Mitochondrial aminoacyl‐trna synthetase and disease: The yeast contribution for functional analysis of novel variants

In most eukaryotes, mitochondrial protein synthesis is essential for oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) as some subunits of the respiratory chain complexes are encoded by the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Mutations affecting the mitochondrial translation apparatus have been identified as a major cause of mitochondrial diseases. These mutations include either heteroplasmic mtDNA mutations in genes encoding for the mitochondrial rRNA (mtrRNA) and tRNAs (mttRNAs) or mutations in nuclear genes encoding ribosomal proteins, initiation, elongation and termination factors, tRNA‐modifying enzymes, and aminoacyl‐tRNA synthetases (mtARSs). Aminoacyl‐tRNA synthetases (ARSs) catalyze the attachment of specific amino acids to their cognate tRNAs. Differently from most mttRNAs, which are encoded by mitochondrial genome, mtARSs are encoded by nuclear genes and then imported into the mitochondria after translation in the cytosol. Due to the extensive use of next‐generation sequencing (NGS), an increasing number of mtARSs variants associated with large clinical heterogeneity have been identified in recent years. Being most of these variants private or sporadic, it is crucial to assess their causative role in the disease by functional analysis in model systems. This review will focus on the contributions of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the functional validation of mutations found in mtARSs genes associated with human disorders

Case Series and DARS2 Variant Analysis in Early Severe Forms With Unexpected Presentations

Objective: Leukoencephalopathy with brainstem and spinal cord involvement and lactate elevation (LBSL) is regarded a relatively mild leukodystrophy, diagnosed by characteristic long tract abnormalities on MRI and biallelic variants in DARS2, encoding mitochondrial aspartyl-tRNA synthetase (mtAspRS). DARS2 variants in LBSL are almost invariably compound heterozygous; in 95% of cases, 1 is a leaky splice site variant in intron 2. A few severely affected patients, still fulfilling the MRI criteria, have been described. We noticed highly unusual MRI presentations in 15 cases diagnosed by WES. We examined these cases to determine whether they represent consistent novel LBSL phenotypes. Methods: We reviewed clinical features, MRI abnormalities, and gene variants and investigated the variants' impact on mtAspRS structure and mitochondrial function. Results: We found 2 MRI phenotypes: early severe cerebral hypoplasia/atrophy (9 patients, group 1) and white matter abnormalities without long tract involvement (6 patients, group 2). With antenatal onset, microcephaly, and arrested development, group 1 patients were most severely affected. DARS2 variants were severer than for classic LBSL and severer for group 1 than group 2. All missense variants hit mtAspRS regions involved in tRNAAsp binding, aspartyl-adenosine-5'-monophosphate binding, and/or homodimerization. Missense variants expressed in the yeast DARS2 ortholog showed severely affected mitochondrial function. Conclusions: DARS2 variants are associated with highly heterogeneous phenotypes. New MRI presentations are profound cerebral hypoplasia/atrophy and white matter abnormalities without long tract involvement. Our findings have implications for diagnosis and understanding disease mechanisms, pointing at dominant neuronal/axonal involvement in severe cases. In line with this conclusion, activation of biallelic DARS2 null alleles in conditional transgenic mice leads to massive neuronal apoptosis

Expanded phenotype of AARS1-related white matter disease.

Purpose Recent reports of individuals with cytoplasmic transfer RNA (tRNA) synthetase-related disorders have identified cases with phenotypic variability from the index presentations. We sought to assess phenotypic variability in individuals with AARS1-related disease. Methods A cross-sectional survey was performed on individuals with biallelic variants in AARS1. Clinical data, neuroimaging, and genetic testing results were reviewed. Alanyl tRNA synthetase (AlaRS) activity was measured in available fibroblasts. Results We identified 11 affected individuals. Two phenotypic presentations emerged, one with early infantile–onset disease resembling the index cases of AARS1-related epileptic encephalopathy with deficient myelination (n = 7). The second (n = 4) was a later-onset disorder, where disease onset occurred after the first year of life and was characterized on neuroimaging by a progressive posterior predominant leukoencephalopathy evolving to include the frontal white matter. AlaRS activity was significantly reduced in five affected individuals with both early infantile–onset and late-onset phenotypes. Conclusion We suggest that variants in AARS1 result in a broader clinical spectrum than previously appreciated. The predominant form results in early infantile–onset disease with epileptic encephalopathy and deficient myelination. However, a subgroup of affected individuals manifests with late-onset disease and similarly rapid progressive clinical decline. Longitudinal imaging and clinical follow-up will be valuable in understanding factors affecting disease progression and outcome

