Molecular Genetic Analysis of FAM58A and Expansion of the Mutation Spectrum in STAR Syndrome
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Molecular Genetic Analysis of FAM58A and Expansion of the Mutation Spectrum in STAR Syndrome Inaugural-Dissertation zur Erlangung der Doktorwürde der Fakultät für Biologie der Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg im Breisgau vorgelegt von Alexander William Craig geboren in Bellefonte, Pa., USA Februar 2015 Angefertigt am Institut für Humangenetik der Universität Freiburg Dekan der Fakultät für Biologie: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Driever Promotionsvorsitzender: Prof. Dr. Stefan Rotter Betreuer der Arbeit: Prof. Dr. Gerd Scherer Referent: Prof. Dr. Gerd Scherer Korreferent: Prof. Dr. Bernhard Zabel Drittprüfer: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Driever Datum der mündlichen Prüfung: 13. Juli 2015 To Evelyne, Tove, and Elin IF I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE FURTHER, IT IS BECAUSE I HAVE STOOD ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS. ISAAC NEWTON SCIENCE ADVANCES ONLY BY MAKING ALL POSSIBLE MISTAKES; THE MAIN THING IS TO MAKE THE MISTAKES AS FAST AS POSSIBLE - AND RECOGNIZE THEM. JOHN ARCHIBALD WHEELER IT IS GOOD TO HAVE AN END TO JOURNEY TOWARD; BUT IT IS THE JOURNEY THAT MATTERS, IN THE END. ERNEST HEMINGWAY i Erklärung Die experimentellen Arbeiten für diese Dissertation wurden von Mai 2007 bis März 2010 im Institut für Humangenetik der Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg unter Anleitung von Prof. Dr. Gerd Scherer durchgeführt. 1. Ich erkläre hiermit, dass ich die vorliegende Arbeit ohne unzulässige Hilfe Dritter und ohne Benutzung anderer als der angegebenen Hilfsmittel angefertigt habe. Die aus anderen Quellen direkt oder indirekt übernommenen Daten und Konzepte sind unter Angabe der Quellen gekennzeichnet. Insbesondere habe ich hierfür nicht die entgeltliche Hilfe von Vermittlungs- beziehungsweise Beratungsdiensten (Promotionsberater oder anderer Personen) in Anspruch genommen. Niemand hat von mir unmittelbar oder mittelbar geldwerte Leistungen für Arbeiten erhalten, die im Zusammenhang mit dem Inhalt der vorgelegten Dissertation stehen. 2. Die Arbeit wurde bisher weder im In- noch im Ausland in gleicher oder ähnlicher Form einer anderen Prüfungsbehörde vorgelegt. 3. Die Bestimmungen der Promotionsordnung der Fakultät für Biologie sind mir bekannt, insbesondere weiß ich, dass ich vor Vollzug der Promotion zur Führung des Doktortitels nicht berechtigt bin. Statement of Veracity 1. I hereby certify that I have authored this thesis using no other means and references than those presented and/or cited in this work and without any improper help from third parties. This thesis is exclusively the product of my own investigations unless indicated otherwise through appropriate references or acknowledgment. Data and concepts derived directly or indirectly from other research are appropriately indicated citing the relevant sources. I have not resorted to the paid services of any agencies or advisors (companies and/or individuals, e.g. ghostwriters). No one received direct or indirect monetary benefit and/or financial reimbursement for services related to the contents of this academic dissertation. 2. This thesis has not been submitted in identical or similar form to any examination board/thesis committee in Germany or any other country. 3. I am aware of the stipulations laid down in the regulations for theses and dissertations by the Department of Biology. Specifically, I know that I am not entitled to using the doctoral title before completion of the promotion process. Freiburg, 5. Februar 2015 Freiburg, February 5, 2015 Alexander Craig ii Acknowledgments I am grateful for the environment and the people I encountered at the Institute of Human Genetics in Freiburg and thank all of my co-workers and colleagues for their technical assistance, scientific feed-back and a fun-time in and out of the lab. I thank Professor Jürgen Kohlhase for giving me the opportunity to work on this interesting topic and for his scientific input. I am especially indebted to Professor Gerd Scherer who hosted me in his lab, supported me in any way he could, made many valuable suggestions, who motivated me in times of doubt and always had an open ear and helpful advice. I am also much obliged to all the researchers in this field who shared their resources, information and thoughts and stimulated my own research. Dr. Sachin Deshmukh from the Center of Chronic Immunodeficiency at the University of Freiburg Medical Center was especially generous with antibodies and advice and my thanks go out to him. To my parents I owe my curiosity about the world, my love for science and the arts, and for making me see what matters in life. Last