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Evidence for major gene transmission of developmental dyslexia.

OBJECTIVE: --There is strong evidence that developmental dyslexia is both familial and heritable, but the mode of genetic transmission has remained unclear. In this article, we examine specific genetic hypotheses about the mode of transmission of developmental dyslexia by performing complex segregation analyses. DESIGN: --A family study method was applied, whereby the relatives of dyslexic probands were examined for dyslexia. The families studied represent four independently ascertained samples. SETTING: --The four samples of families were primarily from rural and suburban communities of Colorado, Washington State, and Iowa. PARTICIPANTS: --A total of 204 families and 1698 individuals in the four samples combined. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: --The complex segregation program, POINTER, was used to test competing genetic hypotheses of how a categorical trait (dyslexia) is transmitted in families. RESULTS: --The results were consistent with major locus transmission in three of four samples and with polygenic transmission in the fourth. In these three samples, the estimates of penetrance for the AA, Aa, and aa genotypes (where A is the abnormal allele) were, respectively, 1.000, 1.000, and 0.001 to 0.039 in males, and 0.560 to 1.000, 0.550 to 0.897, and 0.000 in females. The estimated gene frequency of the major locus was between 3% and 5%. CONCLUSIONS: --Sex-influenced, additive, or dominant transmission occurs in a significant proportion of dyslexic families. Other evidence indicates, however, that dyslexia is etiologically heterogeneous and that there is genetic heterogeneity even among families selected for apparent dominant transmission. Thus, while no single major locus may account for all of dyslexia, it is important to pursue potential major loci for dyslexia using linkage techniques.

Adult↗

Functional analysis of multiple transcription factor sites in a regulatory element of human epsilon-globin gene.

The developmental control of the human epsilon-globin gene expression is mediated by transcriptional regulatory elements in the 5' flanking DNA of this gene. A previously identified negative regulatory element (-3028 to -2902 bp, termed epsilon-NRAII) was analyzed and one putative NF-kappaB site and two GATA sites locate at -3004 bp, -2975 bp and -2948 bp were characterized. Electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA) showed that the putative NF-kappaB site was specifically bound by nuclear proteins of K562 cells. Data obtained from transient transfection showed that the expression of reporter gene could be upregulated about 50% or 100% respectively when epsilon-NRAII was inserted upstream of the SV40 promoter or epsilon-globin gene proximal promoter (-177 bp to +1 bp), suggesting that epsilon-NRAII might not be a classic silencer. Mutation in the putative NF-kappaB site or in the GATA site (at -2975 bp) slightly reduced the expression of reporter gene driven by SV40 promoter or epsilon-globin gene proximal promoter. However, the mutation of GATA site at -2948 bp remarkably reduced the reporter gene activity driven by SV40 promoter, but not by epsilon-globin gene proximal promoter. Further mutation analysis showed that the negative effect of mutation in GATA site at -2948 bp on SV40 promoter was not affected by the mutation of the putative NF-kappaB site, whereas it could be abolished by the mutation of GATA site at -2975 bp. Furthermore, the mutation of both GATA sites could synergistically reduce the reporter gene activity driven by epsilon-globin gene proximal promoter. Those results suggested that epsilon-NRAII might function differently on the SV40 promoter and epsilon-globin gene proximal promoter.

Binding Sites↗

Targeting of both mouse neuropilin-1 and neuropilin-2 genes severely impairs developmental yolk sac and embryonic angiogenesis.

Neuropilins (NP1 and NP2) are vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors that mediate developmental and tumor angiogenesis. Transgenic mice, in which both NP1 and NP2 were targeted (NP1(-/-)NP2(-/-)) died in utero at E8.5. Their yolk sacs were totally avascular. Mice deficient for NP2 but heterozygous for NP1 (NP1(+/-)NP2(-/-)) or deficient for NP1 but heterozygous for NP2 (NP1(-/-)NP2(+/-)) were also embryonic lethal and survived to E10-E10.5. The E10 yolk sacs and embryos were easier to analyze for vascular phenotype than the fragile poorly formed 8.5 embryos. The vascular phenotypes of these E10 mice were very abnormal. The yolk sacs, although of normal size, lacked the larger collecting vessels and had less dense capillary networks. PECAM staining of yolk sac endothelial cells showed the absence of branching arteries and veins, the absence of a capillary bed, and the presence of large avascular spaces between the blood vessels. The embryos displayed blood vessels heterogeneous in size, large avascular regions in the head and trunk, and blood vessel sprouts that were unconnected. The embryos were about 50% the length of wild-type mice and had multiple hemorrhages. These double NP1/NP2 knockout mice had a more severe abnormal vascular phenotype than either NP1 or NP2 single knockouts. Their abnormal vascular phenotype resembled those of VEGF and VEGFR-2 knockouts. These results suggest that NRPs are early genes in embryonic vessel development and that both NP1 and NP2 are required.

Animals↗

Genetic identification and cloning of a gene required for developmental cell interactions in Myxococcus xanthus.

Developmental mutants of Myxococcus xanthus have been previously described which appear to be defective in required cell-cell interactions. These mutants fall into four phenotypic classes, Asg, Bsg, Csg, and Dsg, each of which is unable to differentiate into spores but can be rescued by extracellular complementation by wild-type cells or by mutants of a different class. We report the identification of one of the loci in which mutations result in a Bsg phenotype. The cloned locus was contained on a 12-kilobase EcoRI fragment and then localized by subcloning and a combination of in vitro and transposon mutagenesis. All mutations in this locus behave as a single complementation group, which we designate bsgA (formerly ssbA). Each of the bsgA mutations results in a nonsporulating phenotype, which can be rescued by extracellular complementation. Furthermore, we report that the bsgA mutants have a distinctive interaction with wild-type cells when vegetatively growing, swarming colonies converge.

Alleles↗

Three genes under different developmental control encode elongation factor 1-alpha in Xenopus laevis.

We have cloned cDNAs encoding two variants of the elongation factor for protein synthesis in Xenopus laevis, called EF-1 alpha. One of these (42Sp50) is expressed exclusively in immature oocytes. It is one of two protein components of a 42S RNP particle that is very abundant in previtellogenic oocytes. The 42S RNP particle consists of various tRNAs, 5S RNA, 42Sp50 and a 5S RNA binding protein (42Sp43). A major function served by 42Sp50 appears to be the storage of tRNAs for later use in oogenesis and early embryogenesis. The second EF-1 alpha variant (EF-1 alpha O) is expressed mainly in oocytes but transiently in early embryogenesis as well. Its mRNA cannot be detected after neurulation in somatic cells. EF-1 alpha O is closely related to a third EF-1 alpha (EF-1 alpha S), discovered originally by Krieg et al. (1). EF-1 alpha S is expressed at low levels in oocytes but actively in somatic cells. The latter two proteins are very similar to known eukaryotic EF-1 alpha from other organisms and presumably function in their respective cell types to support protein synthesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Isolation of a gene encoding a developmentally regulated T cell-specific protein with a guanine nucleotide triphosphate-binding motif.

In this study, we describe a novel full length cDNA clone designated Tgtp that encodes a predicted 415-amino acid a T cell-specific guanine nucleotide triphosphate-binding protein (TGTP) bearing the characteristic motifs of a guanine nucleotide triphosphate (GTP) binding protein. Tgtp is expressed preferentially, if not exclusively, in T cells, and is up-regulated in both unfractionated and in purified CD4+8+ thymocytes upon TCR cross-linking. In contrast, expression of Tgtp is peripheral T cells is maintained at relatively high levels and is not grossly affected by TCR cross-linking. Antiserum generated against synthetic peptides from the predicted TGTP amino acid sequence recognized a single protein with a molecular mass of approximately 50 kDa, corresponding well with the computed molecular mass of 47 kDa. The only known relative of Tgtp is MUSGTP, which is reportedly expressed in B cells and bears a GTP binding motif. Thus, the discovery of Tgtp resolves a subfamily of molecules with GTP binding motifs and apparent lymphoid lineage-restricted expression. Given the restricted expression pattern in T cells, the up-regulated expression observed in response to TCR signaling in immature thymocytes, and the presence of the motifs characteristic of GTP binding proteins, we suggest that TGTP may have an important function in T cell development and/or T cell activation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A new invertebrate member of the p53 gene family is developmentally expressed and responds to polychlorinated biphenyls.

The cell-cycle checkpoint protein p53 both directs terminal differentiation and protects embryos from DNA damage. To study invertebrate p53 during early development, we identified three differentially expressed p53 family members (p53, p97, p120) in the surf clam, Spisula solidissima. In these mollusks, p53 and p97 occur in both embryonic and adult tissue, whereas p120 is exclusively embryonic. We sequenced, cloned, and characterized p120 cDNA. The predicted protein, p120, resembles p53 across all evolutionarily conserved regions and contains a C-terminal extension with a sterile alpha motif (SAM) as in p63 and p73. These vertebrate forms of p53 are required for normal inflammatory, epithelial, and neuronal development. Unlike clam p53 and p97, p120 mRNA and protein levels are temporally expressed in embryos, with mRNA levels decreasing with increasing p120 protein (R(2) = 0.97). Highest surf clam p120 mRNA levels coincide with the onset of neuronal growth. In earlier work we have shown that neuronal development is altered by exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a neurotoxic environmental contaminant. In this study we show that PCBs differentially affect expression of the three surf clam p53 family members. p120 mRNA and protein are reduced the most and earliest in development, p97 protein shows a smaller and later reduction, and p53 protein levels do not change. For the first time we report that unlike p53 and p97, p120 is specifically embryonic and expressed in a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, p120 responds to PCBs by 48 hr when PCB-induced suppression of the serotonergic nervous system occurs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Developmental regulation of aortic elastin gene expression involves disruption of an IGF-I sensitive repressor complex.

Nuclear proteins were isolated from different aged chick embryonic aorta and examined by gel mobility shift and footprint analyses using the -195 to +2 bp region of the human elastin gene. A major developmental change in DNA/protein complexes involved the loss of binding complexes present initially in the 8- to 11-day nuclear extracts. Both chemical and enzymatic footprinting demonstrated that the deprotected binding complexes corresponded to positions -167 to -137 bp within the elastin promoter fragment. Gel shift competition assays confirmed the identity of the specific DNA sequences affected. These results demonstrate that increased elastogenesis during aortic embryogenesis involves the derepression of a negative element functionality previously shown to be affected by IGF-I in vitro.

Animals↗

Use of somatic cell fusion to reprogram globin genes.

The developmental phenomenon of hemoglobin switching occurs in all classes of vertebrates and is due to differential regulation of divergent globin genes which are arranged in chromosomally clustered families. By fusing erythroid cells of different developmental programs, it has been shown that erythroid nuclei of either early or late developmental stage can be reprogrammed, i.e. the gene switch can be reversed in adult erythroid nuclei and/or prematurely-induced in fetal/embryonic erythroid nuclei. Experiments with heterokaryons demonstrate that the reprogramming is due to trans-acting factors that are developmental-stage-specific. These results suggest the feasibility of using fusisome-carried sets of nuclear factors to reprogram somatic cells.

Animals↗

Developmentally regulated plant genes: the nucleotide sequence of a wheat gliadin genomic clone.

