Major rearrangements in the alpha 5(IV) collagen gene in three patients with Alport syndrome.

The gene coding for the alpha 5 chian of type IV collagen (alpha 5(IV) collagen), which maps to Xq22, is a candidate gene for the X-linked dominant disease Alport syndrome (AS). Using three cDNA clones, covering the 3' end of the alpha 5(IV) collagen gene, 3 of 38 patients have been identified with mutations in this gene. Each of these patients shows a gross rearrangement of DNA: a deletion of at least 35 kb, an insertion/deletion event involving approximately 25 kb, and a duplication of at least 35 kb of DNA.     

Complete amino acid sequence of the human alpha 5 (IV) collagen chain and identification of a single-base mutation in exon 23 converting glycine 521 in the collagenous domain to cysteine in an Alport syndrome patient.

We have generated and characterized cDNA clones providing the complete amino acid sequence of the human type IV collagen chain whose gene has been shown to be mutated in X chromosome-linked Alport syndrome. The entire translation product has 1,685 amino acid residues. There is a 26-residue signal peptide, a 1,430-residue collagenous domain starting with a 14-residue noncollagenous sequence, and a Gly-Xaa-Yaa-repeat sequence interrupted at 22 locations, and a 229-residue carboxyl-terminal noncollagenous domain. The calculated molecular weight of the mature alpha 5(IV) chain is 158,303. Analysis of genomic DNA from members of a kindred with Alport syndrome revealed a new HindIII cleavage site within the coding sequence of one of the cDNA clones characterized. The proband had a new 1.25-kilobase HindIII fragment and a lack of a 1.35-kilobase fragment, and his mildly affected female cousin had both alleles. The mutation which was located to exon 23 was sequenced from a polymerase chain reaction-amplified product, and shown to be a G----T change in the coding strand. The mutation changed the GGT codon of glycine 521 to cysteine. The same mutation was found in one allele of the female cousin. The results were confirmed by allele-specific hybridization analyses.     

Effect of glycine substitutions on alpha5(IV) chain structure and structure-phenotype correlations in Alport syndrome

The phenotype variety caused by glycine substitutions in alpha5(IV) chain in X-linked Alport syndrome (XLAS) prompted the complexity of structure changes of alpha5(IV) chain that was little to know now. In this study, we expressed a domain of alpha5(IV) chain containing different glycine substitutions (G1015V and G1030S, respectively) which were revealed in two XLAS pedigrees with different phenotype severities and the corresponding domain of a control in Escherichia coli. The recombinant proteins were characterized by immunoblot and mass spectrometry and analyzed the secondary structure by using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. CD analysis showed that the recombinant protein containing G1015V mutation identified in the pedigree of juvenile-onset XLAS exhibited 12.9% alpha-helix that was not found in the control recombinant protein. The spectrum of the recombinant protein containing G1030S mutation identified in the pedigree of adult-onset XLAS was slightly different from that of the control, that is, mostly with the random coil and the beta-sheet, while without alpha-helix. These results demonstrated that two kinds of glycine substitutions, although in the same domain of alpha5(IV) chain, displayed the distinctly different secondary structures. The changes of the secondary structure could explain the phenotypic diversities of XLAS, which would be hardly understood solely by analyzing genomic DNA or mRNA of alpha5(IV) chain.     

DNA rearrangements in the alpha 5(IV) collagen gene (COL4A5) of individuals with Alport syndrome: further refinement using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.

Alport syndrome (AS), an X-linked kidney disorder, has been shown to be caused by mutations in the gene for the alpha 5-chain of type IV collagen (COL4A5), which maps to Xq22. On the basis of the results of conventional Southern blot analysis of AS patient DNAs, we employed pulsed-field gel electrophoresis to characterize further three gene rearrangements at the 3'-end of alpha 5(IV). We were able to construct long-range restriction maps for all three of these patients and deduce the extent and nature of each rearrangement. One of these mutations is a 450-kb simple deletion that includes 12 kb of the alpha 5(IV) gene. A second mutation has been shown to be a direct duplication of 35 kb of alpha 5(IV) genomic DNA, and a third mutation involves a complex insertion/deletion event resulting in an overall loss of 25 kb.     

