Tandem-genotypes: robust detection of tandem repeat expansions from long DNA reads.

Tandemly repeated DNA is highly mutable and causes at least 31 diseases, but it is hard to detect pathogenic repeat expansions genome-wide. Here, we report robust detection of human repeat expansions from careful alignments of long but error-prone (PacBio and nanopore) reads to a reference genome. Our method is robust to systematic sequencing errors, inexact repeats with fuzzy boundaries, and low sequencing coverage. By comparing to healthy controls, we prioritize pathogenic expansions within the top 10 out of 700,000 tandem repeats in whole genome sequencing data. This may help to elucidate the many genetic diseases whose causes remain unknown.

Nuclear localization of MBNL1: splicing-mediated autoregulation and repression of repeat-derived aberrant proteins.

In some neurological diseases caused by repeat expansions such as myotonic dystrophy, the RNA-binding protein muscleblind-like 1 (MBNL1) accumulates in intranuclear inclusions containing mutant repeat RNA. The interaction between MBNL1 and mutant RNA in the nucleus is a key event leading to loss of MBNL function, yet the details of this effect have been elusive. Here, we investigated the mechanism and significance of MBNL1 nuclear localization. We found that MBNL1 contains two classes of nuclear localization signal (NLS), a classical bipartite NLS and a novel conformational NLS. Alternative splicing of exon 7 acts as a switch between these NLS types and couples MBNL1 activity and intracellular localization. Depending on its nuclear localization, MBNL1 promoted nuclear accumulation of mutant RNA containing a CUG or CAG repeat, some of which produced proteins containing homopolymeric tracts such as polyglutamine. Furthermore, MBNL1 repressed the expression of these homopolymeric proteins including those presumably produced through repeat-associated non-ATG (RAN) translation. These results suggest that nuclear retention of expanded RNA reflects a novel role of MBNL proteins in repressing aberrant protein expression and may provide pathological and therapeutic implications for a wide range of repeat expansion diseases associated with nuclear RNA retention and/or RAN translation.

Manumycin A corrects aberrant splicing of Clcn1 in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) mice.

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is the most common muscular dystrophy in adults and as yet no cure for DM1. Here, we report the potential of manumycin A for a novel DM1 therapeutic reagent. DM1 is caused by expansion of CTG repeat. Mutant transcripts containing expanded CUG repeats lead to aberrant regulation of alternative splicing. Myotonia (delayed muscle relaxation) is the most commonly observed symptom in DM1 patients and is caused by aberrant splicing of the skeletal muscle chloride channel (CLCN1) gene. Identification of small-molecule compounds that correct aberrant splicing in DM1 is attracting much attention as a way of improving understanding of the mechanism of DM1 pathology and improving treatment of DM1 patients. In this study, we generated a reporter screening system and searched for small-molecule compounds. We found that manumycin A corrects aberrant splicing of Clcn1 in cell and mouse models of DM1.

MBNL and CELF proteins regulate alternative splicing of the skeletal muscle chloride channel CLCN1.

The expression and function of the skeletal muscle chloride channel CLCN1/ClC-1 is regulated by alternative splicing. Inclusion of the CLCN1 exon 7A is aberrantly elevated in myotonic dystrophy (DM), a genetic disorder caused by the expansion of a CTG or CCTG repeat. Increased exon 7A inclusion leads to a reduction in CLCN1 function, which can be causative of myotonia. Two RNA-binding protein families--muscleblind-like (MBNL) and CUG-BP and ETR-3-like factor (CELF) proteins--are thought to mediate the splicing misregulation in DM. Here, we have identified multiple factors that regulate the alternative splicing of a mouse Clcn1 minigene. The inclusion of exon 7A was repressed by MBNL proteins while promoted by an expanded CUG repeat or CELF4, but not by CUG-BP. Mutation analyses suggested that exon 7A and its flanking region mediate the effect of MBNL1, whereas another distinct region in intron 6 mediates that of CELF4. An exonic splicing enhancer essential for the inclusion of exon 7A was identified at the 5' end of this exon, which might be inhibited by MBNL1. Collectively, these results provide a mechanistic model for the regulation of Clcn1 splicing, and reveal novel regulatory properties of MBNL and CELF proteins.

