KLF13 is a genetic modifier of the Holt-Oram syndrome gene TBX5.
TBX5, a member of the T-box family of transcription factors, is a dosage sensitive regulator of heart development. Mutations in TBX5 are responsible for Holt-Oram Syndrome, an autosomal dominant disease with variable and partially penetrant cardiac defects suggestive of the existence of genetic and environmental modifiers. KLF13, a member of the Krüppel-like family of zinc finger proteins is co-expressed with TBX5 in several cardiac cells including atrial cardiomyocytes and cells of the interatrial septum. We report that KLF13 interacts physically and functionally with TBX5 to synergistically activate transcription of cardiac genes. We show that TBX5 contacts KLF13 via its T-domain and find that several disease-causing mutations therein have decreased KLF13 interaction. Whereas Klf13 heterozygote mice have no detectable cardiac defects, loss of a Klf13 allele in Tbx5 heterozygote mice significantly increases the penetrance of TBX5-dependent cardiac abnormalities including atrial, atrial-ventricular and ventricular septal defects. The results reveal for the first time combinatorial interaction between a T-box protein and a KLF family member and its importance for heart and possibly other organ development. The data also suggest that, in human, KLF13 may be a genetic modifier of the Holt-Oram Syndrome gene TBX5.
Molecular Genetics and Cardiac Regeneration Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1N 6N5, Canada.
Rami
R
Darwich
Molecular Genetics and Cardiac Regeneration Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1N 6N5, Canada.|Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Wenjuan
W
Li
Molecular Genetics and Cardiac Regeneration Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1N 6N5, Canada.
Abir
A
Yamak
Molecular Genetics and Cardiac Regeneration Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1N 6N5, Canada.
Hiba
H
Komati
Sainte Justine Hospital, Cardiovascular Genetics, Montréal, Quebec, H3T 1C5, Canada.
Gregor
G
Andelfinger
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Kun
K
Sun
Molecular Genetics and Cardiac Regeneration Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1N 6N5, Canada.
Mona
M
Nemer
D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D038061:Lower Extremity Deformities, Congenital / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D011485:Protein Binding; D000072417:Protein Domains / Q000235:genetics; D060066:Protein Interaction Maps / Q000235:genetics; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000235:genetics; D038062:Upper Extremity Deformities, Congenital / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; C486422:Klf13 protein, mouse; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; C103172:T-box transcription factor 5