👤 William A Wallace

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are rare, tissue-resident innate lymphocytes that functionally mirror CD4+ T helper cell lineages but lack antigen receptors. Type 3 ILCs (ILC3s) are enriched in the gut, airways, and mucosal lymphoid tissues, where they regulate inflammation and promote barrier integrity. To define the regulatory architecture of primary human ILC3s, we map promoter-anchored chromosomal contacts using high-resolution, low-input Promoter Capture Hi-C (PCHi-C) in these cells alongside CD4+ T cells. By combining statistical detection with a PCHi-C-adapted Activity-by-Contact approach, we link promoters to distal regulatory elements, identifying hundreds of ILC3-specific contacts. We use these maps to connect genome-wide association study (GWAS) risk variants for Crohn's disease to target genes using multiCOGS, a Bayesian framework that integrates PCHi-C with summary-statistic imputation and multivariate fine-mapping. This analysis highlights both known and unanticipated candidates, including Show less

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of scraping without endothelial keratoplasty technique using a novel cell scraper for treating corneal endothelial dysfunction and explore the adjuvant effects of a ROCK inhibitor (ROCKi). Human donor tissues (n = 3) were mounted on an artificial anterior chamber, and one-half of the corneal endothelium was scraped with a novel cell scraper. The tissues were then stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) to assess cell removal. In parallel, central peeling (descemetorhexis) using sharp acute forceps (n = 8) and cell scraping using a novel cell scraper (n = 8) was compared with and without ROCKi to investigate the wound healing response. RT-PCR analysis to assess the endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition using ZEB1 , SNAI1/2 , VIM , and CDH1/2 genes was performed after storage. An ex vivo surgical setup using an artificial anterior chamber demonstrated the feasibility and efficacy of using the cell scraper. Superior wound healing (88%) was observed in the endothelial cell-scraping group compared with Descemet membrane peeling (22%) at day 16. Application of ROCKi expedited wound healing after endothelial scraping (97%) and peeling (40%) compared with their respective controls at day 16. ROCKi treatment promoted endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition; however, with enhanced wound healing after cell scraping, endothelial cells formed a monolayer on native Descemet membrane compared with the peeling method. Scraping without endothelial keratoplasty can be performed effectively using the cell scraper and offers a potential alternative to endothelial keratoplasty, which can be effective in treating bullous keratopathy with healthy peripheral endothelial cells. ROCKi enhances wound healing, supporting further clinical testing and potentially delaying corneal tissue implantation. Show less

Genome-wide association studies have linked millions of genetic variants to biomedical phenotypes, but their utility has been limited by lack of mechanistic understanding and widespread epistatic interactions. Recently, Transformer models have emerged as a powerful machine learning architecture with potential to address these and other challenges. Accordingly, here we introduce the Genotype-to-Phenotype Transformer (G2PT), a framework for modeling hierarchical information flow among variants, genes, multigenic systems, and phenotypes. As proof-of-concept, we use G2PT to model the genetics of TG/HDL (triglycerides to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol), an indicator of metabolic health. G2PT predicts this trait via attention to 1,395 variants underlying at least 20 systems, including immune response and cholesterol transport, with accuracy exceeding state-of-the-art. It implicates 40 epistatic interactions, including epistasis between Show less

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are molecular chaperones that play important roles in protein homeostasis, with HSP70 linked to a role in neuroprotection. HSP70 is upregulated in response to various stressors, such as heat therapy (HT), which has been shown to increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) content. BDNF reduces the activity of β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), the rate-limiting enzyme responsible for the generation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides that form the characteristic Aβ plaques observed in Alzheimer's disease brains. The current pilot study examined whether 4 wk of HT can increase HSP70 and BDNF content (pro and mature forms) in the brain, and alter markers of amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing. Male mice had their core temperature maintained between 37.0 and 38.0°C in Control (CON, Show less