Polyalanine tracts directly induce the release of cytochrome c, independently of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, leading to apoptosis.

In recent years, several novel types of disorder caused by the expansion of triplet repeats in specific genes have been characterized; in the "polyalanine diseases", these expanded repeats result in proteins with aberrantly elongated polyalanine tracts. In this study, we fused expanded polyalanine tracts to yellow fluorescent protein to examine their physical interaction with mitochondria. Tracts containing more than 23 alanine repeats were found to physically associate with mitochondria, strongly suggesting that an interaction between polyalanine tracts and mitochondria is a contributing factor in the pathology of polyalanine diseases. Furthermore, in in vitro experiments, polyalanine tracts induced release of cytochrome c from mitochondria and caspase-3 activation, independently of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. These results suggest that oligomerized polyalanine tracts might induce the rupture of the mitochondrial membrane, the subsequent release of cytochrome c, and apoptosis. This novel mechanism for polyalanine tract cytotoxicity might be common to the pathogenesis of all polyalanine diseases. Further investigation of this mechanism might aid the development of therapies for these diseases.

Biochemical analysis of oligomerization of expanded polyalanine repeat proteins.

Many human proteins contain amino acid repeats that can form homopolymeric amino acid (HPAA) tracts. HPAA tract proteins that contain polyalanine sequences promote diseases, including oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy. The pathological properties of these proteins develop when the repeats match or exceed approximately 20 residues. We analyzed the oligomerization of yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) and GST fusion proteins containing >20 alanine repeats by using sucrose density gradient centrifugation. YFP and GST fusion proteins having 23 polyalanine residues sedimented readily in sucrose density gradients, suggesting instability and oligomerization of proteins with an excess of 20 alanine repeats. Moreover, GST fusion proteins were resistant to trypsin digestion after oligomerization. Oligomerized artificial proteins with long polyalanine repeats may be suitable models for studying polyalanine-related diseases.

Expression of polyalanine stretches induces mitochondrial dysfunction.

In recent years, several novel types of disorders have been characterized, including what have been termed polyalanine diseases, in which patients have expanded triplet repeats in specific genes, resulting in the translation of aberrantly elongated polyalanine stretches. In this study, we showed that yellow fluorescent protein (YFP)-fused elongated polyalanine stretches localized exclusively to the cytoplasm and formed aggregates. Additionally, the polyalanine stretches themselves were toxic. We sought to identify proteins that bound directly to the polyalanine stretches, as factors that might be involved in triggering cell death. Many mitochondrial proteins were identified as polyalanine-binding proteins. We showed that one of the identified proteins, succinate dehydrogenase subunit A, was decreased in the mitochondria of cells expressing polyalanine stretches; as a result, succinate oxidative activity was decreased. Furthermore, the polyalanine stretches also associated directly with mitochondria. This suggests that polya-lanine stretches might directly induce cell death. Additionally, the mitochondrial membrane potential was reduced in cells expressing polyalanine stretches. We propose a novel mechanism by which polyalanine stretches may cause cytotoxicity through mitochondrial dysfunction. This may be a common mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of all polyalanine diseases.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress caused by aggregate-prone proteins containing homopolymeric amino acids.

