Evaluation of germline BMP4 mutation as a cause of colorectal cancer.
Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signalling plays a key role in colorectal cancer (CRC). Bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP4) is a member of the TGF-β family of signal transduction molecules. To examine if germline mutation in BMP4 causes CRC we analysed 504 genetically enriched CRC cases (by virtue of early-onset disease, family history of CRC) for mutations in the coding sequence of BMP4. We identified three pathogenic mutations, p.R286X (g.8330C>T), p.W325C (g.8449G>T) and p.C373S (g.8592G>C), amongst the CRC cases which were not observed in 524 healthy controls. p.R286X localizes to the N-terminal of the TGF-β1 prodomain truncating the protein prior to the active domain. p.W325C and p.C373S mutations are predicted from protein homology modelling with BMP2 to impact deleteriously on BMP4 function. Segregation of p.C373S with adenoma and hyperplastic polyp in first-degree relatives of the case suggests germline mutations may confer a juvenile polyposis-type phenotype. These findings suggest mutation of BMP4is a cause of CRC and the value of protein-based modelling in the elucidation of rare disease-causing variants.
Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, UK.
Steven J
SJ
Lubbe
Alan M
AM
Pittman
Cornelis
C
Matijssen
Philip
P
Twiss
Bianca
B
Olver
Amy
A
Lloyd
Mobshra
M
Qureshi
Nathan
N
Brown
Emma
E
Nye
Gordon
G
Stamp
Julian
J
Blagg
Richard S
RS
Houlston
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D018095:Germ-Line Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics
D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta