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Genes Sep 2021Treacher Collins syndrome (TCS) is associated with abnormal differentiation of the first and second pharyngeal arches, occurring during fetal development. Features of... (Review)
Review
Treacher Collins syndrome (TCS) is associated with abnormal differentiation of the first and second pharyngeal arches, occurring during fetal development. Features of TCS include microtia with conductive hearing loss, slanting palpebral fissures with possibly coloboma of the lateral part of lower eyelids, midface hypoplasia, micrognathia as well as sporadically cleft palate and choanal atresia or stenosis. TCS occurs in the general population at a frequency of 1 in 50,000 live births. Four subtypes of Treacher Collins syndrome exist. TCS can be caused by pathogenic variants in the , , and genes. Genetically, the gene contains 27 exons which encodes the Treacle protein. In , over 200 pathogenic variants have been identified, of which most are deletions leading to a frame-shift, that result in the formation of a termination codon. In the presented article, we review the genetics and phenotype of TCS as well as the management and surgical procedures utilized for treatment.
Topics: Choanal Atresia; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; Humans; Mandibulofacial Dysostosis; Nuclear Proteins; Phosphoproteins; Syndrome
PubMed: 34573374
DOI: 10.3390/genes12091392 -
Developmental Dynamics : An Official... Sep 2020The spliceosome is a complex of RNA and proteins that function together to identify intron-exon junctions in precursor messenger-RNAs, splice out the introns, and join... (Review)
Review
The spliceosome is a complex of RNA and proteins that function together to identify intron-exon junctions in precursor messenger-RNAs, splice out the introns, and join the flanking exons. Mutations in any one of the genes encoding the proteins that make up the spliceosome may result in diseases known as spliceosomopathies. While the spliceosome is active in all cell types, with the majority of the proteins presumably expressed ubiquitously, spliceosomopathies tend to be tissue-specific as a result of germ line or somatic mutations, with phenotypes affecting primarily the retina in retinitis pigmentosa, hematopoietic lineages in myelodysplastic syndromes, or the craniofacial skeleton in mandibulofacial dysostosis. Here we describe the major spliceosomopathies, review the proposed mechanisms underlying retinitis pigmentosa and myelodysplastic syndromes, and discuss how this knowledge may inform our understanding of craniofacial spliceosomopathies.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Mandibulofacial Dysostosis; Mutation; Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Retinitis Pigmentosa; Spliceosomes
PubMed: 32506634
DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.214 -
Nature Communications Apr 2023Craniofacial microsomia (CFM; also known as Goldenhar syndrome), is a craniofacial developmental disorder of variable expressivity and severity with a recognizable set...
Craniofacial microsomia (CFM; also known as Goldenhar syndrome), is a craniofacial developmental disorder of variable expressivity and severity with a recognizable set of abnormalities. These birth defects are associated with structures derived from the first and second pharyngeal arches, can occur unilaterally and include ear dysplasia, microtia, preauricular tags and pits, facial asymmetry and other malformations. The inheritance pattern is controversial, and the molecular etiology of this syndrome is largely unknown. A total of 670 patients belonging to unrelated pedigrees with European and Chinese ancestry with CFM, are investigated. We identify 18 likely pathogenic variants in 21 probands (3.1%) in FOXI3. Biochemical experiments on transcriptional activity and subcellular localization of the likely pathogenic FOXI3 variants, and knock-in mouse studies strongly support the involvement of FOXI3 in CFM. Our findings indicate autosomal dominant inheritance with reduced penetrance, and/or autosomal recessive inheritance. The phenotypic expression of the FOXI3 variants is variable. The penetrance of the likely pathogenic variants in the seemingly dominant form is reduced, since a considerable number of such variants in affected individuals were inherited from non-affected parents. Here we provide suggestive evidence that common variation in the FOXI3 allele in trans with the pathogenic variant could modify the phenotypic severity and accounts for the incomplete penetrance.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Goldenhar Syndrome; Facial Asymmetry; Pedigree; Forkhead Transcription Factors
PubMed: 37041148
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37703-6 -
Proceedings of the National Academy of... Aug 2022Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) transcription by RNA polymerase I (Pol I) is a critical rate-limiting step in ribosome biogenesis, which is essential for cell survival. Despite its...
Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) transcription by RNA polymerase I (Pol I) is a critical rate-limiting step in ribosome biogenesis, which is essential for cell survival. Despite its global function, disruptions in ribosome biogenesis cause tissue-specific birth defects called ribosomopathies, which frequently affect craniofacial development. Here, we describe a cellular and molecular mechanism underlying the susceptibility of craniofacial development to disruptions in Pol I transcription. We show that Pol I subunits are highly expressed in the neuroepithelium and neural crest cells (NCCs), which generate most of the craniofacial skeleton. High expression of Pol I subunits sustains elevated rRNA transcription in NCC progenitors, which supports their high tissue-specific levels of protein translation, but also makes NCCs particularly sensitive to rRNA synthesis defects. Consistent with this model, NCC-specific deletion of Pol I subunits , , and associated factor in mice cell-autonomously diminishes rRNA synthesis, which leads to p53 protein accumulation, resulting in NCC apoptosis and craniofacial anomalies. Furthermore, compound mutations in Pol I subunits and associated factors specifically exacerbate the craniofacial anomalies characteristic of the ribosomopathies Treacher Collins syndrome and Acrofacial Dysostosis-Cincinnati type. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that diminished rRNA synthesis causes an imbalance between rRNA and ribosomal proteins. This leads to increased binding of ribosomal proteins Rpl5 and Rpl11 to Mdm2 and concomitantly diminished binding between Mdm2 and p53. Altogether, our results demonstrate a dynamic spatiotemporal requirement for rRNA transcription during mammalian cranial NCC development and corresponding tissue-specific threshold sensitivities to disruptions in rRNA transcription in the pathogenesis of congenital craniofacial disorders.
Topics: Animals; Craniofacial Abnormalities; Mandibulofacial Dysostosis; Mice; Neural Crest; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2; RNA Polymerase I; RNA, Ribosomal; Ribosomal Proteins; Skull; Transcription, Genetic; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
PubMed: 35881792
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2116974119 -
American Journal of Medical Genetics.... Feb 2021Mandibulofacial dysostosis with microcephaly (MFDM) is due to haploinsufficiency of spliceosomal GTPase EFTUD2. Features include microcephaly, craniofacial...
Mandibulofacial dysostosis with microcephaly (MFDM) is due to haploinsufficiency of spliceosomal GTPase EFTUD2. Features include microcephaly, craniofacial dysmorphology, developmental disability, and other anomalies. We surveyed parents of individuals with MFDM to expand knowledge about health, development, and parental concerns. Participants included attendees of the inaugural MFDM family conference in June 2019 and members of the MFDM online group. To explore MFDM variable expressivity, we offered targeted Sanger sequencing for untested parents. Forty-seven parents participated in the survey. 59% of individuals with MFDM were male, with mean age 6.4 years (range 8 months to 49 years). Similar to the literature (n = 123), common features include microcephaly, cleft palate, choanal stenosis, tracheoesophageal fistula, heart problems, and seizures. New information includes airway intervention details, age-based developmental outcomes, rate of vision refractive errors, and lower incidences of prematurity and IUGR. Family concerns focused on development, communication, and increased support. Targeted Sanger sequencing for families of seven individuals demonstrated de novo variants, for a total of 91.9% de novo EFTUD2 variants (n = 34/37). This study reports the largest single cohort of individuals with MFDM, expands phenotypic spectrum and inheritance patterns, improves understanding of developmental outcomes and care needs, and identifies development as the biggest concern for parents.
