Sorusch Nasrin, Bauß Katharina, Plutniok Janet, Samanta Ananya, Knapp Barbara, Nagel-Wolfrum Kerstin, Wolfrum Uwe
Hum Mol Genet. 2017 Mar 15;26(6):1157-1172. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddx027.
The Usher syndrome (USH) is the most common form of inherited deaf-blindness, accompanied by vestibular dysfunction. Due to the heterogeneous manifestation of the clinical symptoms, three USH types (USH1-3) and additional atypical forms are distinguished. USH1 and USH2 proteins have been shown to function together in multiprotein networks in photoreceptor cells and hair cells. Mutations in USH proteins are considered to disrupt distinct USH protein networks and finally lead to the development of USH.To get novel insights into the molecular pathomechanisms underlying USH, we further characterize the periciliary USH protein network in photoreceptor cells. We show the direct interaction between the scaffold protein SANS (USH1G) and the transmembrane adhesion protein ush2a and that both assemble into a ternary USH1/USH2 complex together with the PDZ-domain protein whirlin (USH2D) via mutual interactions. Immunohistochemistry and proximity ligation assays demonstrate co-localization of complex partners and complex formation, respectively, in the periciliary region, the inner segment and at the synapses of rodent and human photoreceptor cells. Protein-protein interaction assays and co-expression of complex partners reveal that pathogenic mutations in USH1G severely affect formation of the SANS/ush2a/whirlin complex. Translational read-through drug treatment, targeting the c.728C > A (p.S243X) nonsense mutation, restored SANS scaffold function. We conclude that USH1 and USH2 proteins function together in higher order protein complexes. The maintenance of USH1/USH2 protein complexes depends on multiple USH1/USH2 protein interactions, which are disrupted by pathogenic mutations in USH1G protein SANS.
尤塞氏综合征(USH)是遗传性聋盲最常见的形式,伴有前庭功能障碍。由于临床症状表现具有异质性,可区分出三种USH类型(USH1 - 3)以及其他非典型形式。已证明USH1和USH2蛋白在光感受器细胞和毛细胞的多蛋白网络中共同发挥作用。USH蛋白的突变被认为会破坏不同的USH蛋白网络,最终导致USH的发生。为了深入了解USH潜在的分子发病机制,我们进一步对光感受器细胞中的纤毛周USH蛋白网络进行了表征。我们展示了支架蛋白SANS(USH1G)与跨膜黏附蛋白ush2a之间的直接相互作用,并且二者通过相互作用与PDZ结构域蛋白whirlin(USH2D)一起组装成三元USH1/USH2复合物。免疫组织化学和邻近连接分析分别证明了复合物组分在啮齿动物和人类光感受器细胞的纤毛周区域、内段和突触处共定位以及复合物的形成。蛋白质 - 蛋白质相互作用分析和复合物组分的共表达表明,USH1G中的致病突变严重影响SANS/ush2a/whirlin复合物的形成。针对c.728C>A(p.S243X)无义突变的翻译通读药物治疗恢复了SANS支架功能。我们得出结论,USH1和USH2蛋白在高阶蛋白复合物中共同发挥作用。USH1/USH2蛋白复合物的维持取决于多种USH1/USH2蛋白相互作用,而USH1G蛋白SANS中的致病突变会破坏这些相互作用。