Nathan Fischel-Ghodsian

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA

Are you Nathan Fischel-Ghodsian?

Claim your profile

Publications (31)100.55 Total impact

  • Article: Phenotypic expression of maternally inherited deafness is affected by RNA modification and cytoplasmic ribosomal proteins.
    Yelena Bykhovskaya, Emebet Mengesha, Nathan Fischel-Ghodsian
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: The homoplasmic mitochondrial A1555G mutation in the 12S rRNA gene leads to a mitochondrial translation disorder associated with deafness. The absence of disease in non-cochlear tissues in all patients, and in the cochlea in some patients, is not well understood. We used a system-based approach, including whole genome expression and biological function analysis, to elucidate the pathways underlying tissue specificity and clinical severity of this condition. Levels of over 48K RNA transcripts from EBV-transformed lymphoblasts of deaf and hearing individuals with the A1555G mutation and controls were obtained. Differentially expressed transcripts were functionally grouped using gene set enrichment analysis. Over 50 RNA binding proteins were differentially expressed between deaf and hearing individuals with the A1555G mutation (P-value of 2.56E-7), confirming previous genetic data implicating this pathway in the determination of the severity of hearing loss. Unexpectedly, the majority of cytoplasmic ribosomal genes were up-regulated in a coordinated fashion in individuals with the A1555G mutation versus controls (P-value of 3.91E-135). This finding was verified through real time RT-PCR, and through measuring of protein levels by flow cytometry. Analysis of expression levels of other differentially expressed genes suggests that this coordinated over-expression of cytoplasmic ribosomal proteins might occur through the Myc/Max pathway. We propose that expression levels of RNA binding proteins help determine the severity of the cochlear phenotype, and that coordinated up-regulation of the cytoplasmic translation apparatus operates as a compensation mechanism in unaffected tissues of patients with maternal deafness associated with the A1555G mutation.
    Molecular Genetics and Metabolism 06/2009; 97(4):297-304. · 3.19 Impact Factor
  • Article: Partial activity is seen with many substitutions of highly conserved active site residues in human Pseudouridine synthase 1.
    Bryan S Sibert, Nathan Fischel-Ghodsian, Jeffrey R Patton
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Pseudouridine synthase 1 (Pus1p) is an enzyme that converts uridine to Pseudouridine (Psi) in tRNA and other RNAs in eukaryotes. The active site of Pus1p is composed of stretches of amino acids that are highly conserved and it is hypothesized that mutation of select residues would impair the enzyme's ability to catalyze the formation of Psi. However, most mutagenesis studies have been confined to substitution of the catalytic aspartate, which invariably results in an inactive enzyme in all Psi synthases tested. To determine the requirements for particular amino acids at certain absolutely conserved positions in Pus1p, three residues (R116, Y173, R267) that correspond to amino acids known to compose the active site of TruA, a bacterial Psi synthase that is homologous to Pus1p, were mutated in human Pus1p (hPus1p). The effects of those mutations were determined with three different in vitro assays of pseudouridylation and several tRNA substrates. Surprisingly, it was found that each of these components of the hPus1p active site could tolerate certain amino acid substitutions and in fact most mutants exhibited some activity. The most active mutants retained near wild-type activity at positions 27 or 28 in the substrate tRNA, but activity was greatly reduced or absent at other positions in tRNA readily modified by wild-type hPus1p.
    RNA 09/2008; 14(9):1895-906. · 5.09 Impact Factor
  • Article: Pleiotropic effects and compensation mechanisms determine tissue specificity in mitochondrial myopathy and sideroblastic anemia (MLASA).
    Yelena Bykhovskaya, Emebet Mengesha, Nathan Fischel-Ghodsian
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: The tissue specificity of mitochondrial diseases is poorly understood. Recently, tissue-specific quantitative differences of the components of the mitochondrial translation system have been found to correlate with disease presentation in fatal hepatopathy caused by mutations in mitochondrial translation factor EFG1. MLASA is an autosomal recessive inherited progressive oxidative phosphorylation disorder that affects muscle and erythroid cells. The disease is caused by the homozygous point mutation C656T (R116W) in the catalytic domain of the pseudouridylate synthase 1 (PUS1) gene, which leads to a complete lack of pseudouridylation at the expected sites in mitochondrial and cytoplasmic tRNAs. Despite the presence of these altered tRNAs, most tissues are unaffected, and even in muscle and erythroid cells the disease phenotype only slowly emerges over the course of years. In order to elucidate intracellular pathways through which the homozygous mutation leads to tissue-restricted phenotype, we performed microarray expression analysis of EBV-transformed lymphoblasts from MLASA patients, heterozygous parents, and controls using human Beadchip microarray with 47,296 transcripts. Genes coding for proteins involved in DNA transcription and its regulation, and metal binding proteins, demonstrated major differences in expression between patients and all other individuals with normal phenotype. Genes coding for ribosomal proteins differed significantly between individual with at least one copy of the mutated PUS1 gene and controls. These findings indicate that the lack of tRNA pseudouridylation can be overcome by compensatory changes in levels of ribosomal proteins, and that the disease phenotype in affected tissues is likely due to pleiotropic effects of PUS1p on non-tRNA molecules involved in DNA transcription and iron metabolism. Similar combinations of mechanisms may play a role in the tissue specificity of other mitochondrial disorders.
    Molecular Genetics and Metabolism 07/2007; 91(2):148-56. · 3.19 Impact Factor
  • Article: Pus3p- and Pus1p-dependent pseudouridylation of steroid receptor RNA activator controls a functional switch that regulates nuclear receptor signaling.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: It was previously shown that mouse Pus1p (mPus1p), a pseudouridine synthase (PUS) known to modify certain transfer RNAs (tRNAs), can also bind with nuclear receptors (NRs) and function as a coactivator through pseudouridylation and likely activation of an RNA coactivator called steroid receptor RNA activator (SRA). Use of cell extract devoid of human Pus1p activity derived from patients with mitochondrial myopathy and sideroblastic anemia, however, still showed SRA-modifying activity suggesting that other PUS(s) can also target this coactivator. Here, we show that related mPus3p, which has a different tRNA specificity than mPus1p, also serves as a NR coactivator. However, in contrast to mPus1p, it does not stimulate sex steroid receptor activity, which is likely due to lack of binding to this class of NRs. As expected from their tRNA activities, in vitro pseudouridylation assays show that mPus3p and mPus1p modify different positions in SRA, although some may be commonly targeted. Interestingly, the order in which these enzymes modify SRA determines the total number of pseudouridines. mPus3p and SRA are mainly cytoplasmic; however, mPus3p and SRA are also localized in distinct nuclear subcompartments. Finally, we identified an in vivo modified position in SRA, U206, which is likely a common target for both mPus1p and mPus3p. When U206 is mutated to A, SRA becomes hyperpseudouridylated in vitro, and it acquires dominant-negative activity in vivo. Thus, Pus1p- and Pus3p-dependent pseudouridylation of SRA is a highly complex posttranscriptional mechanism that controls a coactivator-corepressor switch in SRA with major consequences for NR signaling.
    Molecular Endocrinology 04/2007; 21(3):686-99. · 4.54 Impact Factor
  • Source
    Article: MRPS18CP2 alleles and DEFA3 absence as putative chromosome 8p23.1 modifiers of hearing loss due to mtDNA mutation A1555G in the 12S rRNA gene.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations account for at least 5% of cases of postlingual, nonsyndromic hearing impairment. Among them, mutation A1555G is frequently found associated with aminoglycoside-induced and/or nonsyndromic hearing loss in families presenting with extremely variable clinical phenotypes. Biochemical and genetic data have suggested that nuclear background is the main factor involved in modulating the phenotypic expression of mutation A1555G. However, although a major nuclear modifying locus was located on chromosome 8p23.1 and regardless intensive screening of the region, the gene involved has not been identified. With the aim to gain insights into the factors that determine the phenotypic expression of A1555G mutation, we have analysed in detail different genetic and genomic elements on 8p23.1 region (DEFA3 gene absence, CLDN23 gene and MRPS18CP2 pseudogene) in a group of 213 A1555G carriers. Family based association studies identified a positive association for a polymorphism on MRPS18CP2 and an overrepresentation of DEFA3 gene absence in the deaf group of A1555G carriers. Although none of the factors analysed seem to have a major contribution to the phenotype, our findings provide further evidences of the involvement of 8p23.1 region as a modifying locus for A1555G 12S rRNA gene mutation.
