RP2 Gene Research Articles

Molecular genetic cause of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa in a Czech family

Editor, A branch of a large eight generation Caucasian Czech family diagnosed with presumable X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) was investigated (Fig. 1). This study adhered to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki. Men were severely affected in this family with early onset of night blindness and myopia, usually at the beginning of the second decade, and progressive loss of visual function resulting in blindness in the fourth decade. Women were either asymptomatic or developed symptoms with later onset (Otradovec et al. 1979). There is no evidence of male to male transmission. After obtaining informed consent, blood samples were drawn and DNA extracted. Polymorphic microsatellite markers located on the X chromosome (Table 1) were amplified using fluorescently labelled oligonucleotides and analysed on an ABI-377 DNA sequencer (Applied Biosystems, Darmstadt, Germany) using GeneScan software (Applied Biosystems). Haplotype analysis indicated that the disease segregates with markers encompassing both the RPGR and RP2 genes as RPGR lies between markers DXS1214 and DXS1068 and RP2 between DXS1055 and DXS991 (Fig. 1). The chromosomal region between the most proximal and most distal marker used in this study encompassed approximately 200 known protein-coding genes (http://www.ensembl.org). Investigated branch of an eight generation Czech family with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa. The affected haplotype is shown as a black bar and encompasses the RPGR and RP2 genes located between DXS1214–DXS1068 and DXS1055–DXS991, respectively. Sequencing of the RP2 gene, as previously described (Hardcastle et al. 1999), did not reveal any pathogenic changes. ORF15 of the RPGR gene (Vervoort et al. 2000) was then amplified and bidirectionally sequenced in four overlapping fragments using the ABI Prism® BigDye™ dGTP Terminator Ready Reaction Cycle Sequencing Kit (Applied Biosystems). A pathogenic mutation, c.2426_2427 delAG (g.ORF15+673_674delAG), leading to p.Glu809fs (ORF15Glu224fs) was identified in all affected males and three female obligate carriers (Fig. 2). The change was also detected in one other female family member (individual IV:6) and was absent in females IV:2 and IV:4 (1, 2). This mutation has been observed previously in different XLRP patient populations (http://rpgr.hgu.mrc.ac.uk), including one Japanese XLRP families (Jin et al. 2006). Interestingly, no other sequence variants were identified in the highly polymorphic RPGR ORF15 in our family. Sequence chromatogram showing the c.2426_2427delAG mutation in ORF15 of the RPGR gene in an obligate carrier III:1 (A) and an affected male IV:5 (B). The mutation was not detected in an unaffected female IV:4 (C). Reference sequence NM_001034853 was used. All three affected men were documented to have bone spicules on fundus examination. There were marked interindividual differences between IV:1 and IV:5 despite similar age; IV:5 was much more severely affected with night blindness, whereas IV:1 reported no symptoms. II:3 was registered blind in the fourth decade. Examined female carriers (III:1, III:5, IV:6) had some peripheral pigmentary changes but not classic bone spicules. RPRG mutations are the most frequent cause of XLRP (Vervoort et al. 2000; http://rpgr.hgu.mrc.ac.uk). The pedigree we have investigated here represents the first Czech family with an identified molecular genetic cause of RP. Although in Western European countries the prevalence and mutational spectrum of various RP types has been extensively studied, little is known about this heterogeneous group of disorders and their molecular genetic cause in the restructured countries of Central and Eastern Europe. To the best of our knowledge, prior to this study, only one other report describes a pathogenic mutation causing XLRP in a family of Bulgarian Gypsy origin (Chakarova et al. 2006). Here, we would like to propose the necessity for service offering molecular genetic testing for RP patients, and also for patients with other inherited ocular disorders, in all European countries. This should be supported by continuous education in the field of ophthalmic genetics among medical practitioners which would lead to improved counselling. However, as it is technically challenging to establish mutation analysis for every gene causing inherited ocular disorders in every country, we suggest that where X-linked inheritance cannot be excluded, the RPGR gene is screened for mutations using already established diagnostic services. This work was in part supported by the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports research project 0021620806/20610011.

