Instability of BLOC‐2 and BLOC‐3 in Chinese patients with Hermansky‐Pudlak syndrome

Hermansky‐Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a rare recessive disorder characterized by oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) or ocular albinism (OA), bleeding tendency, and other symptoms due to multiple defects in tissue‐specific lysosome‐related organelles. Ten HPS subtypes have been characterized with mutations in HPS1 to HPS10, which encode the subunits of BLOC‐1, ‐2, ‐3, and AP‐3. Using next‐generation sequencing (NGS), we have screened 100 hypopigmentation genes in OCA or OA patients and identified four HPS‐1, one HPS‐3, one HPS‐4, one HPS‐5, and three HPS‐6. The HPS‐4 case is the first report in the Chinese population. Among these 20 mutational alleles, 16 were previously unreported alleles (6 in HPS1, 1 in HPS3, 2 in HPS4, 2 in HPS5, and 5 in HPS6). BLOC‐2 and BLOC‐3 were destabilized due to the mutation of these HPS genes which are so far the only reported causative genes in Chinese HPS patients, in which HPS‐1 and HPS‐6 are the most common subtypes. The mutational spectrum of Chinese HPS is population specific.     

The BLOS1-interacting protein KXD1 is involved in the biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles

Biogenesis of lysosome‐related organelles (LROs) complex‐1 (BLOC‐1) is an eight‐subunit complex involved in lysosomal trafficking. Interacting proteins of these subunits expand the understanding of its biological functions. With the implementation of the naïve Bayesian analysis, we found that a human uncharacterized 20 kDa coiled‐coil KxDL protein, KXD1, is a BLOS1‐interacting protein. In vitro binding assays confirmed the interaction between BLOS1 and KXD1. The mouse KXD1 homolog was widely expressed and absent in Kxd1 knockout (KO) mice. BLOS1 was apparently reduced in Kxd1‐KO mice. Mild defects in the melanosomes of the retinal pigment epithelia and in the platelet dense granules of the Kxd1‐KO mouse were observed, mimicking a mouse model of mild Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome that affects the biogenesis of LROs.     

The Drosophila pigmentation gene pink (p) encodes a homologue of human Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome 5 (HPS5)

Lysosome-related organelles comprise a group of specialized intracellular compartments that include melanosomes and platelet dense granules (in mammals) and eye pigment granules (in insects). In humans, the biogenesis of these organelles is defective in genetic disorders collectively known as Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS). Patients with HPS-2, and two murine HPS models, carry mutations in genes encoding subunits of adaptor protein (AP)-3. Other genes mutated in rodent models include those encoding VPS33A and Rab38. Orthologs of all of these genes in Drosophila melanogaster belong to the 'granule group' of eye pigmentation genes. Other genes associated with HPS encode subunits of three complexes of unknown function, named biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex (BLOC)-1, -2 and -3, for which the Drosophila counterparts had not been characterized. Here, we report that the gene encoding the Drosophila ortholog of the HPS5 subunit of BLOC-2 is identical to the granule group gene pink (p), which was first studied in 1910 but had not been identified at the molecular level. The phenotype of pink mutants was exacerbated by mutations in AP-3 subunits or in the orthologs of VPS33A and Rab38. These results validate D. melanogaster as a genetic model to study the function of the BLOCs.     

A BLOC-1 mutation screen reveals a novel BLOC1S3 mutation in Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome type 8

Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome (HPS) is a genetically heterogeneous disorder of lysosome-related organelle biogenesis and is characterized by oculocutaneous albinism and a bleeding diathesis. Over the past decade, we screened 250 patients with HPS-like symptoms for mutations in the genes responsible for HPS subtypes 1-6. We identified 38 individuals with no functional mutations, and therefore, we analyzed all eight genes encoding the biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex-1 (BLOC-1) proteins in these individuals. Here, we describe the identification of a novel nonsense mutation in BLOC1S3 (HPS-8) in a 6-yr-old Iranian boy. This mutation caused nonsense-mediated decay of BLOC1S3 mRNA and destabilized the BLOC-1 complex. Our patient's melanocytes showed aberrant localization of TYRP1, with increased plasma membrane trafficking. These findings confirm a common cellular defect for HPS patients with defects in BLOC-1 subunits. We identified only two patients with BLOC-1 defects in our cohort, suggesting that other HPS genes remain to be identified.     

