation screening of KLHL7 in 502 retinopathy probands has revealed three different missense mutations in six independent families. KLHL7 is widely expressed, including expression in rod photoreceptors, and encodes a 75 kDa protein of the BTB-Kelch subfamily within the BTB superfamily. BTB-Kelch proteins have been implicated in ubiquitination through Cullin E3 ligases. Notably, all three putative disease-causing KLHL7 mutations are within a conserved BACK domain; homology modeling suggests that mutant amino acid side chains can potentially fill the cleft between two helices, thereby affecting the ubiquitination complexes. Mutations in an identical region of another BTB-Kelch protein, gigaxonin, have previously been associated with giant axonal neuropathy. Our studies suggest an additional role of the ubiquitin-proteasome protein-degradation pathway in maintaining neuronal health and in disease.
Project description:Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a life-threatening condition resulting in end-stage renal disease. Two major forms of PKD are defined according to the inheritance pattern. Autosomal dominant PKD (ADPKD) is characterized by renal cysts, where nearly half of the patients suffers from renal failure in the 7th decade of life. Autosomal recessive PKD (ARPKD) is a rarer and more severe form presenting in childhood. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) analyses was performed to investigate molecular causes of the disease in the fetus. In this study, we present 2 fetuses prenatally diagnosed with PKD in a consanguineous family. WES analysis of the second fetus revealed a homozygous variant (c.740+1G>A) in DNAJB11 which is related to ADPKD. This study reveals that DNAJB11 biallelic mutations may cause an antenatal severe form of ARPKD and contributes to understanding the DNAJB11-related ADPKD phenotype. The possibility of ARPKD due to biallelic mutations in ADPKD genes should be considered in genetic counseling.
Project description:PURPOSE:To localize and identify the gene and mutations causing autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa in a Chinese Family. METHODS:Families were ascertained and patients underwent complete ophthalmic examinations. Blood samples were collected and DNA was extracted. A linkage scan of genomic regions containing known candidate genes was performed by using 34 polymorphic microsatellite markers on genomic DNA from affected and unaffected family members, and lod scores were calculated. Candidate genes were sequenced and mutations analyzed. RESULTS:A genome-wide scan yielded a lod score of 3.5 at theta = 0 for D2S2333 and 3.46 at theta = 0 for D2S2216. This region harbors the ASCC3L1 gene. Sequencing of ASCC3L1 in an affected family member showed a heterozygous single-base-pair change; c.3269G-->T, predicted to result in an Arg1090Leu amino acid change. CONCLUSIONS:The results provide strong evidence that mutations in ASCC3L1 have resulted in autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa in this Chinese family.
Project description:BACKGROUND:Matrix metallopeptidase 20 (MMP20) is an evolutionarily conserved protease that is essential for processing enamel matrix proteins during dental enamel formation. MMP20 mutations cause human autosomal recessive pigmented hypomaturation-type amelogenesis imperfecta (AI2A2; OMIM #612529). MMP20 is expressed in both odontoblasts and ameloblasts, but its function during dentinogenesis is unclear. METHODS:We characterized 10 AI kindreds with MMP20 defects, characterized human third molars and/or Mmp20-/- mice by histology, Backscattered Scanning Electron Microscopy (bSEM), µCT, and nanohardness testing. RESULTS:We identified six novel MMP20 disease-causing mutations. Four pathogenic variants were associated with exons encoding the MMP20 hemopexin-like (PEX) domain, suggesting a necessary regulatory function. Mutant human enamel hardness was softest (13% of normal) midway between the dentinoenamel junction (DEJ) and the enamel surface. bSEM and µCT analyses of the third molars revealed reduced mineral density in both enamel and dentin. Dentin close to the DEJ showed an average hardness number 62%-69% of control. Characterization of Mmp20-/- mouse dentin revealed a significant reduction in dentin thickness and mineral density and a transient increase in predentin thickness, indicating disturbances in dentin matrix secretion and mineralization. CONCLUSION:These results expand the spectrum of MMP20 disease-causing mutations and provide the first evidence for MMP20 function during dentin formation.
Project description:The hallmarks of Lynch syndrome (LS) include a positive family history of colorectal cancer (CRC), germline mutations in the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes, tumours with high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) and loss of MMR protein expression. However, in ?10-15% of clinically suspected LS cases, MMR mutation analyses cannot explain MSI-H and abnormal immunohistochemistry (IHC) results. The highly variable phenotype of MUTYH-associated polyposis (MAP) can overlap with the LS phenotype, but is inherited recessively. We analysed the MUTYH gene in 85 'unresolved' patients with tumours showing IHC MMR-deficiency without detectable germline mutation. Biallelic p.(Tyr179Cys) MUTYH germline mutations were found in one patient (frequency 1.18%) with CRC, urothelial carcinoma and a sebaceous gland carcinoma. LS was suspected due to a positive family history of CRC and because of MSI-H and MSH2-MSH6 deficiency on IHC in the sebaceous gland carcinoma. Sequencing of this tumour revealed two somatic MSH2 mutations, thus explaining MSI-H and IHC results, and mimicking LS-like histopathology. This is the first report of two somatic MSH2 mutations leading to an MSI-H tumour lacking MSH2-MSH6 protein expression in a patient with MAP. In addition to typical transversion mutations in KRAS and APC, MAP can also induce tumourigenesis via the MSI-pathway.