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Hu T, Liu L, Wang H, Yang M, Xu B, Xie H, Lin Z, Jin X, Wang P, Liu Y, Sun H, Liu S. RCAN family member 3 deficiency contributes to noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium. J Genet Genomics 2024:S1673-8527(23)00267-9. [PMID: 38181896 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2023.12.010] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
Noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium (NVM), the third most diagnosed cardiomyopathy, is characterized by prominent trabeculae and intratrabecular recesses. However, the genetic etiology of 40-60% of NVM cases remains unknown. We identified two infants with NVM, in a nonconsanguineous family, with a typical clinical presentation of persistent bradycardia since the prenatal period. A homozygous missense variant (R223L) of RCAN family member 3 (RCAN3) was detected in both infants using whole-exome sequencing. In the zebrafish model, marked cardiac dysfunction was detected in rcan3 deficiency (MO-rcan3ATG-injected) and rcan-/- embryos. Developmental dysplasia of both endocardial and myocardial layers was also detected in rcan3-deficient embryos. RCAN3 R223L variant mRNAs did not rescue heart defects caused by rcan3 knockdown or knockout; however, hRCAN3 mRNA rescued these phenotypes. RNA-seq experiments showed that several genes involved in cardiomyopathies were significantly regulated through multiple signaling pathways in the rcan3-knockdown zebrafish model. In human cardiomyocytes, RCAN3 deficiency resulted in reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis, together with an abnormal mitochondrial ultrastructure. Thus, we suggest that RCAN3 is a susceptibility gene for cardiomyopathies, especially NVM and that the R223L mutation is a potential loss-of-function variant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Hu
- Department of Medical Genetics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Lan Liu
- Department of Medical Genetics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China; Medical College, Tibet University, Lhasa, Tibet 850000, China
| | - He Wang
- Department of Medical Genetics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Mei Yang
- Department of Medical Genetics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Bocheng Xu
- Department of Medical Genetics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Hanbing Xie
- Department of Medical Genetics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Ziyuan Lin
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China; SCU-CUHK Joint Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Xiaolei Jin
- Department of Medical Genetics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China; West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Ping Wang
- Department of Medical Genetics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Yanyan Liu
- Department of Medical Genetics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Huaqin Sun
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China; SCU-CUHK Joint Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
| | - Shanling Liu
- Department of Medical Genetics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
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Venegas-Zamora L, Bravo-Acuña F, Sigcho F, Gomez W, Bustamante-Salazar J, Pedrozo Z, Parra V. New Molecular and Organelle Alterations Linked to Down Syndrome Heart Disease. Front Genet 2022; 12:792231. [PMID: 35126461 PMCID: PMC8808411 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.792231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic disorder caused by a trisomy of the human chromosome 21 (Hsa21). Overexpression of Hsa21 genes that encode proteins and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) can disrupt several cellular functions and biological processes, especially in the heart. Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are present in 45–50% of individuals with DS. Here, we describe the genetic background of this condition (Hsa21 and non-Hsa21 genes), including the role of ncRNAs, and the relevance of these new players in the study of the pathophysiology of DS heart diseases. Additionally, we discuss several distinct pathways in cardiomyocytes which help maintain a functional heart, but that might trigger hypertrophy and oxidative stress when altered. Moreover, we highlight the importance of investigating how mitochondrial and lysosomal dysfunction could eventually contribute to understanding impaired heart function and development in subjects with the Hsa21 trisomy. Altogether, this review focuses on the newest insights about the gene expression, molecular pathways, and organelle alterations involved in the cardiac phenotype of DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslye Venegas-Zamora
- Advanced Center of Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas y Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisco Bravo-Acuña
- Advanced Center of Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas y Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisco Sigcho
- Advanced Center of Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas y Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Wileidy Gomez
- Advanced Center of Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas y Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Laboratory of Neuroprotection and Autophagy, Center for Integrative Biology, Faculty of Science, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
| | - José Bustamante-Salazar
- Advanced Center of Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas y Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Zully Pedrozo
- Advanced Center of Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas y Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Programa de Fisiología y Biofísica, ICBM, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Red para El Estudio de Enfermedades Cardiopulmonares de Alta Letalidad (REECPAL), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- *Correspondence: Zully Pedrozo, ; Valentina Parra,
| | - Valentina Parra
- Advanced Center of Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas y Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Red para El Estudio de Enfermedades Cardiopulmonares de Alta Letalidad (REECPAL), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- *Correspondence: Zully Pedrozo, ; Valentina Parra,
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Lane BM, Murray S, Benson K, Bierzynska A, Chryst-Stangl M, Wang L, Wu G, Cavalleri G, Doyle B, Fennelly N, Dorman A, Conlon S, Vega-Warner V, Fermin D, Vijayan P, Qureshi MA, Shril S, Barua M, Hildebrandt F, Pollak M, Howell D, Sampson MG, Saleem M, Conlon PJ, Spurney R, Gbadegesin R. A Rare Autosomal Dominant Variant in Regulator of Calcineurin Type 1 ( RCAN1) Gene Confers Enhanced Calcineurin Activity and May Cause FSGS. J Am Soc Nephrol 2021; 32:1682-1695. [PMID: 33863784 PMCID: PMC8425665 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2020081234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Podocyte dysfunction is the main pathologic mechanism driving the development of FSGS and other morphologic types of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS). Despite significant progress, the genetic causes of most cases of SRNS have yet to be identified. METHODS Whole-genome sequencing was performed on 320 individuals from 201 families with familial and sporadic NS/FSGS with no pathogenic mutations in any known NS/FSGS genes. RESULTS Two variants in the gene encoding regulator of calcineurin type 1 (RCAN1) segregate with disease in two families with autosomal dominant FSGS/SRNS. In vitro, loss of RCAN1 reduced human podocyte viability due to increased calcineurin activity. Cells expressing mutant RCAN1 displayed increased calcineurin activity and NFAT activation that resulted in increased susceptibility to apoptosis compared with wild-type RCAN1. Treatment with GSK-3 inhibitors ameliorated this elevated calcineurin activity, suggesting the mutation alters the balance of RCAN1 regulation by GSK-3β, resulting in dysregulated calcineurin activity and apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest mutations in RCAN1 can cause autosomal dominant FSGS. Despite the widespread use of calcineurin inhibitors in the treatment of NS, genetic mutations in a direct regulator of calcineurin have not been implicated in the etiology of NS/FSGS before this report. The findings highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting RCAN1 regulatory molecules, such as GSK-3β, in the treatment of FSGS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon M. Lane
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Susan Murray
- Irish Kidney Gene Project, Department of Genetics, Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Katherine Benson
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Agnieszka Bierzynska
- Department of Pediatrics, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Megan Chryst-Stangl
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Liming Wang
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Guanghong Wu
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Gianpiero Cavalleri
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Brendan Doyle
- Department of Pathology, Beaumont General Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Neil Fennelly
- Department of Pathology, Beaumont General Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Anthony Dorman
- Department of Pathology, Beaumont General Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Shane Conlon
- Irish Kidney Gene Project, Department of Genetics, Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | | | - Damian Fermin
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Poornima Vijayan
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto and Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mohammad Azfar Qureshi
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto and Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shirlee Shril
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard University Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Moumita Barua
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto and Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Friedhelm Hildebrandt
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard University Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Martin Pollak
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Hospital and Harvard University Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - David Howell
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Matthew G. Sampson
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard University Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Moin Saleem
- Department of Pediatrics, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Peter J. Conlon
- Irish Kidney Gene Project, Department of Genetics, Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Beaumont General Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Robert Spurney
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Rasheed Gbadegesin
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
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Abstract