Clinico‐molecular analysis of eleven patients with Hermansky–Pudlak type 5 syndrome,a mild form of HPS

Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome (HPS), first described in 1959, is a rare form of syndromic oculocutaneous albinism associated with bleeding diathesis and in some cases pulmonary fibrosis and granulomatous colitis. All 10 HPS types are caused by defects in vesicle trafficking of lysosome‐related organelles (LRO) proteins. The HPS5 protein associates with HPS3 and HPS6 to form the biogenesis of lysosome‐related organelles complex‐2 (BLOC‐2). Here, we report the clinical and genetic data of 11 patients with HPS‐5 analyzed in our laboratory. We report 11 new pathogenic variants. The 11 patients present with ocular features that are typical for albinism, with mild hypopigmentation, and with no other major complication, apart from a tendency to bleed. HPS‐5 therefore appears as a mild form of HPS, which is often clinically undistinguishable from mild oculocutaneous or ocular forms of albinism. Molecular analysis is therefore required to establish the diagnosis of this mild HPS form, which has consequences in terms of prognosis and of clinical management of the patients.     

Characterization of melanosomes and melanin in Japanese patients with Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome types 1, 4, 6, and 9

Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by oculocutaneous albinism (OCA), a bleeding tendency, and ceroid deposition. Most of the causative genes for HPS encode subunits of the biogenesis of lysosome‐related organelles complex (BLOC). In this study, we identified one patient each with HPS4, HPS6, and HPS9 by whole‐exome sequencing. Next, we analyzed hair samples from the three patients and representative patients with HPS1 and controls using electron microscopy and chemical methods. All HPS patients had fewer, smaller, and more immature melanosomes than healthy controls. Further, all patients showed reduced total melanin content and increased levels of benzothiazine‐type pheomelanin. The results of this study demonstrate the impact of the dysfunctions of BLOCs on the maturation of melanosomes and melanin levels and composition through analysis of their hair samples.     

Identification of snapin and three novel proteins (BLOS1, BLOS2, and BLOS3/reduced pigmentation) as subunits of biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex-1 (BLOC-1)

Biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex-1 (BLOC-1) is a ubiquitously expressed multisubunit protein complex required for the normal biogenesis of specialized organelles of the endosomal-lysosomal system, such as melanosomes and platelet dense granules. The complex is known to contain the coiled-coil-forming proteins, Pallidin, Muted, Cappuccino, and Dysbindin. The genes encoding these proteins are defective in inbred mouse strains that serve as models of Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS), a genetic disorder characterized by hypopigmentation and platelet storage pool deficiency. In addition, mutation of human Dysbindin causes HPS type 7. Here, we report the identification of another four subunits of the complex. One is Snapin, a coiled-coil-forming protein previously characterized as a binding partner of synaptosomal-associated proteins 25 and 23 and implicated in the regulation of membrane fusion events. The other three are previously uncharacterized proteins, which we named BLOC subunits 1, 2, and 3 (BLOS1, -2, and -3). Using specific antibodies to detect endogenous proteins from human and mouse cells, we found that Snapin, BLOS1, BLOS2, and BLOS3 co-immunoprecipitate, and co-fractionate upon size exclusion chromatography, with previously known BLOC-1 subunits. Furthermore, steady-state levels of the four proteins are significantly reduced in cells from pallid mice, which carry a mutation in Pallidin and display secondary loss of other BLOC-1 subunits. Yeast two-hybrid analyses suggest a network of binary interactions involving all of the previously known and newly identified subunits. Interestingly, the HPS mouse model strain, reduced pigmentation, carries a nonsense mutation in the gene encoding BLOS3. As judged from size exclusion chromatographic analyses, the reduced pigmentation mutation affects BLOC-1 assembly less severely than the pallid mutation. Mutations in the human genes encoding Snapin and the BLOS proteins could underlie novel forms of HPS.     

Novel variants in the BLOC1S3 gene in patients presenting a mild form of Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome

Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome (HPS) associates oculocutaneous albinism and systemic affections including platelet dense granules anomalies leading to bleeding diathesis and, depending on the form, pulmonary fibrosis, immunodeficiency, and/or granulomatous colitis. So far, 11 forms of autosomal recessive HPS caused by pathogenic variants in 11 different genes have been reported. We describe three HPS‐8 consanguineous families with different homozygous pathogenic variants in BLOC1S3 (NM_212550.3), one of which is novel. These comprise two deletions leading to a reading frameshift (c.385_403del, c.338_341del) and one in frame deletion (c.444_467del). All patients have moderate oculocutaneous albinism and bleeding diathesis, but other HPS symptoms are not described. One patient diagnosed with HPS‐8 suffered from lymphocyte‐predominant Hodgkin lymphoma. The mild severity of HPS‐8 is consistent with other HPS forms caused by variants in BLOC‐1 complex coding genes (HPS‐7, DTNBP1; HPS‐9, BLOC1S6, HPS‐11, BLOC1S5).     

Rab9A is required for delivery of cargo from recycling endosomes to melanosomes

Melanosomes are a type of lysosome‐related organelle that is commonly defective in Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome. Biogenesis of melanosomes is regulated by BLOC‐1, ‐2, ‐3, or AP‐1, ‐3 complexes, which mediate cargo transport from recycling endosomes to melanosomes. Although several Rab GTPases have been shown to regulate these trafficking steps, the precise role of Rab9A remains unknown. Here, we found that a cohort of Rab9A associates with the melanosomes and its knockdown in melanocytes results in hypopigmented melanosomes due to mistargeting of melanosomal proteins to lysosomes. In addition, the Rab9A‐depletion phenotype resembles Rab38/32‐inactivated or BLOC‐3‐deficient melanocytes, suggesting that Rab9A works in line with BLOC‐3 and Rab38/32 during melanosome cargo transport. Furthermore, silencing of Rab9A, Rab38/32 or its effector VARP, or BLOC‐3‐deficiency in melanocytes decreased the length of STX13‐positive recycling endosomal tubules and targeted the SNARE to lysosomes. This result indicates a defect in directing recycling endosomal tubules to melanosomes. Thus, Rab9A and its co‐regulatory GTPases control STX13‐mediated cargo delivery to maturing melanosomes.     

Longin-like folds identified in CHiPS and DUF254 proteins: vesicle trafficking complexes conserved in eukaryotic evolution

Eukaryotic protein trafficking pathways require specific transfer of cargo vesicles to different target organelles. A number of vesicle trafficking and membrane fusion components participate in this process, including various tethering factor complexes that interact with small GTPases prior to SNARE-mediated vesicle fusion. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae a protein complex of Mon1 and Ccz1 functions with the small GTPase Ypt7 to mediate vesicle trafficking to the vacuole. Mon1 belongs to DUF254 found in a diverse range of eukaryotic genomes, while Ccz1 includes a CHiPS domain that is also present in a known human protein trafficking disorder gene (HPS-4). The present work identifies the CHiPS domain and a sequence region from another trafficking disorder gene (HPS-1) as homologs of an N-terminal domain from DUF254. This link establishes the evolutionary conservation of a protein complex (HPS-1/HPS-4) that functions similarly to Mon1/Ccz1 in vesicle trafficking to lysosome-related organelles of diverse eukaryotic species. Furthermore, the newly identified DUF254 domain is a distant homolog of the mu-adaptin longin domain found in clathrin adapter protein (AP) complexes of known structure that function to localize cargo protein to specific organelles. In support of this fold assignment, known longin domains such as the AP complex sigma-adaptin, the synaptobrevin N-terminal domains sec22 and Ykt6, and the srx domain of the signal recognition particle receptor also regulate vesicle trafficking pathways by mediating SNARE fusion, recognizing specialized compartments, and interacting with small GTPases that resemble Ypt7.     

NGS‐based 100‐gene panel of hypopigmentation identifies mutations in Chinese Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome patients

Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a rare recessive disorder characterized by hypopigmentation, bleeding diathesis, and other symptoms due to multiple defects in lysosome‐related organelles. Ten HPS subtypes have been identified with mutations in HPS1 to HPS10. Only four patients with HPS‐1 have been reported in Chinese population. Using next‐generation sequencing (NGS), we have screened 100 hypopigmentation genes and identified four HPS‐1, two HPS‐3, one HPS‐5, and three HPS‐6 in Chinese HPS patients with typical ocular or oculocutaneous albinism and the absence of platelet dense granules together with other variable phenotypes. All these patients except one homozygote were compound heterozygotes. Among these mutations, 14 were previously unreported alleles (four in HPS1, three in HPS3, two in HPS5, five in HPS6). Our results demonstrate the feasibility and utility of NGS‐based panel diagnostics for HPS. Genotyping of HPS subtypes is a prerequisite for intervention of subtype‐specific symptoms.     

Interaction of Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome genes in the regulation of lysosome-related organelles

Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome (HPS) is a genetically heterogeneous disease caused by abnormalities in the synthesis and/or trafficking of lysosome-related organelles (LROs) including melanosomes, lamellar bodies of lung type II cells and platelet dense granules. At least 15 genes cause HPS in mice, with a significant number specifying novel subunits of protein complexes termed BLOCs (Biogenesis of Lysosome-related Organelles Complexes). To ascertain whether BLOC complexes functionally interact in vivo, mutant mice doubly or triply deficient in protein subunits of the various BLOC complexes and/or the AP-3 adaptor complex were constructed and tested for viability and for abnormalities of melanosomes, lung lamellar bodies and lysosomes. All mutants, including those deficient in all three BLOC complexes, were viable though the breeding efficiencies of multiple mutants involving AP-3 were severely compromised. Interactions of BLOC protein complexes with each other and with AP-3 to affect most LROs were apparent. However, these interactions were tissue and organelle dependent. These studies document novel biological interactions of BLOC and AP-3 complexes in the biosynthesis of LROs and assess the role(s) of HPS protein complexes in general health and physiology in mammals. Double and triple mutant HPS mice provide unique and practical experimental advantages in the study of LROs.     

The Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome 1 (HPS1) and HPS4 proteins are components of two complexes,BLOC-3 and BLOC-4, involved in the biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a genetic disease of lysosome, melanosome, and granule biogenesis. Mutations of six different loci have been associated with HPS in humans, the most frequent of which are mutations of the HPS1 and HPS4 genes. Here, we show that the HPS1 and HPS4 proteins are components of two novel protein complexes involved in biogenesis of melanosome and lysosome-related organelles: biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex-(BLOC) 3 and BLOC-4. The phenotypes of Hps1-mutant (pale-ear; ep) and Hps4-mutant (light-ear; le) mice and humans are very similar, and cells from ep and le mice exhibit similar abnormalities of melanosome morphology. HPS1 protein is absent from ep-mutant cells, and HPS4 from le-mutant cells, but le-mutant cells also lack HPS1 protein. HPS4 protein seems to be necessary for stabilization of HPS1, and the HPS1 and HPS4 proteins co-immunoprecipitate, indicating that they are in a complex. HPS1 and HPS4 do not interact directly in a yeast two-hybrid system, although HPS4 interacts with itself. In a partially purified vesicular/organellar fraction, HPS1 and HPS4 are both components of a complex with a molecular mass of approximately 500 kDa, termed BLOC-3. Within BLOC-3, HPS1 and HPS4 are components of a discrete approximately 200-kDa module termed BLOC-4. In the cytosol, HPS1 (but not HPS4) is part of yet another complex, termed BLOC-5. We propose that the BLOC-3 and BLOC-4 HPS1.HPS4 complexes play a central role in trafficking cargo proteins to newly formed cytoplasmic organelles.     

