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LeDoux MS. Polymerase I as a Target for Treating Neurodegenerative Disorders. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1092. [PMID: 38791054 PMCID: PMC11118182 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12051092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Polymerase I (Pol I) is at the epicenter of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis. Pol I is a target for the treatment of cancer. Given the many cellular commonalities between cancer and neurodegeneration (i.e., different faces of the same coin), it seems rational to consider targeting Pol I or, more generally, rRNA synthesis for the treatment of disorders associated with the death of terminally differentiated neurons. Principally, ribosomes synthesize proteins, and, accordingly, Pol I can be considered the starting point for protein synthesis. Given that cellular accumulation of abnormal proteins such as α-synuclein and tau is an essential feature of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson disease and fronto-temporal dementia, reduction of protein production is now considered a viable target for treatment of these and closely related neurodegenerative disorders. Abnormalities in polymerase I activity and rRNA production may also be associated with nuclear and nucleolar stress, DNA damage, and childhood-onset neuronal death, as is the case for the UBTF E210K neuroregression syndrome. Moreover, restraining the activity of Pol I may be a viable strategy to slow aging. Before starting down the road of Pol I inhibition for treating non-cancerous disorders of the nervous system, many questions must be answered. First, how much Pol I inhibition can neurons tolerate, and for how long? Should inhibition of Pol I be continuous or pulsed? Will cells compensate for Pol I inhibition by upregulating the number of active rDNAs? At present, we have no effective and safe disease modulatory treatments for Alzheimer disease, α-synucleinopathies, or tauopathies, and novel therapeutic targets and approaches must be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark S. LeDoux
- Department of Psychology and College of Health Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA; or
- Veracity Neuroscience LLC, Memphis, TN 38157, USA
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2
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AlMail A, Jamjoom A, Pan A, Feng MY, Chau V, D'Gama AM, Howell K, Liang NSY, McTague A, Poduri A, Wiltrout K, Bassett AS, Christodoulou J, Dupuis L, Gill P, Levy T, Siper P, Stark Z, Vorstman JAS, Diskin C, Jewitt N, Baribeau D, Costain G. Consensus reporting guidelines to address gaps in descriptions of ultra-rare genetic conditions. NPJ Genom Med 2024; 9:27. [PMID: 38582909 PMCID: PMC10998895 DOI: 10.1038/s41525-024-00408-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide sequencing and genetic matchmaker services are propelling a new era of genotype-driven ascertainment of novel genetic conditions. The degree to which reported phenotype data in discovery-focused studies address informational priorities for clinicians and families is unclear. We identified reports published from 2017 to 2021 in 10 genetics journals of novel Mendelian disorders. We adjudicated the quality and detail of the phenotype data via 46 questions pertaining to six priority domains: (I) Development, cognition, and mental health; (II) Feeding and growth; (III) Medication use and treatment history; (IV) Pain, sleep, and quality of life; (V) Adulthood; and (VI) Epilepsy. For a subset of articles, all subsequent published follow-up case descriptions were identified and assessed in a similar manner. A modified Delphi approach was used to develop consensus reporting guidelines, with input from content experts across four countries. In total, 200 of 3243 screened publications met inclusion criteria. Relevant phenotypic details across each of the 6 domains were rated superficial or deficient in >87% of papers. For example, less than 10% of publications provided details regarding neuropsychiatric diagnoses and "behavioural issues", or about the type/nature of feeding problems. Follow-up reports (n = 95) rarely contributed this additional phenotype data. In summary, phenotype information relevant to clinical management, genetic counselling, and the stated priorities of patients and families is lacking for many newly described genetic diseases. The PHELIX (PHEnotype LIsting fiX) reporting guideline checklists were developed to improve phenotype reporting in the genomic era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali AlMail
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Program in Genetics & Genome Biology, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ahmed Jamjoom
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amy Pan
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Min Yi Feng
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Vann Chau
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Alissa M D'Gama
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Katherine Howell
- Department of Neurology, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Nicole S Y Liang
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Clinical and Metabolic Genetics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Amy McTague
- Department of Neurology, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK
- Developmental Neurosciences, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Annapurna Poduri
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kimberly Wiltrout
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anne S Bassett
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Lucie Dupuis
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Clinical and Metabolic Genetics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Peter Gill
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tess Levy
- Division of Psychiatry, Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Paige Siper
- Division of Psychiatry, Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Zornitza Stark
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Victorian Clinical Genetics Service, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jacob A S Vorstman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Catherine Diskin
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Natalie Jewitt
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Danielle Baribeau
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Autism Research Centre, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Gregory Costain
- Program in Genetics & Genome Biology, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Division of Clinical and Metabolic Genetics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Braden AA, Xiao J, Hori R, Brown C, Khan MM. An Overview of UBTF Neuroregression Syndrome. Brain Sci 2024; 14:179. [PMID: 38391753 PMCID: PMC10886456 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14020179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Recently, a recurrent de novo dominant mutation in UBTF (c.628G>A, p.Glu210Lys; UBTF E210K) was identified as the cause of a neurological disorder which has been named UBTF Neuroregression Syndrome (UNS), or Childhood-Onset Neurodegeneration with Brain Atrophy (CONDBA). To date, only 17 cases have been reported worldwide. The molecular etiology is a pathogenic variant, E210K, within the HMG-box 2 of Upstream Binding Transcription Factor (UBTF). UBTF, a nucleolar protein, plays an important role in ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis, nucleolar integrity, and cell survival. This variant causes unstable preinitiation complexes to form, resulting in altered rDNA chromatin structures, rRNA dysregulation, DNA damage, and ultimately, neurodegeneration. Defining clinical characteristics of the disorder include but are not limited to developmental regression beginning at approximately three years of age, progressive motor dysfunction, declining cognition, ambulatory loss, and behavioral problems. Histological and neuroimaging abnormalities include cortical atrophy, white matter deficits, and enlarged ventricles. Herein, we present a detailed overview of all published cases as well as the functional roles of UBTF to better understand the pathophysiology. Bringing undiagnosed cases to the attention of clinicians and researchers by making them aware of the clinical features will improve research and support the development of therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anneliesse A Braden
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38104, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Jianfeng Xiao
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38104, USA
| | - Roderick Hori
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Chester Brown
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Mohammad Moshahid Khan
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38104, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
- Division of Regenerative and Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Physical Therapy, Center for Muscle, Metabolism and Neuropathology, College of Health Professions, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
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Silva DO, Fernandes Júnior GA, Fonseca LFS, Mota LFM, Bresolin T, Carvalheiro R, de Albuquerque LG. Genome-wide association study for stayability at different calvings in Nellore beef cattle. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:93. [PMID: 38254039 PMCID: PMC10804543 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10020-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUNDING Stayability, which may be defined as the probability of a cow remaining in the herd until a reference age or at a specific number of calvings, is usually measured late in the animal's life. Thus, if used as selection criteria, it will increase the generation interval and consequently might decrease the annual genetic gain. Measuring stayability at an earlier age could be a reasonable strategy to avoid this problem. In this sense, a better understanding of the genetic architecture of this trait at different ages and/or at different calvings is important. This study was conducted to identify possible regions with major effects on stayability measured considering different numbers of calvings in Nellore cattle as well as pathways that can be involved in its expression throughout the female's productive life. RESULTS The top 10 most important SNP windows explained, on average, 17.60% of the genetic additive variance for stayability, varying between 13.70% (at the eighth calving) and 21% (at the fifth calving). These SNP windows were located on 17 chromosomes (1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 27, and 28), and they harbored a total of 176 annotated genes. The functional analyses of these genes, in general, indicate that the expression of stayability from the second to the sixth calving is mainly affected by genetic factors related to reproductive performance, and nervous and immune systems. At the seventh and eighth calvings, genes and pathways related to animal health, such as density bone and cancer, might be more relevant. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that part of the target genomic regions in selecting for stayability at earlier ages (from the 2th to the 6th calving) would be different than selecting for this trait at later ages (7th and 8th calvings). While the expression of stayability at earlier ages appeared to be more influenced by genetic factors linked to reproductive performance together with an overall health/immunity, at later ages genetic factors related to an overall animal health gain relevance. These results support that selecting for stayability at earlier ages (perhaps at the second calving) could be applied, having practical implications in breeding programs since it could drastically reduce the generation interval, accelerating the genetic progress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diogo Osmar Silva
- Animal Science Department, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil.