and most of all, I thank my partner Evelyne for all her support, for bearing with me during the work on this thesis, and for her constant gentle prodding. iii Results from this thesis have been published as articles in peer-reviewed journals and as conference abstracts: Unger S, Böhm D, Kaiser FJ, Kaulfuß S, Borozdin W, Buiting K, Burfeind P, Böhm J, Barrionuevo F, Craig A, Borowski K, Keppler-Noreuil K, Schmitt-Mechelke T, Steiner B, Bartholdi D, Lemke J, Mortier G, Sandford RN, Zabel B, Superti-Furga A, Kohlhase J (2008). Mutations in the cyclin family member FAM58A cause an X-linked dominant disorder characterized by syndactyly, telecanthus and anogenital and renal malformations. Nature Genetics 40: 287-289. A copy of this journal article has been appended to this thesis. Craig A, Zoll B, Rakenius A, Zappel H, Leube B, Bartz U, Heimdal K, Gener B, Borozdin W, Buiting K, Cobben JM, Kohlhase J (2010). Expansion of the STAR syndrome phenotype and evidence for genetic heterogeneity. Medizinische Genetik 22:107 Conference Abstract. Rakenius A, Zappel H, Borozdin W, Craig A, Gärtner J, Kohlhase J (2010). STAR syndrome and nephroblastoma – FAM58A linking organogenesis and tumorigenesis? European Journal of Pediatrics 169: 389. Conference Abstract. Contributions to other articles: Böhm J, Heinritz W, Craig A, Vujic M, Ekman-Joelsson BM, Kohlhase J, Froster U (2008). Functional analysis of the novel TBX5 c.1333delC mutation resulting in an extended TBX5 protein. BMC Medical Genetics 9:88. doi: 10.1186/1471-2350-9-88. Note added in proof / errata: Compared to the version of February 2015, minor orthographical, punctuation, grammatical and stylistic errors and/or inconsistencies were corrected in preparing this document. A representational error in fig. 32 was corrected. The icons for "cell cycle regulators: cell cyle- dependent element" and "core promoter element, TATA-less promoters" were swapped. In figure 48, the sequence was amended to match the statements in the figure legend. iv Table of Contents Erklärung .......................................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................................... ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ...........................................................................................IV ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................VII ZUSAMMENFASSUNG .........................................................................................VIII Abbreviations and Symbols ........................................................................................................... x Acronyms for proteins, cells, symptoms, and syndromes .............................................................................. x General abbreviations..................................................................................................................................... x 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 1 1.1 STAR syndrome: clinical picture ............................................................................................. 1 1.2 Anorectal and urogenital malformations ................................................................................ 2 1.2.1 Epidemiological aspects ....................................................................................................................... 2 1.2.2 Manifestations of anorectal malformations: imperforate anus, fistulas, etc. ........................................ 3 1.2.3 Developmental origins of the anorectal and urogenital region ............................................................. 5 1.2.4 The origin of caudal defects ................................................................................................................. 8 1.2.5 Non-urological co-morbidities of anorectal malformations: the caudal phenotype ............................... 8 1.3 Genetic aspects of ARMs and/or UGMs ................................................................................. 8 1.3.1 Syndromic and non-syndromic manifestation of ARMs and UGMs ..................................................... 8 1.3.1 Animal models of ARMs and relevant Signaling Pathways .................................................................. 9 1.4 STAR Syndrome and FAM58A ............................................................................................... 11 1.4.1 FAM58A: gene, transcripts, protein .................................................................................................... 12 1.4.2 FAM58A: genomic context ................................................................................................................. 14 1.5 The cellular function of FAM58A ..........................................................................................