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Results for “Trinucleotide Repeats”

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PubMed2025

Pentatricopeptide repeat protein targeting CUG repeat RNA ameliorates RNA toxicity in a myotonic dystrophy type 1 mouse model.

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is an autosomal dominant multisystemic disorder caused by the expansion of a CTG-triplet repeat in the 3' untranslated region of the dystrophia myotonica protein kinase (DMPK) gene. It results in the transcription of toxic RNAs that contain expanded CUG repeats (CUGexp). Splicing factors, such as muscleblind-like 1 (MBNL1), are sequestered by CUGexp, thereby disrupting the normal splicing program that is essential for various cellular functions. Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins, originally found in plants, regulate RNA in organelles by binding in a sequence-specific manner. Here, we designed PPR proteins that specifically bind to the hexamer of CUG repeat RNAs (CUG-PPRs) and showed that CUG-PPR1 could ameliorate RNA toxicity induced by CUGexp in cell models of DM1. A single systemic recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV9) vector-mediated gene delivery of CUG-PPR1 demonstrated long-term therapeutic effects on myotonia and restored splicing activity in a mouse model of DM1. These results highlight the potential of PPR molecules to target pathogenic RNA sequences in DM1 and potentially other RNA-mediated disorders.

Animals↗

PubMed2025

Delineating the pathogenic threshold and phenotypic spectrum of SCA27B: findings from a large French-Canadian cohort.

BACKGROUND: Autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia 27B (SCA27B), caused by an intronic (GAA•TTC) repeat expansion in FGF14, is a common cause of late-onset cerebellar ataxia, but its genotypic and phenotypic spectrum remains to be fully established. METHODS: We analysed the FGF14 (GAA•TTC) repeat expansion in a cohort of 134 patients with ataxia and 822 controls from Quebec. We conducted segregation study in large families to further characterize intergenerational repeat instability. RESULTS: We found a significant enrichment of (GAA•TTC)≥200 alleles in the ataxia cohort compared to controls (53.0%, 71/134, vs 3.6%, 30/822, p < 0.0001), including for (GAA•TTC)200-249 alleles (8.2% vs 2.6%, p = 0.0026). We identified 12 ataxic patients with a phenotype compatible with SCA27B carrying a (GAA•TTC)200-249 expansion supporting the pathogenicity of these alleles in some patients. We further delineated the phenotype of 125 symptomatic individuals from 69 families who carried an FGF14 (GAA•TTC)≥200 repeat expansion. Patients with (GAA•TTC)200-249, (GAA•TTC)250-299, and (GAA•TTC)≥300 had a similar phenotype. We observed that 14% of patients with episodic symptoms (13/92) had severe episodes that were initially misdiagnosed as stroke, vestibular neuritis, Wernicke's encephalopathy, or seizures. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This large cohort demonstrates that (GAA•TTC)200-249 alleles are enriched in patients with ataxia compared to controls and can be pathogenic for SCA27B, supporting the need to define a lower pathogenic threshold in the presence of specific clinical criteria.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Type and position of repeat interruptions as determinants of disease severity and expansion size in Friedreich ataxia.

PURPOSE: In Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) the size of the smaller GAA expansion is a major determinant of disease severity; interruption motifs were identified after the discovery of the pathogenic expansions; however, their impact is only recently investigated. METHODS: 164 patients with FRDA with biallelic expansions and 15 patients without FRDA were analyzed for interruption(s) number, position, and motif. Expansion size and age at onset of ataxia (AAO) were determined for patients with FRDA. RESULTS: Three groups of patients with FRDA were identified by the simultaneous analysis of the precise distance ("depth") between the interruptions (mostly nontriplet) and the 3' end of the expansion (P < .001), the smaller expansion size (P < .001), and AAO (P < .001). Classical FRDA corresponds to absence of interruption or interruption depth < 8 repeats, with AAO often <15 years (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.90; 95% CI, 0.84-0.96); LOFA to interruption depth of 8 to 18 repeats (AUC = 0.97; 95% CI, 0.94-1), with AAO 15 to 34 years (AUC = 1; 95% CI, 1-1); and vLOFA to interruption depth > 18 (AUC = 0.97; 95% CI, 0.92-1), with AAO > 34 years. Multiple (>5) triplet interruptions hamper further expansion. CONCLUSION: This study provides the molecular basis for a novel classification of FRDA that should be recommended for correct diagnosis.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

The HTT1a protein initiates HTT aggregation in a knock-in mouse model of Huntington's disease.

The mutation that causes Huntington's disease is a CAG repeat expansion in exon 1 of the huntingtin gene (HTT) that leads to an abnormally long polyglutamine tract in the huntingtin protein (HTT). Mutant CAG repeats are unstable and increase in size in specific neurons and brain regions with age, a phenomenon that constitutes the first step in the pathogenesis of the disease. In the presence of an expanded CAG repeat, cryptic polyadenylation (polyA) sites in intron 1 of the HTT pre-mRNA can become activated leading to the polyadenylation of a prematurely terminated transcript, HTT1a. This encodes the HTT1a protein, which is known to be very aggregation-prone and highly pathogenic. Given that the longer the CAG repeat the more HTT1a is generated, could the production of HTT1a be the mechanism through which somatic CAG repeat expansion exerts its pathogenic consequences? Resolving this issue is very important for the design of therapeutic approaches to lower huntingtin levels. We have used a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 approach to prevent the production of HTT1a in a knock-in mouse model of Huntington's disease. All potential cryptic polyA sites were deleted from Htt intron 1 in HdhQ150 mice and colonies were established that were heterozygous for the intron 1 deletion on a mutant allele (HdhQ150ΔI) and heterozygous for the deletion on a wild-type allele (WTΔI). The CAG repeat sizes in the HdhQ150 and HdhQ150ΔI colonies were well-matched at approximately 195 CAGs. As predicted, the deletion of the cryptic polyA sites from Htt intron 1 prevented the generation of the Htt1a transcript in the HdhQ150ΔI mice. However, very low levels of the HTT1a protein were detected, which resulted from a Htt readthrough product of exon 1 and exon 2, that had retained the deleted intron and terminated at a cryptic polyA site in intron 2. HdhQ150, HdhQ150ΔI, wild-type and WTΔI mice were studied until 17 months of age. Immunohistochemical and homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence analysis showed that HTT aggregation in both HdhQ150 and HdhQ150ΔI brains contained HTT1a, but the dramatic decrease in soluble HTT1a levels in HdhQ150ΔI brains delayed the appearance of aggregated HTT1a by several months. Although this delay in aggregate pathology only partially reversed transcriptional dysregulation, the biomarkers neurofilament light polypeptide (NEFL) and breast regression protein 39 (BRP39) (YKL40) remained at wild-type levels in HdhQ150ΔI mice at 17 months of age. These data demonstrate that the production of HTT1a initiates HTT aggregation and that it is important to target HTT1a in huntingtin-lowering therapeutic strategies.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Frataxin deficiency drives cardiac dysfunction and transcriptional dysregulation in Friedreich ataxia iPSC model.

Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is a progressive neuromuscular degenerative disorder caused by GAA repeat expansions in the FXN gene, leading to frataxin deficiency and multisystem pathology. Cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of mortality in individuals with FRDA. To investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying FRDA-associated cardiac dysfunction, we employed induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines derived from three individuals with FRDA, each paired with an isogenic control line generated through CRISPR/Cas9-mediated excision of the pathogenic GAA repeat expansion. Correction of the mutation restored FXN expression to levels comparable to healthy donor iPSCs, and all lines differentiated efficiently into cardiomyocytes. Functional analysis revealed significant contractile abnormalities in FRDA cardiomyocytes and multicellular cardiac microtissues, including prolonged contraction and relaxation times and faster beating rates, consistent with clinical observations of cardiac contractile dysfunction. FRDA cardiomyocytes also exhibited pathological features such as increased cell size, irregular calcium transients, elevated mitochondrial reactive oxygen species levels, increased mitochondrial fission and increased cell death. These phenotypes were exacerbated by pathological levels of iron supplementation in culture media, highlighting the heightened sensitivity of frataxin-deficient cardiomyocytes to iron-induced metabolic stress. RNA sequencing revealed a distinct transcriptional profile associated with frataxin deficiency. MEG3 and PCDHGA10 were consistently dysregulated across all three FRDA-iPSC lines and may represent early molecular markers of FRDA cardiomyopathy. Functional interrogation of these candidates demonstrated that targeted silencing of MEG3 or PCDHGA10 in FRDA cardiomyocytes significantly reduced disease‑associated cell death without affecting FXN expression. Notably, PCDHGA10 silencing also normalized elevated mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, whereas MEG3 silencing did not, highlighting gene‑specific contributions to FRDA cardiomyocyte survival. Collectively, these findings identify MEG3 and PCDHGA10 as functionally relevant regulators of FRDA cardiomyocyte pathology.

Friedreich Ataxia↗

PubMed2025

Insights into the heterogeneity of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy.

Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is a rare, adult-onset, autosomal dominant myopathy characterized by variability in the age of onset and disease progression. However, its pathogenesis and phenotypic variability remain poorly understood. The disorder is caused by an expansion of a short polyalanine tract in the poly(A) binding protein nuclear 1 (PABPN1) gene. This study presents data from 23 patients across 19 Greek families with pathogenic PABPN1 expansions, including demographic and laboratory data, as well as molecular and electron microscopy findings. Eight distinct trinucleotide expansion genotypes were identified. Electron microscopy consistently demonstrated mitochondrial abnormalities, including swelling, disrupted cristae and atypical lipid inclusions. Clinical heterogeneity was observed at both inter- and intrafamilial levels, and milder phenotypes were generally linked to smaller alleles. Notably, maternally inherited expansions were associated with an earlier disease onset and more severe progression in affected offspring. Given the genetic variability observed in the cohort, the presence of a founder effect could not be supported. A significant degree of underdiagnosis or diagnostic delay was noted, largely attributable to the rarity and clinical heterogeneity of the disease. The observed intrafamilial heterogeneity - particularly in maternally inherited expansions - supports previous reports suggesting that mitochondrial dysfunction may contribute to transgenerational disease progression in the context of a dominant, causative nuclear variant.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Establishment of four induced pluripotent stem cell lines (IGIBi028-A, IGIBi029-A, IGIBi030-A, and IGIBi031-A) from peripheral blood derived cells of Spinocerebellar ataxia Type 12 patients.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 12 (SCA12) is a progressive late-onset neurodegenerative disorder caused by expansion of ≥ 43 trinucleotide CAG repeats in the upstream non-coding region of the PPP2R2B gene at locus 5q32 (SCA12; OMIM#604326). Clinically SCA12 patients predominately present hand tremor, gait ataxia, tremulous voice and other neurological and psychiatric features. Neuroimaging reveals degenerative changes in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum, however, the underlying disease mechanism at molecular level is still incompletely understood. Here we report generation of four induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) of SCA12 patients. The established lines were positive for PPP2R2B-CAG expansion mutation and showed expression of undifferentiated hPSC state markers, three germ layer differentiation potential, normal genetic integrity and contamination-free culture.

Humans↗

PubMed1977

Sequence analysis of the 3' non-coding region of mouse immunoglobulin light chain messenger RNA.

Using an oligonucleotide d(pT10-C-A) as primer, cDNA has been transcribed from the 3' non-coding region of mouse immunoglobulin light chain mRNA and sequenced by a modification1 of the 'plus-minus' gel method2. The sequence obtained has partially corrected and extended a previously obtained sequence3. The new data contains an unusual sequence in which a trinucleotide is repeated seven times.

Animals↗

PubMed1975

Characterization of Novikoff hepatoma mRNA methylation and heterogeneity in the methylated 5' terminus.

KOH digestion of methyl-labeled poly(A)+ mRNA purified by (dT)-cellulose chromatography produced mononucleotide and multiple peaks of a large oligonucleotide (-6 to -8 charge) when separated on the basis of charge by Pellionex-WAX high-speed liquid chromatography in 7 M urea. Heat denaturation of the RNA before application to (dT)-cellulose was required to release contaminants (mostly 18S rRNA) that persisted even after repeated binding to (dT)-cellulose at room temperature. Analysis of the purified poly(A)+ mRNA by enzyme digestion, acid hydrolysis, and a variety of chromatographic techniques has shown that the monucleotide (53%) is due entirely to N6-methyladenosine. The large oligonucleotides (47%) were found to contain 7-methylguanosine and the 2'-0-methyl derivatives of all four nucleosides. No radioactivity was found associated with the poly(A) segment. Periodate oxidation of the mRNA followed by beta elimination released only labeled 7-methylguanine consistent with a blocked 5' terminus containing an unusual 5'-5' bond. Alkaline phosphatase treatment of intact mRNA had no effect on the migration of the KOH produced oligonucleotides on Pellionex-WAX. When RNA from which 7-methylguanine was removed by beta elimination was used for the phosphatase treatment, distinct dinucleotides (NmpNp) and trinucleotides (NmpNmpNp) occurred after KOH hydrolysis and Pellionex-WAX chromatography. Thus Novikoff hepatoma poly(A)+ mRNA molecules can contain either one or two 2'-0-methylnucleotides linked by a 5'-5' bond to a terminal 7-methylguanosine and the 2'-0-methylation can occur with any of the four nucleotides. The 5' terminus may be represented by m7G5'ppp5' (Nmp)lor2Np, a general structure proposed earlier as a possible 5' terminus for all eucaryotic mRNA molecules (Rottman, F., Shatkin, A., and Perry, R. (1974), Cell 3, 197). The composition analyses indicate that there are 3.0 N6-methyladenosine residues, 1.0 7-methylguanosine residue, and 1.7 2'-0-methylnucleoside residues per average mRNA molecule.

Animals↗