| | - Gerardo Alves Fernandes Júnior
- Animal Science Department, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Larissa Fernanda Simielli Fonseca
- Animal Science Department, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Lúcio Flávio Macedo Mota
- Animal Science Department, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Tiago Bresolin
- Animal Science Department, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Roberto Carvalheiro
- Animal Science Department, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Lucia Galvão de Albuquerque
- Animal Science Department, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil.
- National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Brasília, Brazil.
- Present address: Departamento de Zootecnia, Via de acesso Paulo Donato Castellane s/n., São Paulo, Jaboticabal, CEP: 14884-900, Brazil.
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Ni C, Yu L, Vona B, Park D, Wei Y, Schmitz DA, Wei Y, Ding Y, Sakurai M, Ballard E, Liu Y, Kumar A, Xing C, Kim HG, Ekmekci C, Karimiani EG, Imannezhad S, Eghbal F, Badv RS, Schwaibold EMC, Dehghani M, Mehrjardi MYV, Metanat Z, Eslamiyeh H, Khouj E, Alhajj SMN, Chedrawi A, Alves CAPF, Houlden H, Kruer M, Alkuraya FS, Cenik C, Maroofian R, Wu J, Buszczak M. An inappropriate decline in ribosome levels drives a diverse set of neurodevelopmental disorders. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.09.574708. [PMID: 38260472 PMCID: PMC10802443 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.09.574708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Many neurodevelopmental defects are linked to perturbations in genes involved in housekeeping functions, such as those encoding ribosome biogenesis factors. However, how reductions in ribosome biogenesis can result in tissue and developmental specific defects remains a mystery. Here we describe new allelic variants in the ribosome biogenesis factor AIRIM primarily associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Using human cerebral organoids in combination with proteomic analysis, single-cell transcriptome analysis across multiple developmental stages, and single organoid translatome analysis, we identify a previously unappreciated mechanism linking changes in ribosome levels and the timing of cell fate specification during early brain development. We find ribosome levels decrease during neuroepithelial differentiation, making differentiating cells particularly vulnerable to perturbations in ribosome biogenesis during this time. Reduced ribosome availability more profoundly impacts the translation of specific transcripts, disrupting both survival and cell fate commitment of transitioning neuroepithelia. Enhancing mTOR activity by both genetic and pharmacologic approaches ameliorates the growth and developmental defects associated with intellectual disability linked variants, identifying potential treatment options for specific brain ribosomopathies. This work reveals the cellular and molecular origins of protein synthesis defect-related disorders of human brain development. Highlights AIRIM variants reduce ribosome levels specifically in neural progenitor cells. Inappropriately low ribosome levels cause a transient delay in radial glia fate commitment.Reduced ribosome levels impair translation of a selected subset of mRNAs.Genetic and pharmacologic activation of mTORC1 suppresses AIRIM-linked phenotypes.
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Pietra A, Palombo F, Giannotta M, Maffei M, Fiorini C, Costa R, Cenacchi G, Carelli V, Cordelli DM, Pini A, Garone C. Expanding the Clinical Spectrum of UBTF-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder. Neurol Genet 2023; 9:e200098. [PMID: 38235043 PMCID: PMC10683853 DOI: 10.1212/nxg.0000000000200098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Objectives UBTF1 gene encodes for Upstream Binding Transcription Factor, an essential protein for RNA metabolism. A recurrent de novo variant (c.628G>A; p.Glu210Lys) has recently been associated with a childhood-onset neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and language regression, ataxia, dystonia, and acquired microcephaly. In this study, we report the clinical, metabolic, molecular genetics and neuroimaging findings and histologic, histochemical, and electron microscopy studies in muscle samples of 2 patients from unrelated families with a neurodevelopmental disorder. Methods Data were retrospectively analyzed by medical charts revision. Results Patient 1, a 16-year-old boy, presented a childhood-onset slowly progressive neurodegenerative disorder mainly affecting language skills, behavior, and motor coordination. Patient 2, a 22-year-old woman, presented with a severe and rapidly progressive disease with dystonic tetra paresis, acquired microcephaly, and severe cognitive deficit complicated by pseudobulbar syndrome characterized by involuntary and uncontrollable outbursts of laughing, dysphagia requiring tube feeding, and nocturnal hypoventilation treated with noninvasive ventilation. Both patients carried the recurrent previously described UBTF1 de novo variant and had signs of mitochondrial dysfunction at muscle biopsy. The metabolic profile of patient 2 also revealed a decrease in CSF biopterin. Discussion These case reports add new insights to the UBTF1 disease spectrum instrumental to improving the diagnostic rate in neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Pietra
- From the UO Genetica Medica (Andrea Pietra), IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (Andrea Pietra, C.G.), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (F.P.), Programma di Neurogenetica; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (M.G., Antonella Pini, C.G.), UOC Neuropsichiatria dell'età Pediatrica; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (M.M., C.F.), Programma di neuroradiologia con tecniche ad elevata complessità; Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (R.C., G.C., V.C., D.M.C.), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna; and UO Anatomia (G.C.), Istologia Patologica, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Italy
| | - Flavia Palombo
- From the UO Genetica Medica (Andrea Pietra), IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (Andrea Pietra, C.G.), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (F.P.), Programma di Neurogenetica; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (M.G., Antonella Pini, C.G.), UOC Neuropsichiatria dell'età Pediatrica; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (M.M., C.F.), Programma di neuroradiologia con tecniche ad elevata complessità; Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (R.C., G.C., V.C., D.M.C.), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna; and UO Anatomia (G.C.), Istologia Patologica, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Italy
| | - Melania Giannotta
- From the UO Genetica Medica (Andrea Pietra), IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (Andrea Pietra, C.G.), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (F.P.), Programma di Neurogenetica; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (M.G., Antonella Pini, C.G.), UOC Neuropsichiatria dell'età Pediatrica; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (M.M., C.F.), Programma di neuroradiologia con tecniche ad elevata complessità; Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (R.C., G.C., V.C., D.M.C.), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna; and UO Anatomia (G.C.), Istologia Patologica, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Italy
| | - Monica Maffei
- From the UO Genetica Medica (Andrea Pietra), IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (Andrea Pietra, C.G.), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (F.P.), Programma di Neurogenetica; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (M.G., Antonella Pini, C.G.), UOC Neuropsichiatria dell'età Pediatrica; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (M.M., C.F.), Programma di neuroradiologia con tecniche ad elevata complessità; Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (R.C., G.C., V.C., D.M.C.), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna; and UO Anatomia (G.C.), Istologia Patologica, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Italy
| | - Claudio Fiorini
- From the UO Genetica Medica (Andrea Pietra), IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (Andrea Pietra, C.G.), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (F.P.), Programma di Neurogenetica; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (M.G., Antonella Pini, C.G.), UOC Neuropsichiatria dell'età Pediatrica; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (M.M., C.F.), Programma di neuroradiologia con tecniche ad elevata complessità; Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (R.C., G.C., V.C., D.M.C.), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna; and UO Anatomia (G.C.), Istologia Patologica, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Italy
| | - Roberta Costa
- From the UO Genetica Medica (Andrea Pietra), IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (Andrea Pietra, C.G.), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (F.P.), Programma di Neurogenetica; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (M.G., Antonella Pini, C.G.), UOC Neuropsichiatria dell'età Pediatrica; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (M.M., C.F.), Programma di neuroradiologia con tecniche ad elevata complessità; Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (R.C., G.C., V.C., D.M.C.), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna; and UO Anatomia (G.C.), Istologia Patologica, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Italy
| | - Giovanna Cenacchi
- From the UO Genetica Medica (Andrea Pietra), IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (Andrea Pietra, C.G.), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (F.P.), Programma di Neurogenetica; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (M.G., Antonella Pini, C.G.), UOC Neuropsichiatria dell'età Pediatrica; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (M.M., C.F.), Programma di neuroradiologia con tecniche ad elevata complessità; Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (R.C., G.C., V.C., D.M.C.), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna; and UO Anatomia (G.C.), Istologia Patologica, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Italy
| | - Valerio Carelli
- From the UO Genetica Medica (Andrea Pietra), IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (Andrea Pietra, C.G.), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (F.P.), Programma di Neurogenetica; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (M.G., Antonella Pini, C.G.), UOC Neuropsichiatria dell'età Pediatrica; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (M.M., C.F.), Programma di neuroradiologia con tecniche ad elevata complessità; Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (R.C., G.C., V.C., D.M.C.), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna; and UO Anatomia (G.C.), Istologia Patologica, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Italy
| | - Duccio Maria Cordelli
- From the UO Genetica Medica (Andrea Pietra), IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (Andrea Pietra, C.G.), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (F.P.), Programma di Neurogenetica; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (M.G., Antonella Pini, C.G.), UOC Neuropsichiatria dell'età Pediatrica; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (M.M., C.F.), Programma di neuroradiologia con tecniche ad elevata complessità; Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (R.C., G.C., V.C., D.M.C.), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna; and UO Anatomia (G.C.), Istologia Patologica, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Italy
| | - Antonella Pini
- From the UO Genetica Medica (Andrea Pietra), IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (Andrea Pietra, C.G.), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (F.P.), Programma di Neurogenetica; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (M.G., Antonella Pini, C.G.), UOC Neuropsichiatria dell'età Pediatrica; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (M.M., C.F.), Programma di neuroradiologia con tecniche ad elevata complessità; Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (R.C., G.C., V.C., D.M.C.), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna; and UO Anatomia (G.C.), Istologia Patologica, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Italy
| | - Caterina Garone
- From the UO Genetica Medica (Andrea Pietra), IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (Andrea Pietra, C.G.), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (F.P.), Programma di Neurogenetica; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (M.G., Antonella Pini, C.G.), UOC Neuropsichiatria dell'età Pediatrica; IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna (M.M., C.F.), Programma di neuroradiologia con tecniche ad elevata complessità; Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (R.C., G.C., V.C., D.M.C.), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna; and UO Anatomia (G.C.), Istologia Patologica, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Italy
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7
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Theophanous A, Christodoulou A, Mattheou C, Sibai DS, Moss T, Santama N. Transcription factor UBF depletion in mouse cells results in downregulation of both downstream and upstream elements of the rRNA transcription network. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105203. [PMID: 37660911 PMCID: PMC10558777 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcription/processing of the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) precursor, as part of ribosome biosynthesis, is intensively studied and characterized in eukaryotic cells. Here, we constructed shRNA-based mouse cell lines partially silenced for the Upstream Binding Factor UBF, the master regulator of rRNA transcription and organizer of open rDNA chromatin. Full Ubf silencing in vivo is not viable, and these new tools allow further characterization of rRNA transcription and its coordination with cellular signaling. shUBF cells display cell cycle G1 delay and reduced 47S rRNA precursor and 28S rRNA at baseline and serum-challenged conditions. Growth-related mTOR signaling is downregulated with the fractions of active phospho-S6 Kinase and pEIF4E translation initiation factor reduced, similar to phosphorylated cell cycle regulator retinoblastoma, pRB, positive regulator of UBF availability/rRNA transcription. Additionally, we find transcription-competent pUBF (Ser484) severely restricted and its interacting initiation factor RRN3 reduced and responsive to extracellular cues. Furthermore, fractional UBF occupancy on the rDNA unit is decreased in shUBF, and expression of major factors involved in different aspects of rRNA transcription is severely downregulated by UBF depletion. Finally, we observe reduced RNA Pol1 occupancy over rDNA promoter sequences and identified unexpected regulation of RNA Pol1 expression, relative to serum availability and under UBF silencing, suggesting that regulation of rRNA transcription may not be restricted to modulation of Pol1 promoter binding/elongation rate. Overall, this work reveals that UBF depletion has a critical downstream and upstream impact on the whole network orchestrating rRNA transcription in mammalian cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andria Theophanous
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | | | | | - Dany S Sibai
- Laboratory of Growth and Development, St-Patrick Research Group in Basic Oncology, Cancer Division of the Quebec University Hospital Research Centre, Quebec, Canada; Department of Molecular Biology, Medical Biochemistry and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec, Canada
| | - Tom Moss
- Laboratory of Growth and Development, St-Patrick Research Group in Basic Oncology, Cancer Division of the Quebec University Hospital Research Centre, Quebec, Canada; Department of Molecular Biology, Medical Biochemistry and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec, Canada
| | - Niovi Santama
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.