Molecular cloning of alpha 5(IV) collagen and assignment of the gene to the region of the X chromosome containing the Alport syndrome locus.

Type IV collagen is a major structural component of basement membranes. Four constituent polypeptides have been described and characterized to different degrees. Whereas the primary structure of the alpha 1(IV) and alpha 2(IV) chains has been completely established, only short protein sequences have been reported for the recently recognized alpha 3(IV) and alpha 4(IV) subunits. We have isolated overlapping human cDNA clones whose derived amino acid sequence is highly homologous to the alpha 1(IV) and alpha 2(IV) chains. However, these clones code for neither alpha 3(IV) nor alpha 4(IV), and thus this new polypeptide has been designated the alpha 5 chain of type IV collagen. To determine whether the gene encoding the alpha 5(IV) chain is syntenic with the contiguously arranged alpha 1(IV) and alpha 2(IV) genes at 13q34, the alpha 5(IV) cloned DNA was hybridized to genomic DNA from somatic cell hybrids and to metaphase chromosomes. The results demonstrated that the alpha 5(IV) collagen gene is located on the long arm of the X chromosome. Since 14 collagen genes have previously been assigned to nine autosomes, these data represent the first mapping of a collagen gene to the X chromosome. Most important, the alpha 5(IV) gene has been sublocalized to bands Xq22----q23, which are in the same region known to contain the locus for the X-linked form of Alport syndrome. It is therefore possible that this severe dominantly inherited nephritis, manifested by splitting of the glomerular basement membrane, could be caused by mutations in the alpha 5(IV) collagen gene.     

Substitution of arginine for glycine 325 in the collagen alpha 5 (IV) chain associated with X-linked Alport syndrome: characterization of the mutation by direct sequencing of PCR-amplified lymphoblast cDNA fragments.

A large kindred with adult-type X-linked Alport syndrome was studied with regard to a defect in the recently described COL4A5 collagen gene. Southern blot analysis with COL4A5 cDNA probes showed loss of a MspI restriction site. Direct sequencing of cDNA amplified from lymphoblast mRNA demonstrated a single-base substitution converting a glycine codon to arginine at position 325 in the alpha 5 chain of type IV collagen. The triple-helical collagenous domain of alpha 5(IV), characterized by a Gly-X-Y repeat sequence, is interrupted 22 times by noncollagenous sequences. The mutation creates an additional interruption in the Gly-X-Y repeat motif, between interruptions 4 and 5. It is interesting that such glycine substitutions inside the COL1A1 or COL1A2 genes have been associated with many cases of osteogenesis imperfecta. This gly325-to-arg substitution presumably alters the triple-helix formation, and, in turn, modifies the ultrastructural and functional characteristics of the type IV collagen network inside the glomerular basement membrane.     

Mutation in the alpha 5(IV) collagen chain in juvenile-onset Alport syndrome without hearing loss or ocular lesions: detection by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of a PCR product.

A single base mutation was identified in the type IV collagen alpha 5 chain gene (COL4A5) of a Danish kindred with Alport syndrome. The 27-year-old male proband developed hematuria in childhood and terminal renal failure at the age of 25 years. He has no hearing loss or ocular lesions. Electron microscopy demonstrated splitting of the lamina densa of the glomerular basement membrane. The proband's mother has had persistent microscopic hematuria since the age of 40 years, but no other manifestations. Southern analysis of MspI-digested genomic DNA from the proband showed the absence of 1.3-kb and 0.9-kb fragments present in control DNA but the presence of a 2.2-kb variant fragment, indicating the loss of an MspI restriction site in the 3' end of the gene. The mother had all three fragments, indicating heterozygosity. PCR amplification of exon 14 (counted from the 3' end) and subsequent denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis suggested a sequence variant in the proband and his mother. This was confirmed by sequencing of the PCR-amplified exon 14 region of the hemizygous proband, which demonstrated the base change G----A abolishing an MspI restriction site. Hybridization analysis with allele-specific probes confirmed the inheritance of the mutation with the phenotype. The mutation changed the GGC codon for glycine-1143 to GAC for aspartate. Substitution of glycine-1143, located in the collagenous domain of the alpha 5(IV) chain, for any other amino acid can be expected to interfere with the maintenance of the triple-helical conformation of the collagen molecule. This could, in turn, weaken the glomerular-basement-membrane framework and lead to increased permeability.     