A germline mutation in BLOC1S3/reduced pigmentation causes a novel variant of Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS8)

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is genetically heterogeneous, and mutations in seven genes have been reported to cause HPS. Autozygosity mapping studies were undertaken in a large consanguineous family with HPS. Affected individuals displayed features of incomplete oculocutaneous albinism and platelet dysfunction. Skin biopsy demonstrated abnormal aggregates of melanosomes within basal epidermal keratinocytes. A homozygous germline frameshift mutation in BLOC1S3 (p.Gln150ArgfsX75) was identified in all affected individuals. BLOC1S3 mutations have not been previously described in patients with HPS, but BLOC1S3 encodes a subunit of the biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex 1 (BLOC-1). Mutations in other BLOC-1 subunits have been associated with an HPS phenotype in humans and/or mouse, and a nonsense mutation in the murine orthologue of BLOC1S3 causes the reduced pigmentation (rp) model of HPS. Interestingly, eye pigment formation is reported to be normal in rp, but we found visual defects (nystagmus, iris transilluminancy, foveal hypoplasia, reduced visual acuity, and evidence of optic pathway misrouting) in affected individuals. These findings define a novel form of human HPS (HPS8) and extend genotype-phenotype correlations in HPS.     

Arabidopsis homolog of the yeast TREX‐2 mRNA export complex: components and anchoring nucleoporin

Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are vital to nuclear–cytoplasmic communication in eukaryotes. The yeast NPC‐associated TREX‐2 complex, also known as the Thp1–Sac3–Cdc31–Sus1 complex, is anchored on the NPC via the nucleoporin Nup1, and is essential for mRNA export. Here we report the identification and characterization of the putative Arabidopsis thaliana TREX‐2 complex and its anchoring nucleoporin. Physical and functional evidence support the identification of the Arabidopsis orthologs of yeast Thp1 and Nup1. Of three Arabidopsis homologs of yeast Sac3, two are putative TREX‐2 components, but, surprisingly, none are required for mRNA export as they are in yeast. Physical association of the two Cdc31 homologs, but not the Sus1 homolog, with the TREX‐2 complex was observed. In addition to identification of these TREX‐2 components, direct interactions of the Arabidopsis homolog of DSS1, which is an established proteasome component in yeast and animals, with both the TREX‐2 complex and the proteasome were observed. This suggests the possibility of a link between the two complexes. Thus this work has identified the putative Arabidopsis TREX‐2 complex and provides a foundation for future studies of nuclear export in Arabidopsis.     

Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome: a disease of protein trafficking and organelle function

The Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a collection of related autosomal recessive disorders which are genetically heterogeneous. There are eight human HPS subtypes, characterized by oculocutaneous albinism and platelet storage disease; prolonged bleeding, congenital neutropenia, pulmonary fibrosis, and granulomatous colitis can also occur. HPS is caused primarily by defects in intracellular protein trafficking that result in the dysfunction of intracellular organelles known as lysosome‐related organelles. HPS gene products are all ubiquitously expressed and all associate in various multi‐protein complexes, yet HPS has cell type‐specific disease expression. Impairment of specialized secretory cells such as melanocytes, platelets, lung alveolar type II epithelial cells and cytotoxic T cells are observed in HPS. This review summarizes recent molecular, biochemical and cell biological analyses together with clinical studies that have led to the correlation of molecular pathology with clinical manifestations and led to insights into such diverse disease processes such as albinism, fibrosis, hemorrhage, and congenital neutropenia.     

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein Ccz1p interacts with components of the endosomal fusion machinery

The yeast protein Ccz1p is necessary for vacuolar protein trafficking and biogenesis. In a complex with Mon1p, it mediates fusion of transport intermediates with the vacuole membrane by activating the small GTPase Ypt7p. Additionally, genetic data suggest a role of Ccz1p in earlier transport steps, in the Golgi. In a search for further proteins interacting with Ccz1p, we identified the endosomal soluble N -ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor Pep12p as an interaction partner of Ccz1p. Combining the ccz1 Δ mutation with deletions of PEP12 or other genes encoding components of the endosomal fusion machinery, VPS21, VPS9 or VPS45 , results in synthetic growth phenotypes. The genes MON1 and YPT7 also interact genetically with PEP12 . These results suggest that the Ccz1p–Mon1p–Ypt7p complex is involved in fusion of transport vesicles to multiple target membranes in yeast cells.     

