scholarly journals Genetic diseases of the Kennedy pathways for membrane synthesis

2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (51) ◽  
pp. 17877-17886
Author(s):  
Mahtab Tavasoli ◽  
Sarah Lahire ◽  
Taryn Reid ◽  
Maren Brodovsky ◽  
Christopher R. McMaster

The two branches of the Kennedy pathways (CDP-choline and CDP-ethanolamine) are the predominant pathways responsible for the synthesis of the most abundant phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, respectively, in mammalian membranes. Recently, hereditary diseases associated with single gene mutations in the Kennedy pathways have been identified. Interestingly, genetic diseases within the same pathway vary greatly, ranging from muscular dystrophy to spastic paraplegia to a childhood blinding disorder to bone deformations. Indeed, different point mutations in the same gene (PCYT1; CCTα) result in at least three distinct diseases. In this review, we will summarize and review the genetic diseases associated with mutations in genes of the Kennedy pathway for phospholipid synthesis. These single-gene disorders provide insight, indeed direct genotype-phenotype relationships, into the biological functions of specific enzymes of the Kennedy pathway. We discuss potential mechanisms of how mutations within the same pathway can cause disparate disease.

Author(s):  
Ying-Na Liu ◽  
Ru Li ◽  
Jian-Ying Zhou ◽  
Xing-Mei Xie ◽  
Jian Li ◽  
...  

Abstractα-Thalassemia is one of the most commonly inherited single-gene disorders in southern China. It is important to identify non-deletional α-thalassemia in areas where α-thalassemia is prevalent, since non-deletional HbH disease (An approach based on high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis was used. A total of 74 samples, including 54 abnormal α-chain samples and 20 control samples, were tested.All of the 54 samples with point mutations at the exons 1, 2 or 3 of the α-globin genes, including 33 non-deletional α-thalassemia, were successfully detected.HRM has the potential to become an efficient, rapid screening method for non-deletional α-thalassemia.


2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenichi Masumura ◽  
Tomoko Ando ◽  
Naomi Toyoda-Hokaiwado ◽  
Akiko Ukai ◽  
Takehiko Nohmi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Gene mutations induced in germ cells may be transmitted to the next generation and cause adverse effects such as genetic diseases. Certain mutations may result in infertility or death in early development. Thus, the mutations may not be inheritable. However, the extent to which point mutations in male germ cells are transmitted to the next generation or eliminated during transmission is largely unknown. This study compared mutation frequencies (MFs) in sperm of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)-treated gpt delta mice and de novo MFs in the whole exome/genome of their offspring. Results Male gpt delta mice were treated with 10, 30, and 85 mg/kg of ENU (i.p., weekly × 2) and mated with untreated females to generate offspring. We previously reported a dose-dependent increase in de novo MFs in the offspring estimated by whole exome sequencing (WES) (Mutat. Res., 810, 30–39, 2016). In this study, gpt MFs in the sperm of ENU-treated mice were estimated, and the MFs per reporter gene were converted to MFs per base pair. The inherited de novo MFs in the offspring (9, 26 and 133 × 10− 8/bp for 10, 30, and 85 mg/kg ENU-treated groups, respectively) were comparable to those of the converted gpt MFs in the sperm of ENU-treated fathers (6, 16, and 69 × 10− 8/bp). It indicated that the gpt MFs in the ENU-treated father’s sperm were comparable to the inherited de novo MFs in the offspring as estimated by WES. In addition, de novo MFs in the offspring of 10 mg/kg ENU-treated and control fathers were estimated by whole genome sequencing (WGS), because WES was not sufficiently sensitive to detect low background MF. The de novo MF in the offspring of the ENU-treated fathers was 6 × 10− 8/bp and significantly higher than that of the control (2 × 10− 8/bp). There were no significant differences in de novo MFs between gene-coding and non-coding regions. WGS analysis was able to detect ENU-induced characteristic de novo base substitutions at a low dose group. Conclusions Despite a difference between exome/genome and exogenous reporter genes, the results indicated that ENU-induced point mutations in male germ cells could be transmitted to the next generation without severe selection.


2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (36) ◽  
pp. 6480-6490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Pignatelli ◽  
Marco Feligioni ◽  
Sonia Piccinin ◽  
Gemma Molinaro ◽  
Ferdinando Nicoletti ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen Li ◽  
Sumin Gu ◽  
Yumeng Quan ◽  
Kulandaiappan Varadaraj ◽  
Jean X. Jiang

AbstractCongenital cataracts are associated with gene mutations, yet the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. Here we reported an embryonic chick lens model that closely recapitulates the process of cataract formation. We adopted dominant-negative site mutations that cause congenital cataracts, connexin, Cx50E48K, aquaporin 0, AQP0R33C, αA-crystallin, CRYAA R12C and R54C. The recombinant retroviruses containing these mutants were microinjected into the occlusive lumen of chick lenses at early embryonic development. Cx50E48K expression developed cataracts associated with disorganized nuclei and enlarged extracellular spaces. Expression of AQP0R33C resulted in cortical cataracts, enlarged extracellular spaces and distorted fiber cell organization. αA crystallin mutations distorted lens light transmission and increased crystalline protein aggregation. Together, retroviral expression of congenital mutant genes in embryonic chick lenses closely mimics characteristics of human congenital cataracts. This model will provide an effective, reliable in vivo system to investigate the development and underlying mechanism of cataracts and other genetic diseases.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lewis E. Fry ◽  
Caroline F. Peddle ◽  
Alun R. Barnard ◽  
Michelle E. McClements ◽  
Robert E. MacLaren

RNA editing aims to treat genetic disease through altering gene expression at the transcript level. Pairing site-directed RNA-targeting mechanisms with engineered deaminase enzymes allows for the programmable correction of G>A and T>C mutations in RNA. This offers a promising therapeutic approach for a range of genetic diseases. For inherited retinal degenerations caused by point mutations in large genes not amenable to single-adeno-associated viral (AAV) gene therapy such as USH2A and ABCA4, correcting RNA offers an alternative to gene replacement. Genome editing of RNA rather than DNA may offer an improved safety profile, due to the transient and potentially reversible nature of edits made to RNA. This review considers the current site-directing RNA editing systems, and the potential to translate these to the clinic for the treatment of inherited retinal degeneration.


1998 ◽  
Vol 42 (7) ◽  
pp. 1811-1814 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonardo K. Basco ◽  
Rachida Tahar ◽  
Pascal Ringwald

ABSTRACT In vitro sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine resistance has been associated with point mutations in the dihydropteroate synthase and dihydrofolate reductase domains, respectively, but the in vivo relevance of these point mutations has not been well established. To analyze the correlation between genotype and phenotype, 10 Cameroonian adult patients were treated with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and followed up for 28 days. After losses to follow-up (n = 1) or elimination of DNA samples due to mixed parasite populations with pyrimethamine-sensitive and pyrimethamine-resistant profiles (n = 3), parasite genomic DNA from day 0 blood samples of six patients were analyzed by DNA sequencing. Three patients who were cured had isolates characterized by a wild-type or mutant dihydrofolate reductase gene (with one or two mutations) and a wild-type dihydropteroate synthase gene. Three other patients who failed to respond to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine treatment carried isolates with triple dihydrofolate reductase gene mutations and either a wild-type or a mutant dihydropteroate synthase gene. Three dihydrofolate reductase gene codons (51, 59, and 108) may be reliable genetic markers that can accurately predict the clinical outcome of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine treatment in Africa.


2006 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 1-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabrizia Urbinati ◽  
Catherine Madigan ◽  
Punam Malik

Thalassaemias result from mutations of the globin genes that cause reduced or absent haemoglobin production and thus interfere with the critical function of oxygen delivery. They represent the most common single-gene disorders, with 4.83% of the world population carrying globin gene variants. Reduced or absent α-globin (α-thalassaemia) or β-globin (β-thalassaemia) leads to anaemia and multifaceted clinical syndromes. In this second of two reviews on the pathophysiology of haemoglobinopathies, we describe the clinical features, pathophysiology and molecular basis of α- and β-thalassaemias. We then discuss current targeted therapies, including the new oral iron chelators, which, along with chronic transfusions, constitute the mainstay of symptomatic therapy for the majority of patients. Finally, we describe potentially curative therapies, such as bone marrow transplant, and discuss some of the outstanding research studies and questions, including the upcoming field of gene therapy for β-thalassaemia. An accompanying article on haemoglobinopathies (Part I) focuses on sickle cell disease.


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