Gliadins, the major wheat seed storage proteins, are encoded by a multigene family. Northern blot analysis shows that gliadin genes are transcribed in endosperm tissue into two classes of poly(A)+ mRNA, 1400 bases (class I) and 1600 bases (class II) in length. Using poly(A)+ RNA from developing wheat endosperm we constructed a cDNA library from which a number of clones coding for alpha/beta and gamma gliadins were identified by hybrid-selected mRNA translation and DNA sequencing. These cDNA clones were used as probes for the isolation of genomic gliadin clones from a wheat genomic library. One such genomic clone was characterized in detail and its DNA sequence determined. It contains a gene for a 33-kd alpha/beta gliadin protein (a 20 amino acid signal peptide and a 266 amino acid mature protein) which is very rich in glutamine (33.8%) and proline (15.4%). The gene sequence does not contain introns. A typical eukaryotic promoter sequence is present at -104 (relative to the translation initiation codon) and there are two normal polyadenylation signals 77 and 134 bases downstream from the translation termination codon. The coding sequence contains some internal sequence repetition, and is highly homologous to several alpha/beta gliadin cDNA clones. Homology to a gamma-gliadin cDNA clone is low, and there is no homology with known glutenin or zein cDNA sequences.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Developmental expression of genes in chick growth cartilage detected by in situ hybridization.

We have used in situ hybridization to examine expression of collagen type I, II, and X mRNA and osteonectin mRNA in the chick epiphysis. Tissue samples from the proximal tibial growth cartilage were fixed in modified Carnoy's solution, dehydrated in ethanol, and embedded in paraffin. Longitudinal and transverse sections were demineralized with HCl and digested with hyaluronidase and proteinase K. In situ hybridization was carried out using biotinylated cDNA probes; the hybridized probe was detected using a streptavidin-biotinylated alkaline phosphatase conjugate. This procedure permitted detection of the corresponding mRNAs in cartilage with high sensitivity and low background. Osteonectin mRNA was detected in proliferating cartilage; lower levels of osteonectin mRNA were seen in the mid-hypertrophic region. This mRNA species was also expressed in cells that border the vascular canals in the premineralized region of the epiphysis. Collagen type X mRNA was detected throughout the hypertrophic zone. As localization of collagen type X mRNA corresponded to the site of maximal synthesis of the protein, reported in other studies, our results would further support the suggestion that this protein is associated with mineralization of cartilage. Collagen type II mRNA was seen in both the proliferating and the hypertrophic regions of the cartilage. Highest levels of expression were observed in the proliferative region. The results suggest that the transcriptional control of collagen type II and X by cells of the proliferating and hypertrophic regions of the growth cartilage may be related.

Animals↗

Chromatin structure in pre- and postblastula embryos of Drosophila.

Early in embryogenesis of Drosophila melanogaster, DNA synthesis is extremely rapid while RNA synthesis is virtually undetectable. We have examined the chromatin structure of nuclei from preblastula embryos to determine whether these unusual rates of replication and transcription correlate with any alteration in the chromatin. DNase I-hypersensitive sites at the 5' end of genes have been postulated to be necessary but not sufficient for activity of the associated gene and have been shown to be established prior to the onset of transcription. In order to ascertain whether the apparent transcriptional incompetence of the early embryos is the result of the absence of such chromatin structure, we have examined nuclei from cleavage-stage embryos to determine whether the DNase I-hypersensitive sites have been established. A variety of genes, including inducible heat-shock genes, a constitutively expressed ribosomal protein gene, and two developmentally regulated genes, have been examined. In every case the pattern of DNase I-hypersensitive sites in preblastula embryos duplicates that in the later (6-18 hr after oviposition) embryos. In addition, two extra sites are observed in the early embryos, one at the 5' end of the hsp 70 gene and one in a gene at chromosomal locus 67B1. These sites do not correlate with any known function; however, neither can functional significance be ruled out. In a further investigation of the chromatin structure of early embryos, a nucleosomal array was generated. The pattern produced from nuclei of early embryos is extremely similar to that from 6- to 18-hr embryos, but somewhat less distinct. Both nucleosomal arrays and DNase I-hypersensitive sites must therefore be established very rapidly following DNA replication. The chromatin structure of cleavage-stage embryos detected by these tests appears to be essentially the same as that of older embryos, both in general, and at specific loci.

Animals↗

Developmental expression of genes involved in conidiation and amino acid biosynthesis in Neurospora crassa.

