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Wang SE, Xiong Y, Jang MA, Park KS, Donahue M, Velez J, Jin J, Jiang YH. Newly developed oral bioavailable EHMT2 inhibitor as a potential epigenetic therapy for Prader-Willi syndrome. Mol Ther 2024; 32:2662-2675. [PMID: 38796700 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.05.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is the prototypic genomic disorder resulting from deficiency of paternally expressed genes in the human chromosome 15q11-q13 region. The unique molecular mechanism involving epigenetic modifications renders PWS as the most attractive candidate to explore a proof-of-concept of epigenetic therapy in humans. The premise is that epigenetic modulations could reactivate the repressed PWS candidate genes from the maternal chromosome and offer therapeutic benefit. Our prior study identifies an EHMT2/G9a inhibitor, UNC0642, that reactivates the expression of PWS genes via reduction of H3K9me2. However, low brain permeability and poor oral bioavailability of UNC0642 preclude its advancement into translational studies in humans. In this study, a newly developed inhibitor, MS152, modified from the structure of UNC0642, has better brain penetration and greater potency and selectivity against EHMT2/G9a. MS152 reactivated maternally silenced PWS genes in PWS patient fibroblasts and in brain and liver tissues of PWS mouse models. Importantly, the molecular efficacy of oral administration is comparable with the intraperitoneal route. MS152 treatment in newborns ameliorates the perinatal lethality and poor growth, maintaining reactivation in a PWS mouse model at postnatal 90 days. Our findings provide strong support for MS152 as a first-in-class inhibitor to advance the epigenetic therapy of PWS in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Eun Wang
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven CT 06520, USA
| | - Yan Xiong
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Mi-Ae Jang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Genetics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, South Korea
| | - Kwang-Su Park
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Meaghan Donahue
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven CT 06520, USA
| | - Julia Velez
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Jian Jin
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
| | - Yong-Hui Jiang
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven CT 06520, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven CT 06520, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven CT 06520, USA.
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2
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Heimdörfer D, Vorleuter A, Eschlböck A, Spathopoulou A, Suarez-Cubero M, Farhan H, Reiterer V, Spanjaard M, Schaaf CP, Huber LA, Kremser L, Sarg B, Edenhofer F, Geley S, de Araujo MEG, Huettenhofer A. Truncated variants of MAGEL2 are involved in the etiologies of the Schaaf-Yang and Prader-Willi syndromes. Am J Hum Genet 2024; 111:1383-1404. [PMID: 38908375 PMCID: PMC11267527 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2024.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The neurodevelopmental disorders Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and Schaaf-Yang syndrome (SYS) both arise from genomic alterations within human chromosome 15q11-q13. A deletion of the SNORD116 cluster, encoding small nucleolar RNAs, or frameshift mutations within MAGEL2 result in closely related phenotypes in individuals with PWS or SYS, respectively. By investigation of their subcellular localization, we observed that in contrast to a predominant cytoplasmic localization of wild-type (WT) MAGEL2, a truncated MAGEL2 mutant was evenly distributed between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. To elucidate regulatory pathways that may underlie both diseases, we identified protein interaction partners for WT or mutant MAGEL2, in particular the survival motor neuron protein (SMN), involved in spinal muscular atrophy, and the fragile-X-messenger ribonucleoprotein (FMRP), involved in autism spectrum disorders. The interactome of the non-coding RNA SNORD116 was also investigated by RNA-CoIP. We show that WT and truncated MAGEL2 were both involved in RNA metabolism, while regulation of transcription was mainly observed for WT MAGEL2. Hence, we investigated the influence of MAGEL2 mutations on the expression of genes from the PWS locus, including the SNORD116 cluster. Thereby, we provide evidence for MAGEL2 mutants decreasing the expression of SNORD116, SNORD115, and SNORD109A, as well as protein-coding genes MKRN3 and SNRPN, thus bridging the gap between PWS and SYS.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Heimdörfer
- Institute of Genomics and RNomics, Biocenter Innsbruck, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Alexander Vorleuter
- Institute of Genomics and RNomics, Biocenter Innsbruck, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Alexander Eschlböck
- Institute for Molecular Biology, Genomics, Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine Group, University of Innsbruck and CMBI, Technikerstr. 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Angeliki Spathopoulou
- Institute for Molecular Biology, Genomics, Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine Group, University of Innsbruck and CMBI, Technikerstr. 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Marta Suarez-Cubero
- Institute for Molecular Biology, Genomics, Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine Group, University of Innsbruck and CMBI, Technikerstr. 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Hesso Farhan
- Institute of Pathophysiology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Veronika Reiterer
- Institute of Pathophysiology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Melanie Spanjaard
- Institute of Human Genetics, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christian P Schaaf
- Institute of Human Genetics, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lukas A Huber
- Institute of Cell Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Leopold Kremser
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Protein Core Facility, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Bettina Sarg
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Protein Core Facility, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Frank Edenhofer
- Institute for Molecular Biology, Genomics, Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine Group, University of Innsbruck and CMBI, Technikerstr. 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Stephan Geley
- Institute of Pathophysiology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Mariana E G de Araujo
- Institute of Cell Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Alexander Huettenhofer
- Institute of Genomics and RNomics, Biocenter Innsbruck, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
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Madeo SF, Zagaroli L, Vandelli S, Calcaterra V, Crinò A, De Sanctis L, Faienza MF, Fintini D, Guazzarotti L, Licenziati MR, Mozzillo E, Pajno R, Scarano E, Street ME, Wasniewska M, Bocchini S, Bucolo C, Buganza R, Chiarito M, Corica D, Di Candia F, Francavilla R, Fratangeli N, Improda N, Morabito LA, Mozzato C, Rossi V, Schiavariello C, Farello G, Iughetti L, Salpietro V, Salvatoni A, Giordano M, Grugni G, Delvecchio M. Endocrine features of Prader-Willi syndrome: a narrative review focusing on genotype-phenotype correlation. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1382583. [PMID: 38737552 PMCID: PMC11082343 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1382583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex genetic disorder caused by three different types of molecular genetic abnormalities. The most common defect is a deletion on the paternal 15q11-q13 chromosome, which is seen in about 60% of individuals. The next most common abnormality is maternal disomy 15, found in around 35% of cases, and a defect in the imprinting center that controls the activity of certain genes on chromosome 15, seen in 1-3% of cases. Individuals with PWS typically experience issues with the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, leading to excessive hunger (hyperphagia), severe obesity, various endocrine disorders, and intellectual disability. Differences in physical and behavioral characteristics between patients with PWS due to deletion versus those with maternal disomy are discussed in literature. Patients with maternal disomy tend to have more frequent neurodevelopmental problems, such as autistic traits and behavioral issues, and generally have higher IQ levels compared to those with deletion of the critical PWS region. This has led us to review the pertinent literature to investigate the possibility of establishing connections between the genetic abnormalities and the endocrine disorders experienced by PWS patients, in order to develop more targeted diagnostic and treatment protocols. In this review, we will review the current state of clinical studies focusing on endocrine disorders in individuals with PWS patients, with a specific focus on the various genetic causes. We will look at topics such as neonatal anthropometry, thyroid issues, adrenal problems, hypogonadism, bone metabolism abnormalities, metabolic syndrome resulting from severe obesity caused by hyperphagia, deficiencies in the GH/IGF-1 axis, and the corresponding responses to treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona F. Madeo
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Mother, Children and Adults, Pediatric Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Luca Zagaroli
- Department of Pediatrics, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Sara Vandelli
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Mother, Children and Adults, Post-Graduate School of Pediatrics, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Valeria Calcaterra
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Pediatric Department, Buzzi Children’s Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - Antonino Crinò
- Center for Rare Diseases and Congenital Defects, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Luisa De Sanctis
- Pediatric Endocrinology, Regina Margherita Children Hospital – Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Maria Felicia Faienza
- Pediatric Unit, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy
| | - Danilo Fintini
- Prader Willi Reference Center, Endocrinology and Diabetology Unit, Pediatric University Department, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Guazzarotti
- Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, University Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Licenziati
- Neuro-endocrine Diseases and Obesity Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Santobono-Pausilipon Children’s Hospital, Naples, Italy
| | - Enza Mozzillo
- Department of Translational and Medical Science, Section of Pediatrics, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Roberta Pajno
- Pediatric Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Emanuela Scarano
- Pediatric Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria E. Street
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Malgorzata Wasniewska
- Department of Human Pathology of Adulthood and Childhood, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
- Pediatric Unit, Gaetano Martino University Hospital of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Sarah Bocchini
- Prader Willi Reference Center, Endocrinology and Diabetology Unit, Pediatric University Department, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Carmen Bucolo
- Pediatric Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Raffaele Buganza
- Pediatric Endocrinology, Regina Margherita Children Hospital – Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Mariangela Chiarito
- Pediatric Unit, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy
| | - Domenico Corica
- Department of Human Pathology of Adulthood and Childhood, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
- Pediatric Unit, Gaetano Martino University Hospital of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Francesca Di Candia
- Department of Translational and Medical Science, Section of Pediatrics, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Nadia Fratangeli
- Division of Auxology, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Verbania, Italy
| | - Nicola Improda
- Neuro-endocrine Diseases and Obesity Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Santobono-Pausilipon Children’s Hospital, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Chiara Mozzato
- Child and Women Health Department, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Virginia Rossi
- Pediatric Department, Buzzi Children’s Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | | | - Giovanni Farello
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Public Health, Life and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Iughetti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Mother, Children and Adults, Pediatric Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Salpietro
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | | | - Mara Giordano
- Laboratory of Genetics, Struttura Complessa a Direzione Universitaria (SCDU) Biochimica Clinica, Ospedale Maggiore della Carità, Novara, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Graziano Grugni
- Division of Auxology, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Verbania, Italy
| | - Maurizio Delvecchio
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
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Rochedy A, Valette M, Tauber M, Poulain JP. Food socialization of children with Prader-Willi syndrome: an interdisciplinary problematization. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1177348. [PMID: 37346908 PMCID: PMC10280295 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1177348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Eating "disorders" of people with Prader-Willi syndrome are frequently reported in the biomedical literature. The eating behaviors are presented as a syndrome-specific trajectory over the course of a lifetime. Infants initially show anorexic behavior, which then develops into hyperphagia that lasts from childhood to adulthood and is characterized by strong cravings for food and relentless thinking about it. However, the sociocultural determinants of these food practices are not fully understood. In the first section of this article, we carry out a literature review of medical articles published on disordered eating in children with PWS. The second section draws on a social science perspective and offers an interdisciplinary problematization using the concept of food socialization. To conclude, the third section explores the challenges facing research and new questions that emerge from the alternative problematization that is the PWS Food Social Norms Internalization (FSNI) theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amandine Rochedy
- Université Toulouse—Jean Jaurès, Toulouse, France
- UMR5044 Centre d'Etude et de Recherche Travail, Organisation, Pouvoir (CERTOP), Toulouse, Midi-Pyrénées, France
| | - Marion Valette
- Reference Center of Prader-Willi Syndrome and Other Syndromes with Eating Disorders PRADORT, Children’s Hospital, Toulouse, France
- UMR1295, Centre for Epidemiology and Research in Population Health (CERPOP), Toulouse, France
| | - Maithé Tauber
- Reference Center of Prader-Willi Syndrome and Other Syndromes with Eating Disorders PRADORT, Children’s Hospital, Toulouse, France
- INSERM UMR1291 Institut Toulousain des Maladies Infectieuses et Inflammatoires, Toulouse, France
| | - Jean Pierre Poulain
- Université Toulouse—Jean Jaurès, Toulouse, France
- UMR5044 Centre d'Etude et de Recherche Travail, Organisation, Pouvoir (CERTOP), Toulouse, Midi-Pyrénées, France
- Chair of “Food Studies: Food, Cultures and Health”, Taylor’s Toulouse University Center, Taylor’s University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management and Centre for Asian Modernisation Studies, Taylor’s University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Ariyanfar S, Good DJ. Analysis of SNHG14: A Long Non-Coding RNA Hosting SNORD116, Whose Loss Contributes to Prader-Willi Syndrome Etiology. Genes (Basel) 2022; 14:97. [PMID: 36672838 PMCID: PMC9858946 DOI: 10.3390/genes14010097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The Small Nucleolar Host Gene 14 (SNHG14) is a host gene for small non-coding RNAs, including the SNORD116 small nucleolar C/D box RNA encoding locus. Large deletions of the SNHG14 locus, as well as microdeletions of the SNORD116 locus, lead to the neurodevelopmental genetic disorder Prader-Willi syndrome. This review will focus on the SNHG14 gene, its expression patterns, its role in human cancer, and the possibility that single nucleotide variants within the locus contribute to human phenotypes in the general population. This review will also include new in silico data analyses of the SNHG14 locus and new in situ RNA expression patterns of the Snhg14 RNA in mouse midbrain and hindbrain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Deborah J. Good
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
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Reference Genes across Nine Brain Areas of Wild Type and Prader-Willi Syndrome Mice: Assessing Differences in Igfbp7, Pcsk1, Nhlh2 and Nlgn3 Expression. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158729. [PMID: 35955861 PMCID: PMC9369261 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158729] [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: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Prader−Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder caused by the deletion or inactivation of paternally expressed imprinted genes at the chromosomal region 15q11−q13. The PWS-critical region (PWScr) harbors tandemly repeated non-protein coding IPW-A exons hosting the intronic SNORD116 snoRNA gene array that is predominantly expressed in brain. Paternal deletion of PWScr is associated with key PWS symptoms in humans and growth retardation in mice (PWScr model). Dysregulation of the hypothalamic−pituitary axis (HPA) is thought to be causally involved in the PWS phenotype. Here we performed a comprehensive reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis across nine different brain regions of wild-type (WT) and PWScr mice to identify stably expressed reference genes. Four methods (Delta Ct, BestKeeper, Normfinder and Genorm) were applied to rank 11 selected reference gene candidates according to their expression stability. The resulting panel consists of the top three most stably expressed genes suitable for gene-expression profiling and comparative transcriptome analysis of WT and/or PWScr mouse brain regions. Using these reference genes, we revealed significant differences in the expression patterns of Igfbp7, Nlgn3 and three HPA associated genes: Pcsk1, Pcsk2 and Nhlh2 across investigated brain regions of wild-type and PWScr mice. Our results raise a reasonable doubt on the involvement of the Snord116 in posttranscriptional regulation of Nlgn3 and Nhlh2 genes. We provide a valuable tool for expression analysis of specific genes across different areas of the mouse brain and for comparative investigation of PWScr mouse models to discover and verify different regulatory pathways affecting this complex disorder.
