Abstract
Post-mortem analysis has revealed reduced levels of the protein dysbindin in the brains of those suffering from the neurodevelopmental disorder schizophrenia. Consequently, mechanisms controlling the cellular levels of dysbindin and its interacting partners may participate in neurodevelopmental processes impaired in that disorder. To address this question, we studied loss of function mutations in the genes encoding dysbindin and its interacting BLOC-1 subunits. We focused on BLOC-1 mutants affecting synapse composition and function in addition to their established systemic pigmentation, hematological, and lung phenotypes. We tested phenotypic homogeneity and gene dosage effects in the mouse null alleles muted (Bloc1s5(mu/mu)) and dysbindin (Bloc1s8(sdy/sdy)). Transcripts of NMDA receptor subunits and GABAergic interneuron markers, as well as expression of BLOC-1 subunit gene products, were affected differently in the brains of Bloc1s5(mu/mu) and Bloc1s8(sdy/sdy) mice. Unlike Bloc1s8(sdy/sdy), elimination of one or two copies of Bloc1s5 generated indistinguishable pallidin transcript phenotypes. We conclude that monogenic mutations abrogating the expression of a protein complex subunit differentially affect the expression of other complex transcripts and polypeptides as well as their downstream effectors. We propose that the genetic disruption of different subunits of protein complexes and combinations thereof diversifies phenotypic presentation of pathway deficiencies, contributing to the wide phenotypic spectrum and complexity of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Highlights
Genetic defects affecting subunits of protein complexes are presumed to generate identical diseases in mammals
We observed a drastic reduction of dysbindin 1A in mouse brain lacking the BLOC-1 subunit muted (Bloc1s5mu/mu)
Much of what we know about the function of dysbindin and its interacting BLOC-1 complex subunits comes from the study of genetic mutations in mice
Summary
Genetic defects affecting subunits of protein complexes are presumed to generate identical diseases in mammals. Results: Two mouse mutants in genes belonging to the BLOC-1 complex have divergent brain and pigmentation phenotypes. Significance: Disease resulting from mutations in protein complexes may generate a wide range of clinically presentations. Mechanisms controlling the cellular levels of dysbindin and its interacting partners may participate in neurodevelopmental processes impaired in that disorder. To address this question, we studied loss of function mutations in the genes encoding dysbindin and its interacting BLOC-1 subunits. Transcripts of NMDA receptor subunits and GABAergic interneuron markers, as well as expression of BLOC-1 subunit gene products, were affected differently in the brains of Bloc1s5mu/mu and Bloc1s8sdy/sdy mice. We propose that the genetic disruption of different subunits of protein complexes and combinations thereof diversifies phenotypic presentation of pathway deficiencies, contributing to the wide phenotypic spectrum and complexity of neurodevelopmental disorders
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