Mutations in the gene encoding filamin B disrupt vertebral segmentation, joint formation and skeletogenesis.
The filamins are cytoplasmic proteins that regulate the structure and activity of the cytoskeleton by cross-linking actin into three-dimensional networks, linking the cell membrane to the cytoskeleton and serving as scaffolds on which intracellular signaling and protein trafficking pathways are organized (reviewed in refs. 1,2). We identified mutations in the gene encoding filamin B in four human skeletal disorders. We found homozygosity or compound heterozygosity with respect to stop-codon mutations in autosomal recessive spondylocarpotarsal syndrome (SCT, OMIM 272460) and missense mutations in individuals with autosomal dominant Larsen syndrome (OMIM 150250) and the perinatal lethal atelosteogenesis I and III phenotypes (AOI, OMIM 108720; AOIII, OMIM 108721). We found that filamin B is expressed in human growth plate chondrocytes and in the developing vertebral bodies in the mouse. These data indicate an unexpected role in vertebral segmentation, joint formation and endochondral ossification for this ubiquitously expressed cytoskeletal protein.
Krakow
Deborah
D
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Research Institute, and David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA. deborah.krakow@cshs.org
Robertson
Stephen P
SP
King
Lily M
LM
Morgan
Timothy
T
Sebald
Eiman T
ET
Bertolotto
Cristina
C
Wachsmann-Hogiu
Sebastian
S
Acuna
Dora
D
Shapiro
Sandor S
SS
Takafuta
Toshiro
T
Aftimos
Salim
S
Kim
Chong Ae
CA
Firth
Helen
H
Steiner
Carlos E
CE
Cormier-Daire
Valerie
V
Superti-Furga
Andrea
A
Bonafe
Luisa
L
Graham
John M
JM
Grix
Arthur
A
Bacino
Carlos A
CA
Allanson
Judith
J
Bialer
Martin G
MG
Lachman
Ralph S
RS
Rimoin
David L
DL
Cohn
Daniel H
DH
D018388:Codon, Terminator; D003285:Contractile Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D064448:Filamins; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D007596:Joints / Q000254:growth & development*; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D010375:Pedigree; D017354:Point Mutation; D021381:Protein Transport; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013131:Spine / Q000254:growth & development*
D018388:Codon, Terminator; D003285:Contractile Proteins; D064448:Filamins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins