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Principles of Molecular Disease : Lessons from the Hemoglobinopathies. The effect of mutations on protein function. mutations resulting in a loss of function of the protein mutations resulting in a gain of function of the protein
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Principles of MolecularDisease: Lessonsfrom the Hemoglobinopathies PostgraduatecourseHumanGenetics 13/12/2013 Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD Center forMedicalGenetics GhentUniversity Hospital
The effect of mutationsonproteinfunction • mutationsresulting in a loss of functionof the protein • mutationsresulting in a gain of function of the protein • mutationsresulting in a novelpropertyby the protein • mutationsresulting in gene expression at the wrong time or place PostgraduatecourseHumanGenetics – 09/12/11 Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD– Center forMedicalGenetics – Ghent University Hospital
Loss-of-functionmutations • deletion of the entire gene (and eventuallyalsocontiguousgenes) • examples: microdeletionsyndromes, monosomies (Turner), a-thalassemias • chromosomalrearrangements • premature stop codon (nonsenseor frameshift mutations) • missense mutationsmayabolishproteinfunction • e.g. Catshl syndrome: loss- of – function FGFR3 FGFR3 p.R621H Severity of disease ~ amount of function lost PostgraduatecourseHumanGenetics – 09/12/11 Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD– Center forMedicalGenetics – Ghent University Hospital
Loss-of-function mutations - missense mutations Severity of disease ~ amount of function lost E.g. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
Loss-of-function mutations - missense mutations Severity of disease ~ amount of function lost E.g. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
Gain-of-functionmutations = mutationsthatenhanceoneor more of the normalfunctions of the protein • mutationsthatenhanceonenormalfunction of the protein • f.e.: the G380R mutation in • FGFR3causingachondroplasia • mutationsthatincrease the production of a normalprotein • in itsnormal environment • f.e.: trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) note: Alzheimer • duplication of PMP22 in Charcot-Marie-Toothdisease type 1A • chromosomalduplications in cancer Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
Novelpropertymutations = (missense) mutationsnovelproperty of the protein +/- normalfunction infrequent (most AA substitutionseitherneutralordetrimental) e.g. sicklecelldisease Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
Mutationsassociatedwith heterochronicorectopic gene expression • = mutationsthat alter the regulatoryregions of a gene • Examples: • oncogenemutations in cancer • hereditary persistence of HbF (continued expression of g-globin) • PITX1 • Liebenberg syndrome Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
Hemoglobinopathies • most commonsingle-gene disorders in humans • more than 5% of the world’spopulation is carrier of anabnormalglobin gene Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
Hemoglobin • 4 subunits: 2 a (like) and 2 b (like) - chains • each subunit is composed of : • - a polypeptidechain (globin) • - a prostheticgroup (heme): iron-containing pigment that combines with O2 • highlyconservedstructure • Hb A (adulthemoglobin): a2 b2 Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
identical chromosome 16 differonly in 10/146 AA chromosome 11 In adultlife: >97% HbA 2% HbA2 <1% HbF commonancestral gene Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
Globinswitching Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
Globin switching Why? Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
ΒGlobin cluster 6 kb Chr. 11 LCR e Gg Ag yb d b • expression of b-globin gene controlledbynearbypromoterand LCR • locuscontrolregion (LCR): requiredfor the expression of all the genes • in the b-globin cluster • deletions of LCR results in egdb- thalassemia Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
Mutations affecting the globin chains Mutationsthat alter the structure of the globinprotein Reduced availability one or more globin chains (Thalassemias) mutationsthatimpair the globindevelopmentalswitching Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
1. StructuralVariants • usuallydue to point mutationsin one of the globingenes • more than 400 abnormalhemoglobinvariants have been described • onlyabout 50% are clinically significant • three classes: • - mutantsthatcausehemolyticanemia • - mutantsthat alter oxygen transport • - mutantsthatreduce the abundance of the globinchain (thalassemias) Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
StructuralVariantsthatcauseHemolyticAnemia • the mutant makes the Hbtetramerunstable • loss-of-function • e.g.: HbHammersmith (b-chain Phe42Ser mutation) • the mutant gives the globinchainanunusualrigidstructure • novelpropertymutations • f.e.: sicklecellglobin; HbC Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
SickleCellDisease • HbS: firstabnormalHbdetected (Glu6Val mutation in b-chain) • severeARcondition • common in equatorialAfrica; 1/600 AfricanAmericans is bornwith the disease • sicklecelltraitrefers to the heterozygous state • about 8% of AfricanAmericans are heterozygous • heterozygotes are protectedagainstmalaria Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
1. StructuralVariants • usuallydue to point mutations in one of the globingenes • more than 400 abnormalhemoglobinvariants have been described • onlyabout 50% are clinically significant • three classes: • - mutantsthatcausehemolyticanemia • - mutantsthat alter oxygen transport • - mutantsthatreduce the abundance of the globinchain (thalassemias) Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