Topics: Abnormalities, Multiple; Adolescent; Adult; Child; Child, Preschool; Cohort Studies; Female; GTP Phosphohydrolases; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Haploinsufficiency; Humans; Infant; Male; Mandibulofacial Dysostosis; Microcephaly; Middle Aged; Mutation; Peptide Elongation Factors; Phenotype; Ribonucleoprotein, U5 Small Nuclear; Spliceosomes; Young Adult
PubMed: 33247512
DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.61977 -
Lin Chuang Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai... Jan 2022To explore the clinical diagnosis, otological treatment and molecular etiology in a rare syndromic hearing loss case characterized by mandibulofacial dysostosis with... (Review)
Review
To explore the clinical diagnosis, otological treatment and molecular etiology in a rare syndromic hearing loss case characterized by mandibulofacial dysostosis with microcephaly(MFDM). The proband underwent detailed history collection, systematic physical examination and phenotypic analysis, as well as audiological examination, chest X-ray, temporal bone CT and brain MRI and other imaging examinations. The blood DNA of the proband and his parents was extracted and tested by the whole exom sequencing. The EFTUD2-related-MFDM literatures published by the end of 2020 were searched and sifted in PubMed and CNKI databases,the clinical characteristics of MFDM were summarized. In this study, the patient presented with hypoplasia of auricle, micrognathia, microcephaly, developmental retardation, severe sensorineural hearing loss in both ears, and developmental malformation of middle and inner ear. Genetic analysis revealed a de novo deletion c.623_624delAT in EFTUD2 gene. According to the clinical features and genetic test results, the patient was diagnosed as MFDM. In order to solve the problem of hearing loss, the patient was further performed bilateral cochlear implantation, and part of the electrodes responded well during and after operation. This is the first domestic reported case of MFDM caused by EFTUD2 gene mutation. The key problem of cochlear implantation for this kind of patient is to avoid damaging the malformed facial nerve during the operation.The effect of speech rehabilitation after cochlear implant operation is related to many factors such as intelligence development of the patients.
Topics: Cochlear Implantation; Humans; Mandibulofacial Dysostosis; Microcephaly; Peptide Elongation Factors; Ribonucleoprotein, U5 Small Nuclear; Syndrome
PubMed: 34979617
DOI: 10.13201/j.issn.2096-7993.2022.01.008 -
Frontiers in Genetics 2021Pre-mRNA splicing is performed by the spliceosome, a dynamic macromolecular complex consisting of five small uridine-rich ribonucleoprotein complexes (the U1, U2, U4,... (Review)
Review
Pre-mRNA splicing is performed by the spliceosome, a dynamic macromolecular complex consisting of five small uridine-rich ribonucleoprotein complexes (the U1, U2, U4, U5, and U6 snRNPs) and numerous auxiliary splicing factors. A plethora of human disorders are caused by genetic variants affecting the function and/or expression of splicing factors, including the core snRNP proteins. Variants in the genes encoding proteins of the U5 snRNP cause two distinct and tissue-specific human disease phenotypes - variants in , , and are associated with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), while variants in and cause the craniofacial disorders mandibulofacial dysostosis Guion-Almeida type (MFDGA) and Burn-McKeown syndrome (BMKS), respectively. Furthermore, recurrent somatic mutations or changes in the expression levels of a number of U5 snRNP proteins (, , , , and ) have been associated with human cancers. How and why variants in ubiquitously expressed spliceosome proteins required for pre-mRNA splicing in all human cells result in tissue-restricted disease phenotypes is not clear. Additionally, why variants in different, yet interacting, proteins making up the same core spliceosome snRNP result in completely distinct disease outcomes - RP, craniofacial defects or cancer - is unclear. In this review, we define the roles of different U5 snRNP proteins in RP, craniofacial disorders and cancer, including how disease-associated genetic variants affect pre-mRNA splicing and the proposed disease mechanisms. We then propose potential hypotheses for how U5 snRNP variants cause tissue specificity resulting in the restricted and distinct human disorders.
PubMed: 33584830
DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.636620