scholarly journals Genetic and Functional Characterization of ANGPTL7 as a Therapeutic Target for Glaucoma

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kavita Praveen ◽  
Gaurang Patel ◽  
Lauren Gurski ◽  
Ariane Ayer ◽  
Trikaladarshi Persaud ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Human Genetics ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Pathological Changes ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Adult Mice ◽  
Sirna Knockdown ◽  
Coding Variants

Abstract Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness. Current glaucoma medications work by lowering intraocular pressure (IOP), a risk factor for glaucoma, but most treatments do not directly target the pathological changes leading to increased IOP, which can manifest as medication resistance as disease progresses. To identify physiological modulators of IOP, we performed genome- and exome-wide association analysis in >129,000 individuals with IOP measurements and extended these findings to an analysis of glaucoma risk. We report the identification and functional characterization of rare coding variants (including loss-of-function variants) in ANGPTL7 associated with reduction in IOP and glaucoma protection. We validated the human genetics findings in mice by establishing that Angptl7 knockout mice have lower (~2 mmHg) basal IOP compared to wild-type, with a trend towards lower IOP also in heterozygotes. Conversely, increasing mAngptl7 levels via injection into mouse eyes increases the IOP. We also show that acute gene silencing via siRNA knockdown of Angptl7 in adult mice lowers the IOP (~2-4 mmHg), reproducing the observations in knockout mice. Collectively, our data suggest that ANGPTL7 is important for IOP homeostasis and is amenable to therapeutic modulation to help maintain a healthy IOP that can prevent onset or slow the progression of glaucoma.

Abstract 97: Genotype to Phenotype: Function of Common Noncoding and Rare Coding Variants In ANGPTL3

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Wang ◽  
Avanthi Raghavan ◽  
A. Christina Vourakis ◽  
Alexandra E Sperry ◽  
Wenjun Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Association Studies ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Genome Wide Association Studies ◽  
Missense Mutations ◽  
Common Variants ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Enhancer Activity ◽  
Missense Variants

Human genetics studies have demonstrated a strong link between ANGPTL3 , which encodes lipoprotein lipase inhibitor Angiopoietin-like 3, and blood lipid phenotypes. Rare nonsense ANGPTL3 mutations were identified in patients with familial combined hypolipidemia, while common variants at the ANGPTL3 locus have been found by genome-wide association studies (GWASs) to associate with lower triglycerides (TGs) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. In light of the seemingly favorable clinical consequences of ANGPTL3 deficiency, we established an experimental framework to identify (1) causal common variants that regulate ANGPTL3 expression and (2) rare missense mutations that disrupt ANGPTL3 function. Using massively parallel reporter assays, we profiled the regulatory activity of all the common variants linked ( r 2 ≥ 0.5) to the lead GWAS SNP in the ANGPTL3 locus and found that rs10889356 demonstrated significant allele-specific enhancer activity. To validate this finding, we used CRISPR-Cas9 to alter the SNP in a human pluripotent stem cell line. When differentiated into hepatocytes, altered cells displayed a 67% increase in ANGPTL3 expression ( n = 4 wild-type and 4 mutant clones, P = 0.007). CRISPR interference using each of three guide RNAs targeting the SNP in HepG2 cells also substantially increased ANGPTL3 expression. These findings support rs10889356- ANGPTL3 as a causal SNP-gene set. Next, we examined the coding regions of ANGPTL3 in 20,000 sequenced individuals and sought to experimentally define rare missense variants using a mouse model. We used CRISPR-Cas9 to generate Angptl3 knockout mice, which exhibited decreased TG (61%, P < 0.001) and decreased cholesterol (31%, P < 0.002). We reconstituted the knockout mice to normal expression levels with adenoviruses expressing either wild-type ANGPTL3 or missense variant ANGPTL3 . So far we have assessed 28 rare missense variants computationally predicted to be deleterious, of which only 10—D42N, K58E, S117P, P264S, Q286H, L315S, L360Q, T383I, T383S, and Y417C—were validated as loss-of-function (conferring <25% of wild-type activity as assessed by changes in both TG and cholesterol levels), underscoring the need for functional characterization of variants of uncertain significance.

