scholarly journals Analysis of a Sardinian Multiplex Family with Autism Spectrum Disorder Points to Post-Synaptic Density Gene Variants and Identifies CAPG as a Functionally Relevant Candidate Gene

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Bacchelli ◽  
Eleonora Loi ◽  
Cinzia Cameli ◽  
Loredana Moi ◽  
Ana Vega Benedetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Candidate Gene ◽  
Snp Array ◽  
Anion Channel ◽  
Genetic Alterations ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Voltage Dependent Anion Channel ◽  
Multiplex Family ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Additional Support

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders with high heritability, although their underlying genetic factors are still largely unknown. Here we present a comprehensive genetic characterization of two ASD siblings from Sardinia by genome-wide copy number variation analysis and whole exome sequencing (WES), to identify novel genetic alterations associated with this disorder. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array data revealed a rare microdeletion involving CAPG, ELMOD3, and SH2D6 genes, in both siblings. CAPG encodes for a postsynaptic density (PSD) protein known to regulate spine morphogenesis and synaptic formation. The reduced CAPG mRNA and protein expression levels in ASD patients, in the presence of hemizygosity or a particular genetic and/or epigenetic background, highlighted the functional relevance of CAPG as a candidate gene for ASD. WES analysis led to the identification in both affected siblings of a rare frameshift mutation in VDAC3, a gene intolerant to loss of function mutation, encoding for a voltage-dependent anion channel localized on PSD. Moreover, four missense damaging variants were identified in genes intolerant to loss of function variation encoding for PSD proteins: PLXNA2, KCTD16, ARHGAP21, and SLC4A1. This study identifies CAPG and VDAC3 as candidate genes and provides additional support for genes encoding PSD proteins in ASD susceptibility.

A comparative study of the porin genes encoding VDAC, a voltage-dependent anion channel protein, in Anopheles gambiae and Drosophila melanogaster

Gene ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 317 ◽  
pp. 111-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Sardiello ◽  
Gaetano Tripoli ◽  
Marta Oliva ◽  
Federica Santolamazza ◽  
Roberta Moschetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Comparative Study ◽  
Anopheles Gambiae ◽  
Anion Channel ◽  
Voltage Dependent Anion Channel ◽  
Channel Protein ◽  
Voltage Dependent ◽  
Genes Encoding

scholarly journals Motifs of VDAC2 required for mitochondrial Bak import and tBid-induced apoptosis

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (41) ◽  
pp. E5590-E5599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shamim Naghdi ◽  
Péter Várnai ◽  
György Hajnóczky
Keyword(s):  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Anion Channel ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Voltage Dependent Anion Channel ◽  
Fundamental Function ◽  
Cytoplasmic Surface ◽  
Voltage Dependent ◽  
Critical Residues ◽  
Induced Apoptosis ◽  
Relevant Domain

Voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) proteins are major components of the outer mitochondrial membrane. VDAC has three isoforms with >70% sequence similarity and redundant roles in metabolite and ion transport. However, only Vdac2−/− (V2−/−) mice are embryonic lethal, indicating a unique and fundamental function of VDAC2 (V2). Recently, a specific V2 requirement was demonstrated for mitochondrial Bak import and truncated Bid (tBid)-induced apoptosis. To determine the relevant domain(s) of V2 involved, VDAC1 (V1) and V2 chimeric constructs were created and used to rescue V2−/− fibroblasts. Surprisingly, the commonly cited V2-specific N-terminal extension and cysteines were found to be dispensable for Bak import and high tBid sensitivity. In gain-of-function studies, V2 (123–179) was the minimal sequence sufficient to render V1 competent to support Bak insertion. Furthermore, in loss-of-function experiments, T168 and D170 were identified as critical residues. These motifs are conserved in zebrafish V2 (zfV2) that also rescued V2-deficient fibroblasts. Because high-resolution structures of zfV2 and mammalian V1 have become available, we could superimpose these structures and recognized that the critical V2-specific residues help to create a distinctive open “pocket” on the cytoplasmic surface that could facilitate Bak recruitment.

scholarly journals Parkin Levels Decrease in Fibroblasts With Progranulin (PGRN) Pathogenic Variants and in a Cellular Model of PGRN Deficiency

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Gaweda-Walerych ◽  
Dawid Walerych ◽  
Mariusz Berdyński ◽  
Emanuele Buratti ◽  
Cezary Zekanowski
Keyword(s):  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Anion Channel ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Voltage Dependent Anion Channel ◽  
Mitofusin 2 ◽  
Ubiquitin Protein Ligase ◽  
Pathogenic Variants ◽  
Sporadic Als ◽  
Voltage Dependent ◽  
Als Patients

Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are neurodegenerative diseases with TDP-43 mislocalization and aggregation. Genetic forms of FTLD and ALS are caused by pathogenic variants in various genes, such as PGRN (progranulin). To date, depletion of parkin E3 ubiquitin protein ligase, a key mitophagy regulator, has been reported in sporadic ALS patients and ALS mice models with TDP-43 proteinopathy. In this work, we show parkin downregulation also in fibroblasts derived from FTLD patients with four different PGRN pathogenic variants. We corroborate this finding in control fibroblasts upon PGRN silencing, demonstrating additionally the decrease of parkin downstream targets, mitofusin 2 (MFN2) and voltage dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1). Importantly, we show that TDP-43 overexpression rescues PRKN levels upon transient PGRN silencing, but not in FTLD fibroblasts with PGRN pathogenic variants, despite upregulating PGRN levels in both cases. Further observation of PRKN downregulation upon TDP-43 silencing, suggests that TDP-43 loss-of-function contributes to PRKN decrease. Our results provide further evidence that parkin downregulation might be a common and systemic phenomenon in neurodegenerative diseases with TDP- 43 loss-of-function.

scholarly journals Clinical spectrum and pleiotropic nature of CDH1 germline mutations

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 199-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joana Figueiredo ◽  
Soraia Melo ◽  
Patrícia Carneiro ◽  
Ana Margarida Moreira ◽  
Maria Sofia Fernandes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Gastric Cancer ◽  
Genetic Alterations ◽  
Tumour Suppressor Gene ◽  
Diffuse Gastric Cancer ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Lobular Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Syndrome ◽  
Risk Of Cancer ◽  
E Cadherin

CDH1 encodes E-cadherin, a key protein in adherens junctions. Given that E-cadherin is involved in major cellular processes such as embryogenesis and maintenance of tissue architecture, it is no surprise that deleterious effects arise from its loss of function. E-cadherin is recognised as a tumour suppressor gene, and it is well established that CDH1 genetic alterations cause diffuse gastric cancer and lobular breast cancer—the foremost manifestations of the hereditary diffuse gastric cancer syndrome. However, in the last decade, evidence has emerged demonstrating that CDH1 mutations can be associated with lobular breast cancer and/or several congenital abnormalities, without any personal or family history of diffuse gastric cancer. To date, no genotype–phenotype correlations have been observed. Remarkably, there are reports of mutations affecting the same nucleotide but inducing distinct clinical outcomes. In this review, we bring together a comprehensive analysis of CDH1-associated disorders and germline alterations found in each trait, providing important insights into the biological mechanisms underlying E-cadherin’s pleiotropic effects. Ultimately, this knowledge will impact genetic counselling and will be relevant to the assessment of risk of cancer development or congenital malformations in CDH1 mutation carriers.

scholarly journals Comprehensive study of 28 individuals with SIN3A-related disorder underscoring the associated mild cognitive and distinctive facial phenotype

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meena Balasubramanian ◽  
Alexander J. M. Dingemans ◽  
Shadi Albaba ◽  
Ruth Richardson ◽  
Thabo M. Yates ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Protein Function ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Mild Intellectual Disability ◽  
Related Disorder ◽  
Feeding Difficulties ◽  
Facial Phenotype ◽  
Novel Variants ◽  
Common Behaviour