Many human proteins have homopolymeric amino acid (HPAA) tracts, but their physiological functions or cellular effects are not well understood. Previously, we expressed 20 HPAAs in mammalian cells and showed characteristic intracellular localization, in that hydrophobic HPAAs aggregated strongly and caused high cytotoxicity in proportion to their hydrophobicity. In the present study, we investigated the cytotoxicity of these aggregate-prone hydrophobic HPAAs, assuming that the ubiquitin proteasome system is impaired in the same manner as other well-known aggregate-prone polyglutamine-containing proteins. Some highly hydrophobic HPAAs caused a deficiency in the ubiquitin proteasome system and excess endoplasmic reticulum stress, leading to apoptosis. These results indicate that the property of causing excess endoplasmic reticulum stress by proteasome impairment may contribute to the strong cytotoxicity of highly hydrophobic HPAAs, and proteasome impairment and the resulting excess endoplasmic reticulum stress is not a common cytotoxic effect of aggregate-prone proteins such as polyglutamine.

Interactions between homopolymeric amino acids (HPAAs).

Many human proteins contain consecutive amino acid repeats, known as homopolymeric amino acid (HPAA) tracts. Some inherited diseases are caused by proteins in which HPAAs are expanded to an excessive length. To this day, nine polyglutamine-related diseases and nine polyalanine-related diseases have been reported, including Huntington's disease and oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy. In this study, potential HPAA-HPAA interactions were examined by yeast two-hybrid assays using HPAAs of approximately 30 residues in length. The results indicate that hydrophobic HPAAs interact with themselves and with other hydrophobic HPAAs. Previously, we reported that hydrophobic HPAAs formed large aggregates in COS-7 cells. Here, those HPAAs were shown to have significant interactions with each other, suggesting that hydrophobicity plays an important role in aggregation. Among the observed HPAA-HPAA interactions, the Ala28-Ala29 interaction was notable because polyalanine tracts of these lengths have been established to be pathogenic in several polyalanine-related diseases. By testing several constructs of different lengths, we clarified that polyalanine self-interacts at longer lengths (>23 residues) but not at shorter lengths (six to approximately 23 residues) in a yeast two-hybrid assay and a GST pulldown assay. This self-interaction was found to be SDS sensitive in SDS-PAGE and native-PAGE assays. Moreover, the intracellular localization of these long polyalanine tracts was also observed to be disturbed. Our results suggest that long tracts of polyalanine acquire SDS-sensitive self-association properties, which may be a prerequisite event for their abnormal folding. The misfolding of these tracts is thought to be a common molecular aspect underlying the pathogenesis of polyalanine-related diseases.

Comparative analysis of the cytotoxicity of homopolymeric amino acids.

Many human proteins have homopolymeric amino acid (HPAA) tracts, although the physiological significance or cellular effects of their presence is poorly understood. We previously reported that 20 kinds of HPAAs show characteristic intracellular localization and that among those, hydrophobic HPAAs aggregate strongly and form high molecular weight proteins when expressed in cultured cells. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxicity of 20 kinds of HPAAs. HPAA tracts of approximately 30 residues fused to the C-terminus of YFP were expressed in COS-7 cells. Cells expressing homopolymeric-Cys, -Ile, -Leu, and -Val showed low viability in Trypan Blue assay. Caspase-3 activity, which is usually upregulated in dying cells, was determined by measuring the cleavage of the peptide substrate Ac-DEVD-MCA and by detecting the cleaved active form of the caspase-3 by Western blotting. The activity of caspase-3 was drastically elevated in cells expressing those HPAAs which showed low viability in Trypan Blue assay. Interestingly, it was found that there is a correlation between the hydrophobicity of a single amino acid and the cytotoxicity of the corresponding HPAA as a homopolymer. These results indicate that the hydrophobicity of HPAAs may cause cytotoxicity.

Intracellular localization of homopolymeric amino acid-containing proteins expressed in mammalian cells.