Functional characterization of the H+/K+ ATPase in wild type and gastrin knock-out mice

2007 ◽  
Vol 45 (05) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Schnur ◽  
P Hegyi ◽  
V Venglovecz ◽  
Z Rakonczay ◽  
I Ignáth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Knock Out ◽  
Knock Out Mice

scholarly journals Functional Characterization of the Adenylyl Cyclase Genesgs-1by Analysis of a Mutational Spectrum inCaenorhabditis elegans

Genetics ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 161 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Celine Moorman ◽  
Ronald H A Plasterk
Keyword(s):  
Life Span ◽  
Adenylyl Cyclase ◽  
Neuronal Degeneration ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Adenylyl Cyclases ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Larval Stages ◽  
Pharyngeal Pumping

AbstractThe sgs-1 (suppressor of activated Gαs) gene encodes one of the four adenylyl cyclases in the nematode C. elegans and is most similar to mammalian adenylyl cyclase type IX. We isolated a complete loss-of-function mutation in sgs-1 and found it to result in animals with retarded development that arrest in variable larval stages. sgs-1 mutant animals exhibit lethargic movement and pharyngeal pumping and (while not reaching adulthood) have a mean life span that is &gt;50% extended compared to wild type. An extensive set of reduction-of-function mutations in sgs-1 was isolated in a screen for suppressors of a neuronal degeneration phenotype induced by the expression of a constitutively active version of the heterotrimeric Gαs subunit of C. elegans. Although most of these mutations change conserved residues within the catalytic domains of sgs-1, mutations in the less-conserved transmembrane domains are also found. The sgs-1 reduction-of-function mutants are viable and have reduced locomotion rates, but do not show defects in pharyngeal pumping or life span.

scholarly journals NFB-01. FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ATRX LOSS IN NF1-ASSOCIATED GLIOMA AND MPNST

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii417-iii418
Author(s):  
Ming Yuan ◽  
Karlyne Reilly ◽  
Christine Pratilas ◽  
Christopher Heaphy ◽  
Fausto Rodriguez
Keyword(s):  
Cell Lines ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Tert Promoter ◽  
Aggressive Tumors ◽  
Sirna Knockdown ◽  
Nih 3T3 ◽  
Vitro Effect ◽  
Murine Glioma

Abstract To identify the biologic relevance of ATRX loss in NF1-associated gliomagenesis, we studied the effects of Atrx loss using four previously characterized Nf1+/-Trp53+/- murine glioma lines. Lines 130G#3 and 158D#8 (corresponding to grade IV and III gliomas, respectively) displayed preserved ATRX protein expression compared to NIH-3T3 cells. We studied the effects of Atrx knockdown in these two lines in the presence and absence of the TERT inhibitor, BIRBR1532. Using a telomere-specific FISH assay, we identified increased signal intensity after Atrx knockdown, only in the presence of the TERT inhibitor. These features are reminiscent of ALT, although there were no significant alterations in cell growth. Next, we studied the effect of ATRX loss in MPNST lines ST88-14, NF90-8, STS-26T. These cell lines all expressed ATRX and DAXX. However, STS-26T contained a TERT promoter mutation and ST88-14 had a known SNP in the TERT promoter, while NF90-8 had no alterations. ATRX siRNA knockdown showed no significant effects in cell proliferation or apoptosis. However, ATRX knockdown resulted in rare ultra-bright foci, indicative of ALT. Next, we studied the in vitro effect of the ATR inhibitor VE-821 in MPNST cell lines. Only NF90-8 (lacking TERT alterations) demonstrated a decrease in growth after ATRX knockdown and VE-821 treatment. However, ATRX knockdown alone did not affect sensitivity to carboplatin. Our findings further support a role for ATRX loss with subsequent ALT activation in a biologic subset of NF1-associated malignancies, thereby opening an opportunity for therapeutic targeting of these aggressive tumors using specific classes of drugs.

scholarly journals Similarities and differences between IL11 and IL11RA1 knockout mice for lung fibro-inflammation, fertility and craniosynostosis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Ng ◽  
Anissa A. Widjaja ◽  
Sivakumar Viswanathan ◽  
Jinrui Dong ◽  
Sonia P. Chothani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Lung Fibroblasts ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Reduced Body ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Show Evidence ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
The Impact

