1
|
Meyer-Schuman R, Marte S, Smith TJ, Feely SME, Kennerson M, Nicholson G, Shy ME, Koutmou KS, Antonellis A. A humanized yeast model reveals dominant-negative properties of neuropathy-associated alanyl-tRNA synthetase mutations. Hum Mol Genet 2023; 32:2177-2191. [PMID: 37010095 PMCID: PMC10281750 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddad054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) are essential enzymes that ligate tRNA molecules to cognate amino acids. Heterozygosity for missense variants or small in-frame deletions in six ARS genes causes dominant axonal peripheral neuropathy. These pathogenic variants reduce enzyme activity without significantly decreasing protein levels and reside in genes encoding homo-dimeric enzymes. These observations raise the possibility that neuropathy-associated ARS variants exert a dominant-negative effect, reducing overall ARS activity below a threshold required for peripheral nerve function. To test such variants for dominant-negative properties, we developed a humanized yeast assay to co-express pathogenic human alanyl-tRNA synthetase (AARS1) mutations with wild-type human AARS1. We show that multiple loss-of-function AARS1 mutations impair yeast growth through an interaction with wild-type AARS1, but that reducing this interaction rescues yeast growth. This suggests that neuropathy-associated AARS1 variants exert a dominant-negative effect, which supports a common, loss-of-function mechanism for ARS-mediated dominant peripheral neuropathy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Meyer-Schuman
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Sheila Marte
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Tyler J Smith
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Shawna M E Feely
- Department of Neurology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Marina Kennerson
- Northcott Neuroscience Laboratory, ANZAC Research Institute, Sydney, NSW 2139, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia
- Molecular Medicine Laboratory, Concord General Repatriation Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2139, Australia
| | - Garth Nicholson
- Northcott Neuroscience Laboratory, ANZAC Research Institute, Sydney, NSW 2139, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia
- Molecular Medicine Laboratory, Concord General Repatriation Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2139, Australia
| | - Mike E Shy
- Department of Neurology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Kristin S Koutmou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Anthony Antonellis
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kalotay E, Klugmann M, Housley GD, Fröhlich D. Dominant aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase disorders: lessons learned from in vivo disease models. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1182845. [PMID: 37274211 PMCID: PMC10234151 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1182845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) play an essential role in protein synthesis, being responsible for ligating tRNA molecules to their corresponding amino acids in a reaction known as 'tRNA aminoacylation'. Separate ARSs carry out the aminoacylation reaction in the cytosol and in mitochondria, and mutations in almost all ARS genes cause pathophysiology most evident in the nervous system. Dominant mutations in multiple cytosolic ARSs have been linked to forms of peripheral neuropathy including Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, distal hereditary motor neuropathy, and spinal muscular atrophy. This review provides an overview of approaches that have been employed to model each of these diseases in vivo, followed by a discussion of the existing animal models of dominant ARS disorders and key mechanistic insights that they have provided. In summary, ARS disease models have demonstrated that loss of canonical ARS function alone cannot fully account for the observed disease phenotypes, and that pathogenic ARS variants cause developmental defects within the peripheral nervous system, despite a typically later onset of disease in humans. In addition, aberrant interactions between mutant ARSs and other proteins have been shown to contribute to the disease phenotypes. These findings provide a strong foundation for future research into this group of diseases, providing methodological guidance for studies on ARS disorders that currently lack in vivo models, as well as identifying candidate therapeutic targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Kalotay
- Translational Neuroscience Facility and Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Matthias Klugmann
- Translational Neuroscience Facility and Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Research Beyond Borders, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Gary D. Housley
- Translational Neuroscience Facility and Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Dominik Fröhlich
- Translational Neuroscience Facility and Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Abstract
Advances in the field of neurogenetics have practical applications in rapid diagnosis on blood and body fluids to extract DNA, obviating the need for invasive investigations. The ability to obtain a presymptomatic diagnosis through genetic screening and biomarkers can be a guide to life-saving disease-modifying therapy or enzyme replacement therapy to compensate for the deficient disease-causing enzyme. The benefits of a comprehensive neurogenetic evaluation extend to family members in whom identification of the causal gene defect ensures carrier detection and at-risk counseling for future generations. This chapter explores the many facets of the neurogenetic evaluation in adult and pediatric motor disorders as a primer for later chapters in this volume and a roadmap for the future applications of genetics in neurology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David S Younger
