Corey L. Williams

MKS and NPHP modules cooperate to establish basal body/transition zone membrane associations and ciliary gate function during ciliogenesis

Eight proteins, defects in which are associated with Meckel-Gruber syndrome and nephronophthisis ciliopathies, work together as two functional modules at the transition zone to establish basal body/transition zone connections with the membrane and barricade entry of non-ciliary components into this organelle.

Functional redundancy of the B9 proteins and nephrocystins in Caenorhabditis elegans ciliogenesis.

Meckel-Gruber syndrome (MKS), nephronophthisis (NPHP), and Joubert syndrome (JBTS) are a group of heterogeneous cystic kidney disorders with partially overlapping loci. Many of the proteins associated with these diseases interact and localize to cilia and/or basal bodies. One of these proteins is MKS1, which is disrupted in some MKS patients and contains a B9 motif of unknown function that is found in two other mammalian proteins, B9D2 and B9D1. Caenorhabditis elegans also has three B9 proteins: XBX-7 (MKS1), TZA-1 (B9D2), and TZA-2 (B9D1). Herein, we report that the C. elegans B9 proteins form a complex that localizes to the base of cilia. Mutations in the B9 genes do not overtly affect cilia formation unless they are in combination with a mutation in nph-1 or nph-4, the homologues of human genes (NPHP1 and NPHP4, respectively) that are mutated in some NPHP patients. Our data indicate that the B9 proteins function redundantly with the nephrocystins to regulate the formation and/or maintenance of cilia and dendrites in the amphid and phasmid ciliated sensory neurons. Together, these data suggest that the human homologues of the novel B9 genes B9D2 and B9D1 will be strong candidate loci for pathologies in human MKS, NPHP, and JBTS.

Gene therapy rescues cilia defects and restores olfactory function in a mammalian ciliopathy model.

Cilia are evolutionarily conserved microtubule-based organelles that are crucial for diverse biological functions, including motility, cell signaling and sensory perception. In humans, alterations in the formation and function of cilia manifest clinically as ciliopathies, a growing class of pleiotropic genetic disorders. Despite the substantial progress that has been made in identifying genes that cause ciliopathies, therapies for these disorders are not yet available to patients. Although mice with a hypomorphic mutation in the intraflagellar transport protein IFT88 (Ift88Tg737Rpw mice, also known as ORPK mice) have been well studied, the relevance of IFT88 mutations to human pathology is unknown. We show that a mutation in IFT88 causes a hitherto unknown human ciliopathy. In vivo complementation assays in zebrafish and mIMCD3 cells show the pathogenicity of this newly discovered allele. We further show that ORPK mice are functionally anosmic as a result of the loss of cilia on their olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs). Notably, adenoviral-mediated expression of IFT88 in mature, fully differentiated OSNs of ORPK mice is sufficient to restore ciliary structures and rescue olfactory function. These studies are the first to use in vivo therapeutic treatment to reestablish cilia in a mammalian ciliopathy. More broadly, our studies indicate that gene therapy is a viable option for cellular and functional rescue of the complex ciliary organelle in established differentiated cells.

IFTA-2 is a conserved cilia protein involved in pathways regulating longevity and dauer formation in Caenorhabditis elegans

Defects in cilia are associated with diseases and developmental abnormalities. Proper cilia function is required for sonic hedgehog and PDGFRα signaling in mammals and for insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans. However, the role of cilia in these pathways remains unknown. To begin addressing this issue, we are characterizing putative cilia proteins in C. elegans that are predicted to have regulatory rather than structural functions. In this report, we characterized the novel cilia protein T28F3.6 (IFTA-2, intraflagellar transport associated protein 2), which is homologous to the mammalian Rab-like 5 protein. We found that, unlike the intraflagellar transport (IFT) genes, disruption of ifta-2 does not result in overt cilia assembly abnormalities, nor did it cause chemotaxis or osmotic avoidance defects typical of cilia mutants. Rather, ifta-2 null mutants have an extended lifespan phenotype and are defective in dauer formation. Our analysis indicates that these phenotypes result from defects in the DAF-2 (insulin-IGF-1-like) receptor signaling pathway in ciliated sensory neurons. We conclude that IFTA-2 is not a ciliogenic protein but rather is a regulator of specific cilia signaling activities. Interestingly, a mammalian IFTA-2 homolog is also found in cilia, raising the possibility that its function has been conserved during evolution.

