SIX1 mutations cause branchio-oto-renal syndrome by disruption of EYA1-SIX1-DNA complexes.

Urinary tract malformations constitute the most frequent cause of chronic renal failure in the first two decades of life. Branchio-otic (BO) syndrome is an autosomal dominant developmental disorder characterized by hearing loss. In branchio-oto-renal (BOR) syndrome, malformations of the kidney or urinary tract are associated. Haploinsufficiency for the human gene EYA1, a homologue of the Drosophila gene eyes absent (eya), causes BOR and BO syndromes. We recently mapped a locus for BOR/BO syndrome (BOS3) to human chromosome 14q23.1. Within the 33-megabase critical genetic interval, we located the SIX1, SIX4, and SIX6 genes, which act within a genetic network of EYA and PAX genes to regulate organogenesis. These genes, therefore, represented excellent candidate genes for BOS3. By direct sequencing of exons, we identified three different SIX1 mutations in four BOR/BO kindreds, thus identifying SIX1 as a gene causing BOR and BO syndromes. To elucidate how these mutations cause disease, we analyzed the functional role of these SIX1 mutations with respect to protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions. We demonstrate that all three mutations are crucial for Eya1-Six1 interaction, and the two mutations within the homeodomain region are essential for specific Six1-DNA binding. Identification of SIX1 mutations as causing BOR/BO offers insights into the molecular basis of otic and renal developmental diseases in humans.

Mutations in INVS encoding inversin cause nephronophthisis type 2, linking renal cystic disease to the function of primary cilia and left-right axis determination.

Nephronophthisis (NPHP), an autosomal recessive cystic kidney disease, leads to chronic renal failure in children. The genes mutated in NPHP1 and NPHP4 have been identified, and a gene locus associated with infantile nephronophthisis (NPHP2) was mapped. The kidney phenotype of NPHP2 combines clinical features of NPHP and polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Here, we identify inversin (INVS) as the gene mutated in NPHP2 with and without situs inversus. We show molecular interaction of inversin with nephrocystin, the product of the gene mutated in NPHP1 and interaction of nephrocystin with beta-tubulin, a main component of primary cilia. We show that nephrocystin, inversin and beta-tubulin colocalize to primary cilia of renal tubular cells. Furthermore, we produce a PKD-like renal cystic phenotype and randomization of heart looping by knockdown of invs expression in zebrafish. The interaction and colocalization in cilia of inversin, nephrocystin and beta-tubulin connect pathogenetic aspects of NPHP to PKD, to primary cilia function and to left-right axis determination.

Confirmation of the ATP6B1 gene as responsible for distal renal tubular acidosis.

Primary distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) type I is a hereditary renal tubular disorder, which is characterized by impaired renal acid secretion resulting in metabolic acidosis. Clinical symptoms are nephrocalcinosis, nephrolithiasis, osteomalacia, and growth retardation. Biochemical alterations consist of hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis, hypokalemia with muscle weakness, hypercalciuria, and inappropriately raised urinary pH. Autosomal dominant and rare forms of recessive dRTA are known to be caused by mutations in the gene for the anion exchanger AE1. In order to identify a gene responsible for recessive dRTA, we performed a total genome scan with 303 polymorphic microsatellite markers in six consanguineous families with recessive dRTA from Turkey. In four of these there was an association with sensorineural deafness. The total genome scan yielded regions of homozygosity by descent in all six families on chromosomes 1, 2, and 10 as positional candidate region. In one of these regions the gene ATP6B1for the ss1 subunit of the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase is localized, which has recently been identified as causative for recessive dRTA with sensorineural deafness. Therefore, we conducted mutational analysis in 15 families and identified potential loss-of-function mutations in ATP6B1in 8. We thus confirmed that defects in this gene are responsible for recessive dRTA with sensorineural deafness.