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A 3' splice site mutation in a nuclear gene encoding a mitochondrial ribosomal protein in Neurospora crassa.

We showed previously that the cyt-21+ gene of Neurospora crassa encodes a mitochondrial ribosomal protein homologous to Escherichia coli ribosomal protein S-16 (Kuiper, M. T. R., Akins, R. A., Holtrop, M., de Vries, H., and Lambowitz, A. M. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 2840-2847). A mutation in this gene, cyt-21-1, results in deficiency of mitochondrial small ribosomal subunits and small rRNA (Collins, R. A., Bertrand, H., LaPolla, R. J., and Lambowitz, A. M. (1979) Mol. Gen. Genet. 177, 73-84). In the present work, cloning and sequencing of the cyt-21-1 mutant allele show that it contains a single dG to dA transition at the 3' splice site AG of the first intron in the protein coding region. This mutation leads to inactivation of the normal 3' splice site and activation of a cryptic 3' splice site, 15 nucleotides downstream. The use of this cryptic splice site results in an in-frame deletion of 5 amino acids from the cyt-21 protein. Comparison of mutant and wild-type mitochondrial small ribosomal subunit proteins showed one protein, S-24, with an altered electrophoretic mobility, consistent with the predicted deletion. The mutant ribosomal protein is still capable of binding to mitochondrial small ribosomal subunits, but results in abnormal mitochondrial ribosome assembly.

Alleles↗

A splice-site mutation that induces exon skipping and reduction in lysyl hydroxylase mRNA levels but does not create a nonsense codon in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type VI.

The type VI variant of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a heritable connective tissue disorder caused by a deficiency in the activity of lysyl hydroxylase, an enzyme required for the post-translational processing of collagens. We have characterized a novel type of mutation in a young female patient with type VI EDS, in which cells possess only 12% of the lysyl hydroxylase activity that is detected in unaffected cells. The syndrome was found to be caused by a homozygous insertion of two thymidines at the 5' splice site consensus sequence of intron 9 in the lysyl hydroxylase gene. The insertion interfered with normal splicing of the primary RNA transcript and resulted in an inframe deletion of the 132 nucleotides coded by exon 9 from the lysyl hydroxylase mRNA. In addition, the mutation caused a marked reduction in the steady-state level of the truncated mRNA, which was less than 15% of the level found in unaffected cells. The mutation also reduced the amount of the enzyme protein produced, which was estimated to be about 20% of that in control cells. However, the mutation did not affect the stability of the abnormally spliced mRNA nor the normal localization of the enzyme protein in the endoplasmic reticulum. According to our results, the reduction in enzymatic activity observed in this patient is caused by low levels of both lysyl hydroxylase mRNA and enzyme protein. The primary cellular defect associated with this mutation, therefore, appears to be at the level of nuclear mRNA metabolism even though the mutation did not create a premature translation termination codon.

Codon, Nonsense↗

Removal of a single alpha-tubulin gene intron suppresses cell cycle arrest phenotypes of splicing factor mutations in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Genetic and biochemical studies of Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Saccharomyces cerevisiae have identified gene products that play essential functions in both pre-mRNA splicing and cell cycle control. Among these are the conserved, Myb-related CDC5 (also known as Cef1p in S. cerevisiae) proteins. The mechanism by which loss of CDC5/Cef1p function causes both splicing and cell cycle defects has been unclear. Here we provide evidence that cell cycle arrest in a new temperature-sensitive CEF1 mutant, cef1-13, is an indirect consequence of defects in pre-mRNA splicing. Although cef1-13 cells harbor global defects in pre-mRNA splicing discovered through intron microarray analysis, inefficient splicing of the alpha-tubulin-encoding TUB1 mRNA was considered as a potential cause of the cef1-13 cell cycle arrest because cef1-13 cells arrest uniformly at G(2)/M with many hallmarks of a defective microtubule cytoskeleton. Consistent with this possibility, cef1-13 cells possess reduced levels of total TUB1 mRNA and alpha-tubulin protein. Removing the intron from TUB1 in cef1-13 cells boosts TUB1 mRNA and alpha-tubulin expression to near wild-type levels and restores microtubule stability in the cef1-13 mutant. As a result, cef1-13 tub1Deltai cells progress through mitosis and their cell cycle arrest phenotype is alleviated. Removing the TUB1 intron from two other splicing mutants that arrest at G(2)/M, prp17Delta and prp22-1 strains, permits nuclear division, but suppression of the cell cycle block is less efficient. Our data raise the possibility that although cell cycle arrest phenotypes in prp mutants can be explained by defects in pre-mRNA splicing, the transcript(s) whose inefficient splicing contributes to cell cycle arrest is likely to be prp mutant dependent.

