Background:The GGGGCC(G4C2)repeat expansion in the human open reading frame 72 on chromosome 9,C9orf72,is the most common cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS).Studies in transgenic mouse models have linked the ...Background:The GGGGCC(G4C2)repeat expansion in the human open reading frame 72 on chromosome 9,C9orf72,is the most common cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS).Studies in transgenic mouse models have linked the pathogenic mechanism of G4C2 repeat expansion to RNA foci or the accumulation of unnatural dipeptide repeats in neurons.However,only one of the existing transgenic mouse lines developed typical ALS.Methods:C9orf72 knockin rats were generated by knockin of 80 G4C2 repeats with human flanking fragments within exon1a and exon1b at the rat C9orf72 locus.Protein expression was detected by western blot.Motor coordination and grip force were measured using a Rotarod test and a grip strength test.Neurodegeneration was assessed by Nissl staining with cresyl violet.Results:C9orf72 haploinsufficiency reduced C9orf72 protein expression 40%in the cerebrum,cerebellum and spinal cords from knockin rats(P<.05).The knockin(KI)rats developed motor deficits from 4 months of age.Their falling latencies and grip force were decreased by 67%(P<.01)and 44%(P<.01),respectively,at 12 months of age compared to wild-type(WT)mice.The knockin of the hexanucleotide repeat expansion(HRE)caused a 47%loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord(P<.001)and 25%(5/20)of female KI rats developed hind limb paralysis at 13 to 24 months.Conclusion:Motor defects in KI rats may result from neurotoxicity caused by HRE and the resulting reduction in C9orf72 protein due to haploinsufficiency.These KI rats could be a useful model for investigating the contributions of loss-of-function to neurotoxicity in C9orf72-related ALS.展开更多
Objective To make early diagnosis of IT15 gene mutation in a Wuhan juvenile-onset Huntington disease （HD） family, for providing them with genetic counseling, and making preparation for the further research on pathog...Objective To make early diagnosis of IT15 gene mutation in a Wuhan juvenile-onset Huntington disease （HD） family, for providing them with genetic counseling, and making preparation for the further research on pathogenesis and experimental therapy of HD. Methods According to the principle of informed consent, we extracted genomic DNA from peripheral blood samples and carried genetic diagnosis of pathogenic exon 1 of IT15 gene by modified touchdown PCR and DNA sequencing methods. Results Eight of twenty-five family members carried abnormal allele： Ⅲ10 Ⅲ12, IIIt4, Ⅳ3, and Ⅴ2 carded （CAG） 48, Ⅳ11 and Ⅳ12 carried （CAG） 67, and Ⅳ14 carried （CAG） 63, in contrast with the 8-25 CAG trinucleotides in the members of control group. Ⅳ14 carried 15 more CAG trinucleotides than her father Ⅲ10. Conclusion The results definitely confirm the diagnosis of HD and indicate the CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion of IT15 gene in this HD family. In addition, CAG expansion results in juvenile-onset and anticipation （characterized by earlier age of onset and increasing severity） of the patientⅣ12.展开更多
CGG repeat expansions in LOC642361/NUTM2B-AS1 have recently been identified as a cause of oculopharyngeal myopathy with leukoencephalopathy.However,since only three patients from a single family were reported,it remai...CGG repeat expansions in LOC642361/NUTM2B-AS1 have recently been identified as a cause of oculopharyngeal myopathy with leukoencephalopathy.However,since only three patients from a single family were reported,it remains unknown whether their clinicopathological features are typical for CGG repeat expansions in LOC642361/NUTM2B-AS1.Here,using repeat-primed-polymerase chain reaction and long-read sequencing,we identify 12 individuals from 3 unrelated families with CGG repeat expansions in LOC642361/NUTM2B-AS1,typically presenting with oculopharyngodistal myopathy.The CGG repeat expansions range from 161 to 669 repeat units.Most of the patients present with ptosis,restricted eye movements,dysphagia,dysarthria,and diffuse limb muscle weakness.Only one patient shows T2-weighted hyperintensity in the cerebellar white matter surrounding the deep cerebellar nuclei on brain magnetic resonance imaging.Muscle biopsies from three patients show a myopathic pattern and rimmed vacuoles.Analyses of muscle biopsies suggest that CGG repeat expansions in LOC642361/NUTM2B-AS1 may deleteriously affect aggrephagic capacity,suggesting that RNA toxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction may contribute to pathogenesis.Our study thus expands the phenotypic spectrum for the CGG repeat expansion of LOC642361/NUTM2B-AS1 and indicates that this genetic variant typically manifests as oculopharyngodistal myopathy with chronic myopathic changes with rimmed vacuoles and filamentous intranuclear inclusions in muscle fibers.展开更多
The abnormal expansion of G-rich hexanucleotide repeat,GGGGCC(G4C2),in chromosome 9 open reading frame 72(C9orf72)is known to be the prevailing genetic cause of two fatal degenerative neurological diseases,amyotrophi...The abnormal expansion of G-rich hexanucleotide repeat,GGGGCC(G4C2),in chromosome 9 open reading frame 72(C9orf72)is known to be the prevailing genetic cause of two fatal degenerative neurological diseases,amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS)and frontotemporal dementia(FTD).It is well known that the DNA G4C2 repeat expansion with different lengths can form G-quadruplexes which affect gene transcription related to ALS/FTD,therefore it is crucial to understand DNA G4C2 G-quadruplex structures.Herein,by utilizing nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)spectroscopy,we examined DNA G-quadruplex structure adopted by two G4C2 hexanucleotide repeats with an inosine substitution at position 4,d(G4C2)2-I4.We show that d(G4C2)2-I4 folds into an eight-layer parallel tetrameric G-quadruplex containing two parallel dimeric G-quadruplexes stacking together through p-p interaction via 50-to-50 mode in solution.Each dimeric G-quadruplex unit involves two propeller loops composed of two cytosine bases.This result is consistent with the observation in the crystal structure of d(G4C2)2.Our work not only sheds light on the structural diversity of G-quadruplexes adopted by d(G4C2)n but also provides a structural basis for drug design in treatment of ALS and FTD.展开更多
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(81571222),CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences(CIFMS,2016-I2M-1-004)Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation(7172135)。
文摘Background:The GGGGCC(G4C2)repeat expansion in the human open reading frame 72 on chromosome 9,C9orf72,is the most common cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS).Studies in transgenic mouse models have linked the pathogenic mechanism of G4C2 repeat expansion to RNA foci or the accumulation of unnatural dipeptide repeats in neurons.However,only one of the existing transgenic mouse lines developed typical ALS.Methods:C9orf72 knockin rats were generated by knockin of 80 G4C2 repeats with human flanking fragments within exon1a and exon1b at the rat C9orf72 locus.Protein expression was detected by western blot.Motor coordination and grip force were measured using a Rotarod test and a grip strength test.Neurodegeneration was assessed by Nissl staining with cresyl violet.Results:C9orf72 haploinsufficiency reduced C9orf72 protein expression 40%in the cerebrum,cerebellum and spinal cords from knockin rats(P<.05).The knockin(KI)rats developed motor deficits from 4 months of age.Their falling latencies and grip force were decreased by 67%(P<.01)and 44%(P<.01),respectively,at 12 months of age compared to wild-type(WT)mice.The knockin of the hexanucleotide repeat expansion(HRE)caused a 47%loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord(P<.001)and 25%(5/20)of female KI rats developed hind limb paralysis at 13 to 24 months.Conclusion:Motor defects in KI rats may result from neurotoxicity caused by HRE and the resulting reduction in C9orf72 protein due to haploinsufficiency.These KI rats could be a useful model for investigating the contributions of loss-of-function to neurotoxicity in C9orf72-related ALS.