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Bortolin-Cavaillé ML, Quillien A, Thalalla Gamage S, Thomas J, Sas-Chen A, Sharma S, Plisson-Chastang C, Vandel L, Blader P, Lafontaine DLJ, Schwartz S, Meier J, Cavaillé J. Probing small ribosomal subunit RNA helix 45 acetylation across eukaryotic evolution. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:6284-6299. [PMID: 35648437 PMCID: PMC9226516 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
NAT10 is an essential enzyme that catalyzes N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C) in eukaryotic transfer RNA and 18S ribosomal RNA. Recent studies suggested that rRNA acetylation is dependent on SNORD13, a box C/D small nucleolar RNA predicted to base-pair with 18S rRNA via two antisense elements. However, the selectivity of SNORD13-dependent cytidine acetylation and its relationship to NAT10's essential function remain to be defined. Here, we demonstrate that SNORD13 is required for acetylation of a single cytidine of human and zebrafish 18S rRNA. In-depth characterization revealed that SNORD13-dependent ac4C is dispensable for human cell growth, ribosome biogenesis, translation and development. This loss of function analysis inspired a cross-evolutionary survey of the eukaryotic rRNA acetylation 'machinery' that led to the characterization of many novel metazoan SNORD13 genes. This includes an atypical SNORD13-like RNA in Drosophila melanogaster which guides ac4C to 18S rRNA helix 45 despite lacking one of the two rRNA antisense elements. Finally, we discover that Caenorhabditis elegans 18S rRNA is not acetylated despite the presence of an essential NAT10 homolog. Our findings shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying SNORD13-mediated rRNA acetylation across eukaryotic evolution and raise new questions regarding the biological and evolutionary relevance of this highly conserved rRNA modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Line Bortolin-Cavaillé
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCD), UMR5077, Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, F-31062 Toulouse, France
| | | | | | - Justin M Thomas
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Aldema Sas-Chen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Sunny Sharma
- RNA Molecular Biology, Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique (F.R.S./FNRS), Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Biopark campus, B-6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Célia Plisson-Chastang
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCD), UMR5077, Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, F-31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Laurence Vandel
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCD), UMR5077, Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, F-31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Patrick Blader
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCD), UMR5077, Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, F-31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Denis L J Lafontaine
- RNA Molecular Biology, Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique (F.R.S./FNRS), Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Biopark campus, B-6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Schraga Schwartz
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Jordan L Meier
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Jérôme Cavaillé
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +33 561335927; Fax: +33 561335886;
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Isles AR. The contribution of imprinted genes to neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:210. [PMID: 35597773 PMCID: PMC9124202 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-01972-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Imprinted genes are a subset of mammalian genes that are subject to germline parent-specific epigenetic modifications leading monoallelic expression. Imprinted gene expression is particularly prevalent in the brain and it is unsurprising that mutations affecting their expression can lead to neurodevelopmental and/or neuropsychiatric disorders in humans. Here I review the evidence for this, detailing key neurodevelopmental disorders linked to imprinted gene clusters on human chromosomes 15q11-q13 and 14q32, highlighting genes and possible regulatory links between these different syndromes. Similarly, rare copy number variant mutations at imprinted clusters also provide strong links between abnormal imprinted gene expression and the predisposition to severe psychiatric illness. In addition to direct links between brain-expressed imprinted genes and neurodevelopmental and/or neuropsychiatric disorders, I outline how imprinted genes that are expressed in another tissue hotspot, the placenta, contribute indirectly to abnormal brain and behaviour. Specifically, altered nutrient provisioning or endocrine signalling by the placenta caused by abnormal expression of imprinted genes may lead to increased prevalence of neurodevelopmental and/or neuropsychiatric problems in both the offspring and the mother.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony R. Isles
- grid.5600.30000 0001 0807 5670MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ UK
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Baldini L, Robert A, Charpentier B, Labialle S. Phylogenetic and molecular analyses identify SNORD116 targets involved in the Prader Willi syndrome. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 39:6454102. [PMID: 34893870 PMCID: PMC8789076 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The eutherian-specific SNORD116 family of repeated box C/D snoRNA genes is suspected to play a major role in the Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS), yet its molecular function remains poorly understood. Here, we combined phylogenetic and molecular analyses to identify candidate RNA targets. Based on the analysis of several eutherian orthologs, we found evidence of extensive birth-and-death and conversion events during SNORD116 gene history. However, the consequences for phylogenetic conservation were heterogeneous along the gene sequence. The standard snoRNA elements necessary for RNA stability and association with dedicated core proteins were the most conserved, in agreement with the hypothesis that SNORD116 generate genuine snoRNAs. In addition, one of the two antisense elements typically involved in RNA target recognition was largely dominated by a unique sequence present in at least one subset of gene paralogs in most species, likely the result of a selective effect. In agreement with a functional role, this ASE exhibited a hybridization capacity with putative mRNA targets that was strongly conserved in eutherians. Moreover, transient downregulation experiments in human cells showed that Snord116 controls the expression and splicing levels of these mRNAs. The functions of two of them, diacylglycerol kinase kappa and Neuroligin 3, extend the description of the molecular bases of PWS and reveal unexpected molecular links with the Fragile X syndrome and autism spectrum disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laeya Baldini
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, IMoPA, F-54000 Nancy, France
| | - Anne Robert
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, IMoPA, F-54000 Nancy, France
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10
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Wang T, Li J, Yang L, Wu M, Ma Q. The Role of Long Non-coding RNAs in Human Imprinting Disorders: Prospective Therapeutic Targets. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:730014. [PMID: 34760887 PMCID: PMC8573313 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.730014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Genomic imprinting is a term used for an intergenerational epigenetic inheritance and involves a subset of genes expressed in a parent-of-origin-dependent way. Imprinted genes are expressed preferentially from either the paternally or maternally inherited allele. Long non-coding RNAs play essential roles in regulating this allele-specific expression. In several well-studied imprinting clusters, long non-coding RNAs have been found to be essential in regulating temporal- and spatial-specific establishment and maintenance of imprinting patterns. Furthermore, recent insights into the epigenetic pathological mechanisms underlying human genomic imprinting disorders suggest that allele-specific expressed imprinted long non-coding RNAs serve as an upstream regulator of the expression of other protein-coding or non-coding imprinted genes in the same cluster. Aberrantly expressed long non-coding RNAs result in bi-allelic expression or silencing of neighboring imprinted genes. Here, we review the emerging roles of long non-coding RNAs in regulating the expression of imprinted genes, especially in human imprinting disorders, and discuss three strategies targeting the central long non-coding RNA UBE3A-ATS for the purpose of developing therapies for the imprinting disorders Prader-Willi syndrome and Angelman syndrome. In summary, a better understanding of long non-coding RNA-related mechanisms is key to the development of potential therapeutic targets for human imprinting disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingxuan Wang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jianjian Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Liuyi Yang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Manyin Wu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qing Ma
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
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11
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Langouët M, Gorka D, Orniacki C, Dupont-Thibert CM, Chung MS, Glatt-Deeley HR, Germain N, Crandall LJ, Cotney JL, Stoddard CE, Lalande M, Chamberlain SJ. Specific ZNF274 binding interference at SNORD116 activates the maternal transcripts in Prader-Willi syndrome neurons. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 29:3285-3295. [PMID: 32977341 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is characterized by neonatal hypotonia, developmental delay and hyperphagia/obesity. This disorder is caused by the absence of paternally expressed gene products from chromosome 15q11-q13. We previously demonstrated that knocking out ZNF274, a Kruppel-associated box-A-domain zinc finger protein capable of recruiting epigenetic machinery to deposit the H3K9me3 repressive histone modification, can activate expression from the normally silent maternal allele of SNORD116 in neurons derived from PWS induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). However, ZNF274 has many other targets in the genome in addition to SNORD116. Depleting ZNF274 will surely affect the expression of other important genes and disrupt other pathways. Here, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to delete ZNF274 binding sites at the SNORD116 locus to determine whether activation of the maternal copy of SNORD116 could be achieved without altering ZNF274 protein levels. We obtained similar activation of gene expression from the normally silenced maternal allele in neurons derived from PWS iPSCs, compared with ZNF274 knockout, demonstrating that ZNF274 is directly involved in the repression of SNORD116. These results suggest that interfering with ZNF274 binding at the maternal SNORD116 locus is a potential therapeutic strategy for PWS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maéva Langouët
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Dea Gorka
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Clarisse Orniacki
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Clémence M Dupont-Thibert
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Michael S Chung
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Heather R Glatt-Deeley
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Noelle Germain
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Leann J Crandall
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Justin L Cotney
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030, USA.,Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Christopher E Stoddard
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Marc Lalande
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030, USA.,Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Stormy J Chamberlain
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030, USA.,Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
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12
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SnoRNA in Cancer Progression, Metastasis and Immunotherapy Response. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10080809. [PMID: 34440039 PMCID: PMC8389557 DOI: 10.3390/biology10080809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary A much larger number of small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) have been found encoded within our genomes than we ever expected to see. The activities of the snoRNAs were thought restricted to the nucleolus, where they were first discovered. Now, however, their significant number suggests that their functions are more diverse. Studies in cancers have shown snoRNA levels to associate with different stages of disease progression, including with metastasis. In addition, relationships between snoRNA levels and response to immunotherapies, have been reported. Emerging technologies now allow snoRNA to be targeted directly in cancers, and the therapeutic value of this is being explored. Abstract Small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) were one of our earliest recognised classes of non-coding RNA, but were largely ignored by cancer investigators due to an assumption that their activities were confined to the nucleolus. However, as full genome sequences have become available, many new snoRNA genes have been identified, and multiple studies have shown their functions to be diverse. The consensus now is that many snoRNA are dysregulated in cancers, are differentially expressed between cancer types, stages and metastases, and they can actively modify disease progression. In addition, the regulation of the snoRNA class is dominated by the cancer-supporting mTOR signalling pathway, and they may have particular significance to immune cell function and anti-tumour immune responses. Given the recent advent of therapeutics that can target RNA molecules, snoRNA have robust potential as drug targets, either solely or in the context of immunotherapies.
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13
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Zahova SK, Humby T, Davies JR, Morgan JE, Isles AR. Comparison of mouse models reveals a molecular distinction between psychotic illness in PWS and schizophrenia. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:433. [PMID: 34417445 PMCID: PMC8379171 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01561-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations affecting paternal chromosome 15q11-q13, and characterized by hypotonia, hyperphagia, impaired cognition, and behavioural problems. Psychotic illness is a challenging problem for individuals with PWS and has different rates of prevalence in distinct PWS genotypes. Previously, we demonstrated behavioural and cognitive endophenotypes of relevance to psychiatric illness in a mouse model for one of the associated PWS genotypes, namely PWS-IC, in which deletion of the imprinting centre leads to loss of paternally imprinted gene expression and over-expression of Ube3a. Here we examine the broader gene expression changes that are specific to the psychiatric endophenotypes seen in this model. To do this we compared the brain transcriptomic profile of the PWS-IC mouse to the PWS-cr model that carries a deletion of the PWS minimal critical interval spanning the snoRNA Snord116 and Ipw. Firstly, we examined the same behavioural and cognitive endophenotypes of relevance to psychiatric illness in the PWS-cr mice. Unlike the PWS-IC mice, PWS-cr exhibit no differences in locomotor activity, sensory-motor gating, and attention. RNA-seq analysis of neonatal whole brain tissue revealed a greater number of transcriptional changes between PWS-IC and wild-type littermates than between PWS-cr and wild-type littermates. Moreover, the differentially expressed genes in the PWS-IC brain were enriched for GWAS variants of episodes of psychotic illness but, interestingly, not schizophrenia. These data illustrate the molecular pathways that may underpin psychotic illness in PWS and have implications for potential therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona K Zahova
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Trevor Humby
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Jennifer R Davies
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Joanne E Morgan
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Anthony R Isles
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
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14
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Tauber M, Diene G. Prader-Willi syndrome: Hormone therapies. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2021; 181:351-367. [PMID: 34238470 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-820683-6.00026-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorder linked to the lack of expression of specific maternally imprinted genes located in the chromosomal region 15q11-q13. Impaired hypothalamic development and function explain most of the phenotype that is characterized by a specific trajectory from anorexia at birth to excessive weight gain at later ages, which is accompanied by hyperphagia and early severe obesity, as well as by other hormonal deficiencies, behavioral deficits, and dysautonomia. In almost all patients, their endocrine dysfunction involves growth hormone deficiency and hypogonadism, which originate from a combination of both peripheral and hypothalamic origin, central hypothyroidism in 40%, precocious adrenarche in 30% of the cases, and in rare cases, also adrenocorticotropin deficiency and precocious puberty. In addition, the oxytocin (OXT) and ghrelin systems are impaired in most patients and involved in a poor suckling response at birth, and hyperphagia with food addiction, poor social skills, and emotional dysregulation. Current hormonal replacement treatments are the same as used in classical hormonal deficiencies, and recombinant human GH treatment is registered since 2000 and has dramatically changed the phenotype of these children. OXT and OXT analogue treatments are currently investigated as well as new molecules targeting the ghrelin system. The severe condition of PWS can be seen as a model to improve the fine description and treatments of hypothalamic dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maithé Tauber
- Centre de Référence du Syndrome de Prader-Willi, Hôpital des Enfants, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
| | - Gwenaelle Diene
- Centre de Référence du Syndrome de Prader-Willi, Hôpital des Enfants, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France
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15
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Baldini L, Charpentier B, Labialle S. Emerging Data on the Diversity of Molecular Mechanisms Involving C/D snoRNAs. Noncoding RNA 2021; 7:ncrna7020030. [PMID: 34066559 PMCID: PMC8162545 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna7020030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Box C/D small nucleolar RNAs (C/D snoRNAs) represent an ancient family of small non-coding RNAs that are classically viewed as housekeeping guides for the 2′-O-methylation of ribosomal RNA in Archaea and Eukaryotes. However, an extensive set of studies now argues that they are involved in mechanisms that go well beyond this function. Here, we present these pieces of evidence in light of the current comprehension of the molecular mechanisms that control C/D snoRNA expression and function. From this inventory emerges that an accurate description of these activities at a molecular level is required to let the snoRNA field enter in a second age of maturity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bruno Charpentier
- Correspondence: (B.C.); (S.L.); Tel.: +33-3-72-74-66-27 (B.C.); +33-3-72-74-66-51 (S.L.)
| | - Stéphane Labialle
- Correspondence: (B.C.); (S.L.); Tel.: +33-3-72-74-66-27 (B.C.); +33-3-72-74-66-51 (S.L.)
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16
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Kummerfeld DM, Raabe CA, Brosius J, Mo D, Skryabin BV, Rozhdestvensky TS. A Comprehensive Review of Genetically Engineered Mouse Models for Prader-Willi Syndrome Research. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:3613. [PMID: 33807162 PMCID: PMC8037846 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a neurogenetic multifactorial disorder caused by the deletion or inactivation of paternally imprinted genes on human chromosome 15q11-q13. The affected homologous locus is on mouse chromosome 7C. The positional conservation and organization of genes including the imprinting pattern between mice and men implies similar physiological functions of this locus. Therefore, considerable efforts to recreate the pathogenesis of PWS have been accomplished in mouse models. We provide a summary of different mouse models that were generated for the analysis of PWS and discuss their impact on our current understanding of corresponding genes, their putative functions and the pathogenesis of PWS. Murine models of PWS unveiled the contribution of each affected gene to this multi-facetted disease, and also enabled the establishment of the minimal critical genomic region (PWScr) responsible for core symptoms, highlighting the importance of non-protein coding genes in the PWS locus. Although the underlying disease-causing mechanisms of PWS remain widely unresolved and existing mouse models do not fully capture the entire spectrum of the human PWS disorder, continuous improvements of genetically engineered mouse models have proven to be very powerful and valuable tools in PWS research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delf-Magnus Kummerfeld
- Medical Faculty, Core Facility Transgenic Animal and Genetic Engineering Models (TRAM), University of Muenster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149 Muenster, Germany;
| | - Carsten A. Raabe
- Research Group Regulatory Mechanisms of Inflammation, Institute of Medical Biochemistry (ZMBE), University of Muenster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149 Muenster, Germany;
- Institute of Experimental Pathology (ZMBE), University of Muenster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149 Muenster, Germany;
| | - Juergen Brosius
- Institute of Experimental Pathology (ZMBE), University of Muenster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149 Muenster, Germany;
- Institutes for Systems Genetics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Dingding Mo
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China;
| | - Boris V. Skryabin
- Medical Faculty, Core Facility Transgenic Animal and Genetic Engineering Models (TRAM), University of Muenster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149 Muenster, Germany;
| | - Timofey S. Rozhdestvensky
- Medical Faculty, Core Facility Transgenic Animal and Genetic Engineering Models (TRAM), University of Muenster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149 Muenster, Germany;
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17
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Mendiola AJP, LaSalle JM. Epigenetics in Prader-Willi Syndrome. Front Genet 2021; 12:624581. [PMID: 33659026 PMCID: PMC7917289 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.624581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder that affects approximately 1 in 20,000 individuals worldwide. Symptom progression in PWS is classically characterized by two nutritional stages. Stage 1 is hypotonia characterized by poor muscle tone that leads to poor feeding behavior causing failure to thrive in early neonatal life. Stage 2 is followed by the development of extreme hyperphagia, also known as insatiable eating and fixation on food that often leads to obesity in early childhood. Other major features of PWS include obsessive-compulsive and hoarding behaviors, intellectual disability, and sleep abnormalities. PWS is genetic disorder mapping to imprinted 15q11.2-q13.3 locus, specifically at the paternally expressed SNORD116 locus of small nucleolar RNAs and noncoding host gene transcripts. SNORD116 is processed into several noncoding components and is hypothesized to orchestrate diurnal changes in metabolism through epigenetics, according to functional studies. Here, we review the current status of epigenetic mechanisms in PWS, with an emphasis on an emerging role for SNORD116 in circadian and sleep phenotypes. We also summarize current ongoing therapeutic strategies, as well as potential implications for more common human metabolic and psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Janine M. LaSalle
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Genome Center, MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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18
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Abstract
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by hyperphagia, hypotonia, learning disability, as well as a range of psychiatric conditions. The conservation of the PWS genetic interval on chromosome 15q11-q13 in human, and a cluster of genes on mouse chromosome 7, has facilitated the use of mice as animal models for PWS. Some models faithfully mimic the loss of all gene expression from the paternally inherited PWS genetic interval, whereas others target smaller regions or individual genes. Collectively, these models have provided insight into the mechanisms, many of which lead to alterations in hypothalamic function, underlying the core symptoms of PWS, including growth retardation, hyperphagia and metabolism, reproductive maturation and endophenotypes of relevance to behavioral and psychiatric problems. Here we review and summarize these studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Zahova
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony R Isles
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
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19
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Salles J, Lacassagne E, Eddiry S, Franchitto N, Salles JP, Tauber M. What can we learn from PWS and SNORD116 genes about the pathophysiology of addictive disorders? Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:51-59. [PMID: 33082508 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-00917-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Addictive disorders have been much investigated and many studies have underlined the role of environmental factors such as social interaction in the vulnerability to and maintenance of addictive behaviors. Research on addiction pathophysiology now suggests that certain behavioral disorders are addictive, one example being food addiction. Yet, despite the growing body of knowledge on addiction, it is still unknown why only some of the individuals exposed to a drug become addicted to it. This observation has prompted the consideration of genetic heritage, neurodevelopmental trajectories, and gene-environment interactions in addiction vulnerability. Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder in which children become addicted to food and show early social impairment. PWS is caused by the deficiency of imprinted genes located on the 15q11-q13 chromosome. Among them, the SNORD116 gene was identified as the minimal gene responsible for the PWS phenotype. Several studies have also indicated the role of the Snord116 gene in animal and cellular models to explain PWS pathophysiology and phenotype (including social impairment and food addiction). We thus present here the evidence suggesting the potential involvement of the SNORD116 gene in addictive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliette Salles
- Université de Toulouse III, F-31000, Toulouse, France.,CHU de Toulouse, Service de psychiatrie et psychologie, psychiatrie Toulouse, F-31000, Toulouse, France.,Inserm Unité 1043, CNRS 5828, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse III, F-31000, Toulouse, France.,CHU de Toulouse, Institut des Handicaps Neurologiques, Psychiatriques et Sensoriels, F-31000, Toulouse, France
| | - Emmanuelle Lacassagne
- Inserm Unité 1043, CNRS 5828, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse III, F-31000, Toulouse, France
| | - Sanaa Eddiry
- Inserm Unité 1043, CNRS 5828, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse III, F-31000, Toulouse, France
| | - Nicolas Franchitto
- Université de Toulouse III, F-31000, Toulouse, France.,CHU de Toulouse, Service d'addictologie clinique, urgences réanimation médecine, F-31000, Toulouse, France
| | - Jean-Pierre Salles
- Inserm Unité 1043, CNRS 5828, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse III, F-31000, Toulouse, France
| | - Maithé Tauber
- Université de Toulouse III, F-31000, Toulouse, France. .,Inserm Unité 1043, CNRS 5828, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse III, F-31000, Toulouse, France. .,CHU de Toulouse, Institut des Handicaps Neurologiques, Psychiatriques et Sensoriels, F-31000, Toulouse, France. .,CHU de Toulouse, Centre de référence du Syndrome de Prader-Willi et autres syndromes avec troubles du comportement alimentaire, Unité d'endocrinologie, obésités, maladies osseuses, génétique et gynécologie médicale, F-31000, Toulouse, France.
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20
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Alsaif M, Pakseresht M, Mackenzie ML, Gaylinn B, Thorner MO, Freemark M, Field CJ, Prado CM, Haqq AM. Dietary macronutrient regulation of acyl and desacyl ghrelin concentrations in children with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2020; 93:579-589. [PMID: 32638409 DOI: 10.1111/cen.14279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effects of dietary macronutrients on orexigenic and anorexigenic hormones in children are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE To explore effects of varying dietary macronutrients on appetite-regulating hormones [acyl ghrelin (AG) and desacyl ghrelin (DAG), glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), peptide tyrosine tyrosine (PYY) and insulin] in children with PWS and healthy children (HC). DESIGN Randomized, cross-over experiments compared two test diets [high protein-low carbohydrate (HP-LC) and high protein-low fat (HP-LF)] to a STANDARD meal (55% carbohydrate, 30% fat, 15% protein). Experiment 1 included ten children with PWS (median age 6.63 years; BMI z 1.05); experiment 2 had seven HC (median age 12.54 years; BMI z 0.95). Blood samples were collected at baseline and at 60-minute intervals for 4 hours. Independent linear mixed models were adjusted for age, sex and BMI z-score. RESULTS Fasting and post-prandial AG and DAG concentrations are elevated in PWS children; the ratio of AG/DAG is normal. Food consumption reduced AG and DAG concentrations in both PWS and HC. GLP-1 levels were higher in PWS after the HP-LC and HP-LF meals than the STANDARD meal (P = .02-0.04). The fasting proinsulin to insulin ratio (0.08 vs 0.05) was higher in children with PWS (P = .05) than in HC. Average appetite scores in HC declined after all three meals (P = .02) but were lower after the HP-LC and HP-LF meals than the STANDARD meal. CONCLUSION Altered processing of proinsulin and increased GLP-1 secretion in children with PWS after a high protein meal intake might enhance satiety and reduce energy intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha Alsaif
- Department of Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AL, Canada
| | - Mohammadreza Pakseresht
- Department of Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AL, Canada
| | - Michelle L Mackenzie
- Department of Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AL, Canada
| | - Bruce Gaylinn
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Michael O Thorner
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Michael Freemark
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Catherine J Field
- Department of Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AL, Canada
| | - Carla M Prado
- Department of Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AL, Canada
| | - Andrea M Haqq
- Department of Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AL, Canada
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AL, Canada
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21
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Hebras J, Marty V, Personnaz J, Mercier P, Krogh N, Nielsen H, Aguirrebengoa M, Seitz H, Pradere JP, Guiard BP, Cavaille J. Reassessment of the involvement of Snord115 in the serotonin 2c receptor pathway in a genetically relevant mouse model. eLife 2020; 9:60862. [PMID: 33016258 PMCID: PMC7673782 DOI: 10.7554/elife.60862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
SNORD115 has been proposed to promote the activity of serotonin (HTR2C) receptor via its ability to base pair with its pre-mRNA and regulate alternative RNA splicing and/or A-to-I RNA editing. Because SNORD115 genes are deleted in most patients with the Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), diminished HTR2C receptor activity could contribute to the impaired emotional response and/or compulsive overeating characteristic of this disease. In order to test this appealing but never demonstrated hypothesis in vivo, we created a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Snord115 knockout mouse. Surprisingly, we uncovered only modest region-specific alterations in Htr2c RNA editing profiles, while Htr2c alternative RNA splicing was unchanged. These subtle changes, whose functional relevance remains uncertain, were not accompanied by any discernible defects in anxio-depressive-like phenotypes. Energy balance and eating behavior were also normal, even after exposure to high-fat diet. Our study raises questions concerning the physiological role of SNORD115, notably its involvement in behavioural disturbance associated with PWS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jade Hebras
- Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire Eucaryote, Centre de Biologie Intégrative, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Virginie Marty
- Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire Eucaryote, Centre de Biologie Intégrative, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Jean Personnaz
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1048, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), France Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires (I2MC), Université de Toulouse Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Pascale Mercier
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR5089, Toulouse, France
| | - Nicolai Krogh
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henrik Nielsen
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marion Aguirrebengoa
- LBCMCP, Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Hervé Seitz
- IGH (CNRS and University of Montpellier), Montpellier, France
| | - Jean-Phillipe Pradere
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1048, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), France Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires (I2MC), Université de Toulouse Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Bruno P Guiard
- Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale (CRCA), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Jérôme Cavaille
- Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire Eucaryote, Centre de Biologie Intégrative, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
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22
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Chung MS, Langouët M, Chamberlain SJ, Carmichael GG. Prader-Willi syndrome: reflections on seminal studies and future therapies. Open Biol 2020; 10:200195. [PMID: 32961075 PMCID: PMC7536080 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.200195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is caused by the loss of function of the paternally inherited 15q11-q13 locus. This region is governed by genomic imprinting, a phenomenon in which genes are expressed exclusively from one parental allele. The genomic imprinting of the 15q11-q13 locus is established in the germline and is largely controlled by a bipartite imprinting centre. One part, termed the Prader-Willi syndrome imprinting center (PWS-IC), comprises a CpG island that is unmethylated on the paternal allele and methylated on the maternal allele. The second part, termed the Angelman syndrome imprinting centre, is required to silence the PWS_IC in the maternal germline. The loss of the paternal contribution of the imprinted 15q11-q13 locus most frequently occurs owing to a large deletion of the entire imprinted region but can also occur through maternal uniparental disomy or an imprinting defect. While PWS is considered a contiguous gene syndrome based on large-deletion and uniparental disomy patients, the lack of expression of only non-coding RNA transcripts from the SNURF-SNRPN/SNHG14 may be the primary cause of PWS. Patients with small atypical deletions of the paternal SNORD116 cluster alone appear to have most of the PWS related clinical phenotypes. The loss of the maternal contribution of the 15q11-q13 locus causes a separate and distinct condition called Angelman syndrome. Importantly, while much has been learned about the regulation and expression of genes and transcripts deriving from the 15q11-q13 locus, there remains much to be learned about how these genes and transcripts contribute at the molecular level to the clinical traits and developmental aspects of PWS that have been observed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Gordon G. Carmichael
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, UCONN Health, 400 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
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23
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Pace M, Falappa M, Freschi A, Balzani E, Berteotti C, Lo Martire V, Kaveh F, Hovig E, Zoccoli G, Amici R, Cerri M, Urbanucci A, Tucci V. Loss of Snord116 impacts lateral hypothalamus, sleep, and food-related behaviors. JCI Insight 2020; 5:137495. [PMID: 32365348 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.137495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Imprinted genes are highly expressed in the hypothalamus; however, whether specific imprinted genes affect hypothalamic neuromodulators and their functions is unknown. It has been suggested that Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by lack of paternal expression at chromosome 15q11-q13, is characterized by hypothalamic insufficiency. Here, we investigate the role of the paternally expressed Snord116 gene within the context of sleep and metabolic abnormalities of PWS, and we report a significant role of this imprinted gene in the function and organization of the 2 main neuromodulatory systems of the lateral hypothalamus (LH) - namely, the orexin (OX) and melanin concentrating hormone (MCH) - systems. We observed that the dynamics between neuronal discharge in the LH and the sleep-wake states of mice with paternal deletion of Snord116 (PWScrm+/p-) are compromised. This abnormal state-dependent neuronal activity is paralleled by a significant reduction in OX neurons in the LH of mutant mice. Therefore, we propose that an imbalance between OX- and MCH-expressing neurons in the LH of mutant mice reflects a series of deficits manifested in the PWS, such as dysregulation of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, food intake, and temperature control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Pace
- Genetics and Epigenetics of Behaviour Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, Italy
| | - Matteo Falappa
- Genetics and Epigenetics of Behaviour Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, Italy.,Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Riabilitazione, Oftalmologia, Genetica e Scienze Materno-Infantili (DINOGMI), Università degli Studi di Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Andrea Freschi
- Genetics and Epigenetics of Behaviour Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, Italy
| | - Edoardo Balzani
- Genetics and Epigenetics of Behaviour Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, Italy
| | - Chiara Berteotti
- PRISM Lab, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Viviana Lo Martire
- PRISM Lab, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fatemeh Kaveh
- Department of Tumor Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Eivind Hovig
- Department of Tumor Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Centre for Bioinformatics, Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Giovanna Zoccoli
- PRISM Lab, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Roberto Amici
- Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Matteo Cerri
- Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alfonso Urbanucci
- Department of Tumor Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Valter Tucci
- Genetics and Epigenetics of Behaviour Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, Italy
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24
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Pace M, Colombi I, Falappa M, Freschi A, Bandarabadi M, Armirotti A, Encarnación BM, Adamantidis AR, Amici R, Cerri M, Chiappalone M, Tucci V. Loss of Snord116 alters cortical neuronal activity in mice: a preclinical investigation of Prader–Willi syndrome. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 29:2051-2064. [DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by metabolic alteration and sleep abnormalities mostly related to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep disturbances. The disease is caused by genomic imprinting defects that are inherited through the paternal line. Among the genes located in the PWS region on chromosome 15 (15q11-q13), small nucleolar RNA 116 (Snord116) has been previously associated with intrusions of REM sleep into wakefulness in humans and mice. Here, we further explore sleep regulation of PWS by reporting a study with PWScrm+/p− mouse line, which carries a paternal deletion of Snord116. We focused our study on both macrostructural electrophysiological components of sleep, distributed among REMs and nonrapid eye movements. Of note, here, we study a novel electroencephalography (EEG) graphoelements of sleep for mouse studies, the well-known spindles. EEG biomarkers are often linked to the functional properties of cortical neurons and can be instrumental in translational studies. Thus, to better understand specific properties, we isolated and characterized the intrinsic activity of cortical neurons using in vitro microelectrode array. Our results confirm that the loss of Snord116 gene in mice influences specific properties of REM sleep, such as theta rhythms and, for the first time, the organization of REM episodes throughout sleep–wake cycles. Moreover, the analysis of sleep spindles present novel specific phenotype in PWS mice, indicating that a new catalog of sleep biomarkers can be informative in preclinical studies of PWS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Pace
- Genetics and Epigenetics of Behaviour (GEB), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genova 16163, Italy
| | - Ilaria Colombi
- Genetics and Epigenetics of Behaviour (GEB), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genova 16163, Italy
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Riabilitazione, Oftalmologia, Genetica e Scienze Materno-Infantili (DINOGMI), Università degli Studi di Genova, Genova 16132, Italy
| | - Matteo Falappa
- Genetics and Epigenetics of Behaviour (GEB), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genova 16163, Italy
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Riabilitazione, Oftalmologia, Genetica e Scienze Materno-Infantili (DINOGMI), Università degli Studi di Genova, Genova 16132, Italy
| | - Andrea Freschi
- Genetics and Epigenetics of Behaviour (GEB), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genova 16163, Italy
| | - Mojtaba Bandarabadi
- Centre for Experimental Neurology, Department of Neurology, Inselspital University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern 3010, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Armirotti
- Analytical Chemistry Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genova 16163, Italy
| | | | - Antoine R Adamantidis
- Centre for Experimental Neurology, Department of Neurology, Inselspital University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern 3010, Switzerland
- Department of Clinical Research, Inselspital University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern 3010, Switzerland
| | - Roberto Amici
- Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Bologna 40126, Italy
| | - Matteo Cerri
- Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Bologna 40126, Italy
| | - Michela Chiappalone
- Rehab Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genova 16163, Italy
| | - Valter Tucci
- Genetics and Epigenetics of Behaviour (GEB), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genova 16163, Italy
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25
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26