    BMC Medical Genetics 02/2007; 8:81. · 2.33 Impact Factor
  • Article: MRPS18CP2 alleles and DEFA3 absence as putative chromosome 8p23.1 modifiers of hearing loss due to mtDNA mutation A1555G in the 12S rRNA gene
    Ester Ballana, Josep Mercader, Nathan Fischel-Ghodsian, Xavier Estivill
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Abstract Background Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations account for at least 5% of cases of postlingual, nonsyndromic hearing impairment. Among them, mutation A1555G is frequently found associated with aminoglycoside-induced and/or nonsyndromic hearing loss in families presenting with extremely variable clinical phenotypes. Biochemical and genetic data have suggested that nuclear background is the main factor involved in modulating the phenotypic expression of mutation A1555G. However, although a major nuclear modifying locus was located on chromosome 8p23.1 and regardless intensive screening of the region, the gene involved has not been identified. Methods With the aim to gain insights into the factors that determine the phenotypic expression of A1555G mutation, we have analysed in detail different genetic and genomic elements on 8p23.1 region ( DEFA3 gene absence, CLDN23 gene and MRPS18CP2 pseudogene) in a group of 213 A1555G carriers. Results Family based association studies identified a positive association for a polymorphism on MRPS18CP2 and an overrepresentation of DEFA3 gene absence in the deaf group of A1555G carriers. Conclusion Although none of the factors analysed seem to have a major contribution to the phenotype, our findings provide further evidences of the involvement of 8p23.1 region as a modifying locus for A1555G 12S rRNA gene mutation.
    BMC Medical Genetics. 01/2007;
  • Article: Mutation in TRMU related to transfer RNA modification modulates the phenotypic expression of the deafness-associated mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA mutations.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: The human mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) A1555G mutation has been associated with aminoglycoside-induced and nonsyndromic deafness in many families worldwide. Our previous investigation revealed that the A1555G mutation is a primary factor underlying the development of deafness but is not sufficient to produce a deafness phenotype. However, it has been proposed that nuclear-modifier genes modulate the phenotypic manifestation of the A1555G mutation. Here, we identified the nuclear-modifier gene TRMU, which encodes a highly conserved mitochondrial protein related to transfer RNA (tRNA) modification. Genotyping analysis of TRMU in 613 subjects from 1 Arab-Israeli kindred, 210 European (Italian pedigrees and Spanish pedigrees) families, and 31 Chinese pedigrees carrying the A1555G or the C1494T mutation revealed a missense mutation (G28T) altering an invariant amino acid residue (A10S) in the evolutionarily conserved N-terminal region of the TRMU protein. Interestingly, all 18 Arab-Israeli/Italian-Spanish matrilineal relatives carrying both the TRMU A10S and 12S rRNA A1555G mutations exhibited prelingual profound deafness. Functional analysis showed that this mutation did not affect importation of TRMU precursors into mitochondria. However, the homozygous A10S mutation leads to a marked failure in mitochondrial tRNA metabolisms, specifically reducing the steady-state levels of mitochondrial tRNA. As a consequence, these defects contribute to the impairment of mitochondrial-protein synthesis. Resultant biochemical defects aggravate the mitochondrial dysfunction associated with the A1555G mutation, exceeding the threshold for expressing the deafness phenotype. These findings indicate that the mutated TRMU, acting as a modifier factor, modulates the phenotypic manifestation of the deafness-associated 12S rRNA mutations.