HemoglobinStructuralVariantsthat alter oxygen transport • HbHyde Park (β-chain His92Tyr) • ~ normalhemoglobinstability • ironresistant to the enzymemethemoglobin reductase. • accumulation of methemoglobin → cyanosis (usuallyasymptomatic) • homozygous state presumably lethal. • HbHammersmith (βchainPhe 42 Ser) • instable Hb, lower O2 affinity • mutations in α:β interface (HbKempsey) • prevent oxigenrelatedmovement • locked in high O2 affinity state • Polycythemia Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
1. StructuralVariants • usuallydue to point mutations in one of the globingenes • more than 400 abnormalhemoglobinvariants have been described • onlyabout 50% are clinically significant • three classes: • - mutantsthatcausehemolyticanemia • - mutantsthat alter oxygen transport • - mutants that reduce the abundance of the globin chain (thalassemias) • mutations in the coding region • rate of syndthesis↓ • severe instability of the chains. Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
2. HemoglobinSynthesis Disorders (Thalassemias) • collectively the most commonhumansingle-gene disorders! • carriers: protectiveadvantageagainst malaria • > qalassa(sea): firstdiscovered in Mediterraneanarea • imbalance in a : b chainratio • - ↓synthesis • - instability (cfr supra) • ↑normal chains: damage to the RBCs (hemolytic anemia) • ↓Hbsynthesis hypochromic, microcyticanemia • DdIrondeficiency Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
α - globin production The a - Thalassemias Normal anemia Hydropsfoetalis HomotetramericHb: ineffectiveoxygen carriers Hydropsfetalis • affect the formation of bothfetal and adultHb • in the absence of a-globins: • - HbBart’s: g4 • - Hb H: b4 Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
The a - Thalassemias • most commonlydue to deletion of the a-globingenes Misalignmentwith Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
The a - Thalassemias clinicalconditionnumber of functionala-globin gene a-chain a-genesgenotypeproduction Normal 4 aa/aa 100% Silent carrier 3 aa/a- 75% a-thalassemiatrait 2 a-/a- or 50% (mild anemia, microcytosis)aa/- - * Hb H (b4) disease 1 a-/- - 25% (moderatelyseverehemolyticanemia) Hydropsfetalis (HbBart’sg4) 0 - -/- - 0% * Carriers frequent in SoutheastAsia Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
The a - Thalassemias • Rare forms: • - formdue to the ZF deletion(namedafterindividual ZF) • - the ATR-X syndrome Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
The a - Thalassemias ZF deletion transcribedfrom the opposite strand a2-gene is silenceddue to the generation of antisenseRNAsfrom the truncated LUC7L gene wild-type antisense transcripts do also exist and play a role in regulation of gene expression (f.e. X inactivation, siRNA, lnRNA)! Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
The a - Thalassemias The ATR-X syndrome • MR and a-thalassemia • due to mutations in the X-linked ATRX gene • encodes a chromatin remodeling protein (methylation) • activatesexpression in trans • partialloss-of-functionmutationsresult in modest reduction of a-globinsynthesis • somatic (more severe) mutations in ATRX cause the • a-thalassemiamyelodysplasiasyndrome(ifgermline: hydropsfetalis!) Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
The ATR-Xsyndrome • Profound MR (X-L) • MC • Short stature • Genital Δ • (Mild) anemia Erythrocytesafterincubation in briljant cresyl blue. Hb H inclusions :‘golf ball’ From Gibbons R. Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases 2006;1:15 Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
The B- Thalassemias • ↓b-globinproduction • twob-thalassemiaalleles: usuallythalassemiamajor (severeanemia) • oneb-thalassemiaallele: thalassemiaminor (mild anemia, noclinic) • postnatal • precipitation of excessa-chains hemolysis • low β-chain production hypochromic, microcyticanemia • ↑HbA2 (a2d2) and ↑ HbF (a2g2) • >> single-base pair substitutions (ratherthandeletions) • >> compoundheterozygous • simple versus complex b-thalassemia Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
of the 3’ end of the gene >> Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
Point mutationsthatcauseb-thalassemia are distributedthroughout the gene. They affect virtuallyeveryprocessrequiredfor the production of normalb-globin. Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
Posttranscriptionalmodifications of mRNA Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
RNA splicingmutations in b – Thalassemias (1) Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
RNA splicingmutations in b – Thalassemias (2) Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
RNA splicingmutations in b – Thalassemias (3) Very frequent in SoutheastAsia Hb E: example of a single nucleotidesubstitutionthataffects both RNA splicing and the coding sequence Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
Complex b–Thalassemias (egdb)° thalassemia (illustratesimportance of LCR) (db)° thalassemia (Agdb)° thalassemia Hereditarypersistence of fetalhemoglobin Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
3. GlobinDevelopmentalSwitching Disorders • hereditarypersistence of fetalhemoglobin • group of clinicallybenignconditions • production of higherlevels of Hb F than is seen in (db)° thalassemia • theyimpair the perinatal switch fromg-globin to b-globinsynthesis Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics
Thanks for your attention ! Hemoglobinopathies– Bert Callewaert, MD, PhD – 09/12/2011 Ghent University Hospital – Center for Medical Genetics