文摘Objective To make early diagnosis of IT15 gene mutation in a Wuhan juvenile-onset Huntington disease （HD） family, for providing them with genetic counseling, and making preparation for the further research on pathogenesis and experimental therapy of HD. Methods According to the principle of informed consent, we extracted genomic DNA from peripheral blood samples and carried genetic diagnosis of pathogenic exon 1 of IT15 gene by modified touchdown PCR and DNA sequencing methods. Results Eight of twenty-five family members carried abnormal allele： Ⅲ10 Ⅲ12, IIIt4, Ⅳ3, and Ⅴ2 carded （CAG） 48, Ⅳ11 and Ⅳ12 carried （CAG） 67, and Ⅳ14 carried （CAG） 63, in contrast with the 8-25 CAG trinucleotides in the members of control group. Ⅳ14 carried 15 more CAG trinucleotides than her father Ⅲ10. Conclusion The results definitely confirm the diagnosis of HD and indicate the CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion of IT15 gene in this HD family. In addition, CAG expansion results in juvenile-onset and anticipation （characterized by earlier age of onset and increasing severity） of the patientⅣ12.
文摘CGG repeat expansions in LOC642361/NUTM2B-AS1 have recently been identified as a cause of oculopharyngeal myopathy with leukoencephalopathy.However,since only three patients from a single family were reported,it remains unknown whether their clinicopathological features are typical for CGG repeat expansions in LOC642361/NUTM2B-AS1.Here,using repeat-primed-polymerase chain reaction and long-read sequencing,we identify 12 individuals from 3 unrelated families with CGG repeat expansions in LOC642361/NUTM2B-AS1,typically presenting with oculopharyngodistal myopathy.The CGG repeat expansions range from 161 to 669 repeat units.Most of the patients present with ptosis,restricted eye movements,dysphagia,dysarthria,and diffuse limb muscle weakness.Only one patient shows T2-weighted hyperintensity in the cerebellar white matter surrounding the deep cerebellar nuclei on brain magnetic resonance imaging.Muscle biopsies from three patients show a myopathic pattern and rimmed vacuoles.Analyses of muscle biopsies suggest that CGG repeat expansions in LOC642361/NUTM2B-AS1 may deleteriously affect aggrephagic capacity,suggesting that RNA toxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction may contribute to pathogenesis.Our study thus expands the phenotypic spectrum for the CGG repeat expansion of LOC642361/NUTM2B-AS1 and indicates that this genetic variant typically manifests as oculopharyngodistal myopathy with chronic myopathic changes with rimmed vacuoles and filamentous intranuclear inclusions in muscle fibers.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China to C.L.(No.32071188)Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation to C.L.(No.2020A1515010034)+1 种基金the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,China to G.Z.(Project No.16103719,16101120,and 161011121,AoE/M-403-16,AOE/M-401/20)Hong Kong Branch of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory(Guangzhou)to G.Z.(Project No.SMSEGL20SC01eH)and VPRDO19RD03-6.
文摘The abnormal expansion of G-rich hexanucleotide repeat,GGGGCC(G4C2),in chromosome 9 open reading frame 72(C9orf72)is known to be the prevailing genetic cause of two fatal degenerative neurological diseases,amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS)and frontotemporal dementia(FTD).It is well known that the DNA G4C2 repeat expansion with different lengths can form G-quadruplexes which affect gene transcription related to ALS/FTD,therefore it is crucial to understand DNA G4C2 G-quadruplex structures.Herein,by utilizing nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)spectroscopy,we examined DNA G-quadruplex structure adopted by two G4C2 hexanucleotide repeats with an inosine substitution at position 4,d(G4C2)2-I4.We show that d(G4C2)2-I4 folds into an eight-layer parallel tetrameric G-quadruplex containing two parallel dimeric G-quadruplexes stacking together through p-p interaction via 50-to-50 mode in solution.Each dimeric G-quadruplex unit involves two propeller loops composed of two cytosine bases.This result is consistent with the observation in the crystal structure of d(G4C2)2.Our work not only sheds light on the structural diversity of G-quadruplexes adopted by d(G4C2)n but also provides a structural basis for drug design in treatment of ALS and FTD.
