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Mutation analysis of the GJB2 (connexin 26) gene in Egypt.

Fifty to eighty percent of autosomal recessive deafness is due to mutations in the GJB2 gene encoding connexin 26. Among Caucasians, the c.35delG mutation in this gene accounts for up to 30 to 70% of all cases with early childhood deafness. In this study, we present the analysis of the GJB2 gene in 159 Egyptians from 111 families with non-syndromic mild to profound hearing impairment. An additional family with Vohwinkel syndrome, a combination of hearing impairment and palmoplantar keratoderma with constriction of the digits, was also included. We used direct sequencing analysis to detect all possible coding GJB2 variants in this population. The presence of the g.1777179_2085947del mutation (hereafter called del(GJB6-D13S1830)) was also investigated as it was shown to be the second most common mutation causing non-syndromic prelingual hearing impairment in Spain. Sequencing analysis of one randomly chosen individual per family revealed that the c.35delG mutation was present in 24 out of 222 chromosomes (10.8%), making it the most frequent mutation in the GJB2 gene in Egypt. Five other mutations were already described previously [p.Thr8Met, p.Val37Ile, p.Val153Ile, c.333_334delAA, c.1-3172G>A (commonly designated as IVS1+1G>A)]. This study also revealed three other novel gene variants resulting in amino acid substitutions (p.Phe142del, p.Asp117His, p.Ala148Pro). In contrast with most populations, the del(GJB6-D13S1830) mutation upstream of the GJB2 gene was not present in this Egyptian population. A dominant mutation at a highly conserved residue, p.Gly130Val, was found in the family with Vohwinkel syndrome.

Adult↗

Mutation analysis of the sodium/hydrogen exchanger gene (NHE5) in familial paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia.

Familial Paroxysmal Kinesigenic Dyskinesia (PKD) is an autosomal dominant condition characterized by attacks of dystonia or chorea triggered by sudden movements. Recently two separate loci for PKD, Episodic Kinesigenic Dyskinesia 1 (EKD1) and Episodic Kinesigenic Dyskinesia 2 (EKD2), have been mapped to chromosome 16 but the causative genes have not been identified. The Na(+)/H(+) exchanger gene (NHE5) involved in regulating intracellular pH lies in the EKD2 region. The coding region of the NHE5 gene in familial PKD was sequenced. We did not identify any mutations in the exons, intron/exon boundaries or the 5' and 3'UTR. This excludes mutations in the coding region of the NHE5 gene as a cause for familial PKD, but does not rule out a possible role of sequence variants in introns or regulatory regions.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

Mutational analysis defines the 5'-kinase and 3'-phosphatase active sites of T4 polynucleotide kinase.

T4 polynucleotide kinase (Pnk) is a bifunctional 5'-kinase/3'-phosphatase that aids in the repair of broken termini in RNA by converting 3'-PO4/5'-OH ends into 3'-OH/5'-PO4 ends, which are then sealed by RNA ligase. Here we have employed site-directed mutagenesis (introducing 31 mutations at 16 positions) to locate candidate catalytic residues within the 301 amino acid Pnk polypeptide. We found that alanine substitutions for Arg38 and Arg126 inactivated the 5'-kinase, but spared the 3'-phosphatase activity. Conservative substitutions of lysine or glutamine for Arg38 and Arg126 did not restore 5'-kinase activity. These results, together with previous mutational studies, highlight a constellation of five amino acids (Lys15, Ser16, Asp35, Arg38 and Arg126) that likely comprise the 5'-kinase active site. Four of these residues are conserved at the active sites of adenylate kinases (Adk), suggesting that Pnk and Adk are structurally and mechanistically related. We found that alanine substitutions for Asp165, Asp167, Arg176, Arg213, Asp254 and Asp278 inactivated the 3'-phosphatase, but spared the 5'-kinase. Conservative substitutions of asparagine or glutamate for Asp165, Asp167 and Asp254 did not revive the 3'-phosphatase activity, nor did lysine substitutions for Arg176 and Arg213. Glutamate in lieu of Asp278 partially restored activity, whereas asparagine had no salutary effect. Alanine substitutions for Arg246 and Arg279 partially inactivated the 3'-phosphatase; the conservative R246K change restored activity, whereas R279K had no benefit. The essential phosphatase residues Asp165 and Asp167 are located within a 165DxDxT169 motif that defines a superfamily of phosphotransferases. Our data suggest that the 3'-phosphatase active site incorporates multiple additional functional groups.

Alanine↗

Mutational analysis of sequences in the recF gene of Escherichia coli K-12 that affect expression.

The level of translation of recF-lacZ fusions is reduced 20-fold by nucleotides 49 to 146 of recF. In this region of recF, we found a previously described ribosome-interactive sequence called epsilon and a hexapyrimidine tract located just upstream of the epsilon sequence. Mutational studies indicate that the hexapyrimidine sequence is involved in at least some of the reduced translation. When the hexapyrimidine sequence is mutant, mutating epsilon increases the level of translation maximally. We ruled out the possibility that ribosome frameshifting explains most of the effect of these two sequences on expression and suspect that multiple mechanisms may be responsible. In a separate report, we show that mutations in the hexapyrimidine tract and epsilon increase expression of the full-sized recF gene.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Mutational analysis of NM23-H2/NDP kinase identifies the structural domains critical to recognition of a c-myc regulatory element.

NM23-H2, a presumed regulator of tumor metastasis in humans, is a hexameric protein with both enzymatic (NDP kinase) and regulatory (transcriptional activation) activity. While the structure and catalytic mechanisms have been well characterized, the mode of DNA binding is not known. We examined this latter function in a site-directed mutational study and identified residues and domains essential for the recognition of a c-myc regulatory sequence. Three amino acids, Arg-34, Asn-69, and Lys-135, were found among 30 possibilities to be critical for DNA binding. Two of these, Asn-69 and Lys-135, are not conserved between NM23 variants differing in DNA-binding potential, suggesting that DNA recognition resides partly in nonconserved amino acids. All three DNA-binding defective mutant proteins are active enzymatically and appear to be stable hexamers, suggesting that they perform at the level of DNA recognition and that separate functional domains exist for enzyme catalysis and DNA binding. In the context of the known crystal structure of NM23-H2, the DNA-binding residues are located within distinct structural motifs in the monomer, which are exposed to the surface near the 2-fold axis of adjacent subunits in the hexamer. These findings are explained by a model in which NM23-H2 binds DNA with a combinatorial surface consisting of the "outer" face of the dimer. Chemical crosslinking data support a dimeric DNA-binding mode by NM23-H2.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mutational analysis of the human KDEL receptor: distinct structural requirements for Golgi retention, ligand binding and retrograde transport.

The KDEL receptor is a seven-transmembrane-domain protein that is responsible for the retrieval of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) proteins from the Golgi complex. It is a temporary resident of the Golgi apparatus: upon binding a KDEL-containing ligand, it moves to the ER, where the ligand is released. We have expressed mutant forms of the human receptor in COS cells and examined their intracellular locations and ligand-binding capacities. We show that ligand binding is dependent on charged residues within the transmembrane domains. Surprisingly, retrograde transport of occupied receptor is unaffected by most mutations in the cytoplasmic loops, but is critically dependent upon an aspartic acid residue in the seventh transmembrane domain. Retention in the Golgi apparatus requires neither ligand binding nor this aspartate residue, and thus is independent of receptor recycling. We suggest that movement of the receptor is controlled by conformational changes and intermolecular interactions within the membrane bilayer.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Presence of an IDS-related locus (IDS2) in Xq28 complicates the mutational analysis of Hunter syndrome.

A deficiency of the enzyme iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS) is the cause of Hunter syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis type II). Here, we report a study of the human IDS locus at Xq28. An unexpected finding was an IDS-related region (IDS2) which is located on the telomeric side of the IDS gene within 80 kb. We have identified sequences in this locus that are homologous to exons 2 and 3 as well as sequences homologous to introns 2, 3 and 7 of the IDS gene. The exon 3 sequences in the IDS gene and in the IDS2 locus showed 100% identity. The overall identities of the other identified regions were 96%. A locus for DXS466 was also found to be located close to IDS2. The existence of the IDS2 locus complicates the diagnosis of mutations in genomic DNA from patients with Hunter syndrome. However, information about the IDS2 locus makes it possible to analyze the IDS gene and the IDS2 locus separately after PCR amplification.

Base Sequence↗

Mutational analysis of the serotonergic system: recent findings using knockout mice.

Serotonin modulates numerous processes in the central nervous system related to anxiety and fear, mood, aggression, sleep, ingestive behaviors, reward systems, and psychosis. Serotonergic dysfunction has been implicated in several neuropsychiatric conditions but efforts to develop more specific pharmacological agents have been hampered by the complexity of this system at the receptor level. There are at least 14 distinct receptors that mediate the effects of serotonin as well as several enzymes that control its synthesis and metabolism but very few pharmacological agents are able to selectively target a single receptor. Several groups including ours have used a genetic strategy to ablate specific serotonin receptors in an effort to dissect out their functions in the central nervous system. The strength of this approach is the high degree of specificity that can be achieved in the knockout (gene inactivation) approach since a single receptor gene can be selectively targeted. To date several inactivation mutations of specific serotonin receptors have been generated producing interesting behavioral phenotypes related to anxiety, depression, drug abuse, psychosis, and cognition. In many cases knockout mice have been able to confirm what has already been suspected based on pharmacological studies. In other instances, mutations have demonstrated new functions of serotonergic genes in development and behavior. In this review, the current literature regarding phenotypic changes in mice bearing inactivation mutations of serotonin receptors, the serotonin transporter, and the monoamine oxidase A will be discussed and major findings emphasized.

