title: Genetic interactions between neurofibromin and endothelin receptor B in mice.
abstract: When mutations in two different genes produce the same mutant phenotype, it suggests that the encoded proteins either interact with each other, or act in parallel to fulfill a similar purpose. Haploinsufficiency of Neurofibromin and over-expression of Endothelin 3 both cause increased numbers of melanocytes to populate the dermis during mouse development, and thus we are interested in how these two signaling pathways might intersect. Neurofibromin is mutated in the human genetic disease, neurofibromatosis type 1, which is characterized by the development of Schwann cell based tumors and skin hyper-pigmentation. Neurofibromin is a GTPase activating protein, while the Endothelin 3 ligand activates Endothelin receptor B, a G protein coupled receptor. In order to study the genetic interactions between endothelin and neurofibromin, we defined the deletion breakpoints of the classical Ednrb piebald lethal allele (Ednrb(s-l) ) and crossed these mice to mice with a loss-of-function mutation in neurofibromin, Dark skin 9 (Dsk9). We found that Neurofibromin haploinsufficiency requires Endothelin receptor B to darken the tail dermis. In contrast, Neurofibromin haploinsufficiency increases the area of the coat that is pigmented in Endothelin receptor B null mice. We also found an oncogenic mutation in the G protein alpha subunit, GNAQ, which couples to Endothelin receptor B, in a uveal melanoma from a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1. Thus, this data suggests that there is a complex relationship between Neurofibromin and Endothelin receptor B.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: Mugdha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deo
authors.forename: Jenny Li-Ying
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Catherine D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Van Raamsdonk
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D020405:Dermis / Q000196:embryology; D019334:Endothelin-3 / Q000235:genetics; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D044385:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits / Q000235:genetics; D017353:Gene Deletion; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005838:Genotype; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009154:Mutation; D025542:Neurofibromin 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D044023:Receptor, Endothelin B / Q000235:genetics*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D019334:Endothelin-3; D044385:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits; D025542:Neurofibromin 1; D044023:Receptor, Endothelin B; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases
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