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Bratkovič T, Božič J, Rogelj B. Functional diversity of small nucleolar RNAs. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:1627-1651. [PMID: 31828325 PMCID: PMC7038934 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz1140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 11/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are short non-protein-coding RNAs with a long-recognized role in tuning ribosomal and spliceosomal function by guiding ribose methylation and pseudouridylation at targeted nucleotide residues of ribosomal and small nuclear RNAs, respectively. SnoRNAs are increasingly being implicated in regulation of new types of post-transcriptional processes, for example rRNA acetylation, modulation of splicing patterns, control of mRNA abundance and translational efficiency, or they themselves are processed to shorter stable RNA species that seem to be the principal or alternative bioactive isoform. Intriguingly, some display unusual cellular localization under exogenous stimuli, or tissue-specific distribution. Here, we discuss the new and unforeseen roles attributed to snoRNAs, focusing on the presumed mechanisms of action. Furthermore, we review the experimental approaches to study snoRNA function, including high resolution RNA:protein and RNA:RNA interaction mapping, techniques for analyzing modifications on targeted RNAs, and cellular and animal models used in snoRNA biology research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomaž Bratkovič
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Aškerčeva cesta 7, SI1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Janja Božič
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Department of Biotechnology, Jamova cesta 39, SI1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Biomedical Research Institute BRIS, Puhova ulica 10, SI1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Boris Rogelj
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Aškerčeva cesta 7, SI1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Jozef Stefan Institute, Department of Biotechnology, Jamova cesta 39, SI1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Biomedical Research Institute BRIS, Puhova ulica 10, SI1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.,University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Večna pot 113, SI1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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27
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Skryabin BV, Kummerfeld DM, Gubar L, Seeger B, Kaiser H, Stegemann A, Roth J, Meuth SG, Pavenstädt H, Sherwood J, Pap T, Wedlich-Söldner R, Sunderkötter C, Schwartz YB, Brosius J, Rozhdestvensky TS. Pervasive head-to-tail insertions of DNA templates mask desired CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing events. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eaax2941. [PMID: 32095517 PMCID: PMC7015686 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aax2941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas9-mediated homology-directed DNA repair is the method of choice for precise gene editing in a wide range of model organisms, including mouse and human. Broad use by the biomedical community refined the method, making it more efficient and sequence specific. Nevertheless, the rapidly evolving technique still contains pitfalls. During the generation of six different conditional knockout mouse models, we discovered that frequently (sometimes solely) homology-directed repair and/or nonhomologous end joining mechanisms caused multiple unwanted head-to-tail insertions of donor DNA templates. Disturbingly, conventionally applied PCR analysis, in most cases, failed to identify these multiple integration events, which led to a high rate of falsely claimed precisely edited alleles. We caution that comprehensive analysis of modified alleles is essential and offer practical solutions to correctly identify precisely edited chromosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris V Skryabin
- Medical Faculty, Core Facility Transgenic Animal and Genetic Engineering Models (TRAM), University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Delf-Magnus Kummerfeld
- Medical Faculty, Core Facility Transgenic Animal and Genetic Engineering Models (TRAM), University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Leonid Gubar
- Medical Faculty, Core Facility Transgenic Animal and Genetic Engineering Models (TRAM), University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Birte Seeger
- Medical Faculty, Core Facility Transgenic Animal and Genetic Engineering Models (TRAM), University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Helena Kaiser
- Medical Faculty, Core Facility Transgenic Animal and Genetic Engineering Models (TRAM), University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Anja Stegemann
- Medical Faculty, Core Facility Transgenic Animal and Genetic Engineering Models (TRAM), University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Johannes Roth
- Institute of Immunology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Sven G Meuth
- Clinic of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | | | - Joanna Sherwood
- Institute of Experimental Musculoskeletal Medicine (IMM), University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Thomas Pap
- Institute of Experimental Musculoskeletal Medicine (IMM), University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | | | - Cord Sunderkötter
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University Hospital Halle, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Yuri B Schwartz
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Juergen Brosius
- Institute of Experimental Pathology (ZMBE), University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany.,Institutes for Systems Genetics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Timofey S Rozhdestvensky
- Medical Faculty, Core Facility Transgenic Animal and Genetic Engineering Models (TRAM), University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
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28
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Zhang SF, Gao J, Liu CM. The Role of Non-Coding RNAs in Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Front Genet 2019; 10:1033. [PMID: 31824553 PMCID: PMC6882276 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.01033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-coding RNAs, a group of ribonucleic acids that are ubiquitous in the body and do not encode proteins, emerge as important regulatory factors in almost all biological processes in the brain. Extensive studies have suggested the involvement of non-coding RNAs in brain development and neurodevelopmental disorders, and dysregulation of non-coding RNAs is associated with abnormal brain development and the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders. Here we provide an overview of the roles and working mechanisms of non-coding RNAs, and discuss potential clinical applications of non-coding RNAs as diagnostic and prognostic markers and as therapeutic targets in neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang-Feng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Jun Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medicine Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Chang-Mei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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29
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Kim Y, Wang SE, Jiang YH. Epigenetic therapy of Prader-Willi syndrome. Transl Res 2019; 208:105-118. [PMID: 30904443 PMCID: PMC6527448 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2019.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Revised: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex and multisystem neurobehavioral disorder. The molecular mechanism of PWS is deficiency of paternally expressed gene gene or genes from the chromosome 15q11-q13. Due to imprinted gene regulation, the same genes in the maternal chromosome 15q11-q13 are structurally intact but transcriptionally repressed by an epigenetic mechanism. The unique molecular defect underlying PWS renders an exciting opportunity to explore epigenetic-based therapy to reactivate the expression of repressed PWS genes from the maternal chromosome. Inactivation of H3K9m3 methyltransferase SETDB1 and zinc finger protein ZNF274 results in reactivation of SNRPN and SNORD116 cluster from the maternal chromosomes in PWS patient iPSCs and iPSC-derived neurons, respectively. High content screening of small molecule libraries using cells derived from transgenic mice carrying the SNRPN-EGFP fusion protein has discovered that inhibitors of EHMT2/G9a, a histone 3 lysine 9 methyltransferase, are capable of reactivating expression of paternally expressed SNRPN and SNORD116 from the maternal chromosome, both in cultured PWS patient-derived fibroblasts and in a PWS mouse model. Treatment with an EMHT2/G9a inhibitor also rescues perinatal lethality and failure to thrive phenotypes in a PWS mouse model. These findings present the first evidence to support a proof-of-principle for epigenetic-based therapy for the PWS in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuna Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University of School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Sung Eun Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University of School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Yong-Hui Jiang
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University of School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina; Department of Neurobiology, Duke University of School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina; Department of Program in Genetics and Genomics, Duke University of School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina; Department of Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Duke University of School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina.
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30
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Hoeppner MP, Denisenko E, Gardner PP, Schmeier S, Poole AM. An Evaluation of Function of Multicopy Noncoding RNAs in Mammals Using ENCODE/FANTOM Data and Comparative Genomics. Mol Biol Evol 2019; 35:1451-1462. [PMID: 29617896 PMCID: PMC5967550 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msy046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian diversification has coincided with a rapid proliferation of various types of noncoding RNAs, including members of both snRNAs and snoRNAs. The significance of this expansion however remains obscure. While some ncRNA copy-number expansions have been linked to functionally tractable effects, such events may equally likely be neutral, perhaps as a result of random retrotransposition. Hindering progress in our understanding of such observations is the difficulty in establishing function for the diverse features that have been identified in our own genome. Projects such as ENCODE and FANTOM have revealed a hidden world of genomic expression patterns, as well as a host of other potential indicators of biological function. However, such projects have been criticized, particularly from practitioners in the field of molecular evolution, where many suspect these data provide limited insight into biological function. The molecular evolution community has largely taken a skeptical view, thus it is important to establish tests of function. We use a range of data, including data drawn from ENCODE and FANTOM, to examine the case for function for the recent copy number expansion in mammals of six evolutionarily ancient RNA families involved in splicing and rRNA maturation. We use several criteria to assess evidence for function: conservation of sequence and structure, genomic synteny, evidence for transposition, and evidence for species-specific expression. Applying these criteria, we find that only a minority of loci show strong evidence for function and that, for the majority, we cannot reject the null hypothesis of no function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc P Hoeppner
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Elena Denisenko
- Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Paul P Gardner
- Biomolecular Interaction Centre, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Sebastian Schmeier
- Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Anthony M Poole
- Bioinformatics Institute, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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31
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Carias KV, Wevrick R. Preclinical Testing in Translational Animal Models of Prader-Willi Syndrome: Overview and Gap Analysis. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2019; 13:344-358. [PMID: 30989085 PMCID: PMC6447752 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2019.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder causing endocrine, musculoskeletal, and neurological dysfunction. PWS is caused by the inactivation of contiguous genes, complicating the development of targeted therapeutics. Clinical trials are now underway in PWS, with more trials to be implemented in the next few years. PWS-like endophenotypes are recapitulated in gene-targeted mice in which the function of one or more PWS genes is disrupted. These animal models can guide priorities for clinical trials or provide information about efficacy of a compound within the context of the specific disease. We now review the current status of preclinical studies that measure the effect of therapeutics on PWS-like endophenotypes. Seven categories of therapeutics (oxytocin and related compounds, K+-ATP channel agonists, melanocortin 4 receptor agonists, incretin mimetics and/or GLP-1 receptor agonists, cannabinoids, ghrelin agents, and Caralluma fimbriata [cactus] extract) have been tested for their effect on endophenotypes in both PWS animal models and clinical trials. Many other therapeutics have been tested in clinical trials, but not preclinical models of PWS or vice versa. Fostering dialogs among investigators performing preclinical validation of animal models and those implementing clinical studies will accelerate the discovery and translation of therapies into clinical practice in PWS.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Vanessa Carias
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Rachel Wevrick
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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32
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Ectopic expression of Snord115 in choroid plexus interferes with editing but not splicing of 5-Ht2c receptor pre-mRNA in mice. Sci Rep 2019; 9:4300. [PMID: 30862860 PMCID: PMC6414643 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-39940-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Serotonin 5-HT2C receptor is a G-protein coupled excitatory receptor that regulates several biochemical pathways and has been implicated in obesity, mental state, sleep cycles, autism, neuropsychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. The activity of 5-HT2CR is regulated via alternative splicing and A to I editing of exon Vb of its pre-mRNA. Snord115 is a small nucleolar RNA that is expressed in mouse neurons and displays an 18-nucleotide base complementary to exon Vb of 5-HT2CR pre-mRNA. For almost two decades this putative guide element of Snord115 has wandered like a ghost through the literature in attempts to elucidate the biological significance of this complementarity. In mice, Snord115 is expressed in neurons and absent in the choroid plexus where, in contrast, 5-Ht2cr mRNA is highly abundant. Here we report the analysis of 5-Ht2cr pre-mRNA posttranscriptional processing via RNA deep sequencing in a mouse model that ectopically expresses Snord115 in the choroid plexus. In contrast to previous reports, our analysis demonstrated that Snord115 does not control alternative splicing of 5-Ht2cr pre-mRNA in vivo. We identified a modest, yet statistically significant reduction of 5-Ht2cr pre-mRNA A to I editing at the major A, B, C and D sites. We suggest that Snord115 and exon Vb of 5Ht2cr pre-mRNA form a double-stranded structure that is subject to ADAR-mediated A to I editing. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive Snord115 gain-of-function analysis based on in vivo mouse models.
