A De Novo Mutation in the X-Linked PAK3 Gene Is the Underlying Cause of Intellectual Disability and Macrocephaly in Monozygotic Twins

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

A De Novo Mutation in the X-Linked PAK3 Gene Is the Underlying Cause of Intellectual Disability and Macrocephaly in Monozygotic Twins European Journal of Medical Genetics xxx (2017) 1e5 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect European Journal of Medical Genetics journal homepage: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/ejmg A de novo mutation in the X-linked PAK3 gene is the underlying cause of intellectual disability and macrocephaly in monozygotic twins Jozef Hertecant a, b, Makanko Komara c, Aslam Nagi a, Olfat Al-Zaabi d, Waseem Fathallah e, Hong Cui f, Yaping Yang f, Christine M. Eng f, Mohammad Al Sorkhy g, * Mohammad A. Ghattas g, Lihadh Al-Gazali b, Bassam R. Ali c, a Department of Paediatrics, Tawam Hospital, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates b Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates c Department of Pathology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates d Fujairah Hospital, Fujairah, United Arab Emirates e Mafraq Hospital, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates f Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Baylor Miraca Genetics Laboratories, Houston, TX 77030, USA g College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University of Science and Technology, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates article info abstract Article history: Pathogenic variants in theP21 protein (Cdc42/Rac)-activated kinase 3gene (PAK3) lead to a rare non Received 29 May 2016 syndromic X-linked intellectual disability. The protein encoded by this gene forms an activated complex Received in revised form with GTP-bound RAS-like (P21), CDC2 and RAC1 proteins which then mediates a variety of cellular 17 January 2017 processes. So far, mutations in PAK3 gene have been reported in few families affected with intellectual Accepted 18 January 2017 disability associated with neurological manifestations such as speech defect, behavioral problem, brain Available online xxx structural abnormalities, microcephaly and cerebral palsy. In this study whole exome sequencing revealed a de novo likely pathogenic variant in PAK3 gene in monozygotic twins presented with intel- Keywords: de novo mutation lectual disability, speech delay, behavioral problems and macrocephaly. Macrocephaly was noticed in our X-linked patients from birth at 35 weeks of gestation. This aspect of the phenotype has not been previously re- PAK3 ported in other documented cases with pathogenic mutations in PAK3 gene. Our findings extend the Intellectual disability phenotype of this disorder to include macrocephaly and offers further clues to the importance of the Macrocephaly serine/threonine-protein kinase 3 (PAK3) protein in brain development and function. © 2017 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. 1. Introduction isolated trait or as part of a syndrome and therefore ID is subdivided into syndromic, in which intellectual deficits are associated with Intellectual Disability (ID) is one of the major burdens on health systemic abnormalities and nonsyndromic in which intellectual care systems worldwide. It is defined as a significant limitation both deficits, appear in the absence of other anomalies (Daily et al., in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior, covering social 2000; Bradinova et al., 2005; Moeschler and Shevell, 2006). Non- and practical skills that originate before the age of 18 years syndromic ID accounts for 30e50% of all cases and it has been (Schalock et al., 2010). ID is a lifelong disability affecting about estimated that about a quarter of the cases are caused by defects in 2e3% of most populations presenting in infancy or early childhood. single genes (Daily et al., 2000; Bradinova et al., 2005). Variants in Causes of ID are numerous, including environmental and genetic several hundred genes have been identified as causing ID, but many factors but the majority of known causes are of genetic origins cases remain of unknown cause. (Daily et al., 2000; Bradinova et al., 2005). ID might occur as an The prevalence of ID in males is approximately 30% higher than in females (Herbst and Miller, 1980) suggesting a central role of chromosome X located genes in cognitive functions and/or CNS development (Schalock et al., 2010). To date, 122 genes have been * Corresponding author. Department of Pathology, College of Medicine and associated with X-linked intellectual disability (XLID) (Greenwood Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates. Genetic Center, XLID Update March 2015; Stevenson et al., 2012). E-mail address: [email protected] (B.R. Ali). One of the X-linked ID-causing genes is PAK3 which was discovered http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmg.2017.01.004 1769-7212/© 2017 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. Please cite this article in press as: Hertecant, J., et al., A de novo mutation in the X-linked PAK3 gene is the underlying cause of intellectual disability and macrocephaly in monozygotic twins, European Journal of Medical Genetics (2017), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmg.2017.01.004 2 J. Hertecant et al. / European Journal of Medical Genetics xxx (2017) 1e5 by Allen et al., in 1998. Subsequently, several other loss-of-function written consent. Genomic DNA was extracted using Flexigene DNA variants and dominant negative function of PAK3 have been re- kit (QiagenGmbh, Germany) following the manufacturers’ protocol. ported in patients from diverse ethnic backgrounds with non- Whole-exome sequencing for the first twin was performed as a syndromic X-linked intellectual disability (Bienvenu et al., 2000; service at the Baylor Medical Genetics Laboratories, Houston, TX, Gedeon et al., 2003; Peippo et al., 2007; Rejeb et al., 2008) and in USA (www.bcmgeneticlabs.org). Ilimunia platform was used for the some cases with a more complex phenotypes of ID, skin defect and next generation sequencing. The mean coverage of the exome is brain structural abnormalities (Magini et al., 2014). 11e120X whereby 95% of the exome is covered at >20X. Variants PAK3 encodes a member of the P21-activated family of serine/ are filtered using various stringencies of minor allele frequencies, as threonine kinases (PAKs), which are downstream effectors for Rac/ well as mutation databases and disease specific databases and a Cdc42 and Rho GTPases. These proteins are known to regulate team of certified molecular lab directors and medical directors multiple signal transduction pathways, including the MAPK interpret the results based on disease phenotype. The final filtration pathway (Slack-Davis et al., 2003; Beeser et al., 2005) and hence are identified candidate variants in DST, TTN and PAK3 genes. The involved in controlling multiple intracellular processes including genomic DNA surrounding the identified candidate variant was proliferation, cell cycle progression and cytoskeleton remodeling amplified using PCR. Primer sets were designed using Primer3 (Bokoch, 2003). In this article we report a de novo missense mu- software (http://biotools.umassmed.edu/bioapps/primer3_www. tation affecting a monozygotic twin presented with ID, speech cgi) followed by purification of the PCR products using ExoSAP-IT delay behavioral problems and macrocephaly. In addition, we (USB Inc.) Sanger cycle sequencing was performed using 3130xl report variability in the clinical presentation in our patients Genetic Analyzer System (Applied Biosystems). Results were compared to patients reported in the literature with pathogenic analyzed based on NCBI reference sequence number NM_002578. variants in PAK3. 2.2. In silico analysis and protein stability 2. Patients, material and methods Prediction analysis using mutation taster (http://www. mutationtaster.org/), PolyPhen2 (http://genetics.bwh.harvard.edu/ 2.1. Patients, whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing pph2/) and SIFT/Provean (http://sift.jcvi.org/) were used to assess the potential effects of the variants (De Baets et al., 2012; Kumar This study has been approved by Al-Ain District Human et al., 2009). The crystal structure of PAK3 homologous, PAK1, Research Ethics Committees (protocol number 10/09). We ascer- was obtained from the protein data bank (PDB ID: 5DEY). The PAK1 tained a non-consanguineous family with two affected children structure was checked by Molecular Operation Environment (MOE) (Fig. 1A). Peripheral blood samples were collected in EDTA tubes (http://www.chemcomp.com) for any missing atoms using the from the parents and both affected twins after obtaining informed protein preparation module, which was also used to assign pro- tonation states on ionizable groups and to set up partial charges on the protein atoms. The Y429H mutation was generated via the Residue Scan module in MOE. Accordingly, stability results of the wildtype and mutated form of the protein are reported. 3. Results 3.1. Clinical description The two affected children are monozygotic twins (Fig. 1A). The non consanguineous parents have three healthy siblings who are developmentally normal. The affected children were born after a normal pregnancy of 35 weeks gestation. They were noticed to have macrocephaly from birth. At birth, the weight of the first twin was 2.65 kg (P50), length was 47 cm (P50e75) and the head circumference was 34.5 cm (P90). The weight of the second twin was 3.11 kg (P90), length was 57 cm (above P97) and head circumference was 35.3 cm (P97). We evaluated them at the age of nearly 4 years. The first twin did not speak at all in spite of a normal hearing test. Reactive smile was only noticed at the age of 2 years. He sat alone by the age of 9 months and started to walk at the age of 2 years and 9 months but still could not jump, run or walk upstairs without support. He seemed to have autistic features as he did not make eye contact and did not interact with his sibling. However, by history, he does not have other typical features of autism, except that he is unusually scared of loud noises, such as those of vacuum cleaners and blenders. These get him very agitated and make him cry and shout. He is not hyperactive and mainly plays with I-pads and mobile phones.
Recommended publications
  • Dysregulation of Rho Gtpases in the Apix/Arhgef6 Mouse Model of X
    Zurich Open Repository and Archive University of Zurich Main Library Strickhofstrasse 39 CH-8057 Zurich www.zora.uzh.ch Year: 2011 Dysregulation of Rho GTPases in the ฀Pix/Arhgef6 mouse model of X-linked intellectual disability is paralleled by impaired structural and synaptic plasticity and cognitive deficits Ramakers, G J A ; Wolfer, D ; Rosenberger, G ; Kuchenbecker, K ; Kreienkamp, H J ; Prange-Kiel, J ; Rune, G ; Richter, K ; Langnaese, K ; Masneuf, S ; Bösl, M R ; Fischer, K D ; Krugers, H J ; Lipp, H P ; van Galen, E ; Kutsche, K Abstract: Mutations in the ARHGEF6 gene, encoding the guanine nucleotide exchange factor ฀PIX/Cool- 2 for the Rho GTPases Rac1 and Cdc42, cause X-linked intellectual disability (ID) in humans. We show here that ฀Pix/Arhgef6 is primarily expressed in neuropil regions of the hippocampus. To study the role of ฀Pix/Arhgef6 in neuronal development and plasticity and gain insight into the pathogenic mechanisms underlying ID, we generated ฀Pix/Arhgef6-deficient mice. Gross brain structure in these mice appeared to be normal; however, analysis of Golgi-Cox-stained pyramidal neurons revealed an increase in both dendritic length and spine density in the hippocampus, accompanied by an overall loss in spine synapses. Early-phase long-term potentiation was reduced and long-term depression was increased in the CA1 hippocampal area of ฀Pix/Arhgef6-deficient animals. Knockout animals exhibited impaired spatial and complex learning and less behavioral control in mildly stressful situations, suggesting that this model mimics the human ID phenotype. The structural and electrophysiological alterations in the hippocampus were accompanied by a significant reduction in active Rac1 and Cdc42, but not RhoA.
    [Show full text]
  • The Mental Retardation Protein PAK3 Contributes to Synapse Formation and Plasticity in Hippocampus
    10816 • The Journal of Neuroscience, December 1, 2004 • 24(48):10816–10825 Development/Plasticity/Repair The Mental Retardation Protein PAK3 Contributes to Synapse Formation and Plasticity in Hippocampus Bernadett Boda, Stefano Alberi, Irina Nikonenko, Roxanne Node-Langlois, Pascal Jourdain, Marlyse Moosmayer, Lorena Parisi-Jourdain, and Dominique Muller Department of Basic Neuroscience, Centre Medical Universitaire, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland Mutations of the gene coding for PAK3 (p21-activated kinase 3) are associated with X-linked, nonsyndromic forms of mental retardation (MRX) in which the only distinctive clinical feature is the cognitive deficit. The mechanisms through which PAK3 mutation produces the mental handicap remain unclear, although an involvement in the mechanisms that regulate the formation or plasticity of synaptic networks has been proposed. Here we show, using a transient transfection approach, that antisense and small interfering RNA-mediated suppression of PAK3 or expression of a dominant-negative PAK3 carrying the human MRX30 mutation in rat hippocampal organotypic slice cultures results in the formation of abnormally elongated dendritic spines and filopodia-like protrusions and a decrease in mature spine synapses. Ultrastructural analysis of the changes induced by expression of PAK3 carrying the MRX30 mutation reveals that many elongated spines fail to express postsynaptic densities or contact presynaptic terminals. These defects are associated with a reduced spontaneous activity, altered expression of AMPA-type glutamate receptors, and defective long-term potentiation. Together, these data identify PAK3 as a key regulator of synapse formation and plasticity in the hippocampus and support interpretations that these defects might contribute to the cognitive deficits underlying this form of mental retardation.