Normal Ciliogenesis Requires Synergy between the Cystic Kidney Disease Genes MKS-3 and NPHP-4

Cilia dysfunction contributes to renal cyst formation in multiple human syndromes including nephronophthisis (NPHP), Meckel-Gruber syndrome (MKS), Joubert syndrome (JBTS), and Bardet-Beidl syndrome (BBS). Although genetically heterogeneous, these diseases share several loci that affect cilia and/or basal body proteins, but the functions and interactions of these gene products are incompletely understood. Here, we report that the ciliated sensory neurons (CSNs) of C. elegans express the putative transmembrane protein MKS-3, which localized to the distal end of their dendrites and to the cilium base but not to the cilium itself. Localization of MKS-3 and other known MKS and NPHP proteins partially overlapped. By analyzing mks-3 mutants, we found that ciliogenesis did not require MKS-3; instead, cilia elongated and cilia-mediated chemoreception was abnormal. Genetic analysis indicated that mks-3 functions in a pathway with other mks genes. Furthermore, mks-1 and mks-3 genetically interacted with a separate pathway (involving nphp-1 and nphp-4) to influence proper positioning, orientation, and formation of cilia. Combined disruption of nphp and mks pathways had cell nonautonomous effects on C. elegans sensilla. Taken together, these data demonstrate the importance of mutational load on the presentation and severity of ciliopathies and expand the understanding of the interactions between ciliopathy genes.

Na+/Ca2+ Exchanger Target for Oxidative Stress in Salt-Sensitive Hypertension

Abstract—The Na+/Ca2+ exchanger regulates intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i), and attenuation of Na+/Ca2+ exchange by oxidative stress might lead to dysregulation of [Ca2+]i. We have shown that the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger differs functionally and at the amino acid level between salt-sensitive and salt-resistant rats. Therefore, the purpose of these studies was to determine how oxidative stress affects the activities of the 2 Na+/Ca2+ exchangers that we cloned from mesangial cells of salt-resistant (RNCX) and salt-sensitive (SNCX) Dahl/Rapp rats. The effects of oxidative stress on exchanger activity were examined in cells expressing RNCX or SNCX by assessing 45Ca2+ uptake (reverse mode) and [Ca2+]i elevation (forward mode) in the presence and absence of H2O2 and peroxynitrite. Our results showed that 45Ca2+ uptake in SNCX cells was attenuated at 500 and 750 &mgr;mol/L H2O2 (63±12% and 25±7%, respectively; n=16) and at 50 and 100 &mgr;mol/L peroxynitrite (47±9% and 22±9%, respectively; n=16). In RNCX cells, 45Ca2+ uptake was attenuated at only 750 and 100 &mgr;mol/L H2O2 and peroxynitrite (61±9% and 63±6%, respectively; n=16). In addition, the elevation in [Ca2+]i was greater in SNCX cells than in RNCX cells in response to 750 &mgr;mol/L H2O2 (58±5.5 vs 17±4.1 nmol/L; n=13) and 100 &mgr;mol/L peroxynitrite (33±5 vs 11±6 nmol/L; n=19). The enhanced impairment of SNCX activity by oxidative stress might contribute to the dysregulation of [Ca2+]i that is found in this model of salt-sensitive hypertension.The Na + /Ca 2+ exchanger regulates intracellular calcium ([Ca 2+ ] i ), and attenuation of Na + /Ca 2+ exchange by oxidative stress might lead to dysregulation of [Ca 2+ ] i . We have shown that the Na + /Ca 2+ exchanger differs functionally and at the amino acid level between salt-sensitive and salt-resistant rats. Therefore, the purpose of these studies was to determine how oxidative stress affects the activities of the 2 Na + /Ca 2+ exchangers that we cloned from mesangial cells of salt-resistant (RNCX) and salt-sensitive (SNCX) Dahl/Rapp rats. The effects of oxidative stress on exchanger activity were examined in cells expressing RNCX or SNCX by assessing 45 Ca 2+ uptake (reverse mode) and [Ca 2+ ] i elevation (forward mode) in the presence and absence of H 2 O 2 and peroxynitrite. Our results showed that 45 Ca 2+ uptake in SNCX cells was attenuated at 500 and 750 μmol/L H 2 O 2 (63±12% and 25±7%, respectively; n=16) and at 50 and 100 μmol/L peroxynitrite (47±9% and 22±9%, respectively; n=16). In RNCX cells, 45 Ca 2+ uptake was attenuated at only 750 and 100 μmol/L H 2 O 2 and peroxynitrite (61±9% and 63±6%, respectively; n=16). In addition, the elevation in [Ca 2+ ] i was greater in SNCX cells than in RNCX cells in response to 750 μmol/L H 2 O 2 (58±5.5 vs 17±4.1 nmol/L; n=13) and 100 μmol/L peroxynitrite (33±5 vs 11±6 nmol/L; n=19). The enhanced impairment of SNCX activity by oxidative stress might contribute to the dysregulation of [Ca 2+ ] i that is found in this model of salt-sensitive hypertension.

Smelling the roses and seeing the light: gene therapy for ciliopathies

Alterations in cilia formation or function underlie a growing class of pleiotropic disorders termed ciliopathies. The genetic basis of ciliopathies is remarkably complex, with an incomplete but expanding list of more than 89 loci implicated in various disorders. Current treatment of ciliopathies is limited to symptomatic therapy. However, our growing understanding of ciliopathy genetics, coupled with recent advances in gene delivery and endogenous gene and transcript repair demonstrated thus far in tissues of the eye, nose, and airway, offers hope for curative measures in the near future. This review highlights these advances, as well as the challenges that remain with the development of personalized medicine for treating a very complex spectrum of disease, penetrant in a variety of organ systems.

Assessing the pathogenic potential of human Nephronophthisis disease-associated NPHP-4 missense mutations in C. elegans

A spectrum of complex oligogenic disorders called the ciliopathies have been connected to dysfunction of cilia. Among the ciliopathies are Nephronophthisis (NPHP), characterized by cystic kidney disease and retinal degeneration, and Meckel-Gruber syndrome (MKS), a gestational lethal condition with skeletal abnormalities, cystic kidneys and CNS malformation. Mutations in multiple genes have been identified in NPHP and MKS patients, and an unexpected finding has been that mutations within the same gene can cause either disorder. Further, there is minimal genotype-phenotype correlation and despite recessive inheritance, numerous patients were identified as having a single heterozygous mutation. This has made it difficult to determine the significance of these mutations on disease pathogenesis and led to the hypothesis that clinical presentation in an individual will be determined by genetic interactions between mutations in multiple cilia-related genes. Here we utilize Caenorhabditis elegans and cilia-associated behavioral and morphologic assays to evaluate the pathogenic potential of eight previously reported human NPHP4 missense mutations. We assess the impact of these mutations on C. elegans NPHP-4 function, localization and evaluate potential interactions with mutations in MKS complex genes, mksr-2 and mksr-1. Six out of eight nphp-4 mutations analyzed alter ciliary function, and three of these modify the severity of the phenotypes caused by disruption of mksr-2 and mksr-1. Collectively, our studies demonstrate the utility of C. elegans as a tool to assess the pathogenicity of mutations in ciliopathy genes and provide insights into the complex genetic interactions contributing to the diversity of phenotypes associated with cilia disorders.

