Cryptic 5' splice site activation in SCN5A associated with Brugada syndrome.
The Brugada syndrome (BS) is characterized by ST segment elevation in the right precordial leads and sudden cardiac death. The disease is linked to mutations in SCN5A in approximately 20% of cases. We collected a large family with BS and have identified a novel intronic mutation. We performed the clinical, genetic, molecular and biophysical characterization of this disease-causing mutation. With direct sequencing we identified an intronic insertion of TGGG 5 bp from the end of the Exon 27 of SCN5A. For transcript analysis, we investigated Epstein-Barr-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines from patients and controls. Total RNA was extracted and RT-PCR experiments were performed to analyze the splicing patterns in exon 27 and 28. We identified two bands, one of the expected size and the other which showed a 96 bp deletion in exon 27, leading to a 32 amino acid in-frame deletion involving segments 2 and 3 of Domain IV of the SCN5A protein. This finding indicates that the intronic mutation creates a cryptic splice site inside Exon 27. Biophysical analysis using whole-cell patch-clamp techniques showed a complete loss of function of the mutated channels when heterologously expressed. In summary, this is the first report of a dysfunctional sodium channel created by an intronic mutation giving rise to cryptic splice site activation in SCN5A in a family with the BS. The deletion of fragments of segments 2 and 3 of Domain IV leads to complete loss of function, consistent with the biophysical data found in several mutations causing BS.
Hong
Kui
K
Molecular Genetics, Masonic Medical Research Laboratory, 2150 Bleecker Street, Utica, NY 13501, USA.
Guerchicoff
Alejandra
A
Pollevick
Guido D
GD
Oliva
Antonio
A
Dumaine
Robert
R
de Zutter
Mark
M
Burashnikov
Elena
E
Wu
Yue Sheng
YS
Brugada
Josep
J
Brugada
Pedro
P
Brugada
Ramon
R
D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology*; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007438:Introns / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D062554:NAV1.5 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D022821:RNA Splice Sites / Q000235:genetics*; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000235:genetics*; D013577:Syndrome
D062554:NAV1.5 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel; D022821:RNA Splice Sites; C568320:SCN5A protein, human; D015222:Sodium Channels