A rice quantitative trait locus for salt tolerance encodes a sodium transporter

Many important agronomic traits in crop plants, including stress tolerance, are complex traits controlled by quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Isolation of these QTLs holds great promise to improve world agriculture but is a challenging task. We previously mapped a rice QTL, SKC1, that maintained K(+) homeostasis in the salt-tolerant variety under salt stress, consistent with the earlier finding that K(+) homeostasis is important in salt tolerance. To understand the molecular basis of this QTL, we isolated the SKC1 gene by map-based cloning and found that it encoded a member of HKT-type transporters. SKC1 is preferentially expressed in the parenchyma cells surrounding the xylem vessels. Voltage-clamp analysis showed that SKC1 protein functions as a Na(+)-selective transporter. Physiological analysis suggested that SKC1 is involved in regulating K(+)/Na(+) homeostasis under salt stress, providing a potential tool for improving salt tolerance in crops.     

PALB2, which encodes a BRCA2-interacting protein, is a breast cancer susceptibility gene

PALB2 interacts with BRCA2, and biallelic mutations in PALB2 (also known as FANCN), similar to biallelic BRCA2 mutations, cause Fanconi anemia. We identified monoallelic truncating PALB2 mutations in 10/923 individuals with familial breast cancer compared with 0/1,084 controls (P = 0.0004) and show that such mutations confer a 2.3-fold higher risk of breast cancer (95% confidence interval (c.i.) = 1.4-3.9, P = 0.0025). The results show that PALB2 is a breast cancer susceptibility gene and further demonstrate the close relationship of the Fanconi anemia-DNA repair pathway and breast cancer predisposition.     

A major susceptibility locus for leprosy in India maps to chromosome 10p13

Leprosy, a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, is prevalent in India, where about half of the world's estimated 800,000 cases occur. A role for the genetics of the host in variable susceptibility to leprosy has been indicated by familial clustering, twin studies, complex segregation analyses and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) association studies. We report here a genetic linkage scan of the genomes of 224 families from South India, containing 245 independent affected sibpairs with leprosy, mainly of the paucibacillary type. In a two-stage genome screen using 396 microsatellite markers, we found significant linkage (maximum lod score (MLS) = 4.09, P < 2x10-5) on chromosome 10p13 for a series of neighboring microsatellite markers, providing evidence for a major locus for this prevalent infectious disease. Thus, despite the polygenic nature of infectious disease susceptibility, some major, non-HLA-linked loci exist that may be mapped through obtainable numbers of affected sibling pairs.     

The Pendred syndrome gene encodes a chloride-iodide transport protein

Pendred syndrome is the most common form of syndromic deafness and characterized by congenital sensorineural hearing loss and goitre. This disorder was mapped to chromosome 7 and the gene causing Pendred syndrome (PDS) was subsequently identified by positional cloning. PDS encodes a putative transmembrane protein designated pendrin. Pendrin is closely related to a family of sulfate transport proteins that includes the rat sulfate-anion transporter (encoded by Sat-1; 29% amino acid sequence identity), the human diastrophic dysplasia sulfate transporter (encoded by DTD; 32%) and the human sulfate transporter 'downregulated in adenoma' (encoded by DRA; 45%). On the basis of this homology and the presence of a slightly modified sulfate-transporter signature sequence comprising its putative second transmembrane domain, pendrin has been proposed to function as a sulfate transporter. We were unable to detect evidence of sulfate transport following the expression of pendrin in Xenopus laevis oocytes by microinjection of PDS cRNA or in Sf9 cells following infection with PDS-recombinant baculovirus. The rates of transport for iodide and chloride were significantly increased following the expression of pendrin in both cell systems. Our results demonstrate that pendrin functions as a transporter of chloride and iodide, but not sulfate, and may provide insight into thyroid physiology and the pathophysiology of Pendred syndrome.     

IFT80, which encodes a conserved intraflagellar transport protein, is mutated in Jeune asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy

Jeune asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy, an autosomal recessive chondrodysplasia, often leads to death in infancy because of a severely constricted thoracic cage and respiratory insufficiency; retinal degeneration, cystic renal disease and polydactyly may be complicating features. We show that IFT80 mutations underlie a subset of Jeune asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy cases, establishing the first association of a defective intraflagellar transport (IFT) protein with human disease. Knockdown of ift80 in zebrafish resulted in cystic kidneys, and knockdown in Tetrahymena thermophila produced shortened or absent cilia.     

The beet R locus encodes a new cytochrome P450 required for red betalain production

Anthocyanins are red and violet pigments that color flowers, fruits and epidermal tissues in virtually all flowering plants. A single order, Caryophyllales, contains families in which an unrelated family of pigments, the betalains, color tissues normally pigmented by anthocyanins. Here we show that CYP76AD1 encoding a novel cytochrome P450 is required to produce the red betacyanin pigments in beets. Gene silencing of CYP76AD1 results in loss of red pigment and production of only yellow betaxanthin pigment. Yellow betalain mutants are complemented by transgenic expression of CYP76AD1, and an insertion in CYP76AD1 maps to the R locus that is responsible for yellow versus red pigmentation. Finally, expression of CYP76AD1 in yeast verifies its position in the betalain biosynthetic pathway. Thus, this cytochrome P450 performs the biosynthetic step that provides the cyclo-DOPA moiety of all red betacyanins. This discovery will contribute to our ability to engineer this simple, nutritionally valuable pathway into heterologous species.     

The Bardet-Biedl protein BBS4 targets cargo to the pericentriolar region and is required for microtubule anchoring and cell cycle progression

BBS4 is one of several proteins that cause Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS), a multisystemic disorder of genetic and clinical complexity. Here we show that BBS4 localizes to the centriolar satellites of centrosomes and basal bodies of primary cilia, where it functions as an adaptor of the p150(glued) subunit of the dynein transport machinery to recruit PCM1 (pericentriolar material 1 protein) and its associated cargo to the satellites. Silencing of BBS4 induces PCM1 mislocalization and concomitant deanchoring of centrosomal microtubules, arrest in cell division and apoptotic cell death. Expression of two truncated forms of BBS4 that are similar to those found in some individuals with BBS had a similar effect on PCM1 and microtubules. Our findings indicate that defective targeting or anchoring of pericentriolar proteins and microtubule disorganization contribute to the BBS phenotype and provide new insights into possible causes of familial obesity, diabetes and retinal degeneration.     

MPV17 encodes an inner mitochondrial membrane protein and is mutated in infantile hepatic mitochondrial DNA depletion

The mitochondrial (mt) DNA depletion syndromes (MDDS) are genetic disorders characterized by a severe, tissue-specific decrease of mtDNA copy number, leading to organ failure. There are two main clinical presentations: myopathic (OMIM 609560) and hepatocerebral (OMIM 251880). Known mutant genes, including TK2, SUCLA2, DGUOK and POLG, account for only a fraction of MDDS cases. We found a new locus for hepatocerebral MDDS on chromosome 2p21-23 and prioritized the genes on this locus using a new integrative genomics strategy. One of the top-scoring candidates was the human ortholog of the mouse kidney disease gene Mpv17. We found disease-segregating mutations in three families with hepatocerebral MDDS and demonstrated that, contrary to the alleged peroxisomal localization of the MPV17 gene product, MPV17 is a mitochondrial inner membrane protein, and its absence or malfunction causes oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) failure and mtDNA depletion, not only in affected individuals but also in Mpv17-/- mice.     

The Fanconi anaemia gene FANCF encodes a novel protein with homology to ROM

Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is an autosomal recessive disorder with locus heterogeneity. None of the 'responsible' genes have previously been identified. Some BBS cases (approximately 10%) remain unassigned to the five previously mapped loci. McKusick-Kaufma syndrome (MKS) includes hydrometrocolpos, postaxial polydactyly and congenital heart disease, and is also inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. We ascertained 34 unrelated probands with classic features of BBS including retinitis pigmentosa (RP), obesity and polydactyly. The probands were from families unsuitable for linkage because of family size. We found MKKS mutations in four typical BBS probands (Table 1). The first is a 13-year-old Hispanic girl with severe RP, PAP, mental retardation and obesity (BMI >40). She was a compound heterozygote for a missense (1042GA, G52D) and a nonsense (1679TA, Y264stop) mutation in exon 3. Cloning and sequencing of the separate alleles confirmed that the mutations were present in trans. A second BBS proband (from Newfoundland), born to consanguineous parents, was homozygous for two deletions (1316delC and 1324-1326delGTA) in exon 3, predicting a frameshift. An affected brother was also homozygous for the deletions, whereas an unaffected sibling had two normal copies of MKKS. Both the proband and her affected brother had RP, PAP, mild mental retardation, morbid obesity (BMI >50 and 37, respectively), lobulated kidneys with prominent calyces and diabetes mellitus (diagnosed at ages 33 and 30, respectively). A deceased sister (DNA unavailable) had similar phenotypic features (RP with blindness by age 13, BMI >45, abnormal glucose tolerance test and IQ=64, vaginal atresia and syndactyly of both feet). Both parents and the maternal grandfather were heterozygous for the deletions. Genotyping with markers from the MKKS region confirmed homozygosity at 20p12 in both affected individuals.     

ASPM is a major determinant of cerebral cortical size

One of the most notable trends in mammalian evolution is the massive increase in size of the cerebral cortex, especially in primates. Humans with autosomal recessive primary microcephaly (MCPH) show a small but otherwise grossly normal cerebral cortex associated with mild to moderate mental retardation. Genes linked to this condition offer potential insights into the development and evolution of the cerebral cortex. Here we show that the most common cause of MCPH is homozygous mutation of ASPM, the human ortholog of the Drosophila melanogaster abnormal spindle gene (asp), which is essential for normal mitotic spindle function in embryonic neuroblasts. The mouse gene Aspm is expressed specifically in the primary sites of prenatal cerebral cortical neurogenesis. Notably, the predicted ASPM proteins encode systematically larger numbers of repeated 'IQ' domains between flies, mice and humans, with the predominant difference between Aspm and ASPM being a single large insertion coding for IQ domains. Our results and evolutionary considerations suggest that brain size is controlled in part through modulation of mitotic spindle activity in neuronal progenitor cells.     

The gene mutated in juvenile nephronophthisis type 4 encodes a novel protein that interacts with nephrocystin

Nephronophthisis, the most common genetic cause of chronic renal failure in children, is a progressive tubulo-interstitial kidney disorder that is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. The disease is characterized by polyuria, growth retardation and deterioration of renal function during childhood or adolescence. The most prominent histological features are modifications of the tubules with thickening of the basement membrane, interstitial fibrosis and, in the advanced stages, medullary cysts. Nephronophthisis can also be associated with conditions affecting extrarenal organs, such as retinitis pigmentosa (Senior-L?ken syndrome) and ocular motor apraxia (Cogan syndrome). Three loci are associated with the juvenile, infantile and adolescent forms, on chromosomes 2q13 (NPHP1; refs 5,6), 9q22 (NPHP2; ref. 7) and 3q21 (NPHP3; ref. 8), respectively. NPHP1, the only gene identified so far, encodes nephrocystin, which contains a Src homology 3 (SH3) domain and interacts with intracytoplasmic proteins involved in cell adhesion. Recently, a second locus associated with the juvenile form of the disease, NPHP4, was mapped to chromosome 1p36 (ref. 14). We carried out haplotype analysis of families affected with nephronophthisis that were not linked to the NPHP1, NPHP2 or NPHP3 loci, using markers covering this region. This allowed us to reduce the NPHP4 interval to a one centimorgan interval between D1S2795 and D1S2870, which contains six genes. We identified five different mutations in one of these genes, designated NPHP4, in unrelated individuals with nephronophthisis. The NPHP4 gene encodes a 1,250-amino acid protein of unknown function that we named nephrocystin-4. We demonstrated the interaction of nephrocystin-4 with nephrocystin suggesting that these two proteins participate in a common signaling pathway.     

The pallid gene encodes a novel, syntaxin 13-interacting protein involved in platelet storage pool deficiency

Pallid (pa) is 1 of 13 platelet storage pool deficiency (SPD) mouse mutants. pa animals suffer from prolonged bleeding time, pigment dilution, kidney lysosomal enzyme elevation, serum alpha1-antitrypsin activity deficiency and abnormal otolith formation. As with other mouse mutants of this class, characterization of pa mice suggests a defect in organelle biosynthesis. Here we describe the physical mapping, positional cloning, and mutational and functional analysis of the gene that is defective in pa mice. It encodes a ubiquitously expressed, highly charged 172-amino-acid protein (termed pallidin) with no homology to known proteins. We detected a nonsense mutation at codon 69 of this gene in the pallid mutant. In a yeast two-hybrid screen, we discovered that pallidin interacts with syntaxin 13, a t-SNARE protein that mediates vesicle-docking and fusion. We confirmed this interaction by co-immunoprecipitation assay. Immunofluorescence studies corroborate that the cellular distribution of pallidin overlaps that of syntaxin 13. Whereas the mocha and pearl SPD mutants have defects in Ap-3, our findings suggest that pa SPD mutants are defective in a more downstream event of vesicle-trafficking: namely, vesicle-docking and fusion.     