Base Sequence↗

A splice site mutation in the methyltransferase gene FTSJ1 in Xp11.23 is associated with non-syndromic mental retardation in a large Belgian family (MRX9).

Mental retardation is the most frequent cause of serious handicap in children and young adults. The underlying causes of this heterogeneous condition are both acquired and genetically based. A recently performed refinement of the linkage interval in a large Belgian family with mild to severe non-syndromic X linked mental retardation, classified as MRX9, revealed a candidate region of 11.3 Mb between markers DXS228 and DXS1204 on the short arm of the X chromosome. In order to identify the underlying disease gene in the MRX9 family, we established a gene catalogue for the candidate region and performed comprehensive mutation analysis by direct sequencing. A human homologue of the bacterial 23S rRNA methyltransferase Fstj, the FTSJ1 gene, is located within this region and displayed a sequence alteration in the conserved acceptor splice site of intron 3 (IVS3-2A>G) in all tested patients and carrier females of this family. In contrast, it was absent in all unaffected male family members tested. The mutation results in skipping of exon 4 and introduces a premature stop codon in exon 5, probably leading to a severely truncated protein. Our finding indicates that a protein, possibly associated with ribosomal stability, can be linked to X linked mental retardation (XLMR).

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Hereditary isolated growth hormone deficiency caused by GH1 gene mutations in Japanese patients.

Most patients with hereditary isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD) are either heterozygous or homozygous for a growth hormone (GH) gene abnormality. GH1 gene deletions (6.7 and 7.6 kb) from eight Japanese families with IGHD type IA has been detected by Southern blot analysis or polymerase chain reaction and Smal digestion. Heterozygous point mutations at the donor splice site of intron 3 in the GH1 gene have been identified among autosomal dominant IGHD type II patients. Recently, we have identified two kinds of splicing mutations in intron 3 in four Japanese families with IGHD type II. We believe a newly diagnosed G to A mutation at the fifth base of intron 3 in a Japanese family is responsible for the IGHD type II phenotype.

Base Sequence↗

A 5' splice-region mutation and a dinucleotide deletion in the lysosomal acid lipase gene in two patients with cholesteryl ester storage disease.

Cholesteryl ester storage disease (CESD) results from inherited deficiencies of the lysosomal hydrolase, acid lipase (LAL; E.C. 3.1.1.13). To establish the molecular defects in LAL deficiency, two unrelated probands with severely reduced LAL activity were examined. DNA amplification by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and subsequent sequence analysis of LAL cDNA identified two mutant alleles. Patient 1, presenting with hepatosplenomegaly, mildly elevated liver function tests, and hyperlipidemia, was homozygous for a deletion of nucleotides 823 to 894 of the LAL cDNA. This 72-bp deletion maintained the reading frame and resulted in a loss of 24 amino acids from the LAL protein. Analysis of genomic DNA revealed that the 72 bp corresponded to an exon of the LAL gene. A single G to A point mutation at the last exon position was observed in the genomic DNA of patient 1, indicating a splicing defect with consecutive exon skipping underlying the 72-bp deletion. Patient 2 was a compound heterozygote for the 72-bp deletion and a dinucleotide deletion at positions 967 and 968. This deletion resulted in a shifted reading frame carboxyterminal of codon 296, and 43 random amino acids followed the frame shift. A premature stop at codon 339 truncated the mutant LAL protein by 34 amino acids. Allele-specific hybridization confirmed that patient 1 was homozygous for the 72-bp deletion mutation, and that patient 2 was a compound heterozygote for the 72-bp deletion and the 2-bp deletion.

Adult↗

Albumin Rugby Park: a truncated albumin variant caused by a G-->C splice-site mutation in intron 13.

Three members of a family were found to be heterozygous for a fast albumin variant (Albumin Rugby Park) that made up only 8% of total serum albumin. Isoelectric focussing indicated an increased negative charge on the C-terminal CNBr peptide and C-terminal sequence analysis of the native protein showed an aberrant sequence of -Ser-Phe. Sequence analysis of PCR-amplified DNA indicated a G-->C mutation at position 1 of the 13th intron and this was confirmed by restriction digestion. The replacement of the obligate GT sequence by CT at the exon/intron boundary prevents splicing of the 13th intron and translation continues for 21 nucleotides until a stop codon is reached. The new protein lacks the 14 amino acids coded for in the 14th exon (GKKLVAASQAALGH), but these are replaced by 7 new residues (LLQFSSF), giving a truncated albumin of 578 residues.

