In vivo inactivation of MASTL kinase results in thrombocytopenia.
OBJECTIVE
A missense mutation in the microtubule-associated serine/threonine-like kinase gene (MASTL, FLJ14813) on human chromosome 10 was previously linked to a novel form of autosomal dominant inherited thrombocytopenia in a single pedigree. The mutation results in an amino acid change from glutamic acid at position 167 to aspartic acid and segregates perfectly with thrombocytopenic individuals within this extended family. The phenotype is characterized by mild thrombocytopenia with an average platelet count of 60,000 platelets per microliter of blood. We wanted to determine the expression and localization of MASTL, as well as its role in developing thrombocytes using an in vivo model system.


METHODS
Northern blot analysis allowed us to examine expression patterns. Morpholino knockdown assays in zebrafish (Danio rerio) were employed to determine in vivo contribution to thrombocyte development. Transient expression in baby hamster kidney cells resulted in localization of both the wild-type and E167D mutant forms of MASTL kinase to the nucleus.


RESULTS
Northern blot analysis indicates that MASTL messenger RNA is restricted in its expression to hematopoietic and cancer cell lines. A transient knockdown of MASTL in zebrafish results in deficiency of circulating thrombocytes. Transient expression of recombinant MASTL kinase in vitro demonstrates localization to the nucleus.


CONCLUSIONS
Functional studies presented here demonstrate a direct relationship between transient knockdown of MASTL kinase gene expression and reduction of circulating thrombocytes in zebrafish. This transient knockdown of MASTL in zebrafish correlates with a decrease in the expression of the thrombopoietin receptor, c-mpl, and the CD41 platelet adhesion protein, GpIIb, but has no effect on essential housekeeping zebrafish gene, EF1alpha.
Johnson
H Jan
HJ
Puget Sound Blood Center, Seattle, Wash. 98104-1256, USA. janj@psbc.org
Gandhi
Manish J
MJ
Shafizadeh
Ebrahim
E
Langer
Nathaniel B
NB
Pierce
Eric L
EL
Paw
Barry H
BH
Gilligan
Diana M
DM
Drachman
Jonathan G
JG
D000818:Animals; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D019070:Cell Lineage; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D040201:Platelet Membrane Glycoprotein IIb / Q000235:genetics; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D053628:Receptors, Thrombopoietin / Q000235:genetics; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D015027:Zebrafish
D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D040201:Platelet Membrane Glycoprotein IIb; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053628:Receptors, Thrombopoietin; C503880:MAST2 protein, human; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases