Chediak–Higashi Syndrome: A Rare Disorder of Lysosomes and Lysosome Related Organelles

Chediak–Higashi Syndrome (CHS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by severe immunologic defects including recurrent bacterial infections, impaired chemotaxis and abnormal natural killer (NK) cell function. Patients with this syndrome exhibit other symptoms such as an associated lymphoproliferative syndrome, bleeding tendencies, partial albinism and peripheral neuropathies. The classic diagnostic feature of CHS is the presence of huge lysosomes and cytoplasmic granules within cells. Similar defects are found in other mammals, the most well studied being the beige mouse and Aleutian mink. A positional cloning approach resulted in the identification of the Beige gene on chromosome 13 in mice and the CHS1/LYST gene on chromosome 1 in humans. The protein encoded by this gene is 3801 amino acids and is highly conserved throughout evolution. The identification of CHS1/Beige has defined a family of genes containing a common BEACH motif. The function of these proteins in vesicular trafficking remains unknown.     

Use of expression constructs to dissect the functional domains of the CHS/beige protein: identification of multiple phenotypes

The Chediak-Higashi Syndrome (CHS) and the orthologous murine disorder beige are characterized at the cellular level by the presence of giant lysosomes. The CHS1/Beige protein is a 3787 amino acid protein of unknown function. To determine functional domains of the CHS1/Beige protein, we generated truncated constructs of the gene/protein. These truncated proteins were transiently expressed in Cos-7 or HeLa cells and their effect on membrane trafficking was examined. Beige is apparently a cytosolic protein, as are most transiently expressed truncated Beige constructs. Expression of the Beige construct FM (amino acids 1-2037) in wild-type cells led to enlarged lysosomes. Similarly, expression of a 5.5-kb region (amino acids 2035-3787) of the carboxyl terminal of Beige (22B) also resulted in enlarged lysosomes. Expression of FM solely affected lysosome size, whereas expression of 22B led to alterations in lysosome size, changes in the Golgi and eventually cell death. The two constructs could be used to further dissect phenotypes resulting from loss of the Beige protein. CHS or beigej fibroblasts show an absence of nuclear staining using a monoclonal antibody directed against phosphatidylinositol 4,5 bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5) P2]. Transformation of beige j fibroblasts with a YAC containing the full-length Beige gene resulted in the normalization of lysosome size and nuclear PtdIns(4,5)P2 staining. Expression of the carboxyl dominant negative construct 22B led to loss of nuclear PtdIns(4,5)P2 staining. Expression of the FM dominant negative clone did not alter nuclear PtdIns(4,5) P2 localization. These results suggest that the Beige protein interacts with at least two different partners and that the Beige protein affects cellular events, such as nuclear PtdIns(4,5)P2 localization, in addition to lysosome size.     

Localization of the locus responsible for Chediak-Higashi syndrome in cattle to bovine chromosome 28

Chediak-Higashi syndrome in Japanese black cattle is a hereditary disease with prolonged bleeding time and partial albinism. In the present study, we mapped the locus responsible for the disease (CHS) by linkage analysis using microsatellite genotypes of paternal half-sib pedigrees obtained from commercial herds. Analysis revealed significant linkage between the CHS locus and marker loci on the proximal end of bovine chromosome 28. The CHS locus was mapped on the region incorporating the microsatellite markers BMC6020, BM2892, and RM016 with recombination fraction 0 and lod score 4.9-11.2. We also assigned the bovine CHS1/LYST, the homologue of the gene responsible for human Chediak-Higashi syndrome, to bovine chromosome 28 using a bovine/murine somatic cell hybrid panel. These findings suggest that a mutation in the CHS1/LYST gene is likely to be responsible for Chediak-Higashi syndrome in Japanese black cattle.     

Bph1p, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae homologue of CHS1/beige, functions in cell wall formation and protein sorting

Mutations in the Chediak-Higashi syndrome gene (CHS1) and its murine homologue Beige result in the formation of enlarged lysosomes. BPH1 (Beige Protein Homologue 1) encodes the Saccharomyces cerevisiae homologue of CHS1/Beige. BPH1 is not essential and the encoded protein was found to be both cytosolic and peripherally bound to a membrane. Neither disruption nor overexpression of BPH1 affected vacuole morphology as assessed by fluorescence microscopy. The deltabph1 strain showed an impaired growth on defined synthetic media containing potassium acetate buffered below pH 4.25, increased sensitivity to calcofluor white, and increased agglutination in response to low pH. A library screen identified VPS9, FLO1, FLO9, BTS1 and OKP1 as high copy suppressors of the growth defect of deltabph1 on both low pH potassium acetate and calcofluor white. The deltabph1 strain demonstrated a mild defect in sorting vacuolar components, including increased secretion of carboxypeptidase Y and missorting of alkaline phosphatase. Overexpression of VPS9, BTS1 and OKP1 suppressed the carboxypeptidase Y secretion defect of deltabph1. Overexpression of BPH1 was found to suppress the calcofluor white sensitivity of a class E VPS deletion strain, deltavta1. Together, these data suggest that Bph1p associates with a membrane and is involved in protein sorting and cell wall formation.     

Genetic and physical mapping of the Chediak-Higashi syndrome on chromosome 1q42-43.

The Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS) is a severe autosomal recessive condition, features of which are partial oculocutaneous albinism, increased susceptibility to infections, deficient natural killer cell activity, and the presence of large intracytoplasmic granulations in various cell types. Similar genetic disorders have been described in other species, including the beige mouse. On the basis of the hypothesis that the murine chromosome 13 region containing the beige locus was homologous to human chromosome 1, we have mapped the CHS locus to a 5-cM interval in chromosome segment 1q42.1-q42.2. The highest LOD score was obtained with the marker D1S235 (Zmax = 5.38; theta = 0). Haplo-type analysis enabled us to establish D1S2680 and D1S163, respectively, as the telomeric and the centromeric flanking markers. Multipoint linkage analysis confirms the localization of the CHS locus in this interval. Three YAC clones were found to cover the entire region in a conting established by YAC end-sequence characterization and sequence-tagged site mapping. The YAC contig contains all genetic markers that are nonrecombinant for the disease in the nine CHS families studied. This mapping confirms the previous hypothesis that the same gene defect causes CHS in human and beige pheno-type in mice and provides a genetic framework for the identification of candidate genes.     

Chediak-Higashi syndrome: a clinical and molecular view of a rare lysosomal storage disorder

Chediak Higashi syndrome (CHS) is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder that affects multiple systems of the body. Patients with CHS exhibit hypopigmentation of the skin, eyes and hair, prolonged bleeding times, easy bruisability, recurrent infections, abnormal NK cell function and peripheral neuropathy. Morbidity results from patients succumbing to frequent bacterial infections or to an "accelerated phase" lymphoproliferation into the major organs of the body. Current treatment for the disorder is bone marrow transplant, which alleviates the immune problems and the accelerated phase, but does not inhibit the development of neurologic disorders that grow increasingly worse with age. There are several animal models of CHS, the beige mouse being the most characterized. Positional cloning and YAC complementation resulted in the identification of the Beige and CHS1/LYST genes. These genes encode a cytosolic protein of 430,000 Da. Sequence analysis identified three conserved regions in the protein: a HEAT repeat motif at the amino-terminus that contains several a helices, a BEACH domain containing the amino acid sequence WIDL, and a WD40 repeat motif, which is described as a protein-protein interaction domain. The presence of the BEACH and WD40 domains defines a family of genes that encode extremely large proteins.     

Dictyostelium LvsB mutants model the lysosomal defects associated with Chediak-Higashi syndrome

Chediak-Higashi syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in a gene encoding a protein named LYST in humans ("lysosomal trafficking regulator") or Beige in mice. A prominent feature of this disease is the accumulation of enlarged lysosome-related granules in a variety of cells. The genome of Dictyostelium discoideum contains six genes encoding proteins that are related to LYST/Beige in amino acid sequence, and disruption of one of these genes, lvsA (large volume sphere), results in profound defects in cytokinesis. To better understand the function of this family of proteins in membrane trafficking, we have analyzed mutants disrupted in lvsA, lvsB, lvsC, lvsD, lvsE, and lvsF. Of all these, only lvsA and lvsB mutants displayed interesting phenotypes in our assays. lvsA-null cells exhibited defects in phagocytosis and contained abnormal looking contractile vacuole membranes. Loss of LvsB, the Dictyostelium protein most similar to LYST/Beige, resulted in the formation of enlarged vesicles that by multiple criteria appeared to be acidic lysosomes. The rates of endocytosis, phagocytosis, and fluid phase exocytosis were normal in lvsB-null cells. Also, the rates of processing and the efficiency of targeting of lysosomal alpha-mannosidase were normal, although lvsB mutants inefficiently retained alpha-mannosidase, as well as two other lysosomal cysteine proteinases. Finally, results of pulse-chase experiments indicated that an increase in fusion rates accounted for the enlarged lysosomes in lvsB-null cells, suggesting that LvsB acts as a negative regulator of fusion. Our results support the notion that LvsB/LYST/Beige function in a similar manner to regulate lysosome biogenesis.     

Homozygosity mapping of the gene for Chediak-Higashi syndrome to chromosome 1q42-q44 in a segment of conserved synteny that includes the mouse beige locus (bg).

Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by hypopigmentation or oculocutaneous albinism and severe immunologic deficiency with neutropenia and lack of natural killer (NK) cell function. Most patients die in childhood from pyogenic infections or an unusual lymphoma-like condition. A hallmark of the disorder is giant inclusion bodies seen in all granule-containing cells, including granulocytes, lymphocytes, melanocytes, mast cells, and neurons. Similar ultrastructural abnormalities occur in the beige mouse, which thus has been suggested to be homologous to human CHS. High-resolution genetic mapping has indicated that the bg gene region of mouse chromosome 13 is likely homologous to the distal portion of human chromosome 1q. Accordingly, we carried out homozygosity mapping using markers derived from distal human chromosome 1q in four inbred families or probands with CHS. Our results indicate that the human CHS gene maps to an 18.8-cM interval in chromosome segment 1q42-q44 and that human CHS therefore is very likely homologous to mouse bg.     

Lysosomal membranes from beige mice contain higher than normal levels of endoplasmic reticulum proteins

Chediak-Higashi syndrome is characterized by dysfunctional giant organelles of common origin, that is, lysosomes, melanosomes, and platelet dense bodies. Its defective gene LYST encodes a large molecular weight protein whose function is unknown. The Beige mouse also defective in Lyst is a good model of the human disease. Purified lysosomes from Beige and normal black mouse livers were used to carry out a proteomics study. Two-dimensional gel electrophoretic separation of soluble lysosomal proteins of Beige and normal mice revealed no major differences. The cleavable isotope-coded affinity tag (cICAT) technique was used to compare the composition of Beige and normal lysosomal membrane proteins. While the levels of common proteins, that is, Lamp1, Lamp2, and Niemann-Pick type C1, were decreased in Beige mice, there was an increase in the levels of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident proteins, for example, cytochrome P450, NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase, and flavin-containing monooxygenase. Confocal microscopy confirmed that another ER protein, calnexin, colocalizes with Lamp1 on membranes of giant lysosomes from fibroblasts of Chediak-Higashi syndrome patient. Our results suggest that LYST may play a role in either preventing inappropriate incorporation of proteins into the lysosomal membrane or in membrane recycling/maturation.     

Chediak-Higashi syndrome mutation and genetic testing in Japanese black cattle (Wagyu)

Chediak-Higashi Syndrome (CHS) is an autosomal recessive disorder that affects several species including mice, humans, and cattle. Evidence based on clinical characteristics and somatic cell genetics suggests that mutations in a common gene cause CHS in the three species. The CHS locus on human chromosome 1 and mouse chromosome 13 encodes a lysosomal trafficking regulator formerly known as LYST, now known as CHS1, and is defective in CHS patients and beige mice, respectively. We have mapped the CHS locus to the proximal region of bovine chromosome 28 by linkage analysis using microsatellite markers previously mapped to this chromosome. Furthermore, we have identified a missense A:T-->G:C mutation that results in replacement of a histidine with an arginine residue at codon 2015 of the CHS1 gene. This mutation is the most likely cause of CHS in Wagyu cattle. In addition, we describe quick, inexpensive, PCR based tests that will permit elimination of the CHS mutation from Wagyu breeding herds.     