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Neuroscience, CUNY School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States; Department of Medicine, Section of Internal Medicine and Neurology, White Plains Hospital, White Plains, NY, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Forrest ME, Meyer AP, Laureano Figueroa SM, Antonellis A. A missense, loss-of-function YARS1 variant in a patient with proximal-predominant motor neuropathy. Cold Spring Harb Mol Case Stud 2022; 8:a006246. [PMID: 36307205 PMCID: PMC9808560 DOI: 10.1101/mcs.a006246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) are essential enzymes with a critical role in protein synthesis: charging tRNA molecules with cognate amino acids. Heterozygosity for variants in five genes (AARS1, GARS1, HARS1, WARS1, and YARS1) encoding cytoplasmic, dimeric ARSs have been associated with autosomal dominant neurological phenotypes, including axonal Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). Missense variants in the catalytic domain of YARS1 were previously linked to dominant intermediate CMT type C (DI-CMTC). Here, we report a patient with a missense variant of unknown significance predicted to modify residue 308 in the anticodon binding domain of YARS1 (p.Asp308Tyr). Interestingly, p.Asp308Tyr is associated with proximal-predominant motor neuropathy, which has not been reported in patients with pathogenic YARS1 variants. We demonstrate that this allele causes a loss-of-function effect in yeast complementation assays when modeled in YARS1 and the yeast ortholog TYS1; structural modeling of this variant further supports a loss-of-function effect. Taken together, this study raises the possibility that certain YARS1 variants cause proximal-prominent motor neuropathy and indicates that patients with this phenotype should be screened for genetic lesions in YARS1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Megan E Forrest
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Alayne P Meyer
- Division of Genetic and Genomic Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio 43205, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
| | | | - Anthony Antonellis
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zambon AA, Pini V, Bosco L, Falzone YM, Munot P, Muntoni F, Previtali SC. Early onset hereditary neuronopathies: an update on non-5q motor neuron diseases. Brain 2022; 146:806-822. [PMID: 36445400 PMCID: PMC9976982 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Hereditary motor neuropathies (HMN) were first defined as a group of neuromuscular disorders characterized by lower motor neuron dysfunction, slowly progressive length-dependent distal muscle weakness and atrophy, without sensory involvement. Their cumulative estimated prevalence is 2.14/100 000 and, to date, around 30 causative genes have been identified with autosomal dominant, recessive,and X-linked inheritance. Despite the advances of next generation sequencing, more than 60% of patients with HMN remain genetically uncharacterized. Of note, we are increasingly aware of the broad range of phenotypes caused by pathogenic variants in the same gene and of the considerable clinical and genetic overlap between HMN and other conditions, such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 2 (axonal), spinal muscular atrophy with lower extremities predominance, neurogenic arthrogryposis multiplex congenita and juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Considering that most HMN present during childhood, in this review we primarily aim to summarize key clinical features of paediatric forms, including recent data on novel phenotypes, to help guide differential diagnosis and genetic testing. Second, we describe newly identified causative genes and molecular mechanisms, and discuss how the discovery of these is changing the paradigm through which we approach this group of conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alberto A Zambon
- Correspondence to: Alberto A. Zambon Neuromuscular Repair Unit InSpe and Division of Neuroscience IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy E-mail:
| | - Veronica Pini
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Luca Bosco
- Neuromuscular Repair Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology (InSpe), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Yuri M Falzone
- Neuromuscular Repair Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology (InSpe), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Pinki Munot
- NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Francesco Muntoni
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, WC1N 1EH, UK,NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Stefano C Previtali
- Neuromuscular Repair Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology (InSpe), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Abstract
The Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases (aaRSs) are an evolutionarily ancient family of enzymes that catalyze the esterification reaction linking a transfer RNA (tRNA) with its cognate amino acid matching the anticodon triplet of the tRNA. Proper functioning of the aaRSs to create aminoacylated (or “charged”) tRNAs is required for efficient and accurate protein synthesis. Beyond their basic canonical function in protein biosynthesis, aaRSs have a surprisingly diverse array of non-canonical functions that are actively being defined. The human genome contains 37 genes that encode unique aaRS proteins. To date, 56 human genetic diseases caused by damaging variants in aaRS genes have been described: 46 are autosomal recessive biallelic disorders and 10 are autosomal dominant monoallelic disorders. Our appreciation of human diseases caused by damaging genetic variants in the aaRSs has been greatly accelerated by the advent of next-generation sequencing, with 89% of these gene discoveries made since 2010. In addition to these genetic disorders of the aaRSs, anti-synthetase syndrome (ASSD) is a rare autoimmune inflammatory myopathy that involves the production of autoantibodies that disrupt aaRS proteins. This review provides an overview of the basic biology of aaRS proteins and describes the rapidly growing list of human diseases known to be caused by genetic variants or autoimmune targeting that affect both the canonical and non-canonical functions of these essential proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra K. Turvey
- Department of Biology, Pomona College, Claremont, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Alexandra K. Turvey,
| | - Gabriella A. Horvath
- Division of Biochemical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Adult Metabolic Diseases Clinic, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Frasquet M, Sevilla T. Hereditary motor neuropathies. Curr Opin Neurol 2022; 35:562-570. [PMID: 35942667 DOI: 10.1097/wco.0000000000001087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Distal hereditary motor neuropathies (dHMN) are a clinically and genetically diverse group of disorders that are characterized by length-dependent axonal degeneration of lower motor neurons. In this review, we will provide an overview of dHMN, and we will correlate the distinct clinical subtypes with their causative genes, focusing on the most recent advances in the field. RECENT FINDINGS Despite the massive use of new-generation sequencing (NGS) and the discovery of new genes, only a third of dHMN patients receive a molecular diagnosis. Thanks to international cooperation between researchers, new genes have been implicated in dHMN, such as SORD and VWA1 . Mutations in SORD are the most frequent cause of autosomal recessive forms of dHMN. As a result of these findings, the potential benefits of some pharmacological compounds are being studied in cell and animal models, mainly targeting axonal transport and metabolic pathways. SUMMARY Despite the wide use of NGS, the diagnosis of dHMN remains a challenge. The low prevalence of dHMN makes international cooperation necessary in order to discover new genes and causal mechanisms. Genetic diagnosis of patients and identification of new pathomechanism are essential for the development of therapeutical clinical trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marina Frasquet
