Recessive TMOD1 mutation causes childhood cardiomyopathy.

Familial cardiomyopathy in pediatric stages is a poorly understood presentation of heart disease in children that is attributed to pathogenic mutations. Through exome sequencing, we report a homozygous variant in tropomodulin 1 (TMOD1; c.565C>T, p.R189W) in three individuals from two unrelated families with childhood-onset dilated and restrictive cardiomyopathy. To decipher the mechanism of pathogenicity of the R189W mutation in TMOD1, we utilized a wide array of methods, including protein analyses, biochemistry and cultured cardiomyocytes. Structural modeling revealed potential defects in the local folding of TMOD1R189W and its affinity for actin. Cardiomyocytes expressing GFP-TMOD1R189W demonstrated longer thin filaments than GFP-TMOD1wt-expressing cells, resulting in compromised filament length regulation. Furthermore, TMOD1R189W showed weakened activity in capping actin filament pointed ends, providing direct evidence for the variant's effect on actin filament length regulation. Our data indicate that the p.R189W variant in TMOD1 has altered biochemical properties and reveals a unique mechanism for childhood-onset cardiomyopathy

Synthesis and in vitro evaluation of the farnesyltransferase inhibitor pepticinnamin E

The farnesyltransferase inhibitor pepticinnamin E was synthesized and shown to have the S configuration at the central, non-proteinogenic amino acid. Using a recombinant yeast farnesyltransferase the biological activity of the natural product and structural analogues was determined. It was shown that pepticinnamin E is a bisubstrate inhibitor. Furthermore, several structural parameters were identified that decisively influence inhibition of the farnesyl transfer

From mutation to mechanism: deciphering the molecular function of genetic variants linked to human ageing

Many of the leading causes of death in humans, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease are influenced by biological mechanisms that become dysregulated with increasing age. Hence, by targeting these ageing-related mechanisms, we may be able to improve health in old age. Ageing is partly heritable and genetic studies have been moderately successful in identifying genetic variants associated with ageing-related phenotypes (lifespan, healthspan and longevity). To decipher the mechanisms by which the identified variants influence ageing, studies that focus on their functional validation are vital. In this perspective, we describe the steps that could be taken in the process of functional validation: (1) in silico characterisation using bioinformatic tools; (2) in vitro characterisation using cell lines or organoids; and (3) in vivo characterisation studies using model organisms. For the in vivo characterisation, it is important to focus on translational phenotypes that are indicative of both healthspan and lifespan, such as the frailty index, to inform subsequent intervention studies. The depth of functional validation of a genetic variant depends on its location in the genome and conservation in model organisms. Moreover, some variants may prove to be hard to characterise due to context-dependent effects related to the experimental environment or genetic background. Future efforts to functionally characterise the (newly) identified genetic variants should shed light on the mechanisms underlying ageing and will help in the design of targeted interventions to improve health in old age

Synthesis and biological evaluation of aeroplysinin analogues: A new class of receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), such as the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), are critically involved in the transduction of mitogenic signals across the plasma membrane and therefore in the regulation of cell growth and proliferation. Enhanced RTK activity is associated with proliferative diseases such as cancer, psoriasis and atherosclerosis, while decreased function may be associated for instance with diabetes. EGFR and PDGFR are selectively inhibited by analogues of the marine natural product aeroplysinin. The synthetic inhibitors display IC50 values in the low micromolar range and in contrast to the natural product show pronounced inhibitory activity in cultured cells in vivo. The mechanism of inhibition is likely based on a covalent modification of the target enzymes by reaction of epoxy ketone 8 with various nucleophiles. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved