Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) phenocopy due to a cell cycle division 73 (CDC73) variant

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by the combined occurrence of parathyroid tumors, pituitary adenomas, and pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PNENs). MEN1 is caused by germline MEN1 mutations in > 75% of patients, and the remaining 25% of patients may have mutations in unidentified genes or represent phenocopies with mutations in genes such as cell cycle division 73 (CDC73), the calcium sensing receptor (CASR), and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B (CDKN1B), which are associated with the hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor syndrome, familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia type 1, and MEN4, respectively. Here, we report a heterozygous c.1138C>T (p.Leu380Phe) CDC73 germline variant in a clinically diagnosed MEN1 patient, based on combined occurrence of primary hyperparathyroidism, acromegaly, and a PNEN. Characterization of the PNEN confirmed it was a neuroendocrine neoplasm as it immuno-stained positively for chromogranin and glucagon. The rare variant p.Leu380Phe occurred in a highly conserved residue, and further analysis using RNA-Scope indicated that it was associated with a significant reduction in CDC73 expression in the PNEN. Previously, CDC73 mutations have been reported to be associated with tumors of the parathyroids, kidneys, uterus, and exocrine pancreas. Thus, our report of a patient with PNEN and somatotrophinoma who had a CDC73 variant, provides further evidence that CDC73 variants may result in a MEN1 phenocopy

Dendron to Central Core S 1

Two dendrimers consisting of a cofacial free-base bisporphyrin held by a biphenylene spacer and functionalized with 4-benzeneoxomethane (5-(4-benzene)tri-10,15,20-(4-n-octylbenzene)zinc(II)porphyrin) using either five or six of the six available meso-positions, have been synthesized and characterized as models for the antenna effect in Photosystems I and II. The presence of the short linkers, -CH2O-, and long C8H17 soluble side chains substantially reduces the number of conformers (foldamers) compared with classic dendrimers built with longer flexible chains. This simplification assists in their spectroscopic and photophysical analysis, notably with respect to fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Both steadystate and time-resolved spectroscopic measurements indicate that the cofacial free bases and the flanking zinc(II)-porphyrin antennas act as energy acceptor and donor, respectively, following excitation in either the Q or Soret bands of the dendrimers. The rate constants for singlet electronic energy transfer (k(EET)) extracted from the S-1 and S-2 fluorescence lifetimes of the donor in the presence and absence of the acceptor are S-1 (range from a bi-exponential decay model) and about 1.5 x 10(12) s(-1) for S-2 -> S-n (n>1). Comparisons of these experimental data with those calculated from Forster theory using orientation factors and donor-acceptor distances extracted from computer modeling suggest that a highly restricted number of the many foldamers facilitate energy transfer. These foldamers have the lowest energy by molecular modeling and consist of one or at most two of the flanking zinc porphyrin antennas folded so they lie near the central artificial special pair core with the remaining antennas located almost parallel to and far from it