Yeast homologues of three BLOC-1 subunits highlight KxDL proteins as conserved interactors of BLOC-1

Biogenesis of lysosome-related organelle complex-1 (BLOC-1) is one of the four multi-subunit complexes implicated in sorting cargo to lysosome-related organelles, as loss of function of any of these complexes causes Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome. Eight subunits of BLOC-1 interact with each other and with many other proteins. Identifying new interactors of BLOC-1 will increase understanding of its mechanism of action, and studies in model organisms are useful for finding such interactors. PSI-BLAST searches identify homologues in diverse model organisms, but there are significant gaps for BLOC-1, with none of its eight subunits found in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here we use more sensitive searches to identify distant homologues for three BLOC-1 subunits in S. cerevisiae: Blos1, snapin and cappuccino (cno). Published data on protein interactions show that in yeast these are likely to form a complex with three other proteins. One of these is the yeast homologue of the previously uncharacterized KxDL protein, which also interacts with Blos1 and cno in higher eukaryotes, suggesting that KxDL proteins are key interactors with BLOC-1.     

Recognition deficits in mice carrying mutations of genes encoding BLOC‐1 subunits pallidin or dysbindin

Numerous studies have implicated DTNBP1, the gene encoding dystrobrevin‐binding protein or dysbindin, as a candidate risk gene for schizophrenia, though this relationship remains somewhat controversial. Variation in dysbindin, and its location on chromosome 6p, has been associated with cognitive processes, including those relying on a complex system of glutamatergic and dopaminergic interactions. Dysbindin is one of the seven protein subunits that comprise the biogenesis of lysosome‐related organelles complex 1 (BLOC‐1). Dysbindin protein levels are lower in mice with null mutations in pallidin, another gene in the BLOC‐1, and pallidin levels are lower in mice with null mutations in the dysbindin gene, suggesting that multiple subunit proteins must be present to form a functional oligomeric complex. Furthermore, pallidin and dysbindin have similar distribution patterns in a mouse and human brain. Here, we investigated whether the apparent correspondence of pallid and dysbindin at the level of gene expression is also found at the level of behavior. Hypothesizing a mutation leading to underexpression of either of these proteins should show similar phenotypic effects, we studied recognition memory in both strains using the novel object recognition task (NORT) and social novelty recognition task (SNRT). We found that mice with a null mutation in either gene are impaired on SNRT and NORT when compared with wild‐type controls. These results support the conclusion that deficits consistent with recognition memory impairment, a cognitive function that is impaired in schizophrenia, result from either pallidin or dysbindin mutations, possibly through degradation of BLOC‐1 expression and/or function.     

Yeast homotypic vacuole fusion requires the Ccz1-Mon1 complex during the tethering/docking stage

The function of the yeast lysosome/vacuole is critically linked with the morphology of the organelle. Accordingly, highly regulated processes control vacuolar fission and fusion events. Analysis of homotypic vacuole fusion demonstrated that vacuoles from strains defective in the CCZ1 and MON1 genes could not fuse. Morphological evidence suggested that these mutant vacuoles could not proceed to the tethering/docking stage. Ccz1 and Mon1 form a stable protein complex that binds the vacuole membrane. In the absence of the Ccz1-Mon1 complex, the integrity of vacuole SNARE pairing and the unpaired SNARE class C Vps/HOPS complex interaction were both impaired. The Ccz1-Mon1 complex colocalized with other fusion components on the vacuole as part of the cis-SNARE complex, and the association of the Ccz1-Mon1 complex with the vacuole appeared to be regulated by the class C Vps/HOPS complex proteins. Accordingly, we propose that the Ccz1-Mon1 complex is critical for the Ypt7-dependent tethering/docking stage leading to the formation of a trans-SNARE complex and subsequent vacuole fusion.