A mutation in the signal sequence of LRP5 in a family with an osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome (OPPG)-like phenotype indicates a novel disease mechanism for trinucleotide repeats.
We extend the spectrum of phenotypes caused by mutations in the Wnt/Norrin coreceptor low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5) by identifying two novel types of mutation in related individuals whose presenting features were profound muscle hypotonia, mild mental retardation, blindness, and growth retardation. One mutation removes 6 out of 9 consecutive leucine residues in the LRP5 signal peptide (c.43_60del or p.Leu15_Leu20del), which impairs polypeptide entry into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), trafficking to the cell membrane, and signal transduction. The second mutation resulted from nonhomologous recombination between Alu repeat sequences, which deleted exons 14-16 and would produce a nonfunctional, truncated, and frameshifted polypeptide, if expressed [chr11:g.(13871447_1387511)_(13879636_13879700)del (NW_925106.1) or p.Pro1010GlnfsX38]. We confirmed that the length of the LRP5 signal peptide poly-leucine repeat is polymorphic in the general population, and, importantly, we were able to demonstrate in independent in vitro assays that different allele sizes affect receptor processing and signal transduction. Consequently, this polymorphism may have physiologic effects in vivo. This latter finding is relevant since through a genomewide search we identified nearly 400 human proteins that contain poly-leucine repeats within their signal peptide. We chose 18 of these proteins and genotyped the underlying trinucleotide repeat in healthy Caucasian individuals. More than one length allele was observed in one-half of the proteins. We therefore propose that natural variation in poly-leucine-stretches within signal peptides constitutes a currently unrecognized source of variability in protein translation and expression.
Chung
Boi-Dinh
BD
Institute of Human Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Kayserili
Hülya
H
Ai
Minrong
M
Freudenberg
Jan
J
Uzümcü
Abdullah
A
Uyguner
Oya
O
Bartels
Cynthia F
CF
Höning
Stefan
S
Ramirez
Alfredo
A
Hanisch
Franz-Georg
FG
Nürnberg
Gudrun
G
Nürnberg
Peter
P
Warman
Matthew L
ML
Wollnik
Bernd
B
Kubisch
Christian
C
Netzer
Christian
C
D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D026502:LDL-Receptor Related Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D007930:Leucine / Q000235:genetics; D060492:Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-5; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000473:pathology*; D010375:Pedigree; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals / Q000235:genetics*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013577:Syndrome; D018911:Trinucleotide Repeats / Q000235:genetics*; D014421:Turkey
D026502:LDL-Receptor Related Proteins; C555482:LRP5 protein, human; D060492:Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-5; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D008156:Luciferases; D007930:Leucine