Large scale international replication and meta-analysis study confirms association of the 15q14 locus with myopia. The CREAM consortium

Myopia is a complex genetic disorder and a common cause of visual impairment among working age adults. Genome-wide association studies have identified susceptibility loci on chromosomes 15q14 and 15q25 in Caucasian populations of European ancestry. Here, we present a confirmation and meta-analysis study in which we assessed whether these two loci are also associated with myopia in other populations. The study population comprised 31 cohorts from the Consortium of Refractive Error and Myopia (CREAM) representing 4 different continents with 55,177 individuals; 42,845 Caucasians and 12,332 Asians. We performed a meta-analysis of 14 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on 15q14 and 5 SNPs on 15q25 using linear regression analysis with spherical equivalent as a quantitative outcome, adjusted for age and sex. We calculated the odds ratio (OR) of myopia versus hyperopia for carriers of the top-SNP alleles using a fixed effects meta-analysis. At locus 15q14, all SNPs were significantly replicated, with the lowest P value 3.87?×?10(-12) for SNP rs634990 in Caucasians, and 9.65?×?10(-4) for rs8032019 in Asians. The overall meta-analysis provided P value 9.20?×?10(-23) for the top SNP rs634990. The risk of myopia versus hyperopia was OR 1.88 (95?% CI 1.64, 2.16, P?相似文献   

Akt-dependent Skp2 mRNA translation is required for exiting contact inhibition, oncogenesis, and adipogenesis

The requirement of Akt for cell proliferation and oncogenesis is mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) dependent. SV40 large T expression in Akt-deficient cells restores cell proliferation rate, but is insufficient for exiting contact inhibition and oncogene-induced anchorage-independent growth, because of a failure to promote Skp2 mRNA translation. Skp2 mRNA and protein are induced upon exiting contact inhibition, which enables entry into mitosis. While Skp2 mRNA is induced in Akt-deficient cells, it is not translated, preventing entry into mitosis. Restoring Skp2 expression in Akt-deficient cells is sufficient to restore exit from contact inhibition and oncogenesis. Skp2 mRNA translation is dependent on mTORC1 and the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E). Thus, the requirement of Akt for exiting contact inhibition is mediated by the induction of Skp2 mRNA translation in eIF4E-dependent mechanism. These results provide a new insight into the role of the Akt/mTORC1/eIF4E axis in tumourigenesis. Akt-dependent Skp2 mRNA translation is also required for mitotic clonal expansion (MCE)--the earliest event in adipogenesis. Skp2 re-expression in Akt-deficient preadipocytes, which are impaired in adipogenesis, is sufficient to restore adipogenesis. These results uncover the mechanism by which Akt mediates adipogenesis.     

Discovery of a series of imidazopyrazine small molecule inhibitors of the kinase MAPKAPK5, that show activity using in vitro and in vivo models of rheumatoid arthritis

MAPKAPK5 has been proposed to play a role in regulation of matrix metalloprotease expression and so to be a potential target for intervention in rheumatoid arthritis. We present here the identification of a series of compounds against this target which are effective in both biochemical and cell assays. The expansion of the series is described, along with early SAR and pharmacokinetics for some representative compounds.     

Screening of MITF and SOX10 Regulatory Regions in Waardenburg Syndrome Type 2

Waardenburg syndrome (WS) is a rare auditory-pigmentary disorder that exhibits varying combinations of sensorineural hearing loss and pigmentation defects. Four subtypes are clinically defined based on the presence or absence of additional symptoms. WS type 2 (WS2) can result from mutations within the MITF or SOX10 genes; however, 70% of WS2 cases remain unexplained at the molecular level, suggesting that other genes might be involved and/or that mutations within the known genes escaped previous screenings. The recent identification of a deletion encompassing three of the SOX10 regulatory elements in a patient presenting with another WS subtype, WS4, defined by its association with Hirschsprung disease, led us to search for deletions and point mutations within the MITF and SOX10 regulatory elements in 28 yet unexplained WS2 cases. Two nucleotide variations were identified: one in close proximity to the MITF distal enhancer (MDE) and one within the U1 SOX10 enhancer. Functional analyses argued against a pathogenic effect of these variations, suggesting that mutations within regulatory elements of WS genes are not a major cause of this neurocristopathy.     

Full-length prion protein aggregates to amyloid fibrils and spherical particles by distinct pathways

As limited structural information is available on prion protein (PrP) misfolding and aggregation, a causative link between the specific (supra)molecular structure of PrP and transmissible spongiform encephalopathies remains to be elucidated. In this study, high pressure was utilized, as an approach to perturb protein structure, to characterize different morphological and structural PrP aggregates. It was shown that full-length recombinant PrP undergoes beta-sheet aggregation on high-pressure-induced destabilization. By tuning the physicochemical conditions, the assembly process evolves through two distinct pathways leading to the irreversible formation of spherical particles or amyloid fibrils, respectively. When the PrP aggregation propensity is enhanced, high pressure induces the formation of a partially unfolded aggregated protein, Agg(HP), which relaxes at ambient pressure to form amorphous aggregates. The latter largely retain the native secondary structure. On prolonged incubation at high pressure, followed by depressurization, Agg(HP) transforms to a monodisperse population of spherical particles of about 20 nm in diameter, characterized by an essentially beta-sheet secondary structure. When the PrP aggregation propensity is decreased, an oligomeric reaction intermediate, I(HP), is formed under high pressure. After pressure release, I(HP) relaxes to the original native structure. However, on prolonged incubation at high pressure and subsequent depressurization, it transforms to amyloid fibrils. Structural evaluation, using optical spectroscopic methods, demonstrates that the conformation adopted by the subfibrillar oligomeric intermediate, I(HP), constitutes a necessary prerequisite for the formation of amyloids. The use of high-pressure perturbation thus provides an insight into the molecular mechanism of the first stages of PrP misfolding into amyloids.     

Regulation of the fructose transporter GLUT5 in health and disease

Fructose is now such an important component of human diets that increasing attention is being focused on the fructose transporter GLUT5. In this review, we describe the regulation of GLUT5 not only in the intestine and testis, where it was first discovered, but also in the kidney, skeletal muscle, fat tissue, and brain where increasing numbers of cell types have been found to have GLUT5. GLUT5 expression levels and fructose uptake rates are also significantly affected by diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and inflammation and seem to be induced during carcinogenesis, particularly in the mammary glands. We end by highlighting research areas that should yield information needed to better understand the role of GLUT5 during normal development, metabolic disturbances, and cancer.