    The American Journal of Human Genetics 09/2006; 79(2):291-302. · 10.60 Impact Factor
  • Article: Human TRMU encoding the mitochondrial 5-methylaminomethyl-2-thiouridylate-methyltransferase is a putative nuclear modifier gene for the phenotypic expression of the deafness-associated 12S rRNA mutations.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Nuclear modifier genes have been proposed to modulate the phenotypic manifestation of human mitochondrial 12S rRNA A1491G mutation associated with deafness in many families world-wide. Here we identified and characterized the putative nuclear modifier gene TRMU encoding a highly conserved mitochondrial protein related to tRNA modification. A 1937bp TRMU cDNA has been isolated and the genomic organization of TRMU has been elucidated. The human TRMU gene containing 11 exons encodes a 421 residue protein with a strong homology to the TRMU-like proteins of bacteria and other homologs. TRMU is ubiquitously expressed in various tissues, but abundantly in tissues with high metabolic rates including heart, liver, kidney, and brain. Immunofluorescence analysis of human 143B cells expressing TRMU-GFP fusion protein demonstrated that the human Trmu localizes and functions in mitochondrion. Furthermore, we show that in families with the deafness-associated 12S rRNA A1491G mutation there is highly suggestive linkage and linkage disequilibrium between microsatellite markers adjacent to TRMU and the presence of deafness. These observations suggest that human TRMU may modulate the phenotypic manifestation of the deafness-associated mitochondrial 12S rRNA mutations.
    Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 05/2006; 342(4):1130-6. · 2.48 Impact Factor
  • Article: Mitochondrial myopathy, sideroblastic anemia, and lactic acidosis: an autosomal recessive syndrome in Persian Jews caused by a mutation in the PUS1 gene.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: We report the seventh case of autosomal recessive inherited mitochondrial myopathy, lactic acidosis, and sideroblastic anemia The patient, a product of consanguineous Persian Jews, had the association of mental retardation, dysmorphic features, lactic acidosis, myopathy, and sideroblastic anemia. Muscle biopsy demonstrated low activity of complexes 1 and 4 of the respiratory chain. Electron microscopy revealed paracrystalline inclusions in most mitochondria. Southern blot of the mitochondrial DNA did not show any large-scale rearrangements. The patient was found to be homozygous for the 656C-->T mutation in the pseudouridine synthase 1 gene (PUS1). Mitochondrial myopathy, lactic acidosis, and sideroblastic anemia is an oxidative phosphorylation disorder causing sideroblastic anemia, myopathy, and, in some cases, mental retardation that is due to mutations in the nuclear-encoded PUS1 gene. This finding provides additional evidence that mitochondrial ribonucleic acid modification impacts the phenotypic expression of oxidative phosphorylation disorders.
    Journal of Child Neurology 06/2005; 20(5):449-52. · 1.75 Impact Factor
  • Article: Mitochondrial myopathy and sideroblastic anemia (MLASA): missense mutation in the pseudouridine synthase 1 (PUS1) gene is associated with the loss of tRNA pseudouridylation.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: A missense mutation in the PUS1 gene affecting a highly conserved amino acid has been associated with mitochondrial myopathy and sideroblastic anemia (MLASA), a rare autosomal recessive oxidative phosphorylation disorder. The PUS1 gene encodes the enzyme pseudouridine synthase 1 (Pus1p) that is known to pseudouridylate tRNAs in other species. Total RNA was isolated from lymphoblastoid cell lines established from patients, parents, unaffected siblings, and unrelated controls, and the tRNAs were assayed for the presence of pseudouridine (Psi) at the expected positions. Mitochondrial and cytoplasmic tRNAs from MLASA patients are lacking modification at sites normally modified by Pus1p, whereas tRNAs from controls, unaffected siblings, or parents all have Psi at these positions. In addition, there was no Pus1p activity in an extract made from a cell line derived from a patient with MLASA. Immunohistochemical staining of Pus1p in cell lines showed nuclear, cytoplasmic, and mitochondrial distribution of the protein, and there is no difference in staining between patients and unaffected family members. MLASA is thus associated with absent or greatly reduced tRNA pseudouridylation at specific sites, implicating this pathway in its molecular pathogenesis.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 06/2005; 280(20):19823-8. · 4.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: Mitochondrial Myopathy and Sideroblastic Anemia (MLASA)
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: A missense mutation in the PUS1 gene affecting a highly conserved amino acid has been associated with mitochondrial myopathy and sideroblastic anemia (MLASA), a rare autosomal recessive oxidative phosphorylation disorder. The PUS1 gene encodes the enzyme pseudouridine synthase 1 (Pus1p) that is known to pseudouridylate tRNAs in other species. Total RNA was isolated from lymphoblastoid cell lines established from patients, parents, unaffected siblings, and unrelated controls, and the tRNAs were assayed for the presence of pseudouridine (Ψ) at the expected positions. Mitochondrial and cytoplasmic tRNAs from MLASA patients are lacking modification at sites normally modified by Pus1p, whereas tRNAs from controls, unaffected siblings, or parents all have Ψ at these positions. In addition, there was no Pus1p activity in an extract made from a cell line derived from a patient with MLASA. Immunohistochemical staining of Pus1p in cell lines showed nuclear, cytoplasmic, and mitochondrial distribution of the protein, and there is no difference in staining between patients and unaffected family members. MLASA is thus associated with absent or greatly reduced tRNA pseudouridylation at specific sites, implicating this pathway in its molecular pathogenesis.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 05/2005; 280(20):19823-19828. · 4.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: Biochemical characterization of the deafness-associated mitochondrial tRNASer(UCN) A7445G mutation in osteosarcoma cell cybrids.
    Xiaoming Li, Linda S Zhang, Nathan Fischel-Ghodsian, Min-Xin Guan
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: The deafness-associated A7445G mutation in the precursor of mitochondrial tRNA(Ser(UCN)) has been identified in several pedigrees from different ethnic backgrounds. To determine the role of nuclear background in the biochemical manifestation associated with the A7445G mutation, we performed a biochemical characterization of this mutation using cybrids constructed by transferring mitochondria from lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from a New Zealand family into human osteosarcoma mtDNA-less (rho(0)) cells. Compared with three control cybrids, three cybrids derived from an affected matrilineal relative carrying the homoplasmic A7445G mutation exhibited approximately 38-57% decrease in the steady-state level of tRNA(Ser(UCN)), which is less reduced levels than in lymphoblastoid cells in the previous study. Furthermore, approximately 22% reduction in the level of aminoacylation of tRNA(Ser(UCN)) was observed in the mutant cybrid cells. Interestingly, approximately 60-63% decrease of steady-state level of ND6 gene, which belongs to the same precursor as that of tRNA(Ser(UCN)), in cybrid cell lines carrying the A7445G mutation, is more than that observed in lymphoblastoid cells. These observations strongly point out a mechanistic link between the processing defect of the tRNA(Ser(UCN)) precursor and decreased stability of ND6 mRNA precursor. These results also imply the influence of nuclear background on the biochemical phenotype associated with the A7445G mutation.
    Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 04/2005; 328(2):491-8. · 2.48 Impact Factor
  • Article: Genetic factors in aminoglycoside toxicity.
    Nathan Fischel-Ghodsian
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Ototoxicity is the major irreversible toxicity of aminoglycosides, and it occurs both in a dose-dependent and idiosyncratic fashion. The idiosyncratic pathway is presumably due to genetic predispositions, and an inherited mutation in the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA gene that predisposes carriers to aminoglycoside ototoxicity was identified in 1993. Up to a third of patients with aminoglycoside ototoxicity carry this mutation. Two other mutations in the same mitochondrial gene affect a small minority of additional patients. Thus, the prevention of aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity through family history and molecular diagnosis is possible in many cases. It is the challenge of genomic medicine to translate this more than a decade-old knowledge into clinical practice.
    Pharmacogenomics 02/2005; 6(1):27-36. · 3.97 Impact Factor
  • Article: Phenotype of non-syndromic deafness associated with the mitochondrial A1555G mutation is modulated by mitochondrial RNA modifying enzymes MTO1 and GTPBP3.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Phenotypic expression of the deafness-associated mitochondrial A1555G mutation in the 12S rRNA gene is influenced by aminoglycosides and complex inheritance of nuclear-encoded modifier genes. The position of a major nuclear modifier gene has been localized to chromosome 8p23.1, but the identification of this gene has remained elusive. Recently, we identified a second modifier gene, mitochondrial transcription factor B1 (TFB1M), involved in mitochondrial rRNA modification. In the present study, we tested three genes involved in mitochondrial tRNA or rRNA modification, and two genes associated with non-syndromic deafness, for linkage and linkage disequilibrium (LD) in 214 DNA samples from Spanish, Italian, and Arab-Israeli families with maternally inherited non-syndromic hearing loss. The multipoint non-parametric linkage analysis and transmission disequilibrium test testing were done using all families combined as well as divided based on linkage to the chromosome 8 locus and ethnicity. Two genes, MTO1 and GTPBP3, showed strongly suggestive linkage and significant LD results. Since both genes, as well as TFB1M, are involved in the process of mitochondrial RNA modification, it appears that the modification of mitochondrial RNA is an important regulatory pathway in the phenotypic expression of the deafness-associated mitochondrial A1555G mutation. This conclusion was supported by comparing linkage results of simulated genotypes with actual results for the four genes involved in mitochondrial RNA modification.
    Molecular Genetics and Metabolism 12/2004; 83(3):199-206. · 3.19 Impact Factor
  • Article: Mitochondrial dysfunction in hearing loss.
    Nathan Fischel-Ghodsian, Richard D Kopke, Xianxi Ge
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Mitochondrial pathology plays an important role in both inherited and acquired hearing loss. Inherited mitochondrial DNA mutations have been implicated in both syndromic and non-syndromic hearing loss, as well as in predisposition to aminoglycoside ototoxicity. Acquired mitochondrial dysfunction in the absence of mitochondrial DNA mutations has also been proposed as playing an important role in noise-induced and toxin-induced hearing loss. Presbycusis, the hearing loss associated with aging, may be caused by mitochondrial dysfunction resulting from the accumulation of acquired mitochondrial DNA mutations and other factors. The pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
    Mitochondrion 10/2004; 4(5-6):675-94. · 3.62 Impact Factor
  • Article: Missense mutation in pseudouridine synthase 1 (PUS1) causes mitochondrial myopathy and sideroblastic anemia (MLASA).
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Mitochondrial myopathy and sideroblastic anemia (MLASA) is a rare, autosomal recessive oxidative phosphorylation disorder specific to skeletal muscle and bone marrow. Linkage analysis and homozygosity testing of two families with MLASA localized the candidate region to 1.2 Mb on 12q24.33. Sequence analysis of each of the six known genes in this region, as well as four putative genes with expression in bone marrow or muscle, identified a homozygous missense mutation in the pseudouridine synthase 1 gene (PUS1) in all patients with MLASA from these families. The mutation is the only amino acid coding change in these 10 genes that is not a known polymorphism, and it is not found in 934 controls. The amino acid change affects a highly conserved amino acid, and appears to be in the catalytic center of the protein, PUS1p. PUS1 is widely expressed, and quantitative expression analysis of RNAs from liver, brain, heart, bone marrow, and skeletal muscle showed elevated levels of expression in skeletal muscle and brain. We propose deficient pseudouridylation of mitochondrial tRNAs as an etiology of MLASA. Identification of the pathophysiologic pathways of the mutation in these families may shed light on the tissue specificity of oxidative phosphorylation disorders.
    The American Journal of Human Genetics 07/2004; 74(6):1303-8. · 10.60 Impact Factor
  • Article: Gene responsible for mitochondrial myopathy and sideroblastic anemia (MSA) maps to chromosome 12q24.33.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Mitochondrial myopathy and sideroblastic anemia (MSA) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of oxidative phosphorylation and iron metabolism. Individuals with MSA present with weakness and anemia in late childhood and may become dependent on blood transfusions. Recently, we reported affected sibling pairs from a Jewish-Iranian kindred living in the US [Casas and Fischel-Ghodsian, 2003]. A genome scan and fine mapping of DNA from this family revealed homozygous alleles in the affected individuals, and a multipoint logarithm of the odds (lod) score of 3.3, within 2.3 mb of chromosome 12q24.33. Previously, Inbal et al. [1995: Am J Med Genet 55:372-378] described siblings with a similar clinical phenotype who lived in Israel but originated from the same Iranian town as the US family. Focused analysis of DNA from the Israeli family confirmed the presence of identical, homozygous alleles in the affected of the US and Israeli families within 1.2 mb of chromosome 12q24.33. Combined multipoint linkage analysis revealed a maximum lod score of 5.41 at the 132 cM position of chromosome 12. Therefore, in these two families of Jewish-Iranian descent, a disease gene for MSA maps to a 1.2 mb region of chromosome 12q24.33. This region contains 6 well described genes (SFRS8, MMP17, ULK1, PUS1, EP400, and GALNT9) and at least 15 additional putative transcripts. The known genes are expressed in multiple tissues and lack a function specific to mitochondria, making none an obvious candidate. The eventual identification of the disease gene in MSA is expected to provide insight into the tissue specificity and phenotypic variability of mitochondrial disease.
    American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A 06/2004; 127A(1):44-9. · 2.39 Impact Factor
  • Article: Human mitochondrial transcription factor B1 as a modifier gene for hearing loss associated with the mitochondrial A1555G mutation.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Phenotypic expression of the deafness-associated homoplasmic A1555G mutation in the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene varies from profound congenital hearing loss to normal hearing. It has been shown that this variability in clinical expression in most patients is due to the complex inheritance of multiple nuclear-encoded modifier genes. Human mitochondrial transcription factor B1 (TFB1M) has been proposed as a candidate for being such a modifier, since it methylates adenine residues in the adjacent loop of the A1555G mutation in the 12S rRNA gene. Polymorphic markers within and adjacent to the TFB1M gene were genotyped in 214 individuals from 41 multiplex families with the A1555G mutation of Spanish, Italian, and Arab-Israeli origin. Multipoint non-parametric linkage analysis of all families combined revealed an NPL score of 1.7 (P = 0.05), and a Lod score of 1.4 (P = 0.04). Linkage disequilibrium by the Transmission Disequilibrium Test at D6S1577, a microsatellite adjacent to TFB1M, showed preferential non-transmission of an allele to affected individuals with chi2 = 8.76; P = 0.003. Sequence analysis of the coding region of the gene and testing of all intragenic SNPs did not reveal a putative causative mutation. These data provide suggestive evidence that TFB1M is a nuclear-encoded modifier gene for phenotypic expression of the A1555G mutation, and that the effect may occur through a regulatory or splicing mutation.
    Molecular Genetics and Metabolism 06/2004; 82(1):27-32. · 3.19 Impact Factor
  • Article: Mitochondrial myopathy and sideroblastic anemia.
    Kari A Casas, Nathan Fischel-Ghodsian
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: We report four new cases of mitochondrial myopathy and sideroblastic anemia (MSA). Hallmark features of MSA include progressive exercise intolerance during childhood, onset of sideroblastic anemia around adolescence, basal lactic acidemia, and mitochondrial myopathy. Autosomal recessive inheritance of MSA in the family we describe is assumed due to the presence of two affected sibling pairs, unaffected parents, an unaffected sibling, and parental consanguinity. The nuclear families we describe are paternally related and originate from the same Iranian city as a family with MSA described by [Inbal et al., 1995]. These families provide an opportunity to clarify the molecular basis of tissue specific expression of mitochondrial disorders.
    American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A 04/2004; 125A(2):201-4. · 2.39 Impact Factor
  • Article: Biochemical characterization of the mitochondrial tRNASer(UCN) T7511C mutation associated with nonsyndromic deafness.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: We report here the biochemical characterization of the deafness-associated mitochondrial tRNA(Ser(UCN)) T7511C mutation, in conjunction with homoplasmic ND1 T3308C and tRNA(Ala) T5655C mutations using cybrids constructed by transferring mitochondria from lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from an African family into human mtDNA-less (rho degrees ) cells. Three cybrids derived from an affected matrilineal relative carrying the homoplasmic T7511C mutation, exhibited approximately 75% decrease in the tRNA(Ser(UCN)) level, compared with three control cybrids. This amount of reduction in the tRNA(Ser(UCN)) level is below a proposed threshold to support a normal rate of mitochondrial protein synthesis in lymphoblastoid cell lines. This defect is likely a primary contributor to approximately 52% reduction in the rate of mitochondrial protein synthesis and marked defects in respiration and growth properties in galactose-containing medium. Interestingly, the T5655C mutation produces approximately 50% reduction in the tRNA(Ala) level in mutant cells. Strikingly, the T3308C mutation causes a significant decrease both in the amount of ND1 mRNA and co-transcribed tRNA(Leu(UUR)) in mutant cells. Thus, mitochondrial dysfunctions caused by the T5655C and T3308C mutations may modulate the phenotypic manifestation of the T7511C mutation. These observations imply that a combination of the T7511C mutation with two mtDNA mutations accounts for the high penetrance of deafness in this family.
    Nucleic Acids Research 02/2004; 32(3):867-77. · 8.03 Impact Factor