Identification of noncollagenous sites encoding specific interactions and quaternary assembly of alpha 3 alpha 4 alpha 5(IV) collagen: implications for Alport gene therapy

Defective assembly of alpha 3 alpha 4 alpha 5(IV) collagen in the glomerular basement membrane causes Alport syndrome, a hereditary glomerulonephritis progressing to end-stage kidney failure. Assembly of collagen IV chains into heterotrimeric molecules and networks is driven by their noncollagenous (NC1) domains, but the sites encoding the specificity of these interactions are not known. To identify the sites directing quaternary assembly of alpha 3 alpha 4 alpha 5(IV) collagen, correctly folded NC1 chimeras were produced, and their interactions with other NC1 monomers were evaluated. All alpha1/alpha 5 chimeras containing alpha 5 NC1 residues 188-227 replicated the ability of alpha 5 NC1 to bind to alpha3NC1 and co-assemble into NC1 hexamers. Conversely, substitution of alpha 5 NC1 residues 188-227 by alpha1NC1 abolished these quaternary interactions. The amino-terminal 58 residues of alpha3NC1 encoded binding to alpha 5 NC1, but this interaction was not sufficient for hexamer co-assembly. Because alpha 5 NC1 residues 188-227 are necessary and sufficient for assembly into alpha 3 alpha 4 alpha 5 NC1 hexamers, whereas the immunodominant alloantigenic sites of alpha 5 NC1 do not encode specific quaternary interactions, the findings provide a basis for the rational design of less immunogenic alpha 5(IV) collagen constructs for the gene therapy of X-linked Alport patients.     

Long-range mapping of the gene for the human alpha 5(IV) collagen chain at Xq22-q23.

The X-linked kidney disorder known as Alport syndrome (AS) has been shown to be due to mutations in the gene for an alpha 5 chain of type IV collagen that maps to Xq22-23. Using overlapping cDNA clones that represent approximately 90% of this gene and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, we have constructed a 2.4-Mb long-range restriction map around the locus. All of the cDNA clones lie within a 360-kb segment of DNA bounded by CpG islands that contain sites for the rare-cutting enzymes BssHII, MluI, NotI, NruI, SalI, and SfiI. High-resolution PFGE mapping with XhoI shows that the gene is at least 110 kb in size and is one of the largest collagen genes characterized to date. This map will prove useful in the characterization of mutations in individuals affected with AS and will also provide information as to the location of other genes in the region.     

Molecular and functional defects in kidneys of mice lacking collagen alpha 3(IV): implications for Alport syndrome

Collagen IV is a major structural component of all basal laminae (BLs). Six collagen IV alpha chains are present in mammals; alpha 1 and alpha 2(IV) are broadly expressed in embryos and adults, whereas alpha 3- 6(IV) are restricted to a defined subset of BLs. In the glomerular BL of the kidney, the alpha 1 and alpha 2(IV) chains are replaced by the alpha 3-5(IV) chains as development proceeds. In humans, mutation of the collagen alpha 3, alpha 4, or alpha 5(IV) chain genes results in a delayed onset renal disease called Alport syndrome. We show here that mice lacking collagen alpha 3(IV) display a renal phenotype strikingly similar to Alport syndrome: decreased glomerular filtration (leading to uremia), compromised glomerular integrity (leading to proteinuria), structural changes in glomerular BL, and glomerulonephritis. Interestingly, numerous changes in the molecular composition of glomerular BL precede the onset of renal dysfunction; these include loss of collagens alpha 4 and alpha 5(IV), retention of collagen alpha 1/2(IV), appearance of fibronectin and collagen VI, and increased levels of perlecan. We suggest that these alterations contribute, along with loss of collagen IV isoforms per se, to renal pathology.     