AbstractGenetic loss of function (LOF) in IL11RA infers IL11 signaling as important for fertility, fibrosis, inflammation and craniosynostosis. The impact of genetic LOF in IL11 has not been characterized. We generated IL11-knockout (Il11-/-) mice, which are born in normal Mendelian ratios, have normal hematological profiles and are protected from bleomycin-induced lung fibro-inflammation. Noticeably, baseline IL6 levels in the lungs of Il11-/- mice are lower than those of wild-type mice and are not induced by bleomycin damage, placing IL11 upstream of IL6. Lung fibroblasts from Il11-/- mice are resistant to pro-fibrotic stimulation and show evidence of reduced autocrine IL11 activity. Il11-/- female mice are infertile. Unlike Il11ra1-/- mice, Il11-/- mice do not have a craniosynostosis-like phenotype and exhibit mildly reduced body weights. These data highlight similarities and differences between LOF in IL11 or IL11RA while establishing further the role of IL11 signaling in fibrosis and stromal inflammation.

scholarly journals Characterization of an Unstable Allele of the Arabidopsis HY4 Locus

Genetics ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 149 (3) ◽  
pp. 1575-1585
Author(s):  
Edward P Bruggemann ◽  
Bernard Doan ◽  
Korie Handwerger ◽  
Gisela Storz
Keyword(s):  
Fast Neutron ◽  
Blue Light ◽  
Large Deletion ◽  
The Other ◽  
Epigenetic Mechanisms ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Unusual Behavior ◽  
Recessive Lethal

Abstract The Arabidopsis HY4 gene encodes the nonessential blue light photoreceptor CRY1. Loss-of-function hy4 mutants have an elongated hypocotyl phenotype after germination under blue light. We previously analyzed 20 independent hy4 alleles produced by fast neutron mutagenesis. These alleles were grouped into two classes based on their genetic behavior and corresponding deletion size: (1) null hy4 alleles that were semidominant over wild type and contained small or moderate-sized deletions at HY4 and (2) null hy4 alleles that were recessive lethal and contained large HY4 deletions. Here we describe one additional fast neutron hy4 mutant, B144, that did not fall into either of these two classes. Mutant B144 was isolated as a heterozygote with an intermediate hy4 phenotype. One allele from this mutant, hy4-B144Δ, contains a large deletion at HY4 and is recessive lethal. The other allele from this mutant, HY4-B144*, appears to be intact and functional but is unstable and spontaneously converts to a nonfunctional hy4 allele. In addition, HY4-B144* is lethal in homozygotes and suppresses local recombination. We discuss genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that may account for the unusual behavior of the HY4-B144* allele.

scholarly journals Maximum likelihood estimation of fitness components in experimental evolution

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingxian Liu ◽  
Jackson Champer ◽  
Chen Liu ◽  
Joan Chung ◽  
Riona Reeves ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Maximum Likelihood ◽  
Experimental Evolution ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Likelihood Estimation ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Fitness Components ◽  
Linked Gene ◽  
Males And Females

AbstractEstimating fitness differences between allelic variants is a central goal of experimental evolution. Current methods for inferring selection from allele frequency time series typically assume that evolutionary dynamics at the locus of interest can be described by a fixed selection coefficient. However, fitness is an aggregate of several components including mating success, fecundity, and viability, and distinguishing between these components could be critical in many scenarios. Here we develop a flexible maximum likelihood framework that can disentangle different components of fitness and estimate them individually in males and females from genotype frequency data. As a proof-of-principle, we apply our method to experimentally-evolved cage populations of Drosophila melanogaster, in which we tracked the relative frequencies of a loss-of-function and wild-type allele of yellow. This X-linked gene produces a recessive yellow phenotype when disrupted and is involved in male courtship ability. We find that the fitness costs of the yellow phenotype take the form of substantially reduced mating preference of wild-type females for yellow males, together with a modest reduction in the viability of yellow males and females. Our framework should be generally applicable to situations where it is important to quantify fitness components of specific genetic variants, including quantitative characterization of the population dynamics of CRISPR gene drives.