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8
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Gao J, Pang X, Zhang L, Li S, Qin Z, Xie X, Liu J. Transcriptome analysis reveals the neuroprotective effect of Dlg4 against fastigial nucleus stimulation-induced ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats. BMC Neurosci 2023; 24:40. [PMID: 37525090 PMCID: PMC10391810 DOI: 10.1186/s12868-023-00811-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have demonstrated that electrical stimulation of the cerebellar fastigial nucleus (FNS) can considerably decrease infarction volume and improve neurofunction restoration following cerebral ischemia. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanism of the neuroprotective effect of FNS is still vague. METHODS In this study, we developed a rat model of ischemia/reperfusion that included 1 h FNS followed by reperfusion for 3, 6, 12, 24, and 72 h. The expression profile of molecular alterations in brain tissues was obtained by transcriptome sequencing at five different time points. The function and pathway of miRNA expression pattern and core genes were annotated by Allen Brain Atlas, STRING database and Cytoscape software, so as to explore the mechanism of FNS-mediated neuroprotection. RESULTS The results indicated that FNS is associated with the neurotransmitter cycle pathway. FNS may regulate the release of monoamine neurotransmitters in synaptic vesicles by targeting the corresponding miRNAs through core Dlg4 gene, stimulate the Alternative polyadenylation (APA) incident's anti -apoptosis effect on the brain, and stimulate the interaction activation of neurons in cerebellum, cortex/thalamus and other brain regions, regulate neurovascular coupling, and reduce cerebral damage. CONCLUSION FNS may activate neuronal and neurovascular coupling by regulating the release of neurotransmitters in synaptic vesicles through the methylation of core Dlg4 gene and the corresponding transcription factors and protein kinases, inducing the anti-apoptotic mechanism of APA events. The findings from our investigation offer a new perspective on the way brain tissue responds to FNS-driven neuroprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinggui Gao
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Xiaomin Pang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Shenghua Li
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Zhenxiu Qin
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Xiaoyun Xie
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Jingli Liu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
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9
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Hussein Y, Tripathi U, Choudhary A, Nayak R, Peles D, Rosh I, Rabinski T, Djamus J, Vatine GD, Spiegel R, Garin-Shkolnik T, Stern S. Early maturation and hyperexcitability is a shared phenotype of cortical neurons derived from different ASD-associated mutations. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:246. [PMID: 37414777 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02535-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized mainly by social and sensory-motor abnormal and repetitive behavior patterns. Over hundreds of genes and thousands of genetic variants were reported to be highly penetrant and causative of ASD. Many of these mutations cause comorbidities such as epilepsy and intellectual disabilities (ID). In this study, we measured cortical neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) of patients with four mutations in the genes GRIN2B, SHANK3, UBTF, as well as chromosomal duplication in the 7q11.23 region and compared them to neurons derived from a first-degree relative without the mutation. Using a whole-cell patch-clamp, we observed that the mutant cortical neurons demonstrated hyperexcitability and early maturation compared to control lines. These changes were characterized by increased sodium currents, increased amplitude and rate of excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs), and more evoked action potentials in response to current stimulation in early-stage cell development (3-5 weeks post differentiation). These changes that appeared in all the different mutant lines, together with previously reported data, indicate that an early maturation and hyperexcitability may be a convergent phenotype of ASD cortical neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yara Hussein
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Utkarsh Tripathi
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ashwani Choudhary
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ritu Nayak
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - David Peles
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Idan Rosh
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Tatiana Rabinski
- The Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences and the Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell (RMSC) Research Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
- The Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell (RMSC) Research Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Jose Djamus
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Gad David Vatine
- The Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences and the Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell (RMSC) Research Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
- The Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell (RMSC) Research Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Ronen Spiegel
- Center for Rare Diseases, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel
| | | | - Shani Stern
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
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10
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Urday P, Gayen nee’ Betal S, Sequeira Gomes R, Al-Kouatly HB, Solarin K, Chan JSY, Li D, Rahman I, Addya S, Boelig RC, Aghai ZH. SARS-CoV-2 Covid-19 Infection During Pregnancy and Differential DNA Methylation in Human Cord Blood Cells From Term Neonates. Epigenet Insights 2023; 16:25168657231184665. [PMID: 37425024 PMCID: PMC10328022 DOI: 10.1177/25168657231184665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). About 18.4% of total Covid-19 cases were reported in children. Even though vertical transmission from mother to infant is likely to occur at a low rate, exposure to COVID-19 during fetal life may alter DNA methylation patterns with potential long-term effects. Objective To determine if COVID-19 infection during pregnancy alters the DNA methylation patterns in umbilical cord blood cells from term infants and to identify potential pathways and genes affected by exposure to COVID-19 infection. Methods Umbilical cord blood was collected from 8 infants exposed to COVID-19 during pregnancy and 8 control infants with no COVID-19 exposure. Genomic DNA was isolated from umbilical cord blood cells and genome-wide DNA methylation was performed using Illumina Methylation EPIC Array. Results 119 differentially methylated loci were identified at the FDR level of 0.20 (64 hypermethylated loci and 55 hypomethylated loci) in umbilical cord blood cells of COVID-19 exposed neonates compared to the control group. Important canonical pathways identified by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) were related to stress response (corticotropin releasing hormone signaling, glucocorticoid receptor signaling, and oxytocin in brain signaling pathway), and cardiovascular disease and development (nitric oxide signaling in the cardiovascular system, apelin cardiomyocyte signaling pathways, factors promoting cardiogenesis, and renin-angiotensin signaling). The genes affected by the differential methylations were associated with cardiac, renal, hepatic, neurological diseases, developmental and immunological disorders. Conclusions COVID-19 induces differential DNA methylation in umbilical cord blood cells. The differentially methylated genes may contribute to hepatic, renal, cardiac, developmental and immunological disorders in offspring born to mothers with COVID-19 infection during pregnancy, and their developmental regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Urday
- Neonatology, Thomas Jefferson University/Nemours, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | | | - Huda B Al-Kouatly
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kolawole Solarin
- Neonatology, Thomas Jefferson University/Nemours, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Joanna SY Chan
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Dongmei Li
- Department of Clinical and Translational Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Irfan Rahman
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Sankar Addya
- Laboratory of Cancer Genomics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rupsa C Boelig
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Zubair H Aghai
- Neonatology, Thomas Jefferson University/Nemours, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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11
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Hori RT, Moshahid Khan M, Xiao J, Hargrove PW, Moss T, LeDoux MS. Behavioral and molecular effects of Ubtf knockout and knockdown in mice. Brain Res 2022; 1793:148053. [PMID: 35973608 PMCID: PMC10908547 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2022.148053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The UBTF E210K neuroregression syndrome is caused by de novo dominant mutations in UBTF (NM_014233.3:c.628G > A, p.Glu210Lys). In humans, onset is typically at 2.5 to 3 years and characterized by slow progression of global motor, cognitive and behavioral dysfunction. Other potentially pathogenic UBTF variants have been reported in humans with severe neurological disease and it remains undetermined if the UBTF E210K mutation operates via gain- and/or loss-of-function. Here we examine the behavioral, cognitive, motor, and molecular effects of Ubtf knockout and knockdown in mice as a means of gauging the role of loss-of-function in humans. Ubtf+/- mice show progression of behavioral (dominance tube), cognitive (cross maze), and mild motor abnormalities from 3 to 18 months. At 18 months, Ubtf+/- mice had more slips on a raised 9-mm round beam task, shorter latencies to fall on the accelerated rotarod, reduced open field vertical and jump counts, and significant deficits in spatial learning and memory. Via crosses to Nestin-Cre (NesCre) mice we found that homozygous Ubtf deletion limited to the central nervous system was embryonic lethal. Tamoxifen-induced homozygous knockdown of Ubtf in adult mice with the Cre-ERT2 system was associated with precipitous deterioration in neurological functioning. At the molecular level, 18-month-old Ubtf+/- mice showed mild increases in cerebellar 53BP1 immunoreactivity. These findings show that UBTF is essential for embryogenesis and survival in adults, and the deleterious effects of UBTF haploinsufficiency progress with age. Loss-of-function mechanisms may contribute, in part, to the human UBTF E210K neuroregression syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roderick T Hori
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Mohammad Moshahid Khan
- Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA; Department of Physical Therapy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
| | - Jianfeng Xiao
- Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Phillip W Hargrove
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Tom Moss
- Department of Molecular Biology, Medical Biochemistry and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Québec, Canada
| | - Mark S LeDoux
- Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA; Veracity Neuroscience, Memphis, TN, 38157, USA.
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12
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Clinico-Radiological Phenotype of UBTF c.628G>A Pathogenic Variant-Related Neurodegeneration in Childhood: A Case Report and Literature Review. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12091262. [PMID: 36138999 PMCID: PMC9496937 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12091262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: This work aims to describe the clinico-radiological phenotype of UBTF c.628G>A (p.Glu210Lys) pathogenic variant-related neurodegeneration in childhood. Methods: We describe the progress of clinical and neuroimaging features in a male individual who had childhood-onset neuroregression and carried the heterozygous UBTF c.628G>A (p.Glu210Lys) pathogenic variant. Clinical cases reported in the literature are reviewed. Results: Fifteen individuals, from 14 reported cases and the index case, were noted. The median age at onset of neurodegeneration was 3 years. Clinical phenotype was consistent among the affected individuals, with progressive motor, speech, cognitive, and social−emotional regression together with ataxia and prominent pyramidal and extrapyramidal symptoms and signs in early to middle childhood. All individuals had the same brain MRI features in terms of symmetric and diffuse T2 high signal intensity over the bilateral subcortical, periventricular, and peritrigonal white matter and progressive cortical and subcortical supratentorial atrophy. Two individuals were reported to have bilateral thalamic involvement. All individuals had profound intellectual disability with loss of verbal and/or ambulatory functions during follow-up. Conclusions: Individuals with the heterozygous UBTF c.628G>A (p.Glu210Lys) pathogenic variant had consistent clinical progress and neuroimaging features. Familiarity with this clinico-radiological phenotype may allow earlier diagnosis of this rare disease.
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13
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Noort S, van Oosterwijk J, Ma J, Garfinkle EA, Nance S, Walsh M, Song G, Reinhardt D, Pigazzi M, Locatelli F, Hasle H, Abrahamsson J, Jarosova M, Kelaidi C, Polychronopoulou S, van den Heuvel-Eibrink MM, Fornerod M, Gruber TA, Zwaan CM. Analysis of rare driving events in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia. Haematologica 2022; 108:48-60. [PMID: 35899387 PMCID: PMC9827169 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2021.280250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Elucidating genetic aberrations in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) provides insight in biology and may impact on risk-group stratification and clinical outcome. This study aimed to detect such aberrations in a selected series of samples without known (cyto)genetic aberration using molecular profiling. A cohort of 161 patients was selected from various study groups: DCOG, BFM, SJCRH, NOPHO and AEIOP. Samples were analyzed using RNA sequencing (n=152), whole exome (n=135) and/or whole genome sequencing (n=100). In 70 of 156 patients (45%), of whom RNA sequencing or whole genome sequencing was available, rearrangements were detected, 22 of which were novel; five involving ERG rearrangements and four NPM1 rearrangements. ERG rearrangements showed self-renewal capacity in vitro, and a distinct gene expression pattern. Gene set enrichment analysis of this cluster showed upregulation of gene sets derived from Ewing sarcoma, which was confirmed comparing gene expression profiles of AML and Ewing sarcoma. Furthermore, NPM1-rearranged cases showed cytoplasmic NPM1 localization and revealed HOXA/B gene overexpression, as described for NPM1 mutated cases. Single-gene mutations as identified in adult AML were rare. Patients had a median of 24 coding mutations (range, 7-159). Novel recurrent mutations were detected in UBTF (n=10), a regulator of RNA transcription. In 75% of patients an aberration with a prognostic impact could be detected. Therefore, we suggest these techniques need to become standard of care in diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanne Noort
- Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Jing Ma
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | | | - Stephanie Nance
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Michael Walsh
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Guangchun Song
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Dirk Reinhardt
- AML-BFM Study Group, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Essen, Germany
| | - Martina Pigazzi
- Women and Child Health Department, Hematology-Oncology Clinic and Lab, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Henrik Hasle
- Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jonas Abrahamsson
- Nordic Society for Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Institution for Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Marie Jarosova
- Center of Molecular Biology and Gene Therapy, Department of Internal Hematology and Oncology, Masaryk University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Charikleia Kelaidi
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Sophia Polychronopoulou
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Marry M. van den Heuvel-Eibrink
- Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands,Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Maarten Fornerod
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tanja A. Gruber
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - C. Michel Zwaan
- Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands,Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands,C. M. Zwaan
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14
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Methods to Improve Molecular Diagnosis in Genomic Cold Cases in Pediatric Neurology. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13020333. [PMID: 35205378 PMCID: PMC8871714 DOI: 10.3390/genes13020333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
During the last decade, genetic testing has emerged as an important etiological diagnostic tool for Mendelian diseases, including pediatric neurological conditions. A genetic diagnosis has a considerable impact on disease management and treatment; however, many cases remain undiagnosed after applying standard diagnostic sequencing techniques. This review discusses various methods to improve the molecular diagnostic rates in these genomic cold cases. We discuss extended analysis methods to consider, non-Mendelian inheritance models, mosaicism, dual/multiple diagnoses, periodic re-analysis, artificial intelligence tools, and deep phenotyping, in addition to integrating various omics methods to improve variant prioritization. Last, novel genomic technologies, including long-read sequencing, artificial long-read sequencing, and optical genome mapping are discussed. In conclusion, a more comprehensive molecular analysis and a timely re-analysis of unsolved cases are imperative to improve diagnostic rates. In addition, our current understanding of the human genome is still limited due to restrictions in technologies. Novel technologies are now available that improve upon some of these limitations and can capture all human genomic variation more accurately. Last, we recommend a more routine implementation of high molecular weight DNA extraction methods that is coherent with the ability to use and/or optimally benefit from these novel genomic methods.
