title: Functional analysis of two novel splice site mutations of APOB gene in familial hypobetalipoproteinemia.
abstract: Familial hypobetalipoproteinemia (FHBL) is a co-dominant disorder characterized by reduced plasma levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and its protein constituent apolipoprotein B (apoB), which may be due to mutations in APOB gene, mostly located in the coding region of this gene. We report two novel APOB gene mutations involving the acceptor splice site of intron 11 (c.1471-1G>A) and of intron 23 (c.3697-1G>C), respectively, which were identified in two patients with heterozygous FHBL associated with severe fatty liver disease. The effects of these mutations on APOB pre-mRNA splicing were assessed in COS-1 cells expressing the mutant APOB minigenes. The c.1471-1G>A APOB minigene generated two abnormal mRNAs. In one mRNA the entire intron 11 was retained; in the other mRNA exon 11 joined to exon 12, in which the first nucleotide was deleted due to the activation of a novel acceptor splice site. The predicted products of these mRNAs are truncated proteins of 546 and 474 amino acids, designated apoB-12.03 and apoB-10.45, respectively. The c.3697-1G>C APOB minigene generated a single abnormal mRNA in which exon 23 joined to exon 25, with the complete skipping of exon 24. This abnormal mRNA is predicted to encode a truncated protein of 1220 amino acids, designated apoB-26.89. These splice site mutations cause the formation of short truncated apoBs, which are not secreted into the plasma as lipoprotein constituents. This secretion defect is the major cause of severe fatty liver observed in carriers of these mutations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, I-41100 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Enza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Leo
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Magnolo
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pinotti
authors.forename: Scipione
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martini
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cortella
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vitturi
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rabacchi
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wunsch
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pucci
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bertolini
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Calandra
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tarugi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000235:genetics*; D019556:COS Cells; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D005091:Exons; D006801:Humans; D052476:Hypobetalipoproteinemia, Familial, Apolipoprotein B / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D012326:RNA Splicing
chemical_list: D001055:Apolipoproteins B