Albumins↗

An RNA splice site mutation in the C1-inhibitor gene causes type I hereditary angio-oedema.

Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, the polymerase chain reaction and nucleotide sequencing have been used to characterise a single base substitution (G----T) at nucleotide 8863 in the C1-inhibitor gene. This destroys the 5' donor splice site recognition motif of the sixth intron. Family studies suggest that the mutation is responsible for type I hereditary angio-oedema in a studied kindred.

Angioedema↗

A point mutation in the conserved hexanucleotide at a yeast 5' splice junction uncouples recognition, cleavage, and ligation.

We have constructed an actin-HIS4 gene fusion, such that expression of HIS4 requires proper splicing of the actin intron. Using this chimeric gene in an in vivo screen for splicing mutations, we have isolated a G to A transition in the fifth position of the yeast 5' consensus sequence/GTAPyGT. This mutation still allows the junction to be recognized by the splicing machinery, albeit inefficiently. Surprisingly, the fidelity of the 5' endonucleolytic cleavage is also reduced. This results in an incorrect cleavage 6 nucleotides 5' of the 5' junction, at the dinucleotide/AT. Cleavage at this abnormal site does not lead to the production of mature mRNA, although this species appears to be in a lariat structure. The behavior of this mutant argues that recognition of the 5' junction and subsequent cleavage are separable events and, furthermore, that requirements for 3' endonucleolytic cleavage may be more complex than previously imagined.

Actins↗

Splice site mutation in the type VII collagen gene (COL7A1) in a Taiwanese family with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Generalized recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is a severe inherited disease, in which patients suffer from blistering and scarring of the skin and mucous membranes after minor mechanical trauma. Tight genetic linkage has been established to the type VII collagen gene (COL7A1) at 3p21. The purpose of this study was to identify mutations in COL7A1 in one Taiwanese pedigree with generalized RDEB. METHODS: Genomic DNA was used as the template for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of all 118 COL7A1 exons and the flanking splice junctions. PCR was followed by heteroduplex analysis of the products by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) studies, and direct nucleotide sequencing was used to search for mutations, which were verified by restriction endonuclease digestion. RESULTS: We identified a homozygous intronic splice-site at the +1 position of intron 5 (682 + 1G-->A) of COL7A1 in the affected individual. His parents, who were cousins, were not affected by this disease. The mother was heterozygous for the mutation; the father had died before the study, of unrelated causes. This mutation results in a frameshift and downstream stop codons on both alleles, indicating an absence of functional protein. Restriction endonuclease BspHI can be used to verify this mutation and screen other members in the same family. CONCLUSIONS: These molecular findings offer a genetic explanation for the skin fragility in this Taiwanese patient with RDEB. The immediate benefits gained by elucidating mutations in family members include the ability to assess whether they are carriers of this disease and the ability to use this DNA-based method for prenatal testing in subsequent pregnancies.

Adult↗

Unusual splice-site mutations in the RSK2 gene and suggestion of genetic heterogeneity in Coffin-Lowry syndrome.

Coffin-Lowry syndrome (CLS) is a syndromic form of X-linked mental retardation that is characterized, in male patients, by psychomotor and growth retardation and various skeletal anomalies. Typical facial changes and specific clinical and radiological hand aspects exhibited by patients are essential clues for the diagnosis. CLS is caused by mutations in a gene that is located in Xp22.2 and that encodes RSK2, a growth-factor-regulated protein kinase. RSK2 mutations are extremely heterogeneous and lead to premature termination of translation and/or loss of phosphotransferase activity. Surprisingly, among a series of 250 patients screened by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis, in whom a clinical diagnosis of CLS was made, no mutations were detected in 66% (165) of the patients. To determine what proportion of these latter patients have a RSK2 mutation that has not been detected and what proportion have different disorders that are phenotypically similar to CLS, we have, in the present article, investigated, by western blot analysis and in vitro kinase assay, cell lines from 26 patients in whom no mutation was previously identified by SSCP analysis. This approach allowed us to identify seven novel RSK2 mutations: two changes in the coding sequence of RSK2, one intragenic deletion, and four unusual intronic nucleotide substitutions that do not affect the consensus GT or AG splice sites. We have also determined the nucleotide sequence of the promoter region of the RSK2 gene, and we have screened it for mutations. No disease-causing nucleotide change was identified, suggesting that mutations affecting the promoter region are unlikely to account for a large number of patients with CLS. Finally, our results provide evidence that some patients have a disease that is phenotypically very similar to CLS, which is not caused by RSK2 defects. This suggests that there are defects in either additional genes or combinations of genes that may result in a CLS-like phenotype.

Base Sequence↗

Molecular characterization of autosomal recessive chronic granulomatous disease caused by a defect of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (reduced form) oxidase component p67-phox.

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a rare inherited disorder of phagocytes in which defective production of microbicidal oxidants leads to severe recurrent infections. CGD is caused by mutations in any of 4 genes encoding components of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (reduced form; NADPH) oxidase, the multisubunit enzyme that produces the precursor of these oxidants, superoxide. Approximately 5% of CGD patients have an autosomal recessive form of disease caused by a severe deficiency of p67-phox, a 526-amino acid subunit of the oxidase that appears to regulate electron transport within the enzyme. Here we report the biochemical and molecular characterization of 6 unrelated kindreds with p67-phox deficiency. These studies show that, as in gp91-phox and p22-phox deficiencies, the p67-phox CGD patients show a high degree of heterogeneity in the genetic defects that underlie their disease. Five different mutant alleles were identified: (1) a nonsense mutation in exon 4 (C(304) --> T); (2) a 5-nucleotide (nt) deletion in exon 13 (nts 1169-1173); (3) a splice mutation in the first nucleotide of intron 4 (G --> A); (4) a deletion of 1 nt in exon 9 (A(728)); and (5) a 9-nt in-frame deletion in exon 2 (nts 55-63). The splice mutation was seen in 3 unrelated kindreds, while the 5-nt deletion was seen in 2 apparently unrelated families (both of Palestinian origin). Homozygosity was present in 4 of the kindreds, 2 of which had consanguineous parentage. In the isolated neutrophils of each of the affected patients in the 6 kindreds, there was no measurable respiratory burst activity and no p67-phox protein detected by immunoblot analysis. The level of 67-phox mRNA was less than 10% of normal in the mononuclear leukocytes from 3 of the 4 patients analyzed by Northern blot studies. Thus, this heterogeneous group of mutations in p67-phox all lead to marked instability of mRNA or protein (or both) that results in the complete loss of NADPH oxidase activity.

Adolescent↗

A novel splice site mutation in a Becker muscular dystrophy patient.

A Becker muscular dystrophy patient was found to have a single base substitution at the 5' end of intron 54. This single base substitution disrupts the invariant GT dinucleotide within the 5' donor splice site and was shown to cause an out of frame deletion of exon 54 during mRNA processing. This is predicted to produce a truncated dystrophin protein which is more consistent with a DMD phenotype. However, small quantities of normal mRNA are also transcribed and these are sufficient to produce a reduced amount of normal molecular weight dystrophin and give rise to a milder BMD phenotype. This indicates that a single base substitution at an invariant dinucleotide of the splice site consensus sequence may still allow read through of the message and allow the production of some normal protein. This shows that there are a greater number of possible intronic mutations that can lead to a mild phenotype and it also underlines the importance of performing cDNA analysis when screening for small gene alterations in the BMD patient population.

Base Sequence↗

Allelic expression of the NF2 gene in neurofibromatosis 2 and schwannomatosis.

Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is a genetic disorder characterized by formation of multiple schwannomas and meningiomas due to inactivating mutations in the NF2 tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 22. We describe a polymorphism in the 3' untranslated region of the NF2 gene that is informative in about one-third of individuals. This polymorphism permitted an assessment of the relative expression of NF2 transcripts in lymphoblastoid cell RNA from 22 unrelated NF2 patients heterozygous for a germline NF2 mutation, along with 6 schwannomatosis patients, and 14 unaffected controls. Unequal allelic expression (1.8- to 20-fold) was detected in 15 of the NF2 cases, but in none of the schwannomatosis or control individuals. Underexpression of the NF2 mutant allele was documented for all 6 nonsense or frameshift mutations, 3 of 6 splice mutations, and 1 of 4 missense mutations, which, unexpectedly, was shown to alter the NF2 transcript and create a premature stop codon. In contrast, equal expression or slight overexpression of NF2 mutant alleles was observed for 2 in-frame deletions, 2 splice alterations, and 3 missense mutations. In the remaining 5 cases, the allele representing the mutant transcript was not known. Thus, truncating NF2 mutations, which are the most frequent alterations in NF2 patients and NF2-associated tumors, were associated with underexpression of the mutant allele, whereas the less common in-frame alterations usually showed normal or slight overexpression of the mutant transcript.

Alleles↗