The genetic basis of DOORS syndrome: an exome-sequencing study.

Deafness, onychodystrophy, osteodystrophy, mental retardation, and seizures (DOORS) syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of unknown cause. We aimed to identify the genetic basis of this syndrome by sequencing most coding exons in affected individuals

Genetic structure of a reef-building coral from thermally distinct environments on the Great Barrier Reef

Adaptation to localised thermal regimes is facilitated by restricted gene flow, ultimately leading to genetic divergence among populations and differences in their physiological tolerances. Allozyme analysis of six polymorphic loci was used to assess genetic differentiation between nine populations of the reef-building coral Acropora millepora over a latitudinal temperature gradient on the inshore regions of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Small but significant genetic differentiation indicative of moderate levels of gene flow (pairwise F-ST 0.023 to 0.077) was found between southern populations of A. millepora in cooler regions of the GBR and the warmer, central or northern GBR populations. Patterns of genetic differentiation at these putatively neutral allozyme loci broadly matched experimental variation in thermal tolerance and were consistent with local thermal regimes (warmest monthly-averages) for the A. millepora populations examined. It is therefore hypothesized that natural selection has influenced the thermal tolerance of the A. millepora populations examined and greater genetic divergence is likely to be revealed by examination of genetic markers under the direct effects of natural selection

Proof-of-Concept Gene Editing for the Murine Model of Inducible Arginase-1 Deficiency

Arginase-1 deficiency in humans is a rare genetic disorder of metabolism resulting from a loss of arginase-1, leading to impaired ureagenesis, hyperargininemia and neurological deficits. Previously, we generated a tamoxifen-inducible arginase-1 deficient mouse model harboring a deletion of Arg1 exons 7 and 8 that leads to similar biochemical defects, along with a wasting phenotype and death within two weeks. Here, we report a strategy utilizing the Clustered, Regularly Interspaced, Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system in conjunction with piggyBac technology to target and reincorporate exons 7 and 8 at the specific Arg1 locus in attempts to restore the function of arginase-1 in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived hepatocyte-like cells (iHLCs) and macrophages in vitro. While successful gene targeted repair was achieved, minimal urea cycle function was observed in the targeted iHLCs compared to adult hepatocytes likely due to inadequate maturation of the cells. On the other hand, iPSC-derived macrophages expressed substantial amounts of "repaired" arginase. Our studies provide proof-of-concept for gene-editing at the Arg1 locus and highlight the challenges that lie ahead to restore sufficient liver-based urea cycle function in patients with urea cycle disorders