Animals↗

Mutational analysis of potential zinc-binding residues in the active site of the enterococcal D-Ala-D-Ala dipeptidase VanX.

VanX, one of the five proteins required for the vancomycin-resistant phenotype in clinically pathogenic Enterococci, is a zinc-containing d-Ala-d-Ala dipeptidase. To identify potential zinc ligands and begin defining the active site residues, we have mutated the 2 cysteine, 5 histidine, and 4 of the 28 aspartate and glutamate residues in the 202 residue VanX protein. Of 10 mutations, 3 cause inactivation and greater than 90% loss of zinc in purified enzyme samples, implicating His116, Asp123, and His184 as zinc-coordinating residues. Homology searches using the 10 amino acid sequence SxHxxGxAxD, in which histidine and aspartate residues are putative zinc ligands, identified the metal coordinating ligands in the N-terminal domain of the murine Sonic hedgehog protein, which also exhibits an architecture for metal coordination identical to that observed in thermolysin from Bacillus thermoproteolyticus. Furthermore, this 10 amino acid consensus sequence is found in the Streptomyces albus G zinc-dependent N-acyl-d-Ala-d-Ala carboxypeptidase, an enzyme catalyzing essentially the same d-Ala-d-Ala dipeptide bond cleavage as VanX, suggesting equivalent mechanisms and zinc catalytic site architectures. VanX residue Glu181 is analogous to the Glu143 catalytic base in B. thermoproteolyticus thermolysin, and the E181A VanX mutant has no detectable dipeptidase activity, yet maintains near-stoichiometric zinc content, a result consistent with the participation of the residue as a catalytic base.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗

Mutational analysis of the Sar1 protein, a small GTPase which is essential for vesicular transport from the endoplasmic reticulum.

SAR1 encodes a 21-kDa GTPase, which is required for vesicle formation from the endoplasmic reticulum in yeast. Although it belongs to the expanding small GTPase superfamily, there are interesting structural features that are unique to the Sar1 protein. We performed a site-directed mutational study to identify the amino acid residues that are essential for the Sar1p function. Among seven mutants we constructed, four are functionless by themselves, while two confer temperature sensitivity to cells. When the mutant proteins are overproduced in wild-type cells, all of these six show a dominant negative effect on cell growth. The replacement by serine of the only cysteine residue present in Sar1p caused no significant change in the growth phenotype. These findings are not only important for analyzing the mechanism of the Sar1p action in yeast, but will also be very useful for studying the function of Sar1p counterparts in higher eukaryotes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mutational analysis of the avian pneumovirus conserved transcriptional gene start sequence identifying critical residues.

Seven of the eight genes in the avian pneumovirus (APV) genome contain a conserved 9 nt transcriptional start sequence with the virus large (L) polymerase gene differing from the consensus at three positions. The sequence requirements of the APV transcriptional gene start sequence were investigated by generating a series of mutations in which each of the nine conserved bases was mutated to each of the other three possible nucleotides in a minigenome containing two reporter genes. The effect of each mutation was assessed by measuring the relative levels of expression from the altered and unaltered gene start sequences. Mutations at positions 2, 7 and 9 significantly reduced transcription levels while alterations to position 5 had little effect. The L gene start sequence directed transcription at levels approximately 50 % below that of the consensus gene start sequence. These data suggest that there are common features in pneumovirus transcriptional control sequences.

Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase↗

Mutational analysis of functional domains in Mrs2p, the mitochondrial Mg2+ channel protein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The nuclear gene MRS2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes an integral protein (Mrs2p) of the inner mitochondrial membrane. It forms an ion channel mediating influx of Mg2+ into mitochondria. Orthologues of Mrs2p have been shown to exist in other lower eukaryotes, in vertebrates and in plants. Characteristic features of the Mrs2 protein family and the distantly related CorA proteins of bacteria are the presence of two adjacent transmembrane domains near the C terminus of Mrs2p one of which ends with a F/Y-G-M-N motif. Two coiled-coil domains and several conserved primary sequence blocks in the central part of Mrs2p are identified here as additional characteristics of the Mrs2p family. Gain-of-function mutations obtained upon random mutagenesis map to these conserved sequence blocks. They lead to moderate increases in mitochondrial Mg2+ concentrations and concomitant positive effects on splicing of mutant group II intron RNA. Site-directed mutations in several conserved sequences reduce Mrs2p-mediated Mg2+ uptake. Mutants with strong effects on mitochondrial Mg2+ concentrations also have decreased group II intron splicing. Deletion of a nonconserved basic region, previously invoked for interaction with mitochondrial introns, lowers intramitochondrial Mg2+ levels as well as group II intron splicing. Data presented support the notion that effects of mutations in Mrs2p on group II intron splicing are a consequence of changes in steady-state mitochondrial Mg2+ concentrations.

Amino Acid Motifs↗