The regulator of calcineurin (RCAN) was first reported as a novel gene called DSCR1, encoded in a region termed the Down syndrome critical region (DSCR) of human chromosome 21. Genome sequence comparisons across species using bioinformatics revealed three members of the RCAN gene family, RCAN1, RCAN2, and RCAN3, present in most jawed vertebrates, with one member observed in most invertebrates and fungi. RCAN is most highly expressed in brain and striated muscles, but expression has been reported in many other tissues, as well, including the heart and kidneys. Expression levels of RCAN homologs are responsive to external stressors such as reactive oxygen species, Ca2+, amyloid β, and hormonal changes and upregulated in pathological conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, cardiac hypertrophy, diabetes, and degenerative neuropathy. RCAN binding to calcineurin, a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent phosphatase, inhibits calcineurin activity, thereby regulating different physiological events via dephosphorylation of important substrates. Novel functions of RCANs have recently emerged, indicating involvement in mitochondria homeostasis, RNA binding, circadian rhythms, obesity, and thermogenesis, some of which are calcineurin-independent. These developments suggest that besides significant contributions to DS pathologies and calcineurin regulation, RCAN is an important participant across physiological systems, suggesting it as a favorable therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sun-Kyung Lee
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
- Research Institute for Natural Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
| | - Joohong Ahnn
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
- Research Institute for Natural Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
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Zhang XY, Ma H, Li J, Lu XR, Li JQ, Yuan N, Zhang ZL, Xue XY. Functional implications of miR-145/RCAN3 axis in the progression of cervical cancer. Reprod Biol 2020; 20:140-6. [PMID: 32345470 DOI: 10.1016/j.repbio.2020.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Cervical cancer, as the second leading cause of death in women malignant tumor, is not optimistic about survival rate and late recurrence rate. RCAN3 has been reported to function in a variety of diseases, but its relationship with cervical cancer has not been reported. This study aimed to investigate whether RCAN3 contributes to the development of cervical cancer and its mechanism. RCAN3 expression was analyzed in 306 cervical cancer tissues and 13 normal healthy tissues from TCGA and GTEX databases. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression analysis were carried out to assess the potential function of RCAN3. Subsequently, the upstream regulatory miRNA of RCAN3 was predicted by bioinformatics and confirmed using dual luciferase reporter assay. CCK-8, colony formation assay, transwell assay were used for functional analysis of miR-145/RCAN3 axis in vitro. The results showed that RCAN3 was highly expressed in cervical cancer tissues, leading to poor prognosis, and could be used as a prognostic factor for cervical cancer. MiR-145 directly targeted RCAN3, which was lowly expressed in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines, and the higher the miR-145 expression, the longer the survival time of patients. Finally, from the functional experiments results we can see that miR-145 can inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells, but overexpression of RCAN3 can reverse miR-145-mediated inhibition. To sum up, miR-145/RCAN3 axis may serve as a potential therapeutic target to regulate the progression of cervical cancer.
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Serrano-Candelas E, Alemán-Muench G, Solé-Sánchez S, Aubareda A, Martínez-Høyer S, Adán J, Aranguren-Ibáñez Á, Pritchard MA, Soldevila G, Pérez-Riba M. RCAN 1 and 3 proteins regulate thymic positive selection. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2015; 460:295-301. [PMID: 25783055 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.03.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2015] [Accepted: 03/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Cooperation between calcineurin (CN)-NFATc and RAF-MEK-ERK signaling pathways is essential in thymocyte positive selection. It is known that the Regulators of Calcineurin (RCAN) proteins can act either facilitating or suppressing CN-dependent signaling events. Here, we show that RCAN genes are expressed in lymphoid tissues, and address the role of RCAN proteins in T cell development. Overexpression of human RCAN3 and RCAN1 can modulate T cell development by increasing positive selection-related surface markers, as well as the "Erk(hi) competence state" in double positive thymocytes, a characteristic molecular signature of positive selection, without affecting CN activity. We also found that RCAN1/3 interact with RAF kinases and CN in a non-exclusive manner. Our data suggests that the balance of RCAN interactions with CN and/or RAF kinases may influence T cell positive selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Serrano-Candelas
- Human Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Cell Signaling Unit, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona 08908, Spain
| | - Germán Alemán-Muench
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, México DF 04510, Mexico
| | - Sònia Solé-Sánchez
- Human Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Cell Signaling Unit, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona 08908, Spain
| | - Anna Aubareda
- Human Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Cell Signaling Unit, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona 08908, Spain
| | - Sergio Martínez-Høyer
- Human Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Cell Signaling Unit, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona 08908, Spain
| | - Jaume Adán
- LEITAT Technological Center, Biomed Divison, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Álvaro Aranguren-Ibáñez
- Human Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Cell Signaling Unit, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona 08908, Spain
| | - Melanie A Pritchard
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
| | - Gloria Soldevila
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, México DF 04510, Mexico.
