N-terminal RAG1 frameshift mutations in Omenn's syndrome: internal methionine usage leads to partial V(D)J recombination activity and reveals a fundamental role in vivo for the N-terminal domains.
Omenn's syndrome is an autosomal recessive primary immunodeficiency characterized by variable numbers of T lymphocytes of limited clonality, hypereosinophilia, and high IgE levels with a paradoxical absence of circulating B lymphocytes. We have previously attributed this disorder to missense mutations that render the RAG1/RAG2 recombinase only partially active. Here we report seven Omenn's patients with a novel class of genetic lesions: frameshift mutations within the 5' coding region of RAG1. Interestingly, we demonstrate in transient expression experiments that these frameshift deletion alleles remain partially functional for both deletional and inversional recombination and can hence explain the partial rearrangement phenotype observed in these patients. The rearrangement activity is mediated by truncated RAG1 proteins that are generated by alternative ATG usage 3' to the frameshift deletion and that demonstrate improper cellular localization. Taken together, our results suggest a novel mechanism for the development of immunodeficiency in a subset of Omenn's syndrome patients.
Santagata
S
S
Ruttenberg Cancer Center, Immunobiology Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA.
Gomez
C A
CA
Sobacchi
C
C
Bozzi
F
F
Abinun
M
M
Pasic
S
S
Cortes
P
P
Vezzoni
P
P
Villa
A
A
D000483:Alleles; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D004254:DNA Nucleotidyltransferases / Q000502:physiology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D016368:Frameshift Mutation; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000235:genetics*; D008715:Methionine / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D045567:VDJ Recombinases
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C499311:RAG2 protein, human; C064655:V(D)J recombination activating protein 2; C064658:RAG-1 protein; D008715:Methionine; D004254:DNA Nucleotidyltransferases; D045567:VDJ Recombinases