Analysis of the lysosomal storage disease Chediak-Higashi syndrome

Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of human, mouse (beige) and other mammalian species. The same genetic defect was found to result in the disease in all species identified, permitting a positional cloning approach using the mouse model beige to identify the responsible gene. The CHS gene was cloned and mutations identified in affected species. This review discusses the clinical features of CHS contrasting features seen in similar syndromes. The possible functions of the protein encoded by the CHS/beige gene are discussed, along with the alterations in cellular physiology seen in mutant cells.     

Elevated incidence of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in an sgs1 mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae: roles of yeast RecQ helicase in suppression of aneuploidy,interchromosomal rearrangement,and the simultaneous incidence of both events during mitotic growth

The SGS1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a member of the RecQ helicase family, which includes the human BLM, WRN and RECQL4 genes responsible for Bloom and Werner's syndrome and Rothmund-Thomson syndrome, respectively. Cells defective in any of these genes exhibit a higher incidence of genome instability. We previously demonstrated that various genetic alterations were detectable as events leading to loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in S. cerevisiae diploid cells, utilizing a hemizygous URA3 marker placed at the center of the right arm of chromosome III. Analyses of chromosome structure in LOH clones by pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and PCR, coupled with a genetic method, allow identification of genetic alterations leading to the LOH. Such alterations include chromosome loss, chromosomal rearrangements at various locations and intragenic mutation. In this work, we have investigated the LOH events occurring in cells lacking the SGS1 gene. The frequencies of all types of LOH events, excluding intragenic mutation, were increased in sgs1 null mutants as compared to the wild-type cells. Loss of chromosome III and chromosomal rearrangements were increased 13- and 17-fold, respectively. Further classification of the chromosomal rearrangements confirmed that two kinds of events were especially increased in the sgs1 mutants: (1) ectopic recombination between chromosomes, that is, unequal crossing over and translocation (46-fold); and (2) allelic crossing over associated with chromosome loss (40-fold). These findings raise the possibility that the Sgs1 protein is involved in the processing of recombination intermediates as well as in the prevention of recombination repair during chromosome DNA replication. On the other hand, intrachromosomal deletions between MAT and HMR were increased only slightly (2.9-fold) in the sgs1 mutants. These results clearly indicate that defects in the SGS1 gene function lead to an elevated incidence of LOH in multiple ways, including chromosome loss and interchromosomal rearrangements, but not intrachromosomal deletion.     

Establishment of a set of combined immunodeficient DA/Slc-Foxn1(rnu) Lyst(bg) congenic rat strains.

The congenitally athymic nude rat is used for studying cancer and transplantation owing to its hairlessness and T-cell defective function caused by the Foxn1(rnu) gene. However, NK cell activity of the nude rat is markedly increased. It is known that NK cells play a major role in rejection of xenografts and in cytotoxicity against tumor cells. Thus, the athymic nude rat with impaired NK cell activity should be a useful model for extensive studies. The DA-Lyst(bg)/Lyst(bg) rat, a model for human Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS) is characterized by diluted-coat color and impairment of NK cell activity. We planned to establish a combined immunodeficient double mutant rat introgressed with the Foxn1(rnu) and Lyst(bg) genes and a set of congenic strains having an identical genetic backgrounds simultaneously. Based on the phenotypic and genetic characteristics of the parental rat strains, the new strains were produced using continuous backcross and diagnosis with molecular genetic techniques. Each disease gene was diagnosed with PCR-RFLP or the long-nested PCR method. Furthermore, we used a marker-assisted congenic strategy based on scanning the genetic backgrounds of the parental rats with 461 rat microsatellite markers. We think that the newly established DA/Slc-Foxn1(rnu)/Foxn1(rnu) Lyst(bg)/Lyst(bg) double mutant will be useful as a severe disease model for human CHS, and the set of DA/Slc-Foxn1(rnu) Lyst(bg) congenic strains which have impaired NK cell activity and/or defective T cell function should be useful for studying in cancer research, xenotransplantation, immune function and other wide-ranging studies.     