| | - Mercè Pérez-Riba
- Human Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Cell Signaling Unit, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona 08908, Spain.
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Serrano-Candelas E, Farré D, Aranguren-Ibáñez Á, Martínez-Høyer S, Pérez-Riba M. The vertebrate RCAN gene family: novel insights into evolution, structure and regulation. PLoS One 2014; 9:e85539. [PMID: 24465593 PMCID: PMC3896409 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0085539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2013] [Accepted: 12/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently there has been much interest in the Regulators of Calcineurin (RCAN) proteins which are important endogenous modulators of the calcineurin-NFATc signalling pathway. They have been shown to have a crucial role in cellular programmes such as the immune response, muscle fibre remodelling and memory, but also in pathological processes such as cardiac hypertrophy and neurodegenerative diseases. In vertebrates, the RCAN family form a functional subfamily of three members RCAN1, RCAN2 and RCAN3 whereas only one RCAN is present in the rest of Eukarya. In addition, RCAN genes have been shown to collocate with RUNX and CLIC genes in ACD clusters (ACD21, ACD6 and ACD1). How the RCAN genes and their clustering in ACDs evolved is still unknown. After analysing RCAN gene family evolution using bioinformatic tools, we propose that the three RCAN vertebrate genes within the ACD clusters, which evolved from single copy genes present in invertebrates and lower eukaryotes, are the result of two rounds of whole genome duplication, followed by a segmental duplication. This evolutionary scenario involves the loss or gain of some RCAN genes during evolution. In addition, we have analysed RCAN gene structure and identified the existence of several characteristic features that can be involved in RCAN evolution and gene expression regulation. These included: several transposable elements, CpG islands in the 5′ region of the genes, the existence of antisense transcripts (NAT) associated with the three human genes, and considerable evidence for bidirectional promoters that regulate RCAN gene expression. Furthermore, we show that the CpG island associated with the RCAN3 gene promoter is unmethylated and transcriptionally active. All these results provide timely new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying RCAN function and a more in depth knowledge of this gene family whose members are obvious candidates for the development of future therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Serrano-Candelas
- Cancer and Human Molecular Genetics Department, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute – IDIBELL, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Domènec Farré
- Biological Aggression and Response Mechanisms Unit, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer – IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Álvaro Aranguren-Ibáñez
- Cancer and Human Molecular Genetics Department, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute – IDIBELL, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sergio Martínez-Høyer
- Cancer and Human Molecular Genetics Department, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute – IDIBELL, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mercè Pérez-Riba
- Cancer and Human Molecular Genetics Department, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute – IDIBELL, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- * E-mail:
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Facchin F, Vitale L, Bianconi E, Piva F, Frabetti F, Strippoli P, Casadei R, Pelleri MC, Piovesan A, Canaider S. Complexity of bidirectional transcription and alternative splicing at human RCAN3 locus. PLoS One 2011; 6:e24508. [PMID: 21961037 PMCID: PMC3178534 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0024508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2011] [Accepted: 08/12/2011] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Human RCAN3 (regulator of calcineurin 3) belongs to the human RCAN gene family. In this study we provide, with in silico and in vitro analyses, the first detailed description of the human multi-transcript RCAN3 locus. Its analysis revealed that it is composed of a multigene system that includes at least 21 RCAN3 alternative spliced isoforms (16 of them identified here for the first time) and a new RCAN3 antisense gene (RCAN3AS). In particular, we cloned RCAN3-1,3,4,5 (lacking exon 2), RCAN3-1a,2,3,4,5, RCAN3-1a,3,4,5, RCAN3-1b,2,3,4,5, RCAN3-1c,2,3,4,5, RCAN3-1c,2,4,5 and