Studies on DNA interaction of organotin(IV) complexes of meso-tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine that show cellular activity

PubMedID: 27393277The interaction of the diorgano- and triorganotin(IV) derivatives of meso-tetra-(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine (Me2Sn)2TPPS, (Bu2Sn)2TPPS, (Me3Sn)4TPPS and (Bu3Sn)4TPPS to natural DNA was analysed (together with free meso-tetra-(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine (TPPS4 -) for comparison purposes). Particular attention was paid to (Bu3Sn)4TPPS, a species that shows significant cellular action. Preliminary tests were done on the solution properties of the organotin(IV) compounds (pKA and possible self-aggregation). Spectrophotometric and spectrofluorometric experiments showed that all the investigated organotin(IV) derivatives strongly interact with DNA, the binding energy depending on the dye steric hindrance. In all cases experimental data concur in indicating that external binding mode prevails. Interestingly, fluorescence quenching and viscosity experiments show that the Bu-containing species, and in particular (Bu3Sn)4TPPS, are able to noticeably alter the DNA conformation. © 2016 Elsevier Inc.Università degli Studi di Palermo “la Caixa” Foundation: OSLC-2012-007 PRA_2015_0038 Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, Gobierno de España: MINECO CTQ2014-58812-C2-2-RThe financial support by PRA 2015 of the University of Pisa , project PRA_2015_0038 , by Obra Social “la Caixa” , project OSLC-2012-007 , by the Ministerio de Economia y Competividad - Gobierno de España , project MINECO CTQ2014-58812-C2-2-R , and by Università degli Studi di Palermo Grant ORPA07SLXE are gratefully acknowledged. Appendix

Diorganotin(IV) and triorganotin(IV complexes of meso tetra (4 sulfonatophenyl) porphine: do they bind DNA?

It was observed that organometallic porphyrin systems, where the Sn(IV) residue is in side chains, coordinated via sulphonatophenyl groups of porphyrin, show interesting and peculiar in vitro activity, in agreement with the anti-tumour activity of organotin complexes

The 3-iodothyroacetic acid does not cause change in proteins affected by T1AM.

The 3-iodothyroacetic acid (TA1) derives from the metabolism of 3-iodothyronamine and it is highly produced in cell culture medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum. Previous results indicated that, in models of brain cell lines, exogenous T1AM can increase the phosphorylation of proteins involved in signaling cascade, but this could be a pharmacological effect of TA1. Therefore, we evaluate whether TA1 can reproduce T1AM’s effects in the same experimental conditions. Methods: A hybrid line of cancer cells of mouse neuroblastoma and rat glioma (NG108-15) and a human glioblastoma cell line (U-87 MG) were used. Cell lines were treated with TA1 for 24h, ranging from 0.1 to 10 μM. Uptake, cell viability, and protein expression were assessed. Results: TA1 was taken up by cells, even though its concentration in media was almost unchanged upon 24h of incubation. Cell viability was significantly increased by TA1 10 µM in U87-MG cell line. Western blot analysis indicated that TA1 did not altered the expression (Sirtuin 1, p=NS) or the post-translational modifications (pERK/ERK, pCREB/CREB, p=NS) of proteins involved in signaling cascade that are usually affected by pharmacological doses of T1AM. In conclusion, our observations suggest that TA1, differently from T1AM, does not affect phosphorylation of proteins

Asymmetric Syntheses of (–)-ADMJ and (+)-ADANJ: the 2-Deoxy-2-amino Analogues of (–)-1-Deoxymannojirimycin and (+)-1-Deoxyallonojirimycin

The asymmetric syntheses of (–)-ADMJ and (+)-ADANJ, the 2-deoxy-2-amino analogues of (–)-1-deoxymannojirimycin and (+)-1-deoxyallonojirimycin, are described herein. Methodology for the ring-closing iodoamination of bishomoallylic amines followed by in situ ring-expansion (via intramolecular ring-opening of the corresponding aziridinium intermediates with a tethered carbamate moiety) to give oxazolidin-2-ones was initially optimised on a model system. Subsequent application of this methodology to two enantiopure bishomoallylic amines (which were produced via aminohydroxylation of an α,β-unsaturated ester, partial reduction and reaction of the corresponding aldehyde with vinylmagnesium bromide) also proceeded with concomitant N-debenzylation to afford the corresponding diastereoisomerically pure (>99:1 dr) oxazolidin-2-ones. Subsequent deprotection of these enantiopure templates gave (–)-ADMJ and (+)-ADANJ as single diastereoisomers in 16 and 24% overall yield, respectively

