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Cullinane AR, Curry JA, Golas G, Pan J, Carmona-Rivera C, Hess RA, White JG, Huizing M, Gahl WA. A BLOC-1 mutation screen reveals a novel BLOC1S3 mutation in Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome type 8. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2012; 25:584-91. [PMID: 22709368 DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-148x.2012.01029.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome (HPS) is a genetically heterogeneous disorder of lysosome-related organelle biogenesis and is characterized by oculocutaneous albinism and a bleeding diathesis. Over the past decade, we screened 250 patients with HPS-like symptoms for mutations in the genes responsible for HPS subtypes 1-6. We identified 38 individuals with no functional mutations, and therefore, we analyzed all eight genes encoding the biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex-1 (BLOC-1) proteins in these individuals. Here, we describe the identification of a novel nonsense mutation in BLOC1S3 (HPS-8) in a 6-yr-old Iranian boy. This mutation caused nonsense-mediated decay of BLOC1S3 mRNA and destabilized the BLOC-1 complex. Our patient's melanocytes showed aberrant localization of TYRP1, with increased plasma membrane trafficking. These findings confirm a common cellular defect for HPS patients with defects in BLOC-1 subunits. We identified only two patients with BLOC-1 defects in our cohort, suggesting that other HPS genes remain to be identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R Cullinane
- Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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Jin T, Perry A, Jiang J, Smith P, Curry JA, Unterholzner L, Jiang Z, Horvath G, Rathinam V, Johnstone RW, Hornung V, Latz E, Bowie AG, Fitzgerald KA, Xiao TS. Structures of the HIN domain:DNA complexes reveal ligand binding and activation mechanisms of the AIM2 inflammasome and IFI16 receptor. Immunity 2012; 36:561-71. [PMID: 22483801 PMCID: PMC3334467 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2012.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 390] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2011] [Revised: 12/23/2011] [Accepted: 02/09/2012] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Recognition of DNA by the innate immune system is central to antiviral and antibacterial defenses, as well as an important contributor to autoimmune diseases involving self DNA. AIM2 (absent in melanoma 2) and IFI16 (interferon-inducible protein 16) have been identified as DNA receptors that induce inflammasome formation and interferon production, respectively. Here we present the crystal structures of their HIN domains in complex with double-stranded (ds) DNA. Non-sequence-specific DNA recognition is accomplished through electrostatic attraction between the positively charged HIN domain residues and the dsDNA sugar-phosphate backbone. An intramolecular complex of the AIM2 Pyrin and HIN domains in an autoinhibited state is liberated by DNA binding, which may facilitate the assembly of inflammasomes along the DNA staircase. These findings provide mechanistic insights into dsDNA as the activation trigger and oligomerization platform for the assembly of large innate signaling complexes such as the inflammasomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tengchuan Jin
- Structural Immunobiology Unit, Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Andrew Perry
- Structural Immunobiology Unit, Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jiansheng Jiang
- Structural Immunobiology Unit, Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Patrick Smith
- Structural Immunobiology Unit, Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - James A. Curry
- Structural Immunobiology Unit, Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Leonie Unterholzner
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Zhaozhao Jiang
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gabor Horvath
- Institute of Innate Immunity, University Hospitals, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Vijay Rathinam
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ricky W. Johnstone
- Gene Regulation Laboratory, Cancer Therapeutics Program, The Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute, St. Andrews Place, East Melbourne 3002, Victoria, Australia
- The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3054, Victoria, Australia
| | - Veit Hornung
- Unit for Clinical Biochemistry, Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Pharmacology, University Hospital, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Eicke Latz
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- Institute of Innate Immunity, University Hospitals, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Andrew G. Bowie
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Katherine A. Fitzgerald
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - T. Sam Xiao
- Structural Immunobiology Unit, Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- To whom correspondence should be addressed.