Sipa1 is a candidate for underlying the metastasis efficiency modifier locus Mtes1

We previously identified loci in the mouse genome that substantially influence the metastatic efficiency of mammary tumors. Here, we present data supporting the idea that the signal transduction molecule, Sipa1, is a candidate for underlying the metastasis efficiency modifier locus Mtes1. Analysis of candidate genes identified a nonsynonymous amino acid polymorphism in Sipa1 that affects the Sipa1 Rap-GAP function. Spontaneous metastasis assays using cells ectopically expressing Sipa1 or cells with knocked-down Sipa1 expression showed that metastatic capacity was correlated with cellular Sipa1 levels. We examined human expression data and found that they were consistent with the idea that Sipa1 concentration has a role in metastasis. Taken together, these data suggest that the Sipa1 polymorphism is one of the genetic polymorphisms underlying the Mtes1 locus. This report is also the first demonstration, to our knowledge, of a constitutional genetic polymorphism affecting tumor metastasis.     

Mutations in CEP290, which encodes a centrosomal protein, cause pleiotropic forms of Joubert syndrome

Joubert syndrome-related disorders (JSRD) are a group of syndromes sharing the neuroradiological features of cerebellar vermis hypoplasia and a peculiar brainstem malformation known as the 'molar tooth sign'. We identified mutations in the CEP290 gene in five families with variable neurological, retinal and renal manifestations. CEP290 expression was detected mostly in proliferating cerebellar granule neuron populations and showed centrosome and ciliary localization, linking JSRDs to other human ciliopathies.     

Cblb is a major susceptibility gene for rat type 1 diabetes mellitus

The autoimmune disease type 1 diabetes mellitus (insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, IDDM) has a multifactorial etiology. So far, the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is the only major susceptibility locus that has been identified for this disease and its animal models. The Komeda diabetes-prone (KDP) rat is a spontaneous animal model of human type 1 diabetes in which the major susceptibility locus Iddm/kdp1 accounts, in combination with MHC, for most of the genetic predisposition to diabetes. Here we report the positional cloning of Iddm/kdp1 and identify a nonsense mutation in Cblb, a member of the Cbl/Sli family of ubiquitin-protein ligases. Lymphocytes of the KDP rat infiltrate into pancreatic islets and several tissues including thyroid gland and kidney, indicating autoimmunity. Similar findings in Cblb-deficient mice are caused by enhanced T-cell activation. Transgenic complementation with wildtype Cblb significantly suppresses development of the KDP phenotype. Thus, Cblb functions as a negative regulator of autoimmunity and Cblb is a major susceptibility gene for type 1 diabetes in the rat. Impairment of the Cblb signaling pathway may contribute to human autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes.     

The amnionless gene, essential for mouse gastrulation, encodes a visceral-endoderm-specific protein with an extracellular cysteine-rich domain

Fate-mapping experiments in the mouse have revealed that the primitive streak can be divided into three functional regions: the proximal region gives rise to germ cells and the extra-embryonic mesoderm of the yolk sac; the distal region generates cardiac mesoderm and node-derived axial mesendoderm; and the middle streak region produces the paraxial, intermediate and lateral plate mesoderm of the trunk. To gain insight into the mechanisms that mediate the assembly of the primitive streak into these functional regions, we have cloned and functionally identified the gene disrupted in the amnionless (amn) mouse, which has a recessive, embryonic lethal mutation that interferes specifically with the formation and/or specification of the middle primitive streak region during gastrulation. Here we report that the gene Amn encodes a novel type I transmembrane protein that is expressed exclusively in the extra-embryonic visceral endoderm layer during gastrulation. The extracellular region of the Amn protein contains a cysteine-rich domain with similarity to bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-binding cysteine-rich domains in chordin, its Drosophila melanogaster homolog (Short gastrulation) and procollagen IIA (ref. 3). Our findings indicate that Amn may direct the production of trunk mesoderm derived from the middle streak by acting in the underlying visceral endoderm to modulate a BMP signaling pathway.