Many human proteins have homopolymeric amino acid (HPAA) tracts, which are involved in protein-protein interactions and also have intrinsic polymerization properties. Polyglutamine or polyalanine expansions cause several neurodegenerative diseases. To examine the properties of HPAAs, we expressed 20 kinds of 30-residue HPAA fused to the C terminus of yellow fluorescent protein in mammalian cells. Specific localization was observed depending on the HPAA. Polyarginine and polylysine aggregated in the nucleus. Polyalanine, polyhistidine, polyisoleucine, polyleucine, polymethionine, polyphenylalanine, polythreonine, polytryptophan, and polyvaline localized in the cytoplasm, and some of these HPAAs formed aggregate(s). Hydrophobic HPAAs such as polyisoleucine, polyleucine, polyphenylalanine, and polyvaline were found as one major aggregate or cumulus in the perinuclear region. Western blot analysis indicated that hydrophobic HPAA tracts appear to oligomerize and form high molecular weight complexes. These results indicate that hydrophobicity itself may trigger the oligomerization and aggregation of proteins when overexpressed in cells. Our experiments provide novel insights into the nature of the HPAAs that are often seen in human and other organisms.

Muscleblind protein, MBNL1/EXP, binds specifically to CHHG repeats.

Myotonic dystrophy (DM) type 1 is caused by an expansion of a CTG repeat in the DMPK gene and type 2 by a CCTG repeat in the ZNF9 gene. Previous reports have suggested that transcripts containing expanded CUG/CCUG repeats might have toxic gain-of-function effects, probably affecting the function of RNA-binding proteins in the pathogenesis of DM. Here, it was attempted to compare the RNA-binding properties of three proteins, CUG-BP, MBNL1/EXP and PKR, which have previously been suggested to interact with CUG repeats. MBNL1, but not CUG-BP or PKR, interacted with both CUG and CCUG repeats in a yeast three-hybrid system. By using various synthetic RNAs, it was found that MBNL1 specifically interacts with repetitive sequences summarized as CHHG and CHG repeats, where H is A, U or C. Interestingly, MBNL1 did not interact with a genuine double-stranded RNA comprising CAG/CUG repeats, suggesting that MBNL1 prefers bulge-containing double-stranded RNAs. Deletion analysis indicates a difference in RNA-binding abilities among splice variants of MBNL1. It was also found that MBNL1 can bind to repetitive motifs in ZNF9, which contain a minimal length of CCUG repeats with non-CCUG insertions.

Overexpression of human myotonic dystrophy protein kinase in Schizosaccharomyces pombe induces an abnormal polarized and swollen cell morphology.

We expressed human myotonic dystrophy protein kinase (DMPK) in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, in which the overexpression of human DMPK affects cell growth and cell shape. The human DMPK protein has a leucine-rich domain at the N-terminus, a serine/threonine kinase domain in the middle, and a hydrophobic region at the C-terminus. C-Terminus-deleted DMPK produced a middle-swollen phenotype (lemon-like shape), indicating an abnormality in cell division. On the other hand, when both the kinase domain and C-terminus were present, the expression of DMPK resulted in polarized cell growth and multinucleated/branched cells. The lemon-like phenotype seen with the C-terminus-deleted DMPK disappeared when the ATP binding site of DMPK was disrupted by replacing the lysine at amino acid 100 with arginine (K100R mutant). However, polarized and/or multinucleated cells lacking the DMPK N-terminus were not rescued by the K100R mutation. Therefore, we conclude that the N-terminus of DMPK plays an important role in DMPK kinase activity, and that the C-terminus of DMPK determines the intracellular localization of the protein.

BACE1 interacts with nicastrin.

Beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta) is generated through the proteolytic cleavage of beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP) by beta- and gamma-secretases. The beta-secretase, BACE1, initiates Abeta formation followed by gamma-cleavage within the APP transmembrane domain. Although BACE1 localizes in the transGolgi network (TGN), its physiological substrates and modulators are not known. In addition, the relationship to other secretase(s) also remains unidentified. Here, we demonstrate that BACE1 binds to nicastrin, a component of gamma-secretase complexes, in vitro, and that nicastrin activates beta-secretase activity in COS-7 cells.