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Costa RA, Ferreira IR, Cintra HA, Gomes LHF, Guida LDC. Genotype-Phenotype Relationships and Endocrine Findings in Prader-Willi Syndrome. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:864. [PMID: 31920975 PMCID: PMC6923197 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex imprinting disorder related to genomic errors that inactivate paternally-inherited genes on chromosome 15q11-q13 with severe implications on endocrine, cognitive and neurologic systems, metabolism, and behavior. The absence of expression of one or more genes at the PWS critical region contributes to different phenotypes. There are three molecular mechanisms of occurrence: paternal deletion of the 15q11-q13 region; maternal uniparental disomy 15; or imprinting defects. Although there is a clinical diagnostic consensus criteria, DNA methylation status must be confirmed through genetic testing. The endocrine system can be the most affected in PWS, and growth hormone replacement therapy provides improvement in growth, body composition, and behavioral and physical attributes. A key feature of the syndrome is the hypothalamic dysfunction that may be the basis of several endocrine symptoms. Clinical and molecular complexity in PWS enhances the importance of genetic diagnosis in therapeutic definition and genetic counseling. So far, no single gene mutation has been described to contribute to this genetic disorder or related to any exclusive symptoms. Here we proposed to review individually disrupted genes within the PWS critical region and their reported clinical phenotypes related to the syndrome. While genes such as MKRN3, MAGEL2, NDN, or SNORD115 do not address the full spectrum of PWS symptoms and are less likely to have causal implications in PWS major clinical signs, SNORD116 has emerged as a critical, and possibly, a determinant candidate in PWS, in the recent years. Besides that, the understanding of the biology of the PWS SNORD genes is fairly low at the present. These non-coding RNAs exhibit all the hallmarks of RNA methylation guides and can be incorporated into ribonucleoprotein complexes with possible hypothalamic and endocrine functions. Also, DNA conservation between SNORD sequences across placental mammals strongly suggests that they have a functional role as RNA entities on an evolutionary basis. The broad clinical spectrum observed in PWS and the absence of a clear genotype-phenotype specific correlation imply that the numerous genes involved in the syndrome have an additive deleterious effect on different phenotypes when deficiently expressed.
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Coulson RL, Powell WT, Yasui DH, Dileep G, Resnick J, LaSalle JM. Prader-Willi locus Snord116 RNA processing requires an active endogenous allele and neuron-specific splicing by Rbfox3/NeuN. Hum Mol Genet 2018; 27:4051-4060. [PMID: 30124848 PMCID: PMC6240740 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddy296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Revised: 06/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), an imprinted neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by metabolic, sleep and neuropsychiatric features, is caused by the loss of paternal SNORD116, containing only non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). The primary SNORD116 transcript is processed into small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), which localize to nucleoli, and their spliced host gene 116HG, which is retained at its site of transcription. While functional complementation of the SNORD116 ncRNAs is a desirable goal for treating PWS, the mechanistic requirements of SNORD116 RNA processing are poorly understood. Here we developed and tested a novel transgenic mouse which ubiquitously expresses Snord116 on both a wild-type and a Snord116 paternal deletion (Snord116+/-) background. Interestingly, while the Snord116 transgene was ubiquitously expressed in multiple tissues, splicing of the transgene and production of snoRNAs was limited to brain tissues. Knockdown of Rbfox3, encoding neuron-specific splicing factor neuronal nuclei (NeuN) in Snord116+/--derived neurons, reduced splicing of the transgene in neurons. RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization for 116HG revealed a single significantly larger signal in transgenic mice, demonstrating colocalization of transgenic and endogenous 116HG RNAs. Similarly, significantly increased snoRNA levels were detected in transgenic neuronal nucleoli, indicating that transgenic Snord116 snoRNAs were effectively processed and localized. In contrast, neither transgenic 116HG nor snoRNAs were detectable in either non-neuronal tissues or Snord116+/- neurons. Together, these results demonstrate that exogenous expression and neuron-specific splicing of the Snord116 locus are insufficient to rescue the genetic deficiency of Snord116 paternal deletion. Elucidating the mechanisms regulating Snord116 processing and localization is essential to develop effective gene replacement therapies for PWS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rochelle L Coulson
- Microbiology and Immunology, Genome Center, and MIND Institute, UC Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Weston T Powell
- Microbiology and Immunology, Genome Center, and MIND Institute, UC Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Dag H Yasui
- Microbiology and Immunology, Genome Center, and MIND Institute, UC Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Gayathri Dileep
- Microbiology and Immunology, Genome Center, and MIND Institute, UC Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
| | - James Resnick
- Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Janine M LaSalle
- Microbiology and Immunology, Genome Center, and MIND Institute, UC Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
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The Role of the Prader-Willi Syndrome Critical Interval for Epigenetic Regulation, Transcription and Phenotype. EPIGENOMES 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes2040018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by loss of expression of the paternally inherited genes on chromosome 15q11.2-q13. However, the core features of PWS have been attributed to a critical interval (PWS-cr) within the 15q11.2-q13 imprinted gene cluster, containing the small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) SNORD116 and non-coding RNA IPW (Imprinted in Prader-Willi) exons. SNORD116 affects the transcription profile of hundreds of genes, possibly via DNA methylation or post-transcriptional modification, although the exact mechanism is not completely clear. IPW on the other hand has been shown to specifically modulate histone methylation of a separate imprinted locus, the DLK1-DIO3 cluster, which itself is associated with several neurodevelopmental disorders with similarities to PWS. Here we review what is currently known of the molecular targets of SNORD116 and IPW and begin to disentangle their roles in contributing to the Prader-Willi Syndrome phenotype.
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Mertsch S, Schlicht K, Melkonyan H, Schlatt S, Thanos S. snRPN controls the ability of neurons to regenerate axons. Restor Neurol Neurosci 2018; 36:31-43. [PMID: 29439367 DOI: 10.3233/rnn-170780] [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] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) of mammals lose the ability to regenerate injured axons during postnatal maturation, but little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms. OBJECTIVE It remains of particular importance to understand the mechanisms of axonal regeneration to develop new therapeutic approaches for nerve injuries. METHODS Retinas from newborn to adult monkeys (Callithrix jacchus)1 were obtained immediately after death and cultured in vitro. Growths of axons were monitored using microscopy and time-lapse video cinematography. Immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, qRT-PCR, and genomics were performed to characterize molecules associated with axonal regeneration and growth. A genomic screen was performed by using retinal explants versus native and non-regenerative explants obtained from eye cadavers on the day of birth, and hybridizing the mRNA with cross-reacting cDNA on conventional human microarrays. Followed the genomic screen, siRNA experiments were conducted to identify the functional involvement of identified candidates. RESULTS Neuron-specific human ribonucleoprotein N (snRPN) was found to be a potential regulator of impaired axonal regeneration during neuronal maturation in these animals. In particular, up-regulation of snRPN was observed during retinal maturation, coinciding with a decline in regenerative ability. Axon regeneration was reactivated in snRPN-knockout retinal ex vivo explants of adult monkey. CONCLUSION These results suggest that coordinated snRPN-driven activities within the neuron-specific ribonucleoprotein complex regulate the regenerative ability of RGCs in primates, thereby highlighting a potential new role for snRPN within neurons and the possibility of novel postinjury therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Mertsch
- Institute of Experimental Ophthalmology and DFG-Excellence Center, Cells in Motion (CiM, area C.4), School of Medicine, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.,Department of Ophthalmology, Laboratory of Experimental Ophthalmology, University Clinic Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Katrin Schlicht
- Institute of Experimental Ophthalmology and DFG-Excellence Center, Cells in Motion (CiM, area C.4), School of Medicine, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Harutyun Melkonyan
- Institute of Experimental Ophthalmology and DFG-Excellence Center, Cells in Motion (CiM, area C.4), School of Medicine, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Stefan Schlatt
- Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CeRA) and DFG-Excellence Center, Cells in Motion (CiM, area A.2), School of Medicine, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Solon Thanos
- Institute of Experimental Ophthalmology and DFG-Excellence Center, Cells in Motion (CiM, area C.4), School of Medicine, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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Abstract
Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are a family of conserved nuclear RNAs that function in the modification of small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) or ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), or participate in the processing of rRNAs during ribosome subunit maturation. Eukaryotic DNA transcription and RNA processing produce many long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) species. Although most lncRNAs are processed like typical mRNAs to be 5' capped and 3' polyadenylated, other types of lncRNAs are stabilized from primary Pol II transcripts by alternative mechanisms. One way to generate stable lncRNAs is to co-operate with snoRNA processing to produce snoRNA-ended lncRNAs (sno-lncRNAs) and 5' snoRNA-ended and 3'-polyadenylated lncRNAs (SPAs). Rather than silently accumulating in the nucleus, some sno-lncRNAs and SPAs are involved in the regulation of pre-rRNA transcription and alternative splicing of pre-mRNAs. Here we provide a mini-review to discuss the biogenesis and functions of these unusually processed lncRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Hang Xing
- a State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology , Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Shanghai , China
| | - Ling-Ling Chen
- a State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology , Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Shanghai , China.,b School of Life Science and Technology , ShanghaiTech University , Shanghai , China
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Kochmanski JJ, Marchlewicz EH, Cavalcante RG, Perera BPU, Sartor MA, Dolinoy DC. Longitudinal Effects of Developmental Bisphenol A Exposure on Epigenome-Wide DNA Hydroxymethylation at Imprinted Loci in Mouse Blood. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2018; 126:077006. [PMID: 30044229 PMCID: PMC6108846 DOI: 10.1289/ehp3441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Revised: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/15/2018] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic machinery plays an important role in genomic imprinting, a developmental process that establishes parent-of-origin-specific monoallelic gene expression. Although a number of studies have investigated the role of 5-methylcytosine in imprinting control, the contribution of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) to this epigenetic phenomenon remains unclear. OBJECTIVES Using matched mouse blood samples (from mice at 2, 4, and 10 months of age), our objective was to examine the effects of perinatal bisphenol A (BPA) exposure (50 μg/kg diet) on longitudinal 5-hmC patterns at imprinted regions. We also aimed to test the hypothesis that 5-hmC would show defined patterns at imprinted genes that persist across the life course. METHODS Genome-wide 5-hmC levels were measured using hydroxymethylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (HMeDIP-seq). Modeling of differential hydroxymethylation by BPA exposure was performed using a pipeline of bioinformatics tools, including the csaw R package. RESULTS Based on BPA exposure, we identified 5,950 differentially hydroxymethylated regions (DHMRs), including 12 DHMRs that were annotated to murine imprinted genes—Gnas, Grb10, Plagl1, Klf14, Pde10a, Snrpn, Airn, Cmah, Ppp1r9a, Kcnq1, Phactr2, and Pde4d. When visualized, these imprinted gene DHMRs showed clear, consistent patterns of differential 5-hmC by developmental BPA exposure that persisted throughout adulthood. CONCLUSIONS These data show long-term establishment of 5-hmC marks at imprinted loci during development. Further, the effect of perinatal BPA exposure on 5-hmC at specific imprinted loci indicates that developmental exposure to environmental toxicants may alter long-term imprinted gene regulation via an epigenetic mechanism. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP3441.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph J Kochmanski
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Elizabeth H Marchlewicz
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Raymond G Cavalcante
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Bambarendage P U Perera
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Maureen A Sartor
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Dana C Dolinoy
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Geets E, Meuwissen MEC, Van Hul W. Clinical, molecular genetics and therapeutic aspects of syndromic obesity. Clin Genet 2018; 95:23-40. [PMID: 29700824 DOI: 10.1111/cge.13367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Revised: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Obesity has become a major health problem worldwide. To date, more than 25 different syndromic forms of obesity are known in which one (monogenic) or multiple (polygenic) genes are involved. This review gives an overview of these forms and focuses more in detail on 6 syndromes: Prader Willi Syndrome and Prader Willi like phenotype, Bardet Biedl Syndrome, Alström Syndrome, Wilms tumor, Aniridia, Genitourinary malformations and mental Retardation syndrome and 16p11.2 (micro)deletions. Years of research provided plenty of information on the molecular genetics of these disorders and the obesity phenotype leading to a more individualized treatment of the symptoms, however, many questions still remain unanswered. As these obesity syndromes have different signs and symptoms in common, it makes it difficult to accurately diagnose patients which may result in inappropriate treatment of the disease. Therefore, the big challenge for clinicians and scientists is to more clearly differentiate all syndromic forms of obesity to provide conclusive genetic explanations and eventually deliver accurate genetic counseling and treatment. In addition, further delineation of the (functions of the) underlying genes with the use of array- or next-generation sequencing-based technology will be helpful to unravel the mechanisms of energy metabolism in the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Geets
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp and Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - M E C Meuwissen
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp and Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - W Van Hul
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp and Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
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Polex-Wolf J, Lam BY, Larder R, Tadross J, Rimmington D, Bosch F, Cenzano VJ, Ayuso E, Ma MK, Rainbow K, Coll AP, O’Rahilly S, Yeo GS. Hypothalamic loss of Snord116 recapitulates the hyperphagia of Prader-Willi syndrome. J Clin Invest 2018; 128:960-969. [PMID: 29376887 PMCID: PMC5824864 DOI: 10.1172/jci97007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Profound hyperphagia is a major disabling feature of Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). Characterization of the mechanisms that underlie PWS-associated hyperphagia has been slowed by the paucity of animal models with increased food intake or obesity. Mice with a microdeletion encompassing the Snord116 cluster of noncoding RNAs encoded within the Prader-Willi minimal deletion critical region have previously been reported to show growth retardation and hyperphagia. Here, consistent with previous reports, we observed growth retardation in Snord116+/-P mice with a congenital paternal Snord116 deletion. However, these mice neither displayed increased food intake nor had reduced hypothalamic expression of the proprotein convertase 1 gene PCSK1 or its upstream regulator NHLH2, which have recently been suggested to be key mediators of PWS pathogenesis. Specifically, we disrupted Snord116 expression in the mediobasal hypothalamus in Snord116fl mice via bilateral stereotaxic injections of a Cre-expressing adeno-associated virus (AAV). While the Cre-injected mice had no change in measured energy expenditure, they became hyperphagic between 9 and 10 weeks after injection, with a subset of animals developing marked obesity. In conclusion, we show that selective disruption of Snord116 expression in the mediobasal hypothalamus models the hyperphagia of PWS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Polex-Wolf
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, Wellcome Trust–MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Brian Y.H. Lam
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, Wellcome Trust–MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel Larder
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, Wellcome Trust–MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - John Tadross
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, Wellcome Trust–MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Debra Rimmington
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, Wellcome Trust–MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Fàtima Bosch
- Center of Animal Biotechnology and Gene Therapy and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain, and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Verónica Jiménez Cenzano
- Center of Animal Biotechnology and Gene Therapy and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain, and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eduard Ayuso
- Center of Animal Biotechnology and Gene Therapy and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain, and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marcella K.L. Ma
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, Wellcome Trust–MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Kara Rainbow
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, Wellcome Trust–MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony P. Coll
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, Wellcome Trust–MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen O’Rahilly
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, Wellcome Trust–MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Giles S.H. Yeo
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, Wellcome Trust–MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Good DJ, Kocher MA. Phylogenetic Analysis of the SNORD116 Locus. Genes (Basel) 2017; 8:genes8120358. [PMID: 29189765 PMCID: PMC5748676 DOI: 10.3390/genes8120358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Revised: 11/25/2017] [Accepted: 11/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The SNORD116 small nucleolar RNA locus (SNORD116@) is contained within the long noncoding RNA host gene SNHG14 on human chromosome 15q11-q13. The SNORD116 locus is a cluster of 28 or more small nucleolar (sno) RNAs; C/D box (SNORDs). Individual RNAs within the cluster are tandem, highly similar sequences, referred to as SNORD116-1, SNORD116-2, etc., with the entire set referred to as SNORD116@. There are also related SNORD116 loci on other chromosomes, and these additional loci are conserved among primates. Inherited chromosomal 15q11-q13 deletions, encompassing the SNORD116@ locus, are causative for the paternally-inherited/maternally-imprinted genetic condition, Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). Using in silico tools, along with molecular-based and sequenced-based confirmation, phylogenetic analysis of the SNORD116@ locus was performed. The consensus sequence for the SNORD116@ snoRNAs from various species was determined both for all the SNORD116 snoRNAs, as well as those grouped using sequence and location according to a human grouping convention. The implications of these findings are put in perspective for studying SNORD116 in patients with inherited Prader-Willi syndrome, as well as model organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah J Good
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
- Translational Biology, Medicine and Health Graduate Program, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
| | - Matthew A Kocher
- Translational Biology, Medicine and Health Graduate Program, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
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Two approaches reveal a new paradigm of 'switchable or genetics-influenced allele-specific DNA methylation' with potential in human disease. Cell Discov 2017; 3:17038. [PMID: 29387450 PMCID: PMC5787696 DOI: 10.1038/celldisc.2017.38] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Imprinted genes are vulnerable to environmental influences during early embryonic development, thereby contributing to the onset of disease in adulthood. Monoallelic methylation at several germline imprints has been reported as DNMT1-dependent. However, which of these two epigenetic attributes, DNMT1-dependence or allelic methylation, renders imprinted genes susceptible to environmental stressors has not been determined. Herein, we developed a new approach, referred to as NORED, to identify 2468 DNMT1-dependent DNA methylation patterns in the mouse genome. We further developed an algorithm based on a genetic variation-independent approach (referred to as MethylMosaic) to detect 2487 regions with bimodal methylation patterns. Two approaches identified 207 regions, including known imprinted germline allele-specific methylation patterns (ASMs), that were both NORED and MethylMosaic regions. Examination of methylation in four independent mouse embryonic stem cell lines shows that two regions identified by both NORED and MethylMosaic (Hcn2 and Park7) did not display parent-of-origin-dependent allelic methylation. In these four F1 hybrid cell lines, genetic variation in Cast allele at Hcn2 locus introduces a transcription factor binding site for MTF-1 that may predispose Cast allelic hypomethylation in a reciprocal cross with either C57 or 129 strains. In contrast, each allele of Hcn2 ASM in J1 inbred cell line and Park7 ASM in four F1 hybrid cell lines seems to exhibit similar propensity to be either hypo- or hypermethylated, suggesting a ‘random, switchable’ ASM. Together with published results, our data on ASMs prompted us to propose a hypothesis of regional ‘autosomal chromosome inactivation (ACI)’ that may control a subset of autosomal genes. Therefore, our results open a new avenue to understand monoallelic methylation and provide a rich resource of candidate genes to examine in environmental and nutritional exposure models.