Na+/Ca2+ Exchanger

Abstract—The Na+/Ca2+ exchanger regulates intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i), and attenuation of Na+/Ca2+ exchange by oxidative stress might lead to dysregulation of [Ca2+]i. We have shown that the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger differs functionally and at the amino acid level between salt-sensitive and salt-resistant rats. Therefore, the purpose of these studies was to determine how oxidative stress affects the activities of the 2 Na+/Ca2+ exchangers that we cloned from mesangial cells of salt-resistant (RNCX) and salt-sensitive (SNCX) Dahl/Rapp rats. The effects of oxidative stress on exchanger activity were examined in cells expressing RNCX or SNCX by assessing 45Ca2+ uptake (reverse mode) and [Ca2+]i elevation (forward mode) in the presence and absence of H2O2 and peroxynitrite. Our results showed that 45Ca2+ uptake in SNCX cells was attenuated at 500 and 750 &mgr;mol/L H2O2 (63±12% and 25±7%, respectively; n=16) and at 50 and 100 &mgr;mol/L peroxynitrite (47±9% and 22±9%, respectively; n=16). In RNCX cells, 45Ca2+ uptake was attenuated at only 750 and 100 &mgr;mol/L H2O2 and peroxynitrite (61±9% and 63±6%, respectively; n=16). In addition, the elevation in [Ca2+]i was greater in SNCX cells than in RNCX cells in response to 750 &mgr;mol/L H2O2 (58±5.5 vs 17±4.1 nmol/L; n=13) and 100 &mgr;mol/L peroxynitrite (33±5 vs 11±6 nmol/L; n=19). The enhanced impairment of SNCX activity by oxidative stress might contribute to the dysregulation of [Ca2+]i that is found in this model of salt-sensitive hypertension.The Na + /Ca 2+ exchanger regulates intracellular calcium ([Ca 2+ ] i ), and attenuation of Na + /Ca 2+ exchange by oxidative stress might lead to dysregulation of [Ca 2+ ] i . We have shown that the Na + /Ca 2+ exchanger differs functionally and at the amino acid level between salt-sensitive and salt-resistant rats. Therefore, the purpose of these studies was to determine how oxidative stress affects the activities of the 2 Na + /Ca 2+ exchangers that we cloned from mesangial cells of salt-resistant (RNCX) and salt-sensitive (SNCX) Dahl/Rapp rats. The effects of oxidative stress on exchanger activity were examined in cells expressing RNCX or SNCX by assessing 45 Ca 2+ uptake (reverse mode) and [Ca 2+ ] i elevation (forward mode) in the presence and absence of H 2 O 2 and peroxynitrite. Our results showed that 45 Ca 2+ uptake in SNCX cells was attenuated at 500 and 750 μmol/L H 2 O 2 (63±12% and 25±7%, respectively; n=16) and at 50 and 100 μmol/L peroxynitrite (47±9% and 22±9%, respectively; n=16). In RNCX cells, 45 Ca 2+ uptake was attenuated at only 750 and 100 μmol/L H 2 O 2 and peroxynitrite (61±9% and 63±6%, respectively; n=16). In addition, the elevation in [Ca 2+ ] i was greater in SNCX cells than in RNCX cells in response to 750 μmol/L H 2 O 2 (58±5.5 vs 17±4.1 nmol/L; n=13) and 100 μmol/L peroxynitrite (33±5 vs 11±6 nmol/L; n=19). The enhanced impairment of SNCX activity by oxidative stress might contribute to the dysregulation of [Ca 2+ ] i that is found in this model of salt-sensitive hypertension.

Amyloid Beta Peptide 1-40 Stimulates the Na+ / Ca2+ Exchange Activity of SNCX

The Na+/Ca2+ exchangers, RNCX and SNCX, were cloned from mesangial cells of salt sensitive and salt resistant Dahl/Rapp rats, respectively, and differ at amino acid 218 (RNCXi/SNCXf) and in the exons expressed at the alternative splice site (RNCXB, D/SNCXB, D, F). These isoforms are also expressed in myocytes, neurons, and astrocytes where they maintain cytosolic calcium homeostasis. We demonstrated that cells expressing SNCX were more susceptible to oxidative stress than cells expressing RNCX. Others demonstrated that amyloid beta peptide (Abeta) augments the adverse effects of oxidative stress on calcium homeostasis. Therefore, we sought to assess the effect of Abeta 1-40 on the abilities of OK-PTH cells stably expressing RNCX and SNCX and human glioma cells, SKMG1, to regulate cytosolic calcium homeostasis. Our studies showed that Abeta 1-40 (1 microM) did not affect RNCX activity, as assessed by changes in [Ca2+]i (Delta[Ca2+]i, 260+/-10 nM to 267+/-8 nM), while stimulating exchange activity 2.4 and 3 fold in cells expressing SNCX (100+/-8 to 244+/-12 nM) and in SKMG1 cells (90+/-11 nM to 270+/-18 nM), respectively. Our results also showed that Abeta 1-40, while not affecting the rate of Mn2+ influx in cells expressing RNCX, stimulated the rate of Mn2+ influx 2.8 and 2.9 fold in cells expressing SNCX and in SKMG1 cells. Thus, our studies demonstrate that Abeta-induced cytosolic calcium increase is mediated through certain isoforms of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger and reveals a possible mechanism by which Abeta 1-40 can alter cytosolic calcium homeostasis.