RCAN3-1c,3,4,5, isoforms that present a different 5′ untranslated region when compared to RCAN3. Moreover, in order to verify the possible 5′ incompleteness of previously identified cDNA isoforms with the reference exon 1, ten more alternative isoforms were retrieved. Bioinformatic searches allowed us to identify RCAN3AS, which overlaps in part with exon 1a, on the opposite strand, for which four different RCAN3AS isoforms were cloned. In order to analyze the different expression patterns of RCAN3 alternative first exons and of RCAN3AS mRNA isoforms, RT-PCR was performed in 17 human tissues. Finally, analyses of RCAN3 and RCAN3AS genomic sequences were performed to identify possible promoter regions, to examine donor and acceptor splice sequences and to compare evolutionary conservation, in particular of alternative exon 1 or 1c - exon 2 junctions in different species. The description of its number of transcripts, of their expression patterns and of their regulatory regions can be important to clarify the functions of RCAN3 gene in different pathways and cellular processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Facchin
- Center for Research in Molecular Genetics (Fondazione CARISBO), Department of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
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Porta S, Martí E, de la Luna S, Arbonés ML. Differential expression of members of the RCAN family of calcineurin regulators suggests selective functions for these proteins in the brain. Eur J Neurosci 2007; 26:1213-26. [PMID: 17767500 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2007.05749.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
RCANs, also called Down Syndrome Critical Region-1 (DSCR1)-like proteins, Modulatory Calcineurin Interacting Proteins (MCIPs) or calcipressins, are regulators of calcineurin, a Ca(2+)-dependent protein phosphatase involved in several neuronal functions. Despite the potential importance of the RCAN proteins in brain physiology, very little is known about their relative abundance and distribution patterns in the central nervous system. In this study we report the expression and distribution of RCAN mRNA transcripts and proteins in the mouse brain. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis showed that all Rcan mRNAs (Rcan1-1, Rcan1-2, Rcan2-1, Rcan2-3 and Rcan3) and their corresponding protein products (RCAN1-L, RCAN1-S, RCAN2-L, RCAN2-S and RCAN3) are present in every adult mouse brain region examined. All protein isoforms are also expressed in these same brain regions at early postnatal stages. Within regions, RCAN1-L, RCAN1-S, RCAN2-L and RCAN3 are differentially expressed depending on the region and developmental stage, whereas RCAN2-S is distributed homogeneously. Detailed immunohistochemical analysis revealed significant differences in the cellular and subcellular distributions of RCAN proteins. In the adult, RCAN1 was mainly expressed in the neuropil throughout the brain. Although at lower levels, RCAN3 was also detected throughout the neuropil. In contrast, RCAN2 was highly expressed in scattered neurons, in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Interestingly, RCAN2 is the only member of the RCAN family that was detected in glial cells. Finally, the expression patterns of RCANs at early postnatal stages differed from those of the adult, in different brain areas, in both their distributions and relative abundance, suggesting that the expression of these proteins could be regulated during neuronal differentiation. The nonoverlapping expression patterns of the RCAN proteins shown here highlight the existence of different physiological scenarios and therefore suggest different RCAN functional activities in the brain, depending on the cellular context and developmental stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sílvia Porta
- Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), UPF, Dr Aiguader 88, E-08003 Barcelona, Spain
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Facchin F, Canaider S, Vitale L, Frabetti F, Griffoni C, Lenzi L, Casadei R, Strippoli P. Identification and analysis of human RCAN3 (DSCR1L2) mRNA and protein isoforms. Gene 2008; 407:159-68. [PMID: 18022329 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2007.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2007] [Revised: 10/02/2007] [Accepted: 10/04/2007] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Human RCAN3 (Regulator of calcineurin 3; previously known as DSCR1L2, Down syndrome critical region gene 1-like 2) is a five-exon gene mapped on chromosome 1 and belongs to the human RCAN gene family which also includes RCAN1 and RCAN2. The novel denomination RCAN for genes and proteins, instead of DSCR1L (Down syndrome critical region gene 1-like) has recently been widely discussed. The aim of the present work was to perform a multiple approach analysis of five RCAN3 mRNA and encoded protein isoforms, two of which have been identified for the first time in this research. The two new RCAN3 mRNA isoforms, RCAN3-2,4,5, which lacks exon 3, and RCAN3-2,3,5, which lacks exon 4, were identified during RCAN3 RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) cloning, the product of which unexpectedly revealed the presence of five isoforms as opposed to the three previously known. In order to analyze the expression pattern of the five RCAN3 mRNA isoforms in seven different human tissues, a quantitative relative RT-PCR was performed: interestingly, all isoforms are present in all tissues investigated, with a statistically significant constant prevalence of RCAN3 isoform (the most complete, "reference" isoform). The RCAN3 locus expression level was comparable in all seven tissues analyzed, considering all isoforms, which indicates a ubiquitous expression of this human RCAN family member. To date two possible interactors have been described for this protein: human cardiac troponin I (TNNI3) and calcineurin. Here we report the interaction between the new RCAN3 variants and TNNI3, demonstrated by both yeast cotransformation and by the GST (glutathione-sepharose transferase) fusion protein assay, as was to be expected from the presence of exon 2 whose product has been seen to be sufficient for binding to TNNI3.
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Davies KJA, Ermak G, Rothermel BA, Pritchard M, Heitman J, Ahnn J, Henrique-Silva F, Crawford D, Canaider S, Strippoli P, Carinci P, Min KT, Fox DS, Cunningham KW, Bassel-Duby R, Olson EN, Zhang Z, Williams RS, Gerber HP, Pérez-Riba M, Seo H, Cao X, Klee CB, Redondo JM, Maltais LJ, Bruford EA, Povey S, Molkentin JD, McKeon FD, Duh EJ, Crabtree GR, Cyert MS, de la Luna S, Estivill X. Renaming the DSCR1/Adapt78 gene family as RCAN: regulators of calcineurin. FASEB J 2007; 21:3023-8. [PMID: 17595344 DOI: 10.1096/fj.06-7246com] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kelvin J A Davies
- Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center, and Division of Molecular & Computational Biology, The University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0191, USA.
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Mulero MC, Aubareda A, Schlüter A, Pérez-Riba M. RCAN3, a novel calcineurin inhibitor that down-regulates NFAT-dependent cytokine gene expression. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Cell Research 2007; 1773:330-41. [PMID: 17270291 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2006.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2006] [Revised: 10/31/2006] [Accepted: 12/05/2006] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The regulators of calcineurin (RCAN) proteins, previously known as calcipressins, have been considered to be a well conserved family from yeast to human based on the conservation of their FLISPP motif. Here, after performing a RCAN comparative genomic analysis we propose the existence of a novel functionally closely related RCAN subfamily restricted to vertebrates, the other RCAN proteins being considered only as distantly related members of the family. In addition, while three paralogous RCAN genes are found in vertebrates, there is only one in the other members of Eukarya. Moreover, besides the FLISPP motif, these paralogous genes have two others conserved motifs, the Cn-inhibitor RCAN (CIC) and the PxIxxT, which are restricted to vertebrates. In humans, RCAN1 and RCAN2 bind and inhibit Cn through their C-terminal region. Given the high amino acid identity in this region among human RCANs, authors in the field have hypothesized a role for RCAN3 in inhibiting Cn activity. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that human RCAN3, encoded by the RCAN3 (also known as DSCR1L2) gene, interacts physically and functionally with Cn. This interaction takes place only through the RCAN3 CIC motif. Overexpression of this sequence inhibits Cn activity towards the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) transcription factors and down-regulates NFAT-dependent cytokine gene expression in activated human Jurkat T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Carme Mulero
- Medical and Molecular Genetics Center, Institut de Recerca Oncològica, IDIBELL, Gran Via s/n Km 2.7, 08907 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
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