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitari Doctor Peset
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER) Spain
| | - Teresa Sevilla
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitari i Politècnic La Fe
- Neuromuscular and Ataxias Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER) Spain
- Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Meyer AP, Forrest ME, Nicolau S, Wiszniewski W, Bland MP, Tsao CY, Antonellis A, Abreu NJ. Pathogenic missense variants altering codon 336 of GARS1 lead to divergent dominant phenotypes. Hum Mutat 2022; 43:869-876. [PMID: 35332613 PMCID: PMC9247498 DOI: 10.1002/humu.24372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Heterozygosity for missense variants and small in-frame deletions in GARS1 has been reported in patients with a range of genetic neuropathies including Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2D (CMT2D), distal hereditary motor neuropathy type V (dHMN-V), and infantile spinal muscular atrophy (iSMA). We identified two unrelated patients who are each heterozygous for a previously unreported missense variant modifying amino-acid position 336 in the catalytic domain of GARS1. One patient was a 20-year-old woman with iSMA, and the second was a 41-year-old man with CMT2D. Functional studies using yeast complementation assays support a loss-of-function effect for both variants; however, this did not reveal variable effects that might explain the phenotypic differences. These cases expand the mutational spectrum of GARS1-related disorders and demonstrate phenotypic variability based on the specific substitution at a single residue.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alayne P. Meyer
- Division of Genetic and Genomic Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Megan E. Forrest
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Stefan Nicolau
- The Center for Gene Therapy, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Wojciech Wiszniewski
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Mary Pat Bland
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Chang-Yong Tsao
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Division of Child Neurology, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Anthony Antonellis
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Nicolas J. Abreu
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- The Center for Gene Therapy, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Division of Child Neurology, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Huang Y, Bi B, Zhao P, Yu T, Luo S, Tan L, Liu Z, Liu J, He X. Infantile-onset CMT2D/dSMA-V in a Chinese family with parental germline mosaicism for a novel mutation in the GARS1 gene. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2021; 10:e1846. [PMID: 34898052 PMCID: PMC8801134 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.1846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Both Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2D (CMT2D) and distal spinal muscular atrophy type V (dSMA-V) are GARS1 disease phenotypes involving axonal peripheral neuropathy. Patients often develop clinical symptoms in their teens. Herein, we reported a Chinese family with infantile-onset CMT2D/dSMA-V. METHODS Clinical evaluation and laboratory examination were performed in our proband, the older sister from this family, and trio exome sequencing (ES) was conducted on the proband and her parents, followed by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS A novel GARS1 mutation (c.997G>C, p.E333Q; NM_002047) was identified in this patient and her younger sister but not in her parents; thus, it is presumed that this mutation is inherited from a germline mosaic parent. The younger sister began to exhibit weakness of her hands and feet at the age of 1 year old. CONCLUSION This is the first report of infantile CMT2D/dSMA-V in China. Our study increases the number of infantile-onset cases, as well as reported pathogenic variants in the GARS1 gene, and highlights the important role of exome sequencing in the clinical diagnosis of disease and enabling subsequent prenatal diagnosis. Our study reminds us to consider the possibility of parent germline mosaicism in the subsequent prenatal genetic diagnosis when identifying a de novo variant.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yufeng Huang
- Precision Medical Center, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Bo Bi
- Department of Rehabilitation, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Peiwei Zhao
- Precision Medical Center, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ting Yu
- Precision Medical Center, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Sukun Luo
- Precision Medical Center, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Li Tan
- Precision Medical Center, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhisheng Liu
- Department of Rehabilitation, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xuelian He
- Precision Medical Center, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Cervelli T, Galli A. Yeast as a Tool to Understand the Significance of Human Disease-Associated Gene Variants. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:1303. [PMID: 34573285 DOI: 10.3390/genes12091303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
At present, the great challenge in human genetics is to provide significance to the growing amount of human disease-associated gene variants identified by next generation DNA sequencing technologies. Increasing evidences suggest that model organisms are of pivotal importance to addressing this issue. Due to its genetic tractability, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae represents a valuable model organism for understanding human genetic variability. In the present review, we show how S. cerevisiae has been used to study variants of genes involved in different diseases and in different pathways, highlighting the versatility of this model organism.
Collapse
|
11
|
Abstract
Aminoacyl-RNA synthetases (aaRSs) are among the key enzymes of protein biosynthesis. They are responsible for conducting the first step in the protein biosynthesis, namely attaching amino acids to the corresponding tRNA molecules both in cytoplasm and mitochondria. More and more research demonstrates that mutations in the genes encoding aaRSs lead to the development of various neurodegenerative diseases, such as incurable Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease (CMT) and distal spinal muscular atrophy. Some mutations result in the loss of tRNA aminoacylation activity, while other mutants retain their classical enzyme activity. In the latter case, disease manifestations are associated with additional neuron-specific functions of aaRSs. At present, seven aaRSs (GlyRS, TyrRS, AlaRS, HisRS, TrpRS, MetRS, and LysRS) are known to be involved in the CMT etiology with glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GlyRS) being the most studied of them.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Oleg S Nikonov
- Institute of Protein Research, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russia
| | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Figuccia S, Degiorgi A, Ceccatelli Berti C, Baruffini E, Dallabona C, Goffrini P. Mitochondrial Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetase and Disease: The Yeast Contribution for Functional Analysis of Novel Variants. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094524. [PMID: 33926074 PMCID: PMC8123711 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In most eukaryotes, mitochondrial protein synthesis is essential for oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) as some subunits of the respiratory chain complexes are encoded by the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Mutations affecting the mitochondrial translation apparatus have been identified as a major cause of mitochondrial diseases. These mutations include either heteroplasmic mtDNA mutations in genes encoding for the mitochondrial rRNA (mtrRNA) and tRNAs (mttRNAs) or mutations in nuclear genes encoding ribosomal proteins, initiation, elongation and termination factors, tRNA-modifying enzymes, and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (mtARSs). Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) catalyze the attachment of specific amino acids to their cognate tRNAs. Differently from most mttRNAs, which are encoded by mitochondrial genome, mtARSs are encoded by nuclear genes and then imported into the mitochondria after translation in the cytosol. Due to the extensive use of next-generation sequencing (NGS), an increasing number of mtARSs variants associated with large clinical heterogeneity have been identified in recent years. Being most of these variants private or sporadic, it is crucial to assess their causative role in the disease by functional analysis in model systems. This review will focus on the contributions of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the functional validation of mutations found in mtARSs genes associated with human disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Cristina Dallabona
- Correspondence: (C.D.); (P.G.); Tel.: +39-0521-905600 (C.D.); +39-0521-905107 (P.G.)
| | - Paola Goffrini
- Correspondence: (C.D.); (P.G.); Tel.: +39-0521-905600 (C.D.); +39-0521-905107 (P.G.)
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Ceccatelli Berti C, di Punzio G, Dallabona C, Baruffini E, Goffrini P, Lodi T, Donnini C. The Power of Yeast in Modelling Human Nuclear Mutations Associated with Mitochondrial Diseases. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:300. [PMID: 33672627 PMCID: PMC7924180 DOI: 10.3390/genes12020300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The increasing application of next generation sequencing approaches to the analysis of human exome and whole genome data has enabled the identification of novel variants and new genes involved in mitochondrial diseases. The ability of surviving in the absence of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and mitochondrial genome makes the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae an excellent model system for investigating the role of these new variants in mitochondrial-related conditions and dissecting the molecular mechanisms associated with these diseases. The aim of this review was to highlight the main advantages offered by this model for the study of mitochondrial diseases, from the validation and characterisation of novel mutations to the dissection of the role played by genes in mitochondrial functionality and the discovery of potential therapeutic molecules. The review also provides a summary of the main contributions to the understanding of mitochondrial diseases emerged from the study of this simple eukaryotic organism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Claudia Donnini
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, 43124 Parma, Italy; (C.C.B.); (G.d.P.); (C.D.); (E.B.); (P.G.); (T.L.)
| |
Collapse
|