山茶属CHS基因家族的组成和分子进化初探

用PCR方法从4种山茶属(Camellia)(山茶科)(Theaceae)植物的总DNA中分别扩增到CHS基因外显子2的部分序列,经克隆、测序得到16个该基因的序列,这些序列与来自GenBank的该属另一种植物的3个序列及作为外类群的大豆(Glycine max (L.) Merr.)的2个序列一起进行分析.研究表明,山茶属CHS基因家族在进化过程中已分化为A、B、C三个亚家族,包括A1、A2、A3、B1、B2、C 等6类不同的基因成员;其中只有A2类成员为全部被研究的5种植物所共有,而其他5类成员只在部分被研究的植物中发现;所有这些CHS成员具有很高的同源性:在核苷酸水平上同一亚家族内基本上高于90%,不同亚家族间也在78%以上.从推测的氨基酸组成看,山茶属内CHS基因的功能已发生了分化,各类成员的碱基替代率有较大差异; 从分子系统发育树和可能的氨基酸组成分析,山茶属具有新功能的基因成员是在经过基因重复后,或是由少数几个位点的突变而成,或是由逐渐积累的突变而形成的.进一步分析认为,该属CHS基因的分化直到近期还在活跃地进行,并且不同种的进化式样有一定的差别,这种不同的进化式样可能是物种形成后受不同环境因素影响而形成的.     

Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome: a gene,a multifunctional protein and the beginnings of an explanation

Patients with Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome show various defects in the normal function of platelets and lymphocytes. The recent identification of the gene responsible for this syndrome has led to a surge of studies aimed at solving the puzzle posed by the varied phenotype observed in this disease. It is now known that WASP, the protein product of this gene, can interact with a large number of other proteins known to be involved in the regulation of signal transduction and cytoskeletal organization. Thus, WASP appears to integrate these two basic and fundamental cellular mechanisms. Several groups are now focusing on understanding the function of WASP in detail, and translating this new knowledge into improved therapies.     

Stimulation of mTORC1 with L-leucine Rescues Defects Associated with Roberts Syndrome

Roberts syndrome (RBS) is a human disease characterized by defects in limb and craniofacial development and growth and mental retardation. RBS is caused by mutations in ESCO2, a gene which encodes an acetyltransferase for the cohesin complex. While the essential role of the cohesin complex in chromosome segregation has been well characterized, it plays additional roles in DNA damage repair, chromosome condensation, and gene expression. The developmental phenotypes of Roberts syndrome and other cohesinopathies suggest that gene expression is impaired during embryogenesis. It was previously reported that ribosomal RNA production and protein translation were impaired in immortalized RBS cells. It was speculated that cohesin binding at the rDNA was important for nucleolar form and function. We have explored the hypothesis that reduced ribosome function contributes to RBS in zebrafish models and human cells. Two key pathways that sense cellular stress are the p53 and mTOR pathways. We report that mTOR signaling is inhibited in human RBS cells based on the reduced phosphorylation of the downstream effectors S6K1, S6 and 4EBP1, and this correlates with p53 activation. Nucleoli, the sites of ribosome production, are highly fragmented in RBS cells. We tested the effect of inhibiting p53 or stimulating mTOR in RBS cells. The rescue provided by mTOR activation was more significant, with activation rescuing both cell division and cell death. To study this cohesinopathy in a whole animal model we used ESCO2-mutant and morphant zebrafish embryos, which have developmental defects mimicking RBS. Consistent with RBS patient cells, the ESCO2 mutant embryos show p53 activation and inhibition of the TOR pathway. Stimulation of the TOR pathway with L-leucine rescued many developmental defects of ESCO2-mutant embryos. Our data support the idea that RBS can be attributed in part to defects in ribosome biogenesis, and stimulation of the TOR pathway has therapeutic potential.     