scholarly journals Human xylosyltransferase I and N-terminal truncated forms: functional characterization of the core enzyme

2006 ◽  
Vol 394 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Müller ◽  
Jennifer Disse ◽  
Manuela Schöttler ◽  
Sylvia Schön ◽  
Christian Prante ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Catalytic Activity ◽  
Binding Capacity ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Terminal Region ◽  
Binding Motif ◽  
Heparin Binding ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
The Impact

Human XT-I (xylosyltransferase I; EC 2.4.2.26) initiates the biosynthesis of the glycosaminoglycan linkage region and is a diagnostic marker of an enhanced proteoglycan biosynthesis. In the present study, we have investigated mutant enzymes of human XT-I and assessed the impact of the N-terminal region on the enzymatic activity. Soluble mutant enzymes of human XT-I with deletions at the N-terminal domain were expressed in insect cells and analysed for catalytic activity. As many as 260 amino acids could be truncated at the N-terminal region of the enzyme without affecting its catalytic activity. However, truncation of 266, 272 and 273 amino acids resulted in a 70, 90 and >98% loss in catalytic activity. Interestingly, deletion of the single 12 amino acid motif G261KEAISALSRAK272 leads to a loss-of-function XT-I mutant. This is in agreement with our findings analysing the importance of the Cys residues where we have shown that C276A mutation resulted in a nearly inactive XT-I enzyme. Moreover, we investigated the location of the heparin-binding site of human XT-I using the truncated mutants. Heparin binding was observed to be slightly altered in mutants lacking 289 or 568 amino acids, but deletion of the potential heparin-binding motif P721KKVFKI727 did not lead to a loss of heparin binding capacity. The effect of heparin or UDP on the XT-I activity of all mutants was not significantly different from that of the wild-type. Our study demonstrates that over 80% of the nucleotide sequence of the XT-I-cDNA is necessary for expressing a recombinant enzyme with full catalytic activity.

scholarly journals Functional characterization of the rod visual pigment of the echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), a basal mammal

2012 ◽  
Vol 29 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 211-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
CONSTANZE BICKELMANN ◽  
JAMES M. MORROW ◽  
JOHANNES MÜLLER ◽  
BELINDA S.W. CHANG
Keyword(s):  
Half Life ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Sensory Transduction ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Functional Variation ◽  
Bovine Rhodopsin ◽  
Tachyglossus Aculeatus

AbstractMonotremes are the most basal egg-laying mammals comprised of two extant genera, which are largely nocturnal. Visual pigments, the first step in the sensory transduction cascade in photoreceptors of the eye, have been examined in a variety of vertebrates, but little work has been done to study the rhodopsin of monotremes. We isolated the rhodopsin gene of the nocturnal short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) and expressed and functionally characterized the protein in vitro. Three mutants were also expressed and characterized: N83D, an important site for spectral tuning and metarhodopsin kinetics, and two sites with amino acids unique to the echidna (T158A and F169A). The λmax of echidna rhodopsin (497.9 ± 1.1 nm) did not vary significantly in either T158A (498.0 ± 1.3 nm) or F169A (499.4 ± 0.1 nm) but was redshifted in N83D (503.8 ± 1.5 nm). Unlike other mammalian rhodopsins, echidna rhodopsin did react when exposed to hydroxylamine, although not as fast as cone opsins. The retinal release rate of light-activated echidna rhodopsin, as measured by fluorescence spectroscopy, had a half-life of 9.5 ± 2.6 min−1, which is significantly shorter than that of bovine rhodopsin. The half-life of the N83D mutant was 5.1 ± 0.1 min−1, even shorter than wild type. Our results show that with respect to hydroxylamine sensitivity and retinal release, the wild-type echidna rhodopsin displays major differences to all previously characterized mammalian rhodopsins and appears more similar to other nonmammalian vertebrate rhodopsins such as chicken and anole. However, our N83D mutagenesis results suggest that this site may mediate adaptation in the echidna to dim light environments, possibly via increased stability of light-activated intermediates. This study is the first characterization of a rhodopsin from a most basal mammal and indicates that there might be more functional variation in mammalian rhodopsins than previously assumed.

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