Microtubule-actin cross-linking factor 1 (MACF1) is a large protein of the spectraplakin family, which is essential for brain development. MACF1 interacts with microtubules through the growth arrest-specific 2 (Gas2)-related (GAR) domain. Heterozygous MACF1 missense variants affecting the zinc-binding residues in this domain result in a distinctive cortical and brain stem malformation. Evidence for other MACF1-associated disorders is still limited. Here, we present a cohort of 45 individuals with heterozygous or bi-allelic MACF1 variants to explore the phenotypic spectrum and assess possible pathogenic relevance. We observe that de novo heterozygous missense variants in the EF-hand domains also result in distinctive brain malformation and provide experimental evidence that variants in the EF-hand/GAR module increase microtubule binding, suggestive of a toxic gain of function. Notably, no phenotype-genotype correlation was possible for the remaining heterozygous variants in other domains. A clinical review of eight families with bi-allelic variants reveals a possible complex neurodevelopmental syndrome of the central and peripheral nervous systems. In these individuals, bi-allelic variants mostly affect the Plakin domain. Furthermore, RNA sequencing and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analyses of human fetal brain tissue reveal five MACF1 isoforms with region-specific expression, differing in their exon 1 transcription start sites but splicing to a common exon 2. This differential expression explains the frontal-predominant lissencephaly in an individual with a homozygous stop-gain in exon 1 (MACF1-204: c.70C>T [p.Arg24∗]), as this isoform is preferentially expressed in the frontal cortex. We conclude that MACF1-related disorders are strictly linked to domain function and the level of transcript expression, explaining the observed wide clinical heterogeneity. Show less

Elevated levels of branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) and branched-chain α-ketoacids are associated with cardiovascular and metabolic disease, but the molecular mechanisms underlying a putative causal relationship remain unclear. The branched-chain ketoacid dehydrogenase kinase (BCKDK) inhibitor BT2 (3,6-dichlorobenzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylic acid) is often used in preclinical models to increase BCAA oxidation and restore steady-state BCAA and branched-chain α-ketoacid levels. BT2 administration is protective in various rodent models of heart failure and metabolic disease, but confoundingly, targeted ablation of Bckdk in specific tissues does not reproduce the beneficial effects conferred by pharmacologic inhibition. Here, we demonstrate that BT2, a lipophilic weak acid, can act as a mitochondrial uncoupler. Measurements of oxygen consumption, mitochondrial membrane potential, and patch-clamp electrophysiology show that BT2 increases proton conductance across the mitochondrial inner membrane independently of its inhibitory effect on BCKDK. BT2 is roughly sixfold less potent than the prototypical uncoupler 2,4-dinitrophenol and phenocopies 2,4-dinitrophenol in lowering de novo lipogenesis and mitochondrial superoxide production. The data suggest that the therapeutic efficacy of BT2 may be attributable to the well-documented effects of mitochondrial uncoupling in alleviating cardiovascular and metabolic disease. Show less

Elevated levels of branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) and branched-chain α-ketoacids (BCKAs) are associated with cardiovascular and metabolic disease, but the molecular mechanisms underlying a putative causal relationship remain unclear. The branched-chain ketoacid dehydrogenase kinase (BCKDK) inhibitor BT2 is often used in preclinical models to increase BCAA oxidation and restore steady-state BCAA and BCKA levels. BT2 administration is protective in various rodent models of heart failure and metabolic disease, but confoundingly, targeted ablation of Show less

Genetic mutations that disrupt open reading frames and cause translation termination are frequent causes of human disease and are difficult to treat due to protein truncation and mRNA degradation by nonsense-mediated decay, leaving few options for traditional drug targeting. Splice-switching antisense oligonucleotides offer a potential therapeutic solution for diseases caused by disrupted open reading frames by inducing exon skipping to correct the open reading frame. We have recently reported on an exon-skipping antisense oligonucleotide that has a therapeutic effect in a mouse model of CLN3 Batten disease, a fatal pediatric lysosomal storage disease. To validate this therapeutic approach, we generated a mouse model that constitutively expresses the Show less

Glioblastoma (GBM) displays marked cellular and