Modeling Retinal Degeneration Using Patient-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the most common inherited human eye disease resulting in night blindness and visual defects. It is well known that the disease is caused by rod photoreceptor degeneration; however, it remains incurable, due to the unavailability of disease-specific human photoreceptor cells for use in mechanistic studies and drug screening. We obtained fibroblast cells from five RP patients with distinct mutations in the RP1, RP9, PRPH2 or RHO gene, and generated patient-specific induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells by ectopic expression of four key reprogramming factors. We differentiated the iPS cells into rod photoreceptor cells, which had been lost in the patients, and found that they exhibited suitable immunocytochemical features and electrophysiological properties. Interestingly, the number of the patient-derived rod cells with distinct mutations decreased in vitro; cells derived from patients with a specific mutation expressed markers for oxidation or endoplasmic reticulum stress, and exhibited different responses to vitamin E than had been observed in clinical trials. Overall, patient-derived rod cells recapitulated the disease phenotype and expressed markers of cellular stresses. Our results demonstrate that the use of patient-derived iPS cells will help to elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms caused by genetic mutations in RP.

The retinitis pigmentosa protein RP2 interacts with polycystin 2 and regulates cilia-mediated vertebrate development

Ciliopathies represent a growing group of human genetic diseases whose etiology lies in defects in ciliogenesis or ciliary function. Given the established entity of renal-retinal ciliopathies, we have been examining the role of cilia-localized proteins mutated in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) in regulating renal ciliogenesis or cilia-dependent signaling cascades. Specifically, this study examines the role of the RP2 gene product with an emphasis on renal and vertebrate development. We demonstrate that in renal epithelia, RP2 localizes to the primary cilium through dual acylation of the amino-terminus. We also show that RP2 forms a calcium-sensitive complex with the autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease protein polycystin 2. Ablation of RP2 by shRNA promotes swelling of the cilia tip that may be a result of aberrant trafficking of polycystin 2 and other ciliary proteins. Morpholino-mediated repression of RP2 expression in zebrafish results in multiple developmental defects that have been previously associated with ciliary dysfunction, such as hydrocephalus, kidney cysts and situs inversus. Finally, we demonstrate that, in addition to our observed physical interaction between RP2 and polycystin 2, dual morpholino-mediated knockdown of polycystin 2 and RP2 results in enhanced situs inversus, indicating that these two genes also regulate a common developmental process. This work suggests that RP2 may be an important regulator of ciliary function through its association with polycystin 2 and provides evidence of a further link between retinal and renal cilia function.

RP2 Phenotype and Pathogenetic Correlations in X-Linked Retinitis Pigmentosa

To assess the phenotype of patients with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) with RP2 mutations and to correlate the findings with their genotype. Six hundred eleven patients with RP were screened for RP2 mutations. From this screen, 18 patients with RP2 mutations were evaluated clinically with standardized electroretinography, Goldmann visual fields, and ocular examinations. In addition, 7 well-documented cases from the literature were used to augment genotype-phenotype correlations. Of 11 boys younger than 12 years, 10 (91%) had macular involvement and 9 (82%) had best-corrected visual acuity worse than 20/50. Two boys from different families (aged 8 and 12 years) displayed a choroideremia-like fundus, and 9 boys (82%) were myopic (mean error, -7.97 diopters [D]). Of 10 patients with electroretinography data, 9 demonstrated severe rod-cone dysfunction. All 3 female carriers had macular atrophy in 1 or both eyes and were myopic (mean, -6.23 D). All 9 nonsense and frameshift and 5 of 7 missense mutations (71%) resulted in severe clinical presentations. Screening of the RP2 gene should be prioritized in patients younger than 16 years characterized by X-linked inheritance, decreased best-corrected visual acuity (eg, >20/40), high myopia, and early-onset macular atrophy. Patients exhibiting a choroideremia-like fundus without choroideremia gene mutations should also be screened for RP2 mutations. An identifiable phenotype for RP2-XLRP aids in clinical diagnosis and targeted genetic screening.

Recombinant Rp1 genes confer necrotic or nonspecific resistance phenotypes

Genes at the Rp1 rust resistance locus of maize confer race-specific resistance to the common rust fungus Puccinia sorghi. Three variant genes with nonspecific effects (HRp1 -Kr1N, -D*21 and -MD*19) were found to be generated by intragenic crossing over within the LRR region. The LRR region of most NBS-LRR encoding genes is quite variable and codes for one of the regions in resistance gene proteins that controls specificity. Sequence comparisons demonstrated that the Rp1-Kr1N recombinant gene was identical to the N-terminus of the rp1-kp2 gene and C-terminus of another gene from its HRp1-K grandparent. The Rp1-D*21 recombinant gene consists of the N-terminus of the rp1-dp2 gene and C-terminus of the Rp1-D gene from the parental haplotype. Similarly, a recombinant gene from the Rp1-MD*19 haplotype has the N-terminus of an rp1 gene from the HRp1-M parent and C-terminus of the rp1-D19 gene from the HRp1-D parent. The recombinant Rp1 -Kr1N, -D*21 and -MD*19 genes activated defense responses in the absence of their AVR proteins triggering HR (hypersensitive response) in the absence of the pathogen. The results indicate that the frequent intragenic recombination events that occur in the Rp1 gene cluster not only recombine the genes into novel haplotypes, but also create genes with nonspecific effects. Some of these may contribute to nonspecific quantitative resistance but others have severe consequences for the fitness of the plant.

Mutations in RPGR and RP2 of Chinese Patients with X-Linked Retinitis Pigmentosa

Purpose: To identify mutations in the RPGR and RP2 genes from Chinese families with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP).Materials and Methods: DNA fragments—encompassing coding exons and adjacent intronic regions of RPGR and RP2—were analyzed by cycle sequencing.Results: Three mutations (ORF15 + 483_484delGA, ORF15 + 652_653delAG, and ORF15 + 650_653delAGAG) in RPGR were identified in four families with XLRP, while two mutations (c.353G>A and c.103_1053del) in RP2 were detected in two families with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and high myopia.Conclusions: Our results expand the frequency and spectrum of mutations at RPGR and RP2 as well as their associated clinical phenotypes in Chinese patients.

Compound Heterozygosity of Two Novel Truncation Mutations inRP1Causing Autosomal Recessive Retinitis Pigmentosa

Purpose. To evaluate the phenotypic effects of two novel frameshift mutations in the RP1 gene in a Chinese pedigree of autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (ARRP). Methods. Family members of a proband with ARRP were screened for RP1, RHO, NR2E3, and NRL mutations by direct sequencing. Detected RP1 mutations were genotyped in 225 control subjects. Since one family member with the RP1 deletion mutation in exon 2 was found to have age-related macular degeneration (AMD) but not RP, exons 2 and 3 of RP1 were screened in 120 patients with exudative AMD. Major AMD-associated SNPs in the HTRA1 and CFH genes were also investigated. Results. Two novel frameshift mutations in RP1, c.5_6delGT and c.4941_4942insT, were identified in the pedigree. They were absent in 225 control subjects. Family members who were compound heterozygous for the nonsense mutations had early-onset and severe RP, whereas those with only one mutation did not have RP. No mutations in RHO, NR2E3, and NRL were identified in the pedigree. Subject I:2 with AMD carried both at-risk genotypes at HTRA1 rs11200638 and CFH rs800292. No mutation in RP1 exons 2 and 3 was identified in 120 AMD patients. Conclusions. This report is the first to associate ARRP with compound heterozygous nonsense mutations in RP1. Identification of the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD)-sensitive mutation c.5_6delGT provided further genetic evidence that haploinsufficiency of RP1 is not responsible for RP. The authors propose four classes of truncation mutations in the RP1 gene with different effects on the etiology of RP.