AbstractWitteveen-Kolk syndrome (OMIM 613406) is a recently defined neurodevelopmental syndrome caused by heterozygous loss-of-function variants in SIN3A. We define the clinical and neurodevelopmental phenotypes related to SIN3A-haploinsufficiency in 28 unreported patients. Patients with SIN3A variants adversely affecting protein function have mild intellectual disability, growth and feeding difficulties. Involvement of a multidisciplinary team including a geneticist, paediatrician and neurologist should be considered in managing these patients. Patients described here were identified through a combination of clinical evaluation and gene matching strategies (GeneMatcher and Decipher). All patients consented to participate in this study. Mean age of this cohort was 8.2 years (17 males, 11 females). Out of 16 patients ≥ 8 years old assessed, eight (50%) had mild intellectual disability (ID), four had moderate ID (22%), and one had severe ID (6%). Four (25%) did not have any cognitive impairment. Other neurological symptoms such as seizures (4/28) and hypotonia (12/28) were common. Behaviour problems were reported in a minority. In patients ≥2 years, three were diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and four with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). We report 27 novel variants and one previously reported variant. 24 were truncating variants; three were missense variants and one large in-frame gain including exons 10–12.

scholarly journals VDAC1 in the diseased myocardium and the effect of VDAC1-interacting compound on atrial fibrosis induced by hyperaldosteronism

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hadar Klapper-Goldstein ◽  
Ankit Verma ◽  
Sigal Elyagon ◽  
Roni Gillis ◽  
Michael Murninkas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Apoptotic Cell ◽  
Anion Channel ◽  
Immunohistochemical Analysis ◽  
Voltage Dependent Anion Channel ◽  
Cardiac Tissues ◽  
Therapeutic Implications ◽  
Voltage Dependent ◽  
Models Of Lupus

AbstractThe voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1) is a key player in mitochondrial function. VDAC1 serves as a gatekeeper mediating the fluxes of ions, nucleotides, and other metabolites across the outer mitochondrial membrane, as well as the release of apoptogenic proteins initiating apoptotic cell death. VBIT-4, a VDAC1 oligomerization inhibitor, was recently shown to prevent mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis, as validated in mouse models of lupus and type-2 diabetes. In the present study, we explored the expression of VDAC1 in the diseased myocardium of humans and rats. In addition, we evaluated the effect of VBIT-4 treatment on the atrial structural and electrical remodeling of rats exposed to excessive aldosterone levels. Immunohistochemical analysis of commercially available human cardiac tissues revealed marked overexpression of VDAC1 in post-myocardial infarction patients, as well as in patients with chronic ventricular dilatation\dysfunction. In agreement, rats exposed to myocardial infarction or to excessive aldosterone had a marked increase of VDAC1 in both ventricular and atrial tissues. Immunofluorescence staining indicated a punctuated appearance typical for mitochondrial-localized VDAC1. Finally, VBIT-4 treatment attenuated the atrial fibrotic load of rats exposed to excessive aldosterone without a notable effect on the susceptibility to atrial fibrillation episodes induced by burst pacing. Our results indicate that VDAC1 overexpression is associated with myocardial abnormalities in common pathological settings. Our data also indicate that inhibition of the VDAC1 can reduce excessive fibrosis in the atrial myocardium, a finding which may have important therapeutic implications. The exact mechanism\s of this beneficial effect need further studies.

scholarly journals ANK3 related neurodevelopmental disorders: expanding the spectrum of heterozygous loss-of-function variants

Neurogenetics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katja Kloth ◽  
Bernarda Lozic ◽  
Julia Tagoe ◽  
Mariëtte J. V. Hoffer ◽  
Amelie Van der Ven ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autosomal Recessive ◽  
Neuronal Development ◽  
Autosomal Dominant ◽  
Tissue Expression ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Ankyrin G ◽  
Phenotypic Spectrum ◽  
And Function ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Phenotype

AbstractANK3 encodes multiple isoforms of ankyrin-G, resulting in variegated tissue expression and function, especially regarding its role in neuronal development. Based on the zygosity, location, and type, ANK3 variants result in different neurodevelopmental phenotypes. Autism spectrum disorder has been associated with heterozygous missense variants in ANK3, whereas a more severe neurodevelopmental phenotype is caused by isoform-dependent, autosomal-dominant, or autosomal-recessive loss-of-function variants. Here, we present four individuals affected by a variable neurodevelopmental phenotype harboring a heterozygous frameshift or nonsense variant affecting all ANK3 transcripts. Thus, we provide further evidence of an isoform-based phenotypic continuum underlying ANK3-associated pathologies and expand its phenotypic spectrum.

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