    [Show full text]
  • Whole Exome Sequencing of Thymic Neuroendocrine Tumor With
    176:2 Y Li, Y Peng and others Sequencing thymic 176:2 187–194 Clinical Study neuroendocrine tumor Whole exome sequencing of thymic neuroendocrine tumor with ectopic ACTH syndrome Yanli Li1,*, Ying Peng1,*, Xiuli Jiang1, Yulong Cheng3, Weiwei Zhou1, Tingwei Su1, Jing Xie2, Xu Zhong1, Dalong Song1, Luming Wu1, Liwen Fan1, Min Li1, Jie Hong1, Weiqing Wang1, Guang Ning1,3 and Yanan Cao1 1Shanghai Clinical Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Endocrine Tumors and 2Department of Pathology, Rui-Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China, and 3Laboratory of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Institute of Health Correspondence Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences (SIBS), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) & should be addressed Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Shanghai, China to Y Cao *(Y Li and Y Peng contributed equally to this work) Email [email protected] Abstract Objective: Thymic neuroendocrine tumor is the second-most prevalent cause of ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) syndrome (EAS), which is a rare disease characterized by ectopic ACTH oversecretion from nonpituitary tumors. However, the genetic abnormalities of thymic neuroendocrine tumors with EAS remain largely unknown. We aim to elucidate the genetic abnormalities and identify the somatic mutations of potential tumor-related genes of thymic neuroendocrine tumors with EAS by whole exome sequencing. Design and methods: Nine patients with thymic neuroendocrine tumors with EAS who were diagnosed at Shanghai Clinical Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases in Ruijin Hospital between 2002 and 2014 were enrolled. We performed whole exome sequencing on the DNA obtained from thymic neuroendocrine tumors and matched peripheral blood using the Hiseq2000 platform.
    [Show full text]
  • Identification and Bioinformatics Analysis of Overlapping Differentially Expressed Genes in Depression, Papillary Thyroid Cancer and Uterine Fibroids
    4810 EXPERIMENTAL AND THERAPEUTIC MEDICINE 15: 4810-4816, 2018 Identification and bioinformatics analysis of overlapping differentially expressed genes in depression, papillary thyroid cancer and uterine fibroids HANXIAO TANG1 and YONGSHENG ZHANG2 1Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310012; 2The Diagnostic Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, P.R. China Received May 9, 2017; Accepted October 26, 2017 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2018.6023 Abstract. It is hypothesized that there may be common potential genetic interconnections between depression, PTC and characteristics between the genetic regulatory networks of UF, which may be beneficial for understanding their underlying different diseases. To identify these potential similarities, coregulatory mechanisms and contributing to the development analysis of overlapping differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of homeotherapy based on bioinformatics prediction. in several diseases, which are believed to be associated in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was performed in the Introduction present study. The gene expression profiles associated with depression, papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and uterine Molecular biology methods, including DNA microarrays, fibroids (UF) were preliminarily analyzed using Gene are being increasingly used for high-throughput gene expres- Expression Omnibus 2R tools. Gene Ontology enrichment sion analysis and to assess
    [Show full text]
  • Gene Networks Activated by Specific Patterns of Action Potentials in Dorsal Root Ganglia Neurons Received: 10 August 2016 Philip R
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Gene networks activated by specific patterns of action potentials in dorsal root ganglia neurons Received: 10 August 2016 Philip R. Lee1,*, Jonathan E. Cohen1,*, Dumitru A. Iacobas2,3, Sanda Iacobas2 & Accepted: 23 January 2017 R. Douglas Fields1 Published: 03 March 2017 Gene regulatory networks underlie the long-term changes in cell specification, growth of synaptic connections, and adaptation that occur throughout neonatal and postnatal life. Here we show that the transcriptional response in neurons is exquisitely sensitive to the temporal nature of action potential firing patterns. Neurons were electrically stimulated with the same number of action potentials, but with different inter-burst intervals. We found that these subtle alterations in the timing of action potential firing differentially regulates hundreds of genes, across many functional categories, through the activation or repression of distinct transcriptional networks. Our results demonstrate that the transcriptional response in neurons to environmental stimuli, coded in the pattern of action potential firing, can be very sensitive to the temporal nature of action potential delivery rather than the intensity of stimulation or the total number of action potentials delivered. These data identify temporal kinetics of action potential firing as critical components regulating intracellular signalling pathways and gene expression in neurons to extracellular cues during early development and throughout life. Adaptation in the nervous system in response to external stimuli requires synthesis of new gene products in order to elicit long lasting changes in processes such as development, response to injury, learning, and memory1. Information in the environment is coded in the pattern of action-potential firing, therefore gene transcription must be regulated by the pattern of neuronal firing.
    [Show full text]
  • Regulation of AMPA Receptor Subunit Glua1 Surface Expression by PAK3
    Regulation of AMPA receptor subunit GluA1 surface PNAS PLUS expression by PAK3 phosphorylation Natasha K. Hussaina, Gareth M. Thomasb, Junjie Luoa,1, and Richard L. Huganira,2 aSolomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205; and bShriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center and Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140 Contributed by Richard L. Huganir, September 17, 2015 (sent for review July 17, 2015) AMPA receptors (AMPARs) are the major excitatory receptors of the a member of a superfamily of kinases (7). The PAK protein family brain and are fundamental to synaptic plasticity, memory, and comprises six members, falling into two categories: group I (con- cognition. Dynamic recycling of AMPARs in neurons is regulated sisting of PAKs 1, 2, and 3) and group II (includes PAKs 4, 5, and through several types of posttranslational modification, including 6), which are distinguished based on sequence homology and are phosphorylation. Here, we identify a previously unidentified signal functionally regulated by distinct mechanisms. Although PAK transduction cascade that modulates phosphorylation of serine proteins differ in their specific developmental/subcellular distribu- residue 863 (S863) in the GluA1 AMPAR subunit and controls surface tion, they are primarily implicated in regulating actin cytoskeletal trafficking of GluA1 in neurons. Activation of the EphR–Ephrin sig- dynamics (8). However, the possibility that PAK signaling controls nal transduction pathway enhances S863 phosphorylation. Further, AMPAR localization and/or trafficking has not been investigated. EphB2 can interact with Zizimin1, a guanine–nucleotide exchange In this study, we identified a novel site in the GluA1 subunit of factor that activates Cdc42 and stimulates S863 phosphorylation in AMPAR (serine 863) that is rapidly phosphorylated following neurons.
    [Show full text]
  • Supplementary Table 5A
    CE2/+ f/f CA/+ CE2/+ f/f Supplementary Table 5A: Pathway enrichment analysis for differentially expressed genes between Nkx3.1 ; Pten ; Braf and Nkx3.1 ; Pten mouse prostate tumors Pathway Gene Number Enrichment Normalized p-value False Family-wise Rank Leading Edge Genes Set of genes Score enrichment Discovery Error Rate at Details in the score Rate p-value Max pathway q-value TPM2 ACTG2 MYL9 ACTA2 VCL DES MYLK ITGA1 Details TPM4 SORBS1 CALM2 ITGB5 PXN LMOD1 TNNC2 1 REACTOME_MUSCLE_CONTRACTION ... 30 0.78 2.58 0 0 0 2180 MYL1 MYH11 Details TPM2 ACTG2 MYL9 ACTA2 VCL MYLK ITGA1 2 REACTOME_SMOOTH_MUSCLE_CONTRACTION ... 20 0.81 2.39 0 0 0 1609 TPM4 SORBS1 CALM2 ITGB5 PXN LMOD1 MYH11 ITGA3 LAMB3 ITGB4 THBS1 LAMA3 CD44 ITGA6 ITGAV ITGB1 SPP1 LAMC2 ITGA1 SDC1 RELN LAMC1 FN1 ITGB5 THBS2 COL1A2 ITGA9 ITGB6 SDC2 HSPG2 TNC COL6A1 COL4A2 COL6A2 Details COL4A6 ITGA5 COL4A1 LAMA1SV2B COL5A1 3 KEGG_ECM_RECEPTOR_INTERACTION ... 59 0.63 2.32 0 0 0 3812 COL6A3 COL3A1 ITGA11 COL5A2 ITGA10 Details ACTIN1 FLNC FBLIM1 ITGB1 FLNA RSU1 FERMT2 4 REACTOME_CELLEXTRACELLULAR_MATRIX_INTERACTIONS ... 13 0.81 2.16 0 0 0.001 1193 PXN ILK ITGA3 ITGB4 THBS1 ITGA6 ITGAV ITGB1 SPP1 ITGA1 LAMC1 FN1 ITGB5 COL1A2 CDH1 BCRAR1 ITGA9 ITGB6 COL4A5 TNC COL4A2 ITGA5 COL4A1 Details LAMA1 PTPN1 FGG PECAM1 FGA FBN1 ITGA11 5 REACTOME_INTEGRIN_CELL_SURFACE_INTERACTIONS ... 62 0.57 2.09 0 0 0.002 3812 ITGA10 COL1A1 LAMA2 LAMB2 ITGA3 CCND1 LAMB3 ITGB4 THBS1 FLNB LAMA3 ACTN1 IGF1R CCND2 ITGA6 ITGAV FLNC MYL9 CAV1 ITGB1 VEGF1 PDGFRA SPP1 FLNA MAP2K1 PDGFC VCL PPP1CC MYLK LAMC2 CAPN2 CDC42 ITGA1 RELN LAMC1 AKT3 FN1 CAV2 PDGFRB ITGB5 PXN ILK PDGFB THBS2 DOCK1 COL1A2 FLT1 FIGF BCAR1 ITGA9 ITGB6 PAK3 TNC COL6A1 COL4A2 COL6A2 COL4A6 ITGA5 COL4A1 LAMA1 Details BCL2 COL5A1 PGF ZYX COL6A3 COL3A1 ITGA11 6 KEGG_FOCAL_ADHESION ..
    [Show full text]
  • Download CGT Exome V2.0
    CGT Exome version 2.
    [Show full text]
  • And Diabetes-Associated Pancreatic Cancer: a GWAS Data Analysis
    Published OnlineFirst October 17, 2013; DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-13-0437-T Cancer Epidemiology, Research Article Biomarkers & Prevention Genes–Environment Interactions in Obesity- and Diabetes-Associated Pancreatic Cancer: A GWAS Data Analysis Hongwei Tang1, Peng Wei3, Eric J. Duell4, Harvey A. Risch5, Sara H. Olson6, H. Bas Bueno-de-Mesquita7, Steven Gallinger9, Elizabeth A. Holly10, Gloria M. Petersen11, Paige M. Bracci10, Robert R. McWilliams11, Mazda Jenab12, Elio Riboli16, Anne Tjønneland18, Marie Christine Boutron-Ruault13,14,15, Rudolf Kaaks19, Dimitrios Trichopoulos20,21,22, Salvatore Panico23, Malin Sund24, Petra H.M. Peeters8,16, Kay-Tee Khaw17, Christopher I. Amos2, and Donghui Li1 Abstract Background: Obesity and diabetes are potentially alterable risk factors for pancreatic cancer. Genetic factors that modify the associations of obesity and diabetes with pancreatic cancer have previously not been examined at the genome-wide level. Methods: Using genome-wide association studies (GWAS) genotype and risk factor data from the Pancreatic Cancer Case Control Consortium, we conducted a discovery study of 2,028 cases and 2,109 controls to examine gene–obesity and gene–diabetes interactions in relation to pancreatic cancer risk by using the likelihood-ratio test nested in logistic regression models and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). Results: After adjusting for multiple comparisons, a significant interaction of the chemokine signaling À pathway with obesity (P ¼ 3.29 Â 10 6) and a near significant interaction of calcium signaling pathway with À diabetes (P ¼ 1.57 Â 10 4) in modifying the risk of pancreatic cancer were observed. These findings were supported by results from IPA analysis of the top genes with nominal interactions.
    [Show full text]
  • A Novel Splice Mutation in PAK3 Gene Underlying Mental Retardation with Neuropsychiatric Features
    European Journal of Human Genetics (2008) 16, 1358–1363 & 2008 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved 1018-4813/08 $32.00 www.nature.com/ejhg ARTICLE A novel splice mutation in PAK3 gene underlying mental retardation with neuropsychiatric features Imen Rejeb1, Yoann Saillour2, Laetitia Castelnau2,Ce´dric Julien2, Thierry Bienvenu2,3, Patricia Taga4, Habiba Chaabouni1, Jamel Chelly2,3, Lamia Ben Jemaa1 and Nadia Bahi-Buisson*,2,3,5 1Maladies Hereditaires et Congenitales, Service des Maladies He´re´ditaires et Conge´nitales, Hoˆpital Charles Nicole, Tunis, Tunisie; 2Genetique et physiopathologie des maladies neurodeveloppementales, Institut Cochin, Inserm U567, Universite´ Paris Descartes, Faculte´ de Me´decine, Paris Descartes, France; 3Biochimie et Genetique, Service de Biochimie et Ge´ne´tique Mole´culaire Hopital Cochin, AP-HP, Paris V, Paris, France; 4UTAIM-Menzel Bourguiba, Bizete, Tunisie; 5Service de Neurologie Pe´diatrique, De´partement de Pe´diatrie, Hopital Necker Enfants Malades, AP-HP, Paris, France PAK3-related mental retardation represents a rare cause of X-linked mental retardation associated with behavioural symptoms. So far, four families carrying PAK3 mutations have been reported, and in most cases PAK3 dysfunction resulted from missense mutations thought to affect either the catalytic or the N-terminal regulatory domain activity. Here, we report on a Tunisian family of X-linked moderate mental retardation with behavioural symptoms, common dysmorphic features, oro-motor impairment and secondary microcephaly.
    [Show full text]
  • A Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in the ARHGEF6 Gene Is Associated
    tics: Cu ne rr e en Pratt-Hyatt et al., Hereditary Genet 2018, 7:2 G t y R r e a t s i e DOI: 10.4172/2161-1041.1000196 d a e r r c e h H Hereditary Genetics ISSN: 2161-1041 Research Article Open Access A Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in the ARHGEF6 Gene is Associated with Increased Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder Matthew Pratt-Hyatt1*, Rebecca A Haeusler2, Kobe C Yuen3 and William Shaw1 1The Great Plains Laboratory, Lenexa, Kansas, USA 2Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, USA 3Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, USA Abstract Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) comprises a range of neurological conditions that can be a lifelong developmental disability. ASD is characterized by deficits in social communication and interaction with repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. Methods: The study population consisted of 155 ASD subjects (134 males, 21 females) selected randomly from Great Plains Laboratory subjects (84 males and 21 females) as well as from the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (50 male subjects). Subjects were diagnosed by the CARS, DSM-IV, ABC, ADI-R, ADOS, PL-ADOS, or the BSE criteria for pervasive developmental ailment and Childhood Autism Rating Scale. A total of 247 individuals were used as controls (106 males, 141 females). Results: In our study we identified a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs2295868 in the ARHGEF6 gene (Rac/Cdc42 Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor 6) that was present in 36% of patients with ASD vs. 9% of controls. ARHGEF6, a Rho GTPase, is expressed mainly in the brain, immune system, and intestines.
    [Show full text]
  • CDC42 Binds PAK4 Via an Extended Gtpase-Effector Interface
    CDC42 binds PAK4 via an extended GTPase-effector interface Byung Hak Haa and Titus J. Boggona,b,1 aDepartment of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520; and bDepartment of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520 Edited by Susan S. Taylor, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, and approved December 11, 2017 (received for review October 5, 2017) The p21-activated kinase (PAK) group of serine/threonine kinases type II PAKs are controlled by small GTPases should then fa- are downstream effectors of RHO GTPases and play important cilitate new insights into RHO control of signal transduction. roles in regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, cell growth, survival, Control of kinase signaling by small GTPases takes many forms. polarity, and development. Here we probe the interaction of the Canonical disruption of kinase autoinhibition takes place upon type II PAK, PAK4, with RHO GTPases. Using solution scattering we RAC1/CDC42 binding to type I PAKs and is found in other find that the full-length PAK4 heterodimer with CDC42 adopts GTPase-kinase pairs such as RAS–RAF (15). Other mechanisms primarily a compact organization. X-ray crystallography reveals of regulation, for example how the kinase activity of the RHO the molecular nature of the interaction between PAK4 and kinases (ROCK1/2) is altered by interaction with RHO (16), are CDC42 and shows that in addition to the canonical PAK4 CDC42/ currently under intense investigation (17). To date, however, no RAC interactive binding (CRIB) domain binding to CDC42 there are structure has been determined of a full-length protein kinase in unexpected contacts involving the PAK4 kinase C-lobe, CDC42, and complex with its GTPase, and in light of studies in other systems the PAK4 polybasic region.
    [Show full text]