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Falaleeva M, Welden JR, Duncan MJ, Stamm S. C/D-box snoRNAs form methylating and non-methylating ribonucleoprotein complexes: Old dogs show new tricks. Bioessays 2017; 39:10.1002/bies.201600264. [PMID: 28505386 PMCID: PMC5586538 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201600264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
C/D box snoRNAs (SNORDs) are an abundantly expressed class of short, non-coding RNAs that have been long known to perform 2'-O-methylation of rRNAs. However, approximately half of human SNORDs have no predictable rRNA targets, and numerous SNORDs have been associated with diseases that show no defects in rRNAs, among them Prader-Willi syndrome, Duplication 15q syndrome and cancer. This apparent discrepancy has been addressed by recent studies showing that SNORDs can act to regulate pre-mRNA alternative splicing, mRNA abundance, activate enzymes, and be processed into shorter ncRNAs resembling miRNAs and piRNAs. Furthermore, recent biochemical studies have shown that a given SNORD can form both methylating and non-methylating ribonucleoprotein complexes, providing an indication of the likely physical basis for such diverse new functions. Thus, SNORDs are more structurally and functionally diverse than previously thought, and their role in gene expression is under-appreciated. The action of SNORDs in non-methylating complexes can be substituted with oligonucleotides, allowing devising therapies for diseases like Prader-Willi syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Falaleeva
- University Kentucky, Institute for Biochemistry, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Justin R. Welden
- University Kentucky, Institute for Biochemistry, Lexington, KY, USA
| | | | - Stefan Stamm
- University Kentucky, Institute for Biochemistry, Lexington, KY, USA
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Purtell L, Qi Y, Campbell L, Sainsbury A, Herzog H. Adult-onset deletion of the Prader-Willi syndrome susceptibility gene Snord116 in mice results in reduced feeding and increased fat mass. Transl Pediatr 2017; 6:88-97. [PMID: 28503414 PMCID: PMC5413475 DOI: 10.21037/tp.2017.03.06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The imprinted small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) Snord116 is implicated in the aetiology of Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), a disease associated with hyperphagia and obesity. Germline deletion of Snord116 in mice has been found to lead to increased food intake but not to the development of obesity. To determine the role of Snord116 independent of potential compensatory developmental factors, we investigated the effects of conditional adult-onset deletion of Snord116 in mice. METHODS Deletion of Snord116 was induced at 8 weeks of age by oral administration of tamoxifen to male Snordlox/lox; ROSAcre/+ mice, with vehicle-treated mice used as controls. Body weight (BW) was monitored weekly and body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and tissue dissection. Non-fasted and fasting-induced food intake was determined, and glucose and insulin tolerance tests were performed. Twenty-four-hour energy expenditure and physical activity were assessed by indirect calorimetry. RESULTS Adult-onset deletion of Snord116 led to reduced food intake and increased adiposity, albeit with no concomitant change in BW or lean mass compared to controls. Adult onset Snord116 deletion was also associated with worsened glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS This study identified a key role for Snord116 in feeding behaviour and growth. Further, it is likely that the effects of this gene are modulated by developmental stage, as mice with adult-onset deletion showed an opposite phenotype, with respect to food intake and body composition, to previously published data on mice with germline deletion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Purtell
- Diabetes & Metabolism Department, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, NSW, Australia
| | - Yue Qi
- Neuroscience Research Department, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, NSW, Australia
| | - Lesley Campbell
- Diabetes & Metabolism Department, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, NSW, Australia.,Department of Endocrinology, St Vincent's Hospital, NSW, Australia
| | - Amanda Sainsbury
- Neuroscience Research Department, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, NSW, Australia.,The Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise and Eating Disorders, Sydney Medical School, Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Herbert Herzog
- Neuroscience Research Department, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, NSW, Australia
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Deletion of SNURF/SNRPN U1B and U1B* upstream exons in a child with developmental delay and excessive weight. J Genet 2017; 95:621-4. [PMID: 27659333 DOI: 10.1007/s12041-016-0666-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Prader-Willi syndrome is a rare syndrome characterized by hypotonia, developmental delay and excessive appetite. This syndrome is caused by the loss of function of paternally-expressed genes located in an imprinting centre in 15q11-q13. Here, we report the case of a patient who was referred to us with Prader-Willi syndrome-like symptoms including obesity and developmental delay. Examination of this patient revealed that he was a carrier of a paternally inherited deletion that affected the U1B and U1B* upstream exons of the SNURF-SNRNP gene within the 15q11-q13 imprinted region. Mutations localized within this genomic region have not been previously reported in Prader-Willi syndrome patients. It is possible that disruption of upstream exons of SNURF-SNRNP could contribute to Prader-Willi phenotype by disrupting brain-specific alternative transcripts, although, case reports from further patients with a comparable phenotype are required.
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Cavaillé J. Box C/D small nucleolar RNA genes and the Prader-Willi syndrome: a complex interplay. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2017; 8. [PMID: 28296064 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2016] [Revised: 01/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The nucleolus of mammalian cells contains hundreds of box C/D small nucleolar RNAs (SNORDs). Through their ability to base pair with ribosomal RNA precursors, most play important roles in the synthesis and/or activity of ribosomes, either by guiding sequence-specific 2'-O-methylations or by facilitating RNA folding and cleavages. A growing number of SNORD genes with elusive functions have been discovered recently. Intriguingly, the vast majority of them are located in two large, imprinted gene clusters at human chromosome region 15q11q13 (the SNURF-SNRPN domain) and at 14q32 (the DLK1-DIO3 domain) where they are expressed, respectively, only from the paternally and maternally inherited alleles. These placental mammal-specific SNORD genes have many features of the canonical SNORDs that guide 2'-O-methylations, yet they lack obvious complementarity with ribosomal RNAs and, surprisingly, they are processed from large, tandemly repeated genes expressed preferentially in the brain. This review summarizes our understanding of the biology of these peculiar SNORD genes, focusing particularly on SNORD115 and SNORD116 in the SNURF-SNRPN domain. It examines the growing evidence that altered levels of these SNORDs and/or their host-gene transcripts may be a primary cause of Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS; a rare disorder characterized by overeating and obesity) as well as abnormalities in signaling through the 5-HT2C serotonin receptor. Finally, the hypothesis that PWS may be a ribosomopathy (ribosomal disease) is also discussed. WIREs RNA 2017, 8:e1417. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1417 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérôme Cavaillé
- Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire Eucaryote, Université de Toulouse; UPS and CNRS, LMBE, Toulouse, France
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48
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Burnett LC, LeDuc CA, Sulsona CR, Paull D, Rausch R, Eddiry S, Carli JFM, Morabito MV, Skowronski AA, Hubner G, Zimmer M, Wang L, Day R, Levy B, Fennoy I, Dubern B, Poitou C, Clement K, Butler MG, Rosenbaum M, Salles JP, Tauber M, Driscoll DJ, Egli D, Leibel RL. Deficiency in prohormone convertase PC1 impairs prohormone processing in Prader-Willi syndrome. J Clin Invest 2017; 127:293-305. [PMID: 27941249 PMCID: PMC5199710 DOI: 10.1172/jci88648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is caused by a loss of paternally expressed genes in an imprinted region of chromosome 15q. Among the canonical PWS phenotypes are hyperphagic obesity, central hypogonadism, and low growth hormone (GH). Rare microdeletions in PWS patients define a 91-kb minimum critical deletion region encompassing 3 genes, including the noncoding RNA gene SNORD116. Here, we found that protein and transcript levels of nescient helix loop helix 2 (NHLH2) and the prohormone convertase PC1 (encoded by PCSK1) were reduced in PWS patient induced pluripotent stem cell-derived (iPSC-derived) neurons. Moreover, Nhlh2 and Pcsk1 expression were reduced in hypothalami of fasted Snord116 paternal knockout (Snord116p-/m+) mice. Hypothalamic Agrp and Npy remained elevated following refeeding in association with relative hyperphagia in Snord116p-/m+ mice. Nhlh2-deficient mice display growth deficiencies as adolescents and hypogonadism, hyperphagia, and obesity as adults. Nhlh2 has also been shown to promote Pcsk1 expression. Humans and mice deficient in PC1 display hyperphagic obesity, hypogonadism, decreased GH, and hypoinsulinemic diabetes due to impaired prohormone processing. Here, we found that Snord116p-/m+ mice displayed in vivo functional defects in prohormone processing of proinsulin, pro-GH-releasing hormone, and proghrelin in association with reductions in islet, hypothalamic, and stomach PC1 content. Our findings suggest that the major neuroendocrine features of PWS are due to PC1 deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa C. Burnett
- Institute of Human Nutrition
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Molecular Genetics, and
- Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Charles A. LeDuc
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Molecular Genetics, and
- Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- New York Obesity Research Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Carlos R. Sulsona
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genetics and Metabolism, University of Florida College of Medicine Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Daniel Paull
- The New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute, New York, New York, USA
| | - Richard Rausch
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Molecular Genetics, and
- Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sanaa Eddiry
- Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse-Purpan, Université de Toulouse, CNRS UMR 5282, INSERM UMR 1043, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Jayne F. Martin Carli
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Molecular Genetics, and
- Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Michael V. Morabito
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Molecular Genetics, and
- Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Alicja A. Skowronski
- Institute of Human Nutrition
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Molecular Genetics, and
- Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Matthew Zimmer
- The New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute, New York, New York, USA
| | - Liheng Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Molecular Genetics, and
- Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Robert Day
- Institut de pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Brynn Levy
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ilene Fennoy
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Beatrice Dubern
- Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Sorbonne University, University Pierre et Marie-Curie, INSERM UMRS 1166, Paris, France
| | - Christine Poitou
- Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Sorbonne University, University Pierre et Marie-Curie, INSERM UMRS 1166, Paris, France
| | - Karine Clement
- Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Sorbonne University, University Pierre et Marie-Curie, INSERM UMRS 1166, Paris, France
| | - Merlin G. Butler
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Research and Genetics, Kansas University Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Michael Rosenbaum
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Molecular Genetics, and
- Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jean Pierre Salles
- Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse-Purpan, Université de Toulouse, CNRS UMR 5282, INSERM UMR 1043, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
- Unité d’Endocrinologie, Hôpital des Enfants, and
| | - Maithe Tauber
- Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse-Purpan, Université de Toulouse, CNRS UMR 5282, INSERM UMR 1043, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
- Unité d’Endocrinologie, Hôpital des Enfants, and
- Centre de Référence du Syndrome de Prader-Willi, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Daniel J. Driscoll
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genetics and Metabolism, University of Florida College of Medicine Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Center for Epigenetics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Dieter Egli
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Molecular Genetics, and
- Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- The New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute, New York, New York, USA
| | - Rudolph L. Leibel
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Molecular Genetics, and
- Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- New York Obesity Research Center, New York, New York, USA
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Lassi G, Maggi S, Balzani E, Cosentini I, Garcia-Garcia C, Tucci V. Working-for-Food Behaviors: A Preclinical Study in Prader-Willi Mutant Mice. Genetics 2016; 204:1129-1138. [PMID: 27672097 PMCID: PMC5105846 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.116.192286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2016] [Accepted: 08/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Abnormal feeding behavior is one of the main symptoms of Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). By studying a PWS mouse mutant line, which carries a paternally inherited deletion of the small nucleolar RNA 116 (Snord116), we observed significant changes in working-for-food behavioral responses at various timescales. In particular, we report that PWS mutant mice show a significant delay compared to wild-type littermate controls in responding to both hour-scale and seconds-to-minutes-scale time intervals. This timing shift in mutant mice is associated with better performance in the working-for-food task, and results in better decision making in these mutant mice. The results of our study reveal a novel aspect of the organization of feeding behavior, and advance the understanding of the interplay between the metabolic functions and cognitive mechanisms of PWS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glenda Lassi
- Neuroscience and Brain Technologies Department, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Silvia Maggi
- Neuroscience and Brain Technologies Department, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Edoardo Balzani
- Neuroscience and Brain Technologies Department, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Ilaria Cosentini
- Neuroscience and Brain Technologies Department, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Celina Garcia-Garcia
- Neuroscience and Brain Technologies Department, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Valter Tucci
- Neuroscience and Brain Technologies Department, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
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50
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Hassan M, Butler MG. Prader-Willi syndrome and atypical submicroscopic 15q11-q13 deletions with or without imprinting defects. Eur J Med Genet 2016; 59:584-589. [PMID: 27659713 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2016.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2016] [Revised: 09/12/2016] [Accepted: 09/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
We report a 20 year follow up on a Caucasian female, now 26 years of age, with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) harboring an atypical 15q11-q13 submicroscopic deletion of 100-200 kb in size first detected in 1996 involving the imprinting center, SNRPN gene and surrounding region. PWS is a rare complex disorder caused by the loss of paternally expressed genes in the 15q11-q13 region. With high resolution chromosomal microarray and methylation - specific MLPA analysis, we updated the genetic findings on our patient and found a 209,819bp deletion including the SNURF-SNRPN gene complex which includes the imprinting center and the SNORD116 region. We compared with four other similarly reported individuals in the literature with atypical submicroscopic deletions within this region but without imprinting center involvement to better characterize the specific genetic lesions causing PWS clinical findings. Clinically, our patient met the diagnostic criteria of PWS including infantile hypotonia, a poor suck with feeding difficulties, global developmental delays and later food foraging, childhood obesity, small hands and skin picking. Small atypical deletions of comparable sizes were seen in the 15q11-q13 region in all five cases and similar behavioral/physical characteristics were found despite an imprinting defect in our patient. These results further support an overlapping critical deletion region involving the non-coding snoRNA SNORD116 in common in the five individuals playing a key role in contributing to the PWS phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maaz Hassan
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Merlin G Butler
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.
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