| 11528913 | VCP and ATL1 regulate endoplasmic reticulum and protein synthesis for dendritic spine formation. | Shih YT and Hsueh YP, Nat Commun. 2016 Mar 17;7:11020. doi: 10.1038/ncomms11020. | Imbalanced protein homeostasis, such as excessive protein synthesis and protein aggregation, is a pathogenic hallmark of a range of neurological disorders. Here, using expression of mutant proteins, a knockdown approach and disease mutation knockin mice, we show that VCP (valosin-containing protein) , together with its cofactor P47 and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) morphology regulator ATL1 (Atlastin-1), regulates tubular ER formation and influences the efficiency of protein synthesis to control dendritic spine formation in neurons. Strengthening the significance of protein synthesis in dendritic spinogenesis, the translation blocker cyclohexamide and the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin reduce dendritic spine density, while a leucine supplement that increases protein synthesis ameliorates the dendritic spine defects caused by Vcp and Atl1 deficiencies. Because VCP and ATL1 are the causative genes of several neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders, we suggest that impaired ER formation and inefficient protein synthesis are significant in the pathogenesis of multiple neurological disorders. | 26984393 | 1000-08-01 |
| 11537657 | Molecular spectrum of the SPAST, ATL1 and REEP1 gene mutations associated with the most common hereditary spastic paraplegias in a group of Polish patients. | Elert-Dobkowska E, etal., J Neurol Sci. 2015 Dec 15;359(1-2):35-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2015.10.030. Epub 2015 Oct 17. | Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs) consist of a heterogeneous group of genetically determined neurodegenerative disorders. Progressive lower extremity weakness and spasticity are the prominent features of HSPs resulting from retrograde axonal degeneration of the corticospinal tracts. Three geneti c types, SPG3 (ATL1), SPG4 (SPAST) and SPG31 (REEP1), appear predominantly and may account for up to 50% of autosomal dominant hereditary spastic paraplegias (AD-HSPs). Here, we present the results of genetic testing of the three mentioned SPG genetic types in a group of 216 unrelated Polish patients affected with spastic paraplegia. Molecular evaluation was performed by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) and DNA sequencing. Nineteen novel mutations: 13 in SPAST, 4 in ATL1 and 2 in REEP1, were identified among overall 50 different mutations detected in 57 families. Genetic analysis resulted in the identification of molecular defects in 54% of familial and 8.4% of isolated cases. Our research expanded the causative mutations spectrum of the three most common genetic forms of HSPs found in a large cohort of probands originating from the Central Europe. | 26671083 | 2015-10-01 |
| 11533390 | Mutation analysis of four Chinese families with pure hereditary spastic paraplegia: pseudo- X-linked dominant inheritance and male lethality due to a novel ATL1 mutation. | Zhao N, etal., Genet Mol Res. 2015 Nov 23;14(4):14690-7. doi: 10.4238/2015.November.18.33. | We studied four Chinese families with pure hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) to investigate the clinical features and associated genetic mutations. Linkage analysis was performed for all families to map the disease locus onto autosomal chromosomes, and related loci involved in HSP on the X chromos ome were also examined. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sequencing was used to detect gene mutations. To confirm the influence of a splice-site mutation on mRNA, we used reverse transcription-PCR and direct sequencing. Linkage analysis and ATL1 gene sequencing of amniocytes were performed for prenatal genetic diagnosis. One missense variant (c.1517T>A) and a splice-site mutation (c.1245+1G>A) in SPAST, and two missense variants (c.715C>T, c.1204T>G) in ATL1 were identified. The c.1245+1G>A mutation caused a deletion of exon 9 in the SPAST gene. Prenatal genetic diagnosis showed that fetus did not carry the ALT1 c.1204T>G mutation. Follow-up was maintained for 5 years, and the negative result was confirmed by evidence of a healthy growing boy. We identified two novel mutations and two previously reported mutations in SPAST and ATL1, respectively. The family with the ATL1 c.1204T>G mutation exhibited male-lethality, female infancy-onset, and pseudo- X-linked dominant transmission, which had never been previously reported for HSP. Characteristic facial features were also noticed. The boy on whom prenatal gene diagnosis was performed is healthy and without unusual facies, suggesting that the c.1204T>G mutation might be related to these features. The results extend the genetic spectrum of HSP and suggest that linkage analysis remains a powerful tool in gene discovery studies. | 26600529 | 1000-09-01 |
| 11342486 | Mutational spectrum of the SPAST and ATL1 genes in Korean patients with hereditary spastic paraplegia. | Park H, etal., J Neurol Sci. 2015 Oct 15;357(1-2):167-72. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2015.07.024. Epub 2015 Jul 17. | Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) is a genetically heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by insidiously progressive lower-extremity weakness and spasticity. Spastic paraplegia 4 (SPAST) is the most common type of uncomplicated autosomal dominant HSP (40% of such cases), and spastic paraple gia 3A (ATL1) is the second most common. Here, we conducted mutational analysis of the SPAST and/or ATL1 genes in 206 unrelated patients with HSP. DNA sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification was used to analyze SPAST or ATL1 pathogenic variants. To confirm splice-site pathogenic variants, mRNA transcripts were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions and sequencing. Among the 52 patients with medical records and SPAST or ATL1 gene pathogenic variants or novel unclassified variants, 50 showed spasticity or weakness in their lower extremities. We identified 16 known and 18 novel SPAST pathogenic variants and 2 known and a novel splicing pathogenic variants in ATL1. We also identified 4 unclassified SPAST variants in 5 patients and an unclassified ATL1 variant in 1 patient. Further, a novel leaky-splicing variant (c.1537-11A>G) was found in SPAST, which caused skipping of exon 13 or exons 13-14. Among the 206 unrelated patients with HSP, SPAST or ATL1 pathogenic variants and potentially pathogenic variants were identified in 52 patients, a low pathogenic variant rate compared to previous results. Results from our study suggest that other genes may be involved in HSP in the Korean population. | 26208798 | 2015-07-01 |