Heparan sulfate chains of perlecan are indispensable in the lens capsule but not in the kidney.
Mice lacking exon 3 of perlecan (Hspg2) gene were generated by gene targeting. Exon deletion does not alter the expression or the reading frame but causes loss of attachment sites for three heparan sulfate (HS) side chains. Hspg2(Delta 3 / Delta 3) mice are viable and fertile but have small eyes. Apoptosis and leakage of cellular material through the lens capsule are observed in neonatal lenses, and lenses degenerate within 3 weeks of birth. Electron microscopy revealed altered structure of the lens capsule through which cells had formed extensions. No kidney malfunction, such as protein uria, was detected in Hspg2(Delta 3 / Delta 3) mutant mice, nor were ultrastructural changes observed in the glomerular basement membranes (BMs). To achieve further depletion in the HS content of the BMs, Hspg2(Delta 3 / Delta 3) mice were bred with collagen XVIII null mice. Lens defects were more severe in the newborn Col18a1(-/-) x Hspg2(Delta 3 / Delta 3) mice and degeneration proceeded faster than in Hspg2(Delta 3 / Delta 3) mice. The results suggest that in the lens capsule, HS chains have a structural function and are essential in the insulation of the lens from its environment and in regulation of incoming signals.
Rossi
Maarit
M
Biocenter Oulu, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Pathology, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, FIN-90014 Oulu, Finland.
Morita
Hiroyuki
H
Sormunen
Raija
R
Airenne
Sari
S
Kreivi
Marjut
M
Wang
Ling
L
Fukai
Naomi
N
Olsen
Bjorn R
BR
Tryggvason
Karl
K
Soininen
Raija
R
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D002386:Cataract / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005091:Exons; D005124:Eye Abnormalities; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D018390:Gene Targeting; D019812:Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D009929:Organ Size; D014556:Urine / Q000737:chemistry
D019812:Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans; C071927:perlecan