Synthesis of SMT022357 enantiomers and in vivo evaluation in a Duchenne muscular dystrophy mouse model

Following on from ezutromid, the first-in-class benzoxazole utrophin modulator that progressed to Phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a new chemotype was designed to optimise its physicochemical and ADME profile. Herein we report the synthesis of SMT022357, a second generation utrophin modulator preclinical candidate, and an asymmetric synthesis of its constituent enantiomers. The pharmacological properties of both enantiomers were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. No significant difference in the activity or efficacy was observed between the two enantiomers; activity was found to be comparable to the racemic mixture

LBSL case series and DARS2 variant analysis in early severe forms with unexpected presentations

Abstract Objective: Leukoencephalopathy with brainstem and spinal cord involvement and lactate elevation (LBSL) is regarded a relatively mild leukodystrophy, diagnosed by characteristic long tract abnormalities on MRI and biallelic variants in DARS2, encoding mitochondrial aspartyl-tRNA synthetase (mtAspRS). DARS2 variants in LBSL are almost invariably compound heterozygous; in 95% of cases, 1 is a leaky splice site variant in intron 2. A few severely affected patients, still fulfilling the MRI criteria, have been described. We noticed highly unusual MRI presentations in 15 cases diagnosed by WES. We examined these cases to determine whether they represent consistent novel LBSL phenotypes. Methods: We reviewed clinical features, MRI abnormalities, and gene variants and investigated the variants’ impact on mtAspRS structure and mitochondrial function. Results: We found 2 MRI phenotypes: early severe cerebral hypoplasia/atrophy (9 patients, group 1) and white matter abnormalities without long tract involvement (6 patients, group 2). With antenatal onset, microcephaly, and arrested development, group 1 patients were most severely affected. DARS2 variants were severer than for classic LBSL and severer for group 1 than group 2. All missense variants hit mtAspRS regions involved in tRNAAsp binding, aspartyl-adenosine-59-monophosphate binding, and/or homodimerization. Missense variants expressed in the yeast DARS2 ortholog showed severely affected mitochondrial function. Conclusions: DARS2 variants are associated with highly heterogeneous phenotypes. New MRI presentations are profound cerebral hypoplasia/atrophy and white matter abnormalities without long tract involvement. Our findings have implications for diagnosis and understanding disease mechanisms, pointing at dominant neuronal/axonal involvement in severe cases. In line with this conclusion, activation of biallelic DARS2 null alleles in conditional transgenic mice leads to massive neuronal apoptosis

Expanded phenotype of AARS1-related white matter disease

PURPOSE: Recent reports of individuals with cytoplasmic transfer RNA (tRNA) synthetase-related disorders have identified cases with phenotypic variability from the index presentations. We sought to assess phenotypic variability in individuals with AARS1-related disease. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was performed on individuals with biallelic variants in AARS1. Clinical data, neuroimaging, and genetic testing results were reviewed. Alanyl tRNA synthetase (AlaRS) activity was measured in available fibroblasts. RESULTS: We identified 11 affected individuals. Two phenotypic presentations emerged, one with early infantile-onset disease resembling the index cases of AARS1-related epileptic encephalopathy with deficient myelination (n = 7). The second (n = 4) was a later-onset disorder, where disease onset occurred after the first year of life and was characterized on neuroimaging by a progressive posterior predominant leukoencephalopathy evolving to include the frontal white matter. AlaRS activity was significantly reduced in five affected individuals with both early infantile-onset and late-onset phenotypes. CONCLUSION: We suggest that variants in AARS1 result in a broader clinical spectrum than previously appreciated. The predominant form results in early infantile-onset disease with epileptic encephalopathy and deficient myelination. However, a subgroup of affected individuals manifests with late-onset disease and similarly rapid progressive clinical decline. Longitudinal imaging and clinical follow-up will be valuable in understanding factors affecting disease progression and outcome.RD&E staff can access the full-text of this article by clicking on the 'Additional Link' above and logging in with NHS OpenAthens if prompted.Accepted version (6 month embargo), submitted versio