A single base mutation that substitutes serine for glycine 790 of the alpha 1 (III) chain of type III procollagen exposes an arginine and causes Ehlers-Danlos syndrome IV

Previous observations (Stolle, C.A., Pyeritz, R.E., Myers, J.C., and Prockop, D.J. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 1937-1944) indicated that fibroblasts from a proband with dominantly inherited Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV synthesized type III procollagen with a structural defect near the collagenase cleavage site at amino acid 781 and near the trypsin-sensitive site at 789. The type III procollagen was unusually sensitive to proteinases and cleaved by trypsin into a three-quarter fragment at 0 degrees C. Here we demonstrate that the mutation in the type III procollagen gene is a single base mutation that converts the codon for glycine at amino acid 790 of the alpha 1(III) chain to a codon for serine. The mutation probably makes the procollagen molecule unusually sensitive to proteases because it causes local unfolding of the triple helix and exposes the adjacent arginine residue. The results provide the first indication that not all glycine substitutions in the triple helices of fibrillar collagens are equivalent in terms of their effects of the biological function of the molecule.     

Human basement membrane collagen (type IV). The amino acid sequence of the alpha 2(IV) chain and its comparison with the alpha 1(IV) chain reveals deletions in the alpha 1(IV) chain

The cDNA and protein sequences of the N-terminal 60% of the alpha 2(IV) chain of human basement membrane collagen have been determined. By repeated primer extension with synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides and mRNA from either HT1080 cells or human placenta overlapping clones were obtained which cover 3414 bp. The derived protein sequence allows for the first time a comparison and alignment of both alpha chains of type IV collagen from the N terminus. This alignment reveals an additional 43 amino acid residues in the alpha 2(IV) chain as compared to the alpha 1(IV) chain. 21 of these additional residues form a disulfide-bridged loop within the triple helix which is unique among all known collagens.     

Spectrum of mutations in the COL4A5 collagen gene in X-linked Alport syndrome.

Alport syndrome is a mainly X-linked hereditary disease of basement membranes that is characterized by progressive renal failure, deafness, and ocular lesions. It is associated with mutations of the COL4A5 gene located at Xq22 and encoding the alpha5 chain of type IV collagen. We have screened 48 of the 51 exons of the COL4A5 gene by SSCP analysis and have identified 64 mutations and 10 sequence variants among 131 unrelated Alport syndrome patients. This represents a mutation-detection rate of 50%. There were no hot-spot mutations and no recurrent mutations in our population. The identified mutations were 6 nonsense mutations, 12 frameshift mutations, 17 splice-site mutations, and 29 missense mutations, 27 of the latter being glycine substitutions in the collagenous domain. Two of these occurred on the same allele in one patient and segregated with the disease in the family. We showed that some of the glycine substitutions could be associated with the lack of immunological expression of the alpha3(IV)-alpha5(IV) collagen chains in the glomerular basement membrane.     

Differential expression of mouse alpha5(IV) and alpha6(IV) collagen genes in epithelial basement membranes

We first completed the primary structure of the mouse alpha5(IV) and alpha6(IV) chains, from which synthetic peptides were produced and a chain-specific monoclonal antibodies were raised. Expression of collagen IV genes in various basement membranes underlying specific organ epithelia was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining using these monoclonal antibodies and other antibodies from human and bovine sequences. It was possible to predict the presence of the three collagen IV molecules: [alpha1(IV)](2) alpha2(IV), alpha3(IV)alpha4(IV)alpha5(IV), and [alpha5(IV)](2)alpha6(IV). In skin basement membrane two of the three forms, [alpha1(IV)](2)alpha2(IV) and [alpha5(IV)](2)alpha6(IV), were detected. The alpha3(IV)alpha4(IV)alpha5(IV) molecule was observed as the major form in glomerulus, alveolus, and choroid plexus, where basement membranes function as filtering units. The molecular form [alpha5(IV)](2)alpha6(IV) was present in basement membranes in tubular organs such as the epididymis, where the tubes need to expand in diameter. Thus, the distribution of the basement membranes with different molecular composition is consistent with tissue-specific function.     