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15
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Tremblay MG, Sibai DS, Valère M, Mars JC, Lessard F, Hori RT, Khan MM, Stefanovsky VY, LeDoux MS, Moss T. Ribosomal DNA promoter recognition is determined in vivo by cooperation between UBTF1 and SL1 and is compromised in the UBTF-E210K neuroregression syndrome. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1009644. [PMID: 35139074 PMCID: PMC8863233 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription of the ~200 mouse and human ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA) by RNA Polymerase I (RPI/PolR1) accounts for 80% of total cellular RNA, around 35% of all nuclear RNA synthesis, and determines the cytoplasmic ribosome complement. It is therefore a major factor controlling cell growth and its misfunction has been implicated in hypertrophic and developmental disorders. Activation of each rDNA repeat requires nucleosome replacement by the architectural multi-HMGbox factor UBTF to create a 15.7 kbp nucleosome free region (NFR). Formation of this NFR is also essential for recruitment of the TBP-TAFI factor SL1 and for preinitiation complex (PIC) formation at the gene and enhancer-associated promoters of the rDNA. However, these promoters show little sequence commonality and neither UBTF nor SL1 display significant DNA sequence binding specificity, making what drives PIC formation a mystery. Here we show that cooperation between SL1 and the longer UBTF1 splice variant generates the specificity required for rDNA promoter recognition in cell. We find that conditional deletion of the TAF1B subunit of SL1 causes a striking depletion of UBTF at both rDNA promoters but not elsewhere across the rDNA. We also find that while both UBTF1 and -2 variants bind throughout the rDNA NFR, only UBTF1 is present with SL1 at the promoters. The data strongly suggest an induced-fit model of RPI promoter recognition in which UBTF1 plays an architectural role. Interestingly, a recurrent UBTF-E210K mutation and the cause of a pediatric neurodegeneration syndrome provides indirect support for this model. E210K knock-in cells show enhanced levels of the UBTF1 splice variant and a concomitant increase in active rDNA copies. In contrast, they also display reduced rDNA transcription and promoter recruitment of SL1. We suggest the underlying cause of the UBTF-E210K syndrome is therefore a reduction in cooperative UBTF1-SL1 promoter recruitment that may be partially compensated by enhanced rDNA activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel G. Tremblay
- Laboratory of Growth and Development, St-Patrick Research Group in Basic Oncology, Cancer Division of the Quebec University Hospital Research Centre, Québec, Canada
| | - Dany S. Sibai
- Laboratory of Growth and Development, St-Patrick Research Group in Basic Oncology, Cancer Division of the Quebec University Hospital Research Centre, Québec, Canada
- Department of Molecular Biology, Medical Biochemistry and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Québec, Canada
| | - Melissa Valère
- Laboratory of Growth and Development, St-Patrick Research Group in Basic Oncology, Cancer Division of the Quebec University Hospital Research Centre, Québec, Canada
- Department of Molecular Biology, Medical Biochemistry and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Québec, Canada
| | - Jean-Clément Mars
- Laboratory of Growth and Development, St-Patrick Research Group in Basic Oncology, Cancer Division of the Quebec University Hospital Research Centre, Québec, Canada
- Department of Molecular Biology, Medical Biochemistry and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Québec, Canada
| | - Frédéric Lessard
- Laboratory of Growth and Development, St-Patrick Research Group in Basic Oncology, Cancer Division of the Quebec University Hospital Research Centre, Québec, Canada
| | | | - Mohammad Moshahid Khan
- Departments of Neurology and Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Victor Y. Stefanovsky
- Laboratory of Growth and Development, St-Patrick Research Group in Basic Oncology, Cancer Division of the Quebec University Hospital Research Centre, Québec, Canada
| | - Mark S. LeDoux
- Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, Memphis TN and Veracity Neuroscience LLC, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Tom Moss
- Laboratory of Growth and Development, St-Patrick Research Group in Basic Oncology, Cancer Division of the Quebec University Hospital Research Centre, Québec, Canada
- Department of Molecular Biology, Medical Biochemistry and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Québec, Canada
- * E-mail:
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16
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Knuutinen O, Pyle A, Suo-Palosaari M, Duff J, Froukh T, Lehesjoki AE, Kangas SM, Cassidy J, Maraqa L, Keski-Filppula R, Kokkonen H, Uusimaa J, Horvath R, Vieira P. Homozygous TAF1C variants are associated with a novel childhood-onset neurological phenotype. Clin Genet 2020; 98:493-498. [PMID: 32779182 DOI: 10.1111/cge.13827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
TATA-box binding protein associated factor, RNA polymerase I subunit C (TAF1C) is a component of selectivity factor 1 belonging to RNA polymerase I (Pol I) transcription machinery. We report two unrelated patients with homozygous TAF1C missense variants and an early onset neurological phenotype with severe global developmental delay. Clinical features included lack of speech and ambulation and epilepsy. MRI of the brain demonstrated widespread cerebral atrophy and frontal periventricular white matter hyperintensity. The phenotype resembled that of a previously described variant of UBTF, which encodes another transcription factor of Pol I. TAF1C variants were located in two conserved amino acid positions and were predicted to be deleterious. In patient-derived fibroblasts, TAF1C mRNA and protein expression levels were substantially reduced compared with healthy controls. We propose that the variants impairing TAF1C expression are likely pathogenic and relate to a novel neurological disease. This study expands the disease spectrum related to Pol I transcription machinery, associating the TAF1C missense variants with a severe neurological phenotype for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oula Knuutinen
- PEDEGO Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Angela Pyle
- Wellcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Maria Suo-Palosaari
- Medical Research Center, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Jennifer Duff
- Wellcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Tawfiq Froukh
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Philadelphia University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Anna-Elina Lehesjoki
- Folkhälsan Research Center and Medicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Salla M Kangas
- PEDEGO Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - James Cassidy
- Wellcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | | | - Riikka Keski-Filppula
- PEDEGO Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Hannaleena Kokkonen
- Northern Finland Laboratory Centre NordLab, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Johanna Uusimaa
- PEDEGO Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Clinic for Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Rita Horvath
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Päivi Vieira
- PEDEGO Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Clinic for Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
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17
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Recurrent de novo missense variant E210K in UBTF causes juvenile dystonia-parkinsonism. Neurol Sci 2020; 42:1217-1219. [PMID: 33026538 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-020-04758-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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18
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Ribosomopathies: New Therapeutic Perspectives. Cells 2020; 9:cells9092080. [PMID: 32932838 PMCID: PMC7564184 DOI: 10.3390/cells9092080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ribosomopathies are a group of rare diseases in which genetic mutations cause defects in either ribosome biogenesis or function, given specific phenotypes. Ribosomal proteins, and multiple other factors that are necessary for ribosome biogenesis (rRNA processing, assembly of subunits, export to cytoplasm), can be affected in ribosomopathies. Despite the need for ribosomes in all cell types, these diseases result mainly in tissue-specific impairments. Depending on the type of ribosomopathy and its pathogenicity, there are many potential therapeutic targets. The present manuscript will review our knowledge of ribosomopathies, discuss current treatments, and introduce the new therapeutic perspectives based on recent research. Diamond–Blackfan anemia, currently treated with blood transfusion prior to steroids, could be managed with a range of new compounds, acting mainly on anemia, such as L-leucine. Treacher Collins syndrome could be managed by various treatments, but it has recently been shown that proteasomal inhibition by MG132 or Bortezomib may improve cranial skeleton malformations. Developmental defects resulting from ribosomopathies could be also treated pharmacologically after birth. It might thus be possible to treat certain ribosomopathies without using multiple treatments such as surgery and transplants. Ribosomopathies remain an open field in the search for new therapeutic approaches based on our recent understanding of the role of ribosomes and progress in gene therapy for curing genetic disorders.