Characterization of regulatory element Rp3 of regulation of β-lactamases fromRalstonia pickettii

The two chromosomally encoded beta-lactamases, OXA-22 and OXA-60, from Ralstonia pickettii are inducible by beta-lactam molecules. Disruption of RP3 abolished induction of both beta-lactamases and the resistance to pH, osmolarity and survival in the stationary phase, suggesting that RP3 might be a global regulator. Interactions between RP3, OXA-22 and OXA-60 were investigated at a transcript and protein level using 5'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends experiments, real-time reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and footprinting assays. The rp3 gene was actively transcribed and the promoter sequences corresponded to a nontypical sigma(70)-type promoter. RT-PCR analysis showed that rp3 expression as well as that of the bla(OXA) genes was positively regulated: the level of transcripts of rp3, bla(OXA-22) and bla(OXA-60) genes were, respectively, increased 20-, 100- and 2000-fold upon imipenem induction. DNAse I footprinting showed that RP3 specifically bound to tandem repeats centered at positions -55.5 and -73.5 upstream from the bla(OXA-22) and bla(OXA-60) transcriptional start sites. Interestingly, the binding site at bla(OXA-60) overlapped the -35 region of the rp3 promoter, although the region essential for induction lies at the beginning of the orf-rp3. This result indicates that RP3 is most probably only one component of a novel regulatory system involved in the expression of beta-lactamases in R. pickettii.

Genetic Analysis of Indian Families with Autosomal Recessive Retinitis Pigmentosa by Homozygosity Screening

To identify the disease-causing genes in families with autosomal recessive RP (ARRP). Families were screened for homozygosity at candidate gene loci followed by screening of the selected gene for pathogenic mutations if homozygosity was present at a given locus. A total of 34 families were included, of which 24 were consanguineous. Twenty-three genes were selected for screening. The presence of homozygosity was assessed by genotyping flanking microsatellite markers at each locus in affected individuals. Mutations were detected by sequencing of coding regions of genes. Sequence changes were tested for presence in 100 or more unrelated normal control subjects and for cosegregation in family members. Homozygosity was detected at one or more loci in affected individuals of 10 of 34 families. Homozygous disease cosegregating sequence changes (two frame-shift, two missense, and one nonsense; four novel) were found in the TULP1, RLBP1, ABCA4, RPE65, and RP1 genes in 5 of 10 families. These changes were absent in 100 normal control subjects. In addition, several polymorphisms and novel variants were found. All the putative pathogenic changes were associated with severe forms of RP with onset in childhood. Associated macular degeneration was found in three families with mutations in TULP1, ABCA4, and RP1 genes. Novel mutations were found in different ARRP genes. Mutations were detected in approximately 15% (5/34) of ARRP families tested, suggesting involvement of other genes in the remaining families.

A RP3 gene mutation in a Chinese family with X-linked dominant retinitis pigmentosa

目的 探讨一个中国视网膜色素变性(RP)家系的突变基因位点.方法 在获得知情同意后对该家系成员进行病史采集、眼部检查和病情追溯,绘制家系图,并对其中26例采血,进行DNA提取、聚合酶链反应、RP3基因外显子ORF15测序.结果 该家系共有成员57名,其中直系42名(含21例患者).患者表现为夜盲、近视、眼底色素沉着、血管细、视盘淡,视野向心性缩窄甚至呈管状,暗视视网膜电图(ERG)显示a波、b波振幅明显下降甚至记录不到.家系特点为男性患者的女儿全部患病、男性患者的母亲均是患者,符合X连锁显性遗传特征.经PCR反向测序,发现突变位点位于ORF15+1339delA.结论 该家系患者病变由RP3基因外显子ORF15+1339delA位点突变所致。

Variants of RP1 gene in Chinese patients with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa

Background: The objective of this study was to determine the frequency and characteristics of mutations in the RP1 gene and to characterize mutations with the clinical features in the Chinese family with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP). Methods: Forty-three affected, unrelated Chinese individuals with ADRP were recruited between 2002 and 2006. Polymerase chain reaction and direct DNA sequencing were used to screen in the entire coding region and splice sites of the RP1 gene. Cosegregation analysis and population frequency studies were performed for patients with identified mutations. The clinical features were determined by complete ophthalmologic examinations. Results: The mutation detectable rate of the RP1 gene in Chinese patients with ADRP was 1/43. A missense mutation, N985Y, was identified in exon 4 of the RP1 gene in 8 affected individuals from a Chinese family with ADRP. The ophthalmic findings with an N985Y mutation were similar to those of typical retinitis pigmentosa with delayed onset after age 40 years and slow progression. In addition, a total of 9 distinct variants were detected in our study population, most of which were RP1 gene polymorphisms; the pathological significance of P903L, a novel missense mutation, was unconfirmed. Interpretation: Mutations in the RP1 gene are relatively rare in Chinese patients with ADRP. In our cases, N985Y mutation segregated with the phenotype from 1 Chinese family with mild and late-onset ADRP, a finding that has not been documented in other races.

The human retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator gene variant database

X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) is a genetically heterogeneous retinal degeneration. The major subtype of XLRP is RP3, which accounts for 6 to 20% of all RP cases. Mutations in the RP3 gene, called RP GTPase regulator (RPGR), cause a number of different retinopathies. An RPGR database has been created using the Leiden Open Source Variation Database (LOVD) software system and has comprehensive search and analysis tools. This database is a central resource of RPGR sequence variant data for investigators and will facilitate the interpretation of new mutations, variants, and polymorphisms when these are identified in patients. The database is available on the Internet (http://rpgr.hgu.mrc.ac.uk).

Detection of a Paternally Inherited Fetal Mutation in Maternal Plasma by the Use of Automated Sequencing

The discovery of circulating fetal DNA in maternal blood has been an encouraging step forward in the prenatal diagnostic field. It has opened up the possibility of development of a noninvasive method for the genetic analysis of the fetus. Many techniques have been applied to the study of this fetal DNA, but automated sequencing has been seldom used. The intention of this study was to use the automated sequencing technique for the detection of a paternally inherited fetal mutation in maternal plasma. Maternal plasma samples from a pregnant woman, whose husband had a mutation (Q134X) in the RP2 gene, which is located in the X-chromosome, were collected at two different gestational ages (10th and 19th week of gestation) in order to determine whether the paternally inherited fetal mutation could be detected by automated sequencing. Restriction analysis was also performed to confirm the results. The fetal mutation was clearly detected in the maternal plasma by the use of automated sequencing. The automated sequencing enables the possibility of analyzing fetal sequences, at a nucleotide level, in order to detect mutations or polymorphisms which are distinguishable from maternal sequences.

Mutational Screening of theRP2andRPGRGenes in Spanish Families with X-Linked Retinitis Pigmentosa

The X-linked form of retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) is the most severe type because of its early onset and rapid progression. Five XLRP loci have been mapped, although only two genes, RPGR (for RP3) and RP2, have been cloned. In this study, 30 unrelated XLRP Spanish families were screened to determine the molecular cause of the disease. Haplotype analysis was performed, to determine whether the disease is linked to the RP3 or RP2 region. In those families in which the disease cosegregates with either locus, mutational screening was performed. The RP2 gene, the first 15 exons of RPGR at the cDNA level, and the open reading frame (ORF) 14 and 15 exons were screened at the genomic DNA level. Haplotype analysis ruled out the implication in the disease of RP2 in six families and of RPGR in four families. Among the 30 unrelated XLRP families, there 4 mutations were identified in RP2 (13%), 3 of which are novel, and 16 mutations in RPGR (53.3%), 7 of which are novel. In this cohort of XLRP families, as has happened in previous studies, RP3 also seems to be the most prevalent form of XLRP, and, based on the results, the authors propose a four-step protocol for molecular diagnosis of XLRP families.

