IGHMBP2 is a ribosome-associated helicase inactive in the neuromuscular disorder distal SMA type 1 (DSMA1).
Distal spinal muscular atrophy type 1 (DSMA1) is an autosomal recessive disease that is clinically characterized by distal limb weakness and respiratory distress. In this disease, the degeneration of alpha-motoneurons is caused by mutations in the immunoglobulin mu-binding protein 2 (IGHMBP2). This protein has been implicated in DNA replication, pre-mRNA splicing and transcription, but its precise function in all these processes has remained elusive. We have purified catalytically active recombinant IGHMBP2, which has enabled us to assess its enzymatic properties and to identify its cellular targets. Our data reveal that IGHMBP2 is an ATP-dependent 5' --> 3' helicase, which unwinds RNA and DNA duplices in vitro. Importantly, this helicase localizes predominantly to the cytoplasm of neuronal and non-neuronal cells and associates with ribosomes. DSMA1-causing amino acid substitutions in IGHMBP2 do not affect ribosome binding yet severely impair ATPase and helicase activity. We propose that IGHMBP2 is functionally linked to translation, and that mutations in its helicase domain interfere with this function in DSMA1 patients.
Guenther
Ulf-Peter
UP
Department of Neuropediatrics, Charité University Hospital, Berlin, Germany.
Handoko
Lusy
L
Laggerbauer
Bernhard
B
Jablonka
Sibylle
S
Chari
Ashwin
A
Alzheimer
Mona
M
Ohmer
Jürgen
J
Plöttner
Oliver
O
Gehring
Niels
N
Sickmann
Albert
A
von Au
Katja
K
Schuelke
Markus
M
Fischer
Utz
U
D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002457:Cell Extracts; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009134:Muscular Atrophy, Spinal / Q000201:enzymology*; D050505:Mutant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000201:enzymology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
D002457:Cell Extracts; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C489892:IGHMBP2 protein, human; C081225:Ighmbp2 protein, mouse; D050505:Mutant Proteins; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D004265:DNA Helicases