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Martins DJ, Di Lazzaro Filho R, Bertola DR, Hoch NC. Rothmund-Thomson syndrome, a disorder far from solved. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2023; 4:1296409. [PMID: 38021400 PMCID: PMC10676203 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2023.1296409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Rothmund-Thomson syndrome (RTS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by a range of clinical symptoms, including poikiloderma, juvenile cataracts, short stature, sparse hair, eyebrows/eyelashes, nail dysplasia, and skeletal abnormalities. While classically associated with mutations in the RECQL4 gene, which encodes a DNA helicase involved in DNA replication and repair, three additional genes have been recently identified in RTS: ANAPC1, encoding a subunit of the APC/C complex; DNA2, which encodes a nuclease/helicase involved in DNA repair; and CRIPT, encoding a poorly characterized protein implicated in excitatory synapse formation and splicing. Here, we review the clinical spectrum of RTS patients, analyze the genetic basis of the disease, and discuss molecular functions of the affected genes, drawing some novel genotype-phenotype correlations and proposing avenues for future studies into this enigmatic disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davi Jardim Martins
- Genomic Stability Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Di Lazzaro Filho
- Center for Human Genome Studies, Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Dasa Genômica/Genera, Genômica, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Debora Romeo Bertola
- Center for Human Genome Studies, Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Genetics Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Children’s Institute, Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nícolas Carlos Hoch
- Genomic Stability Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Colombo EA, Valiante M, Uggeri M, Orro A, Majore S, Grammatico P, Gentilini D, Finelli P, Gervasini C, D’Ursi P, Larizza L. Germline NUP98 Variants in Two Siblings with a Rothmund-Thomson-Like Spectrum: Protein Functional Changes Predicted by Molecular Modeling. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24044028. [PMID: 36835439 PMCID: PMC9965077 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24044028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Two adult siblings born to first-cousin parents presented a clinical phenotype reminiscent of Rothmund-Thomson syndrome (RTS), implying fragile hair, absent eyelashes/eyebrows, bilateral cataracts, mottled pigmentation, dental decay, hypogonadism, and osteoporosis. As the clinical suspicion was not supported by the sequencing of RECQL4, the RTS2-causative gene, whole exome sequencing was applied and disclosed the homozygous variants c.83G>A (p.Gly28Asp) and c.2624A>C (p.Glu875Ala) in the nucleoporin 98 (NUP98) gene. Though both variants affect highly conserved amino acids, the c.83G>A looked more intriguing due to its higher pathogenicity score and location of the replaced amino acid between phenylalanine-glycine (FG) repeats within the first NUP98 intrinsically disordered region. Molecular modeling studies of the mutated NUP98 FG domain evidenced a dispersion of the intramolecular cohesion elements and a more elongated conformational state compared to the wild type. This different dynamic behavior may affect the NUP98 functions as the minor plasticity of the mutated FG domain undermines its role as a multi-docking station for RNA and proteins, and the impaired folding can lead to the weakening or the loss of specific interactions. The clinical overlap of NUP98-mutated and RTS2/RTS1 patients, accounted by converging dysregulated gene networks, supports this first-described constitutional NUP98 disorder, expanding the well-known role of NUP98 in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Adele Colombo
- Genetica Medica, Dipartimento di Scienze Della Salute, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milano, Italy
| | - Michele Valiante
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, 00152 Roma, Italy
| | - Matteo Uggeri
- Department of Biomedical Sciences National Research Council, Institute for Biomedical Technologies, 20054 Segrate, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy, Section of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Orro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences National Research Council, Institute for Biomedical Technologies, 20054 Segrate, Italy
| | - Silvia Majore
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, 00152 Roma, Italy
| | - Paola Grammatico
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, 00152 Roma, Italy
| | - Davide Gentilini
- Bioinformatics and Statistical Genomics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Via Ariosto 13, 20145 Milan, Italy
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Palma Finelli
- Experimental Research Laboratory of Medical Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Via Ariosto 13, 20145 Milan, Italy
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Gervasini
- Genetica Medica, Dipartimento di Scienze Della Salute, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milano, Italy
| | - Pasqualina D’Ursi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences National Research Council, Institute for Biomedical Technologies, 20054 Segrate, Italy
- Correspondence: (P.D.); (L.L.)
| | - Lidia Larizza
- Experimental Research Laboratory of Medical Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Via Ariosto 13, 20145 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: (P.D.); (L.L.)
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Thakkar MK, Lee J, Meyer S, Chang VY. RecQ Helicase Somatic Alterations in Cancer. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:887758. [PMID: 35782872 PMCID: PMC9240438 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.887758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Named the “caretakers” of the genome, RecQ helicases function in several pathways to maintain genomic stability and repair DNA. This highly conserved family of enzymes consist of five different proteins in humans: RECQL1, BLM, WRN, RECQL4, and RECQL5. Biallelic germline mutations in BLM, WRN, and RECQL4 have been linked to rare cancer-predisposing syndromes. Emerging research has also implicated somatic alterations in RecQ helicases in a variety of cancers, including hematological malignancies, breast cancer, osteosarcoma, amongst others. These alterations in RecQ helicases, particularly overexpression, may lead to increased resistance of cancer cells to conventional chemotherapy. Downregulation of these proteins may allow for increased sensitivity to chemotherapy, and, therefore, may be important therapeutic targets. Here we provide a comprehensive review of our current understanding of the role of RecQ DNA helicases in cancer and discuss the potential therapeutic opportunities in targeting these helicases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megha K. Thakkar
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jamie Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Stefan Meyer
- Division of Cancer Studies, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Department of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Vivian Y. Chang
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Childrens Discovery and Innovation Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Vivian Y. Chang,
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Luong TT, Bernstein KA. Role and Regulation of the RECQL4 Family during Genomic Integrity Maintenance. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:1919. [PMID: 34946868 PMCID: PMC8701316 DOI: 10.3390/genes12121919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
RECQL4 is a member of the evolutionarily conserved RecQ family of 3' to 5' DNA helicases. RECQL4 is critical for maintaining genomic stability through its functions in DNA repair, recombination, and replication. Unlike many DNA repair proteins, RECQL4 has unique functions in many of the central DNA repair pathways such as replication, telomere, double-strand break repair, base excision repair, mitochondrial maintenance, nucleotide excision repair, and crosslink repair. Consistent with these diverse roles, mutations in RECQL4 are associated with three distinct genetic diseases, which are characterized by developmental defects and/or cancer predisposition. In this review, we provide an overview of the roles and regulation of RECQL4 during maintenance of genome homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kara A. Bernstein
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 5117 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA;
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