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19
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Thadathil N, Delotterie DF, Xiao J, Hori R, McDonald MP, Khan MM. DNA Double-Strand Break Accumulation in Alzheimer's Disease: Evidence from Experimental Models and Postmortem Human Brains. Mol Neurobiol 2020; 58:118-131. [PMID: 32895786 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-020-02109-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that accounts for a majority of dementia cases. AD is characterized by progressive neuronal death associated with neuropathological lesions consisting of neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques. While the pathogenesis of AD has been widely investigated, significant gaps in our knowledge remain about the cellular and molecular mechanisms promoting AD. Recent studies have highlighted the role of DNA damage, particularly DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), in the progression of neuronal loss in a broad spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that accumulation of DNA DSB plays an important role in AD pathogenesis. To test our hypothesis, we examined DNA DSB expression and DNA repair function in the hippocampus of human AD and non-AD brains by immunohistochemistry, ELISA, and RT-qPCR. We observed increased DNA DSB accumulation and reduced DNA repair function in the hippocampus of AD brains compared to the non-AD control brains. Next, we found significantly increased levels of DNA DSB and altered levels of DNA repair proteins in the hippocampus of 5xFAD mice compared to non-transgenic mice. Interestingly, increased accumulation of DNA DSBs and altered DNA repair proteins were also observed in cellular models of AD. These findings provided compelling evidence that AD is associated with accumulation of DNA DSB and/or alteration in DSB repair proteins which may influence an important early part of the pathway toward neural damage and memory loss in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nidheesh Thadathil
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 855 Monroe Avenue, 415 Link Building, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - David F Delotterie
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 855 Monroe Avenue, 415 Link Building, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Jianfeng Xiao
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 855 Monroe Avenue, 415 Link Building, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Roderick Hori
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Michael P McDonald
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 855 Monroe Avenue, 415 Link Building, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA.,Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Mohammad Moshahid Khan
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 855 Monroe Avenue, 415 Link Building, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA. .,Center for Muscle, Metabolism and Neuropathology, Division of Rehabilitation Sciences and Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Professions, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA.
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20
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Cipriani V, Pontikos N, Arno G, Sergouniotis PI, Lenassi E, Thawong P, Danis D, Michaelides M, Webster AR, Moore AT, Robinson PN, Jacobsen JO, Smedley D. An Improved Phenotype-Driven Tool for Rare Mendelian Variant Prioritization: Benchmarking Exomiser on Real Patient Whole-Exome Data. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:E460. [PMID: 32340307 PMCID: PMC7230372 DOI: 10.3390/genes11040460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Next-generation sequencing has revolutionized rare disease diagnostics, but many patients remain without a molecular diagnosis, particularly because many candidate variants usually survive despite strict filtering. Exomiser was launched in 2014 as a Java tool that performs an integrative analysis of patients' sequencing data and their phenotypes encoded with Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) terms. It prioritizes variants by leveraging information on variant frequency, predicted pathogenicity, and gene-phenotype associations derived from human diseases, model organisms, and protein-protein interactions. Early published releases of Exomiser were able to prioritize disease-causative variants as top candidates in up to 97% of simulated whole-exomes. The size of the tested real patient datasets published so far are very limited. Here, we present the latest Exomiser version 12.0.1 with many new features. We assessed the performance using a set of 134 whole-exomes from patients with a range of rare retinal diseases and known molecular diagnosis. Using default settings, Exomiser ranked the correct diagnosed variants as the top candidate in 74% of the dataset and top 5 in 94%; not using the patients' HPO profiles (i.e., variant-only analysis) decreased the performance to 3% and 27%, respectively. In conclusion, Exomiser is an effective support tool for rare Mendelian phenotype-driven variant prioritization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Cipriani
- William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK; (J.O.B.J.); (D.S.)
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1V 9EL, UK; (N.P.); (G.A.); (M.M.); (A.R.W.); (A.T.M.)
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London EC1V 2PD, UK
- UCL Genetics Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6AA, UK
| | - Nikolas Pontikos
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1V 9EL, UK; (N.P.); (G.A.); (M.M.); (A.R.W.); (A.T.M.)
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London EC1V 2PD, UK
| | - Gavin Arno
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1V 9EL, UK; (N.P.); (G.A.); (M.M.); (A.R.W.); (A.T.M.)
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London EC1V 2PD, UK
- North East Thames Regional Genetics Laboratory, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust, London WC1N 3BH, UK
| | | | - Eva Lenassi
- Manchester Royal Eye Hospital & University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9WL, UK; (P.I.S.); (E.L.)
| | - Penpitcha Thawong
- Department of Medical Sciences, Medical Genetics Section, National Institute of Health, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand;
| | - Daniel Danis
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA; (D.D.); (P.N.R.)
| | - Michel Michaelides
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1V 9EL, UK; (N.P.); (G.A.); (M.M.); (A.R.W.); (A.T.M.)
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London EC1V 2PD, UK
| | - Andrew R. Webster
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1V 9EL, UK; (N.P.); (G.A.); (M.M.); (A.R.W.); (A.T.M.)
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London EC1V 2PD, UK
| | - Anthony T. Moore
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1V 9EL, UK; (N.P.); (G.A.); (M.M.); (A.R.W.); (A.T.M.)
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London EC1V 2PD, UK
- Ophthalmology Department, UCSF School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA 94143-0644, USA
| | - Peter N. Robinson
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA; (D.D.); (P.N.R.)
| | - Julius O.B. Jacobsen
- William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK; (J.O.B.J.); (D.S.)
| | - Damian Smedley
- William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK; (J.O.B.J.); (D.S.)
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21
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Bastos F, Quinodoz M, Addor MC, Royer-Bertrand B, Fodstad H, Rivolta C, Poloni C, Superti-Furga A, Roulet-Perez E, Lebon S. Childhood neurodegeneration associated with a specific UBTF variant: a new case report and review of the literature. BMC Neurol 2020; 20:17. [PMID: 31931739 PMCID: PMC6958716 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-019-1586-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A new monogenic neurodegenerative disease affecting ribosomal metabolism has recently been identified in association with a monoallelic UBTF putative gain of function variant (NM_001076683.1:c.628G>A, hg19). Phenotype is consistent among these probands with progressive motor, cognitive, and behavioural regression in early to middle childhood. CASE PRESENTATION We report on a child with this monoallelic UBTF variant who presented with progressive disease including regression, episodes of subacute deterioration during febrile illnesses and a remarkable EEG pattern with a transient pattern of semi-periodic slow waves. CONCLUSIONS This case further supports the phenotype-genotype correlation of neurodegeneration associated with UBTF c.628G>A. Moreover, it brings new insights into the clinical features and EEG that could possibly serve as diagnostic markers of this otherwise nonspecific phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipa Bastos
- Department woman-mother-child, Unit of Paediatric Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Rue du Bugnon 21, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland. .,Great Ormond Street Hospital Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Steet, London, WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom.