The complete primary structure of mouse alpha 2(IV) collagen. Alignment with mouse alpha 1(IV) collagen

We have determined the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of mouse alpha 2(IV) collagen which is 1707 amino acids long. The primary structure includes a putative 28-residue signal peptide and contains three distinct domains: 1) the 7 S domain (residues 29-171), which contains 5 cysteine and 8 lysine residues, is involved in the cross-linking and assembly of four collagen IV molecules; 2) the triple-helical domain (residues 172-1480), which has 24 sequence interruptions in the Gly-X-Y repeat up to 24 residues in length; and 3) the NC1 domain (residues 1481-1707), which is involved in the end-to-end assembly of collagen IV and is the most highly conserved domain of the protein. Alignment of the primary structure of the alpha 2(IV) chain with that of the alpha 1(IV) chain reported in the accompanying paper (Muthukumaran, G., Blumberg, B., and Kurkinen, M. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 6310-6317) suggests that a heterotrimeric collagen IV molecule contains 26 imperfections in the triple-helical domain. The proposed alignment is consistent with the physical data on the length and flexibility of collagen IV.     

Identification of the Goodpasture antigen as the alpha 3(IV) chain of collagen IV

The organizational relationship between the recently identified alpha 3 chain of basement membrane collagen (Butkowski, R.J., Langeveld, J.P.M., Wieslander, J., Hamilton, J., and Hudson, B.G. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 7874-7877) and collagen IV was determined. This was accomplished by the identification of subunits in hexamers of the NC1 domain of collagen IV that were immunoprecipitated with antibodies prepared against subunits M1, corresponding to alpha 1(IV)NC1 and alpha 2(IV)NC1, and M2, corresponding to alpha 3NC1, and by amino acid sequence analysis. The presence of at least two distinct types of hexamers was revealed, one enriched in M1 and the other enriched in M2, but in both types, M1 and M2 coexist. Evidence was also obtained for the existence of heterodimers comprised of M1 and M2. These results indicate that M2 is an integral component of the NC1 hexamer of collagen IV. The amino acid sequence of the NH2-terminal region of M2 was found to be highly related to the collagenous-NC1 junctional region of the alpha 1 chain of collagen IV. Therefore, M2 is designated alpha 3(IV)NC1 and its parent chain alpha 3(IV). These findings lead to a new concept about the structure of collagen IV: namely, 1) collagen IV is comprised of a third chain (alpha 3) together with the two classical ones (alpha 1 and alpha 2); the alpha 3(IV) chain exists within the same triple-helical molecule together with the alpha 1(IV) and alpha 2(IV) chains and/or within a separate triple-helical molecule, exclusive of alpha 1(IV) and alpha 2(IV) chains, but connected through the NC1 domains to the classical triple-helical molecule comprised of alpha 1(IV) and alpha 2(IV) chains. Additionally, a portion of those triple-helical molecules exclusive of alpha 1(IV) and alpha 2(IV) chains may be connected to each other through their NC1 domains; and 3) the epitope to which the major reactivity of autoantibodies are targeted in glomerular basement membrane in patients with Goodpasture syndrome is localized to the NC1 domain of the alpha 3(IV) chain.     

Mutational analysis of type IV collagen alpha5 chain, with respect to heterotrimer formation

Alport syndrome (AS) is caused by mutations in type IV collagen α3, α4, and α5 chains. The three chains form a heterotrimer. In this study, we introduced 12 kinds of missense and three kinds of nonsense mutations, corresponding to AS mutations, into the NC1 domain of α5(IV) and characterized the mutant chains. Nine α5(IV) chains with amino acid substitutions and all three truncated α5(IV) chains did not form a heterotrimer and were not secreted from cells. Three α5(IV) chains with amino acid substitutions did, however, form heterotrimers in cells, but these were not secreted from cells. These findings indicate that a defect in heterotrimer formation is the main molecular mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of AS caused by mutation in the NC1 domain. We also showed that even a single amino acid deletion in the carboxyl-terminal region markedly affected the heterotrimerization, indicating that the carboxyl-terminal end is indispensable for heterotrimer formation.     

The alpha 4(IV) chain of basement membrane collagen. Isolation of cDNAs encoding bovine alpha 4(IV) and comparison with other type IV collagens.

Renal basement membranes are believed to contain five distinct type IV collagens. An understanding of the specific roles of these collagens and the specificities of their interactions will be aided by knowledge of their comparative structures. Genes for alpha 1(IV), alpha 2(IV), alpha 3(IV), and alpha 5(IV) have been cloned and the deduced peptide sequences compared. A fifth chain, alpha 4(IV), has been identified in glomerular and other basement membranes. Using a polymerase chain reaction-based strategy and short known peptide sequences from the noncollagenous domain (NC1), we have cloned and characterized partial bovine cDNAs of alpha 4(IV). Sequence analysis shows that this molecule has characteristic features of type IV collagens including an NH2-terminal Gly-X-Y domain which is interrupted at several points and a COOH-terminal NC1 domain with 12 cysteine residues in positions identical to those of other type IV collagens. Within the NC1 domain bovine alpha 4(IV) has 70, 59, 58, and 53% amino acid identity with human alpha 2(IV), alpha 1(IV), alpha 5(IV), and alpha 3(IV), respectively. Alignment of the peptides also shows that alpha 4(IV) is most closely related to alpha 2(IV). Nevertheless, in the extreme COOH-terminal region of the NC1 domain there are structural features that are unique to alpha 4(IV). Cloning of the region of alpha 4(IV) that encodes the NC1 domain allows comparison of all five type IV collagens and highlights certain regions that are likely to be important in the specificities of NC1-NC1 interactions and in other discriminant functions of these molecules.     

Complete primary structure of the triple-helical region and the carboxyl-terminal domain of a new type IV collagen chain, alpha 5(IV)

We have isolated and characterized overlapping cDNA clones which code for a previously unidentified human collagen chain. Although the cDNA-derived primary structure of this new polypeptide is very similar to the basement membrane collagen alpha 1(IV) and alpha 2(IV) chains, the carboxyl-terminal collagenous/non-collagenous junction sequence does not correspond to the junction sequence in either of the newly described alpha 3(IV) or alpha 4(IV) chains (Butkowski, R.J., Langeveld, J.P.M., Wieslander, J., Hamilton, J., and Hudson, B. G. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 7874-7877). Thus the protein presented here has been designated the alpha 5 chain of type IV collagen. Four clones encode an open reading frame of 1602 amino acids that cover about 95% of the entire chain including half of the amino-terminal 7S domain and all of the central triple-helical region and carboxyl-terminal NC1 domain. The collagenous region of the alpha 5(IV) chain contains 22 interruptions which are in most cases identical in distribution to those in both the alpha 1(IV) and alpha 2(IV) chains. Despite the relatively low degree of conservation among the amino acids in the triple-helical region of the three type IV collagen chains, analysis of the sequences clearly showed that alpha 5(IV) is more related to alpha 1(IV) than to alpha 2(IV). This similarity between the alpha 5(IV) and alpha 1(IV) chains is particularly evident in the NC1 domains where the two polypeptides are 83% identical in contrast to the alpha 5(IV) and alpha 2(IV) identity of 63%. In addition to greatly increasing the complexity of basement membranes, the alpha 5 chain of type IV collagen may be responsible for specialized functions of some of these extracellular matrices. In this regard, it is important to note that we have recently assigned the alpha 5(IV) gene to the region of the X chromosome containing the locus for a familial type of hereditary nephritis known as Alport syndrome (Myers, J.C., Jones, T.A., Pohjalainen, E.-R., Kadri, A.S., Goddard, A.D., Sheer, D., Solomon, E., and Pihlajaniemi, T. (1990) Am. J. Hum. Genet. 46, 1024-1033). Consequently, the newly discovered alpha 5(IV) collagen chain may have a critical role in inherited diseases of connective tissue.