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Cullinane AR, Vilboux T, O'Brien K, Curry JA, Maynard DM, Carlson-Donohoe H, Ciccone C, Markello TC, Gunay-Aygun M, Huizing M, Gahl WA. Homozygosity mapping and whole-exome sequencing to detect SLC45A2 and G6PC3 mutations in a single patient with oculocutaneous albinism and neutropenia. J Invest Dermatol 2011; 131:2017-25. [PMID: 21677667 PMCID: PMC3174312 DOI: 10.1038/jid.2011.157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
We evaluated a 32 year-old woman whose oculocutaneous albinism, bleeding diathesis, neutropenia, and history of recurrent infections prompted consideration of the diagnosis of Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome type 2 (HPS-2). This was ruled out due to the presence of platelet delta granules and absence of AP3B1 mutations. Since parental consanguinity suggested an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance, we employed homozygosity mapping, followed by whole exome sequencing, to identify two candidate disease-causing genes, SLC45A2 and G6PC3. Conventional di-deoxy sequencing confirmed pathogenic mutations in SLC45A2, associated with oculocutaneous albinism type 4 (OCA-4), and G6PC3, associated with neutropenia. The substantial reduction of SLC45A2 protein in the patient’s melanocytes caused the mis-localization of tyrosinase from melanosomes to the plasma membrane and also led to the incorporation of tyrosinase into exosomes and secretion into the culture medium, explaining the hypopigmentation in OCA-4. Our patient’s G6PC3 mRNA expression level was also reduced, leading to increased apoptosis of her fibroblasts under ER stress. This report describes the first North American patient with OCA-4, the first culture of human OCA-4 melanocytes, and the use of homozygosity mapping followed by whole exome sequencing to identify disease-causing mutations in multiple genes in a single affected individual.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R Cullinane
- Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
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Abstract
To better understand the change in global hurricane intensity since 1970, we examined the joint distribution of hurricane intensity with variables identified in the literature as contributing to the intensification of hurricanes. We used a methodology based on information theory, isolating the trend from the shorter-term natural modes of variability. The results show that the trend of increasing numbers of category 4 and 5 hurricanes for the period 1970-2004 is directly linked to the trend in sea-surface temperature; other aspects of the tropical environment, although they influence shorter-term variations in hurricane intensity, do not contribute substantially to the observed global trend.
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Affiliation(s)
- C D Hoyos
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
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Abstract
We examined the number of tropical cyclones and cyclone days as well as tropical cyclone intensity over the past 35 years, in an environment of increasing sea surface temperature. A large increase was seen in the number and proportion of hurricanes reaching categories 4 and 5. The largest increase occurred in the North Pacific, Indian, and Southwest Pacific Oceans, and the smallest percentage increase occurred in the North Atlantic Ocean. These increases have taken place while the number of cyclones and cyclone days has decreased in all basins except the North Atlantic during the past decade.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Webster
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
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Crowther DC, Kinghorn KJ, Miranda E, Page R, Curry JA, Duthie FAI, Gubb DC, Lomas DA. Intraneuronal Aβ, non-amyloid aggregates and neurodegeneration in a Drosophila model of Alzheimer’s disease. Neuroscience 2005; 132:123-35. [PMID: 15780472 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2004.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 258] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/17/2004] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
We have developed models of Alzheimer's disease in Drosophila melanogaster by expressing the Abeta peptides that accumulate in human disease. Expression of wild-type and Arctic mutant (Glu22Gly) Abeta(1-42) peptides in Drosophila neural tissue results in intracellular Abeta accumulation followed by non-amyloid aggregates that resemble diffuse plaques. These histological changes are associated with progressive locomotor deficits and vacuolation of the brain and premature death of the flies. The severity of the neurodegeneration is proportional to the propensity of the expressed Abeta peptide to form oligomers. The fly phenotype is rescued by treatment with Congo Red that reduces Abeta aggregation in vitro. Our model demonstrates that intracellular accumulation and non-amyloid aggregates of Abeta are sufficient to cause the neurodegeneration of Alzheimer's disease. Moreover it provides a platform to dissect the pathways of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease and to develop novel therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- D C Crowther
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Wellcome Trust/MRC Building, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2XY, UK.
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Curry ML, Curry JA, Cockerell CJ. Dermatology and the Americans With Disabilities Act: a review of the case law. J Am Acad Dermatol 2002; 47:926-9. [PMID: 12451380 DOI: 10.1067/mjd.2002.128384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) defines disability as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Although dermatology has received relatively little attention in the context of disability law, dermatologic diseases are properly covered by the ADA and are subject to the same criteria as other medical conditions. A Lexis-Nexis search of federal court decisions covering the ADA produced 23 cases dealing with dermatologic impairments as disabilities. In Cehrs v Northeast Ohio Alzheimer Research Center, a federal appeals court held that psoriasis constituted a disability under the Act. Skin diseases not only cause physical and mental impairments, but they are also visible to others. Persons with skin diseases may be "regarded as" disabled, and this can constitute discrimination under the law.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary L Curry
- University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, USA
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