| | - Mathieu Quinodoz
- Department of Computational Biology, Unit of Medical Genetics, University of Lausanne, Rue du Bugnon 27, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marie-Claude Addor
- Department of Medecine, Division of Genetic Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Rue du Bugnon 46, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Beryl Royer-Bertrand
- Department of Computational Biology, Unit of Medical Genetics, University of Lausanne, Rue du Bugnon 27, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Medecine, Division of Genetic Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Rue du Bugnon 46, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Heidi Fodstad
- Department of Medecine, Division of Genetic Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Rue du Bugnon 46, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Carlo Rivolta
- Department of Computational Biology, Unit of Medical Genetics, University of Lausanne, Rue du Bugnon 27, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH, United Kingdom
| | - Claudia Poloni
- Department woman-mother-child, Unit of Paediatric Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Rue du Bugnon 21, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Paediatrics, Sion Hospital, Avenue Grand-Champsec 80, 1950, Sion, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Superti-Furga
- Department of Medecine, Division of Genetic Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Rue du Bugnon 46, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Eliane Roulet-Perez
- Department woman-mother-child, Unit of Paediatric Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Rue du Bugnon 21, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sebastien Lebon
- Department woman-mother-child, Unit of Paediatric Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Rue du Bugnon 21, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
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22
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Hetman M, Slomnicki LP. Ribosomal biogenesis as an emerging target of neurodevelopmental pathologies. J Neurochem 2018; 148:325-347. [PMID: 30144322 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Revised: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Development of the nervous system is carried out by complex gene expression programs that are regulated at both transcriptional and translational level. In addition, quality control mechanisms such as the TP53-mediated apoptosis or neuronal activity-stimulated survival ensure successful neurogenesis and formation of functional circuitries. In the nucleolus, production of ribosomes is essential for protein synthesis. In addition, it participates in chromatin organization and regulates the TP53 pathway via the ribosomal stress response. Its tight regulation is required for maintenance of genomic integrity. Mutations in several ribosomal components and trans-acting ribosomal biogenesis factors result in neurodevelopmental syndromes that present with microcephaly, autism, intellectual deficits and/or progressive neurodegeneration. Furthermore, ribosomal biogenesis is perturbed by exogenous factors that disrupt neurodevelopment including alcohol or Zika virus. In this review, we present recent literature that argues for a role of dysregulated ribosomal biogenesis in pathogenesis of various neurodevelopmental syndromes. We also discuss potential mechanisms through which such dysregulation may lead to cellular pathologies of the developing nervous system including insufficient proliferation and/or loss of neuroprogenitors cells, apoptosis of immature neurons, altered neuronal morphogenesis, and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Hetman
- Departments of Neurological Surgery, Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.,Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
| | - Lukasz P Slomnicki
- Departments of Neurological Surgery, Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
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23
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Xiao J, Khan MM, Vemula S, Tian J, LeDoux MS. Consequences of Cre-mediated deletion of Ciz1 exon 5 in mice. FEBS Lett 2018; 592:3101-3110. [PMID: 30098009 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 07/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
CIZ1 plays a role in DNA synthesis at the G1/S checkpoint. Ciz1 gene-trap null mice manifest motor dysfunction, cell-cycle abnormalities, and DNA damage. In contrast, it has previously been reported that mouse embryonic fibroblasts derived from presumed Ciz1 knock-out mice (Ciz1tm1.1Homy/tm1.1Homy ) generated by crossing Cre-expressing mice with exon 5-floxed mice (Ciz1tm1Homy/tm1Homy ) do not exhibit evidence of enhanced DNA damage following γ-irradiation or cell-cycle defects. Here, we report that Ciz1tm1.1Homy/tm1.1Homy mice show loss of Ciz1 exon 5 but are neurologically normal and express abnormal transcripts (Ciz1ΔE5/ΔE5 mice) that are translated into one or more proteins of approximate wild-type size. Therefore, Ciz1tm1.1Homy/tm1.1Homy mice (Ciz1ΔE5/ΔE5 ) lose residues encoded by exon 5 but may gain function from novel amino acid sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianfeng Xiao
- Departments of Neurology, and Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Mohammad Moshahid Khan
- Departments of Neurology, and Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Satya Vemula
- Departments of Neurology, and Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jun Tian
- Departments of Neurology, and Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA.,Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mark S LeDoux
- Departments of Neurology, and Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
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24
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Marcogliese PC, Shashi V, Spillmann RC, Stong N, Rosenfeld JA, Koenig MK, Martínez-Agosto JA, Herzog M, Chen AH, Dickson PI, Lin HJ, Vera MU, Salamon N, Graham JM, Ortiz D, Infante E, Steyaert W, Dermaut B, Poppe B, Chung HL, Zuo Z, Lee PT, Kanca O, Xia F, Yang Y, Smith EC, Jasien J, Kansagra S, Spiridigliozzi G, El-Dairi M, Lark R, Riley K, Koeberl DD, Golden-Grant K, Yamamoto S, Wangler MF, Mirzaa G, Hemelsoet D, Lee B, Nelson SF, Goldstein DB, Bellen HJ, Pena LDM. IRF2BPL Is Associated with Neurological Phenotypes. Am J Hum Genet 2018; 103:245-260. [PMID: 30057031 PMCID: PMC6081494 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2018.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Interferon regulatory factor 2 binding protein-like (IRF2BPL) encodes a member of the IRF2BP family of transcriptional regulators. Currently the biological function of this gene is obscure, and the gene has not been associated with a Mendelian disease. Here we describe seven individuals who carry damaging heterozygous variants in IRF2BPL and are affected with neurological symptoms. Five individuals who carry IRF2BPL nonsense variants resulting in a premature stop codon display severe neurodevelopmental regression, hypotonia, progressive ataxia, seizures, and a lack of coordination. Two additional individuals, both with missense variants, display global developmental delay and seizures and a relatively milder phenotype than those with nonsense alleles. The IRF2BPL bioinformatics signature based on population genomics is consistent with a gene that is intolerant to variation. We show that the fruit-fly IRF2BPL ortholog, called pits (protein interacting with Ttk69 and Sin3A), is broadly detected, including in the nervous system. Complete loss of pits is lethal early in development, whereas partial knockdown with RNA interference in neurons leads to neurodegeneration, revealing a requirement for this gene in proper neuronal function and maintenance. The identified IRF2BPL nonsense variants behave as severe loss-of-function alleles in this model organism, and ectopic expression of the missense variants leads to a range of phenotypes. Taken together, our results show that IRF2BPL and pits are required in the nervous system in humans and flies, and their loss leads to a range of neurological phenotypes in both species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul C Marcogliese
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Vandana Shashi
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Rebecca C Spillmann
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Nicholas Stong
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Jill A Rosenfeld
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Mary Kay Koenig
- Division of Child & Adolescent Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Julián A Martínez-Agosto
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Matthew Herzog
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Agnes H Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90502, USA
| | - Patricia I Dickson
- Department of Pediatrics, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90502, USA
| | - Henry J Lin
- Department of Pediatrics, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90502, USA
| | - Moin U Vera
- Department of Pediatrics, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90502, USA
| | - Noriko Salamon
- Department of Radiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - John M Graham
- Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Damara Ortiz
- Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Elena Infante
- Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Wouter Steyaert
- Department of Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bart Dermaut
- Department of Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bruce Poppe
- Department of Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Hyung-Lok Chung
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Zhongyuan Zuo
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Pei-Tseng Lee
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Oguz Kanca
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Fan Xia
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yaping Yang
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Edward C Smith
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Joan Jasien
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Sujay Kansagra
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Gail Spiridigliozzi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Mays El-Dairi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Robert Lark
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Kacie Riley
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Dwight D Koeberl
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Katie Golden-Grant
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Shinya Yamamoto
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Michael F Wangler
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ghayda Mirzaa
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98105, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Dimitri Hemelsoet
- Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Brendan Lee
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Stanley F Nelson
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - David B Goldstein
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Hugo J Bellen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Loren D M Pena
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
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