The levels of transcripts for Neurospora crassa genes concerned with cellular and metabolic functions changed dramatically at different stages of asexual development. Transcripts for some conidiation-related (con) genes were present at high levels in conidiating cultures and in dormant conidia, but were absent or reduced during mycelial growth. Levels of some con transcripts increased transiently during conidial germination, while others disappeared. Transcripts for amino acid biosynthetic enzymes, ribosomal proteins, cytochrome oxidase subunits, histones, and other polypeptides important for cell growth were detected in newly formed conidia and were present at reduced levels in dormant conidia. Levels of these transcripts increased upon germination of wild-type conidia in minimal medium, reaching their highest levels during this stage or during the early phase of exponential growth. The increased transcription of amino acid biosynthetic genes observed during germination in minimal medium was not dependent on a functional cpc-1 gene. However, cpc-1, which encodes a DNA binding protein presumed to function as a transcriptional activator, was essential for increased expression of amino acid biosynthetic genes when amino acid starvation was imposed during germination or at any subsequent stage of mycelial growth.

Amino Acids↗

Gene within a gene: nested Drosophila genes encode unrelated proteins on opposite DNA strands.

A pupal cuticle protein gene has been found within an intron of a Drosophila gene that encodes three purine pathway enzymatic activities. The intronic gene is encoded on the DNA strand opposite the purine pathway gene and is itself interrupted by an intron. Whereas the purine pathway gene is active throughout development, the intronic cuticle protein gene is expressed primarily over a 3 hr period in the abdominal epidermal cells of prepupae that secrete the pupal cuticle. Therefore, a housekeeping gene and a developmentally regulated gene function in a nested arrangement.

Acyltransferases↗

DNA homology between the 3'-untranslated regions of a developmentally regulated Drosophila gene and a mouse alpha-interferon gene.

The Drosophila genome was screened for DNA sequences that have homology with the mouse alpha-interferon gene MuIFN alpha 2, by hybridizing a library of cloned Drosophila genomic DNA with an MuIFN alpha 2 cDNA probe under reduced stringency conditions. Several dispersed regions of homology were identified, one of which was mapped at position 67D8-10 on chromosome 3. The homology in this region occurs within a gene, called ect, which encodes a 2.9-kb poly(A)+RNA transcript. The principal homology between ect and MuIFN alpha 2 involves A + T-rich sequences with short repeats, which are located within the untranslated 3' end of the transcribed region of each gene. Since no homology between the translated regions of ect and MuIFN alpha 2 was detected by hybridization, there appears to be no significant structural or functional homology between the encoded proteins. The ect gene is temporally regulated during Drosophila development, with a major peak of expression during the second half of Drosophila embryogenesis. Expression of ect occurs selectively in ectodermal tissues of the embryo, suggesting a specialized role for the gene in the early development of ectodermal structures.

Animals↗

Human fetal ovaries and uteri: developmental expression of genes encoding the insulin, insulin-like growth factor I, and insulin-like growth factor II receptors.

OBJECTIVE: To study the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of receptors for insulin, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), and insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) in human fetal ovaries and uteri at 10, 15, 19, and 22 weeks' gestation. Insulin, IGF-I, and IGF-II are postulated to have paracrine and autocrine functions in the development of fetal tissues, but receptors for these growth factors have never been studied in reproductive organs of the human female fetus. DESIGN: Ribonucleic acid extracted from human fetal reproductive tissues underwent reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. The amplified complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA) fragments were analyzed by gel electrophoresis and restriction enzyme mapping. RESULTS: Messenger RNA expression consistent with both known forms of the insulin receptor, the IGF-I receptor, and the IGF-II receptor was observed in human fetal ovaries and uteri at 10, 15, 19, and 22 weeks' gestation. The identity of the PCR amplified ovarian and uterine DNA fragments were confirmed by digestion with the restriction endonucleases AvaII, DdeI, and BamHI, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that mRNA for receptors for insulin, IGF-I, and IGF-II are expressed in the fetal human female genital tract. These receptors may have roles in fetal reproductive tract development.

Base Sequence↗