Alterations in erythrocyte membrane lipid and fatty acid composition in Chediak-Higashi syndrome

Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by the presence of abnormally large cytoplasmic organelles in all body granule producing cells. The molecular mechanism for this disease is still unknown. Functional disorders in membrane-related processes have been reported. Erythrocyte membranes from four CHS patients and 15 relatives including obligatory heterozygous were studied to examine potential alterations in the lipid and fatty acid profile of erythrocyte membranes associated with this syndrome. Plasma concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, and apolipoproteins AI and B100, and the lipid components of very low-, intermediate-, low- and high-density lipoproteins were also determined. CHS erythrocyte membranes were found to be enriched with lipids in relation to protein and to show: (1) an increase in cholesterol and choline-containing phospholipids (sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholine) that predominate in the outer monolayer, which is higher than the increase in phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine, that are chiefly limited to the inner monolayer in normal red blood cells; (2) a relative palmitic acid and saturated fatty acid increase and arachidonic acid and unsaturated fatty acid decrease, this resulting in a lower unsaturation index than controls. Changes in CHS erythrocyte membrane lipids seem to be unrelated to serum lipid disorders as plasma lipid and apolipoprotein concentrations were apparently in the normal range, with the exception of a modest hypertriglyceridemia in patients and relatives and a decreased concentration of HDL cholesterol in patients. These findings indicate that CHS erythrocyte membranes contain an abnormal lipid matrix with which membrane proteins are defectively associated. The anomalous CHS membrane composition can be explained on the postulated effects of the CHS1/Lyst gene.     

山茶属CHS基因家族的组成和分子进化初探

用PCR方法从4种山茶属(Camellia)(山茶科)(Tlaeaceae)植物的总DNA中分别扩增到CHS基因外显子2的部分序列,经克隆、测序得到16个该基因的序列,这些序列与来自GenBank的该属另一种植物的3个序列及作为外类群的大豆(Glycine max (L)Merr)的2个序列一起进行分析。研究表明,山茶属CHS基因家族在进化过程中已分化为A、B、c三个亚家族,包括A1、A2、A3、B1、B2、C等6类不同的基因成员;其中只有A2类成员为全部被研究的5种植物所共有,而其他5类成员只在部分被研究的植物中发现;所有这些CHS成员具有很高的同源性：在核苷酸水平上同一亚家族内基本上高于90％,不同亚家族间也在78％以上。从推测的氨基酸组成看,山茶属内CHS基因的功能已发生了分化,各类成员的碱基替代率有较大差异;从分子系统发育树和可能的氨基酸组成分析,山茶属具有新功能的基因成员是在经过基因重复后,或是由少数几个位点的突变而成,或是由逐渐积累的突变而形成的。进一步分析认为,该属CHS基因的分化直到近期还在活跃地进行,并且不同种的进化式样有一定的差别,这种不同的进化式样可能是物种形成后受不同环境因素影响而形成的。     

FXY2/MID2, a gene related to the X-linked Opitz syndrome gene FXY/MID1, maps to Xq22 and encodes a FNIII domain-containing protein that associates with microtubules

Opitz G/BBB syndrome (OS) is a genetically heterogeneous disorder with an X-linked locus and an autosomal locus linked to 22q11.2. OS affects multiple organ systems with often variable severity even between siblings. The clinical features, which include hypertelorism, cleft lip and palate, defects of cardiac septation, hypospadias, and anorectal anomalies, indicate an underlying disturbance of the developing ventral midline of the embryo. The gene responsible for X-linked OS, FXY/MID1, is located on the short arm of the human X chromosome within Xp22.3 and encodes a protein with both an RBCC (RING finger, B-box, coiled coil) and a B30.2 domain. The Fxy gene in mice is also located on the X chromosome but spans the pseudoautosomal boundary in this species. Here we describe a gene closely related to FXY/MID1, called FXY2, which also maps to the X chromosome within Xq22. The mouse Fxy2 gene is located on the distal part of the mouse X chromosome within a region syntenic to Xq22. Analysis of genes flanking both FXY/MID1 and FXY2 (as well as their counterparts in mouse) suggests that these regions may have arisen as a result of an intrachromosomal duplication on an ancestral X chromosome. We have also identified in both FXY2 and FXY/MID1 proteins a conserved fibronectin type III domain located between the RBCC and B30.2 domains that has implications for understanding protein function. The FXY/MID1 protein has previously been shown to colocalize with microtubules, and here we show that the FXY2 protein similarly associates with microtubules in a manner that is dependent on the carboxy-terminal B30.2 domain.