Identification of the size and antigenic determinants of the human C4 gene by a polymerase chain-reaction-based amplification method

The human C4 complement components of the C4 locus are encoded by two genes, C4A and C4B, located on chromosome 6p21.3 of the major histocompatibility complex of the human leukocyte antigen class III region. The size difference between the two genes is due to the presence of HERV-K (C4), an endogenous retroviral sequence (6.7 kb long), in intron 9 of the long C4 gene. Whether the C4 is the long (L) or short (S) gene was determined by the Southern blot method, and the antigenic determinants in residues 1054–1106 of Rodgers and Chido were generally identified by immunoblot analysis. Herein, we explore a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification method for directly determining the size of C4 loci adjacent to the respective RP1 and RP2 genes and antigenic determinants by DNA sequencing. From the results of this study, we concluded that all of the C4 genes adjacent to the RP1 gene presented the long gene. In addition, 47% of the C4 genes adjacent to the RP2 gene were the short gene and 53% were the long gene. This result was consistent with that of the Southern blot analysis. The PCR method is practical for identifying the C4 genotype and can be used to detect other polymorphisms among variants of C4 genes.

A Novel Locus for X-linked Retinitis Pigmentosa

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the most prevalent group of inherited retinopathies and demonstrates considerable clinical and genetic heterogeneity, with wide variations in disease severity, progression, and gene involvement. We studied a large family with RP to determine the pattern of inheritance and to identify the disease-causing gene/locus. Ophthalmic examination was performed on 35 family members to identify affected individuals and carriers and to characterise the disease phenotype. Genetic linkage analysis was performed using short tandem repeat (STR) polymorphic markers encompassing the known loci for Xlinked RP (xlRP) including RP2, RP3, RP6, RP23, and RP24. Mutation screening was performed by direct sequencing of PCR-amplified genomic DNA of the RP2 and RPGR genes of the affected individuals. A highly penetrant, X-linked form of RP was observed in this family. Age of onset was from 5 to 8 years and visual acuity ranged from 20/25 in children to light perception in older adults. Linkage analysis and direct sequencing showed that no known loci/genes were associated with the phenotype in this kindred. A novel disease gene locus/loci is responsible for the xlRP phenotype in this family.

The DC‐module of doublecortin: Dynamics, domain boundaries, and functional implications

The doublecortin-like (DC) domains, which usually occur in tandem, constitute novel microtubule-binding modules. They were first identified in doublecortin (DCX), a protein expressed in migrating neurons, and in the doublecortin-like kinase (DCLK). They are also found in other proteins, including the RP1 gene product which-when mutated-causes a form of inherited blindness. We previously reported an X-ray structure of the N-terminal DC domain of DCLK (N-DCLK), and a solution structure of an analogous module of human doublecortin (N-DCX). These studies showed that the DC domain has a tertiary fold closely reminiscent of ubiquitin and similar to several GTPase-binding domains. We now report an X-ray structure of a mutant of N-DCX, in which the C-terminal fragment (residues 139-147) unexpectedly shows an altered, "open" conformation. However, heteronuclear NMR data show that this C-terminal fragment is only transiently open in solution, and assumes a predominantly "closed" conformation. While the "open" conformation may be artificially stabilized by crystal packing interactions, the observed switching between the "open" and "closed" conformations, which shortens the linker between the two DC-domains by approximately 20 A, is likely to be of functional importance in the control of tubulin polymerization and microtubule bundling by doublecortin.

Three novel and the common Arg677Ter RP1 protein truncating mutations causing autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa in a Spanish population.

BackgroundRetinitis pigmentosa (RP), a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of retinal degeneration disorders affecting the photoreceptor cells, is one of the leading causes of genetic blindness. Mutations in the photoreceptor-specific gene RP1 account for 3–10% of cases of autosomal dominant RP (adRP). Most of these mutations are clustered in a 500 bp region of exon 4 of RP1.MethodsDenaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis and direct genomic sequencing were used to evaluate the 5' coding region of exon 4 of the RP1 gene for mutations in 150 unrelated index adRP patients. Ophthalmic and electrophysiological examination of RP patients and relatives according to pre-existing protocols were carried out.ResultsThree novel disease-causing mutations in RP1 were detected: Q686X, K705fsX712 and K722fsX737, predicting truncated proteins. One novel missense mutation, Thr752Met, was detected in one family but the mutation does not co-segregate in the family, thereby excluding this amino acid variation in the protein as a cause of the disease. We found the Arg677Ter mutation, previously reported in other populations, in two independent families, confirming that this mutation is also present in a Spanish population.ConclusionMost of the mutations reported in the RP1 gene associated with adRP are expected to encode mutant truncated proteins that are approximately one third or half of the size of wild type protein. Patients with mutations in RP1 showed mild RP with variability in phenotype severity. We also observed several cases of non-penetrant mutations.

The retinitis pigmentosa-mutated RP2 protein exhibits exonuclease activity and translocates to the nucleus in response to DNA damage

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a genetically heterogeneous disease characterized by degeneration of the retina. Mutations in the RP2 gene are linked to the second most frequent form of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa. RP2 is a plasma membrane-associated protein of unknown function. The N-terminal domain of RP2 shares amino acid sequence similarity to the tubulin-specific chaperone protein co-factor C. The C-terminus consists of a domain with similarity to nucleoside diphosphate kinases (NDKs). Human NDK1, in addition to its role in providing nucleoside triphosphates, has recently been described as a 3′ to 5′ exonuclease. Here, we show that RP2 is a DNA-binding protein that exhibits exonuclease activity, with a preference for single-stranded or nicked DNA substrates that occur as intermediates of base excision repair pathways. Furthermore, we show that RP2 undergoes re-localization into the nucleus upon treatment of cells with DNA damaging agents inducing oxidative stress, most notably solar simulated light and UVA radiation. The data suggest that RP2 may have previously unrecognized roles as a DNA damage response factor and 3′ to 5′ exonuclease.

Comprehensive survey of mutations in RP2 and RPGR in patients affected with distinct retinal dystrophies: genotype–phenotype correlations and impact on genetic counseling

X-linked forms of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) (XLRP) account for 10 to 20% of families with RP and are mainly accounted for by mutations in the RP2 or RP GTPase regulator (RPGR) genes. We report the screening of these genes in a cohort of 127 French family comprising: 1) 93 familial cases of RP suggesting X-linked inheritance, including 48 out of 93 families with expression in females but no male to male transmission; 2) seven male sibships of RP; 3) 25 sporadic male cases of RP; and 4) two cone dystrophies (COD). A total of 5 out of the 93 RP families excluded linkage to the RP2 and RP3 loci and were removed form the cohort. A total of 14 RP2 mutations, 12 of which are novel, were identified in 14 out of 88 familial cases of RP and 1 out of 25 sporadic male case (4%). In 13 out of 14 of the familial cases, no expression of the disease was noted in females, while in 1 out of 14 families one woman developed RP in the third decade. A total of 42 RPGR mutations, 26 of which were novel, were identified in 80 families, including: 69 out of 88 familial cases (78.4%); 2 out of 7 male sibship (28.6%); 8 out of 25 sporadic male cases (32.0%); and 1 out of 2 COD. No expression of the disease was noted in females in 41 out of 69 familial cases (59.4%), while at least one severely affected woman was recognized in 28 out of 69 families (40.6%). The frequency of RP2 and RPGR mutations in familial cases of RP suggestive of X-linked transmission are in accordance to that reported elsewhere (RP2: 15.9% vs. 6-20%; RPGR: 78.4% vs. 55-90%). Interestingly, about 30% of male sporadic cases and 30% of male sibships of RP carried RP2 or RPGR mutations, confirming the pertinence of the genetic screening of XLRP genes in male patients affected with RP commencing in the first decade and leading to profound visual impairment before the age of 30 years.