A Novel Gata3 Nonsense Mutation In A Newly Diagnosed Adult Patient Of Hypoparathyroidism,Deafness, And Renal Dysplasia (Hdr) Syndrome

ObjectiveHypoparathyroidism, deafness, and renal dysplasia (HDR) syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by a GATA3 gene mutation. Here we report a novel mutation of GATA3 in a patient diagnosed with HDR syndrome at the age of 58 with extensive intracranial calcification.MethodsA 58-year-old Japanese man showed severe hypocalcemia and marked calcification in the basal ganglia, cerebellum, deep white matter, and gray-white junction on computed tomography (CT). The serum intact parathyroid hormone level was relatively low against low serum calcium concentration. The patient had been diagnosed with bilateral sensorineural deafness in childhood and had a family history of hearing disorders. Imaging studies revealed no renal anomalies. The patient was diagnosed with HDR syndrome, and genetic testing was performed.ResultsGenetic analysis of GATA3 showed a novel nonsense mutation at codon 198 (S198X) in exon 3. The S198X mutation leads to a loss of two zinc finger deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) binding domains and is considered to be responsible for HDR syndrome.ConclusionWe identified a novel nonsense mutation of GATA3 in an adult patient with HDR syndrome who showed extensive intracranial calcification. (Endocr Pract. 2013;19:e17-e20)     

Solution structures of two CCHC zinc fingers from the FOG family protein U-shaped that mediate protein-protein interactions

BACKGROUND: Zinc finger domains have traditionally been regarded as sequence-specific DNA binding motifs. However, recent evidence indicates that many zinc fingers mediate specific protein-protein interactions. For instance, several zinc fingers from FOG family proteins have been shown to interact with the N-terminal zinc finger of GATA-1. RESULTS: We have used NMR spectroscopy to determine the first structures of two FOG family zinc fingers that are involved in protein-protein interactions: fingers 1 and 9 from U-shaped. These fingers resemble classical TFIIIA-like zinc fingers, with the exception of an unusual extended portion of the polypeptide backbone prior to the fourth zinc ligand. [15N,(1)H]-HSQC titrations have been used to define the GATA binding surface of USH-F1, and comparison with other FOG family proteins indicates that the recognition mechanism is conserved across species. The surface of FOG-type fingers that interacts with GATA-1 overlaps substantially with the surface through which classical fingers typically recognize DNA. This suggests that these fingers could not contact both GATA and DNA simultaneously. In addition, results from NMR, gel filtration, and sedimentation equilibrium experiments suggest that the interactions are of moderate affinity. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate unequivocally that zinc fingers comprising the classical betabetaalpha fold are capable of mediating specific contacts between proteins. The existence of this alternative function has implications for the prediction of protein function from sequence data and for the evolution of protein function.     

The C-terminal zinc finger of the catalytic subunit of DNA polymerase delta is responsible for direct interaction with the B-subunit

DNA polymerase δ (Pol δ) plays a central role in eukaryotic chromosomal DNA replication, repair and recombination. In fission yeast, Pol δ is a tetrameric enzyme, comprising the catalytic subunit Pol3 and three smaller subunits, Cdc1, Cdc27 and Cdm1. Previous studies have demonstrated a direct interaction between Pol3 and Cdc1, the B-subunit of the complex. Here it is shown that removal of the tandem zinc finger modules located at the C-terminus of Pol3 by targeted proteolysis renders the Pol3 protein non-functional in vivo, and that the C-terminal zinc finger module ZnF2 is both necessary and sufficient for binding to the B-subunit in vivo and in vitro. Extensive mutagenesis of the ZnF2 module identifies important residues for B-subunit binding. In particular, disruption of the ZnF2 module by substitution of the putative metal-coordinating cysteines with alanine abolishes B-subunit binding and in vivo function. Finally, evidence is presented suggesting that the ZnF region is post-translationally modified in fission yeast cells.     

LDL-R and Apo-B-100 gene mutations in Polish familial hypercholesterolemias

A group of 30 Polish families with clinical signs of familial hypercholesterolemia was studied for the presence of germ-line mutations in the LDL-R and ApoB-100 genes. Screening of the LDL-R gene was performed at the genomic DNA level by single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis of all 18 exons and extended by sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products showing abnormalities. The occurrence of large LDL-R gene alterations was evaluated by analysis of restriction enzyme patterns on Southern blots and using the long-PCR technique. The ApoB-100 gene was studied by combined allele-specific and asymmetric PCR for the occurrence of the common B-3500 missense mutation G to A at nucleotide position 10,708. Germ-line mutations were found in 17 families. In 12 of them LDL-R gene mutations were detected. Three of 11 different mutations had previously been described in other populations (3-bp deletion of codon 197; Ser156Leu; Gly571Glu). Of the mutations not previously recognized and identified in Polish families, there were three small deletions (2-bp deletion AG at codon 291; 4-bp deletion CCCT at codons 661–662; 1-bp deletion A at codon 830), and four point mutations (Arg239Stop, Cys331Stop, Asn543Ser, Gln665Stop). Additionally, one large (∼1-kb) LDL-R gene deletion between exons 6 and 9 was identified. In five families, the B-3500 mutation within the ApoB-100 gene was revealed. Received: 15 September 1997 / Accepted: 10 February 1998     

Molecular basis of group A xeroderma pigmentosum: A missense mutation and two deletions located in a zinc finger consensus sequence of the XPAC gene

Summary The molecular basis of group A xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) was investigated, and 3 mutations located in a zinc finger consensus sequence (nucleotide 313–387) of the XP group A complementing (XPAC) gene were identified in 2 Caucasian patients GM2990 and GM2009 who had typical symptoms of group A XP. The first mutation was a C deletion at nucleotide 374. Patient GM2990 was a homozygote for this mutation. The second mutation was a 5-bp deletion (CTTAT) at nucleotides 349–353. The third mutation was a G to T transversion at nucleotide 323 that alters the Cys-108 codon (TGT) to a Phe codon (TTT). Patient GM2009 was a compound heterozygote for the 5-bp deletion and the missense mutation. Both deletions introduce frameshifts with premature translation terminations resulting in instability of the XPAC mRNA and disruption of the putative zinc finger domain of the XPAC protein. The missense mutation also predicts disruption of the zinc finger domain of the XPAC protein. The expression study showed that the missense mutation does indeed causes loss of repair activity of the XPAC protein. We conclude that these 3 mutations are responsible for group A XP.     

An intron 1 splice mutation and a nonsense mutation (W23X) in CYP21 causing severe congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Direct DNA sequencing of the steroid 21-hydroxylase gene (CYP21) revealed two novel mutations in two patients with severe congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The nonsense mutation Trp23Stop (TGG → TGA) was found in a woman with the simple virilizing form of the disease. She was a compound heterozygote, with the previously described Ile173Asn mutation on her other allele. A boy, who developed salt-wasting in the neonatal period, carried an allele with a novel mutation of the canonical splice acceptor site in intron 1 (AG→GG). He was also a compound heterozygote, with the well-known splice mutation in intron 2 on his other allele. Received: 26 February 1996     

Deciphering metal ion preference and primary coordination sphere robustness of a designed zinc finger with high‐resolution mass spectrometry

Small zinc finger (ZnF) motifs are promising molecular scaffolds for protein design owing to their structural robustness and versatility. Moreover, their characterization provides important insights into protein folding in general. ZnF motifs usually possess an exceptional specificity and high affinity towards Zn(II) ion to drive folding. While the Zn(II) ion is canonically coordinated by two cysteine and two histidine residues, many other coordination spheres also exist in small ZnFs, all having four amino acid ligands. Here we used high‐resolution mass spectrometry to study metal ion binding specificity and primary coordination sphere robustness of a designed zinc finger, named MM1. Based on the results, MM1 possesses high specificity for zinc with sub‐micromolar binding affinity. Surprisingly, MM1 retains metal ion binding affinity even in the presence of selective alanine mutations of the primary zinc coordinating amino acid residues.     

Screening for nonsense mutations in patients with severe hemophilia A can provide rapid,direct carrier detection

Summary Despite marked genetic heterogeneity in families with hemophilic patients, transition mutations in CG dinucleotides occur frequently. Of 71 CG dinucleotides in the factor VIII cDNA, a C-to-T transition in 12 would lead to a new Stop codon (CGA to TGA). Using restriction enzyme digestion of 11 amplified DNA fragments, seven point mutations were localized among 60 patients with severe hemophilia A. Five were detected as loss of a natural or introduced TaqI site at codons -5, 583, 1941, 2116, and 2209 and were confirmed as CGA (Arg) to TGA (Stop) nonsense mutations by DNA sequencing. A novel C-to-T nonsense mutation was detected as loss of the RsaI site at codon 1966 and confirmed by sequence in two unrelated individuals. Two partial gene deletions were detected as selective failure to amplify exon 1 and exons 15–22, respectively. In an additional (61st) patient who was subsequently found to have mild (instead of severe) hemophilia, digests suggested a mutation in codon 1696. Upon sequencing, this codon contained a novel missense mutation, a C-to-G transversion changing CGA (Arg 1696) to GGA (Gly). In four families with women available for testing, carrier status was rapidly determined by direct screening for the point mutation. In two of three with sporadic occurrences, the mother was a carrier as were two of four sisters. In the other family, the mother and a sister were homozygous for the TaqI cleavage site in their amplified exon 24 fragment, indicating a de novo C-to-T transition in codon 2209 in the patient's factor VIII gene. This final patient's sister was a noncarrier even though by linkage analysis she inherited the same factor VIII gene as her brother.These results have already been published in part in abstract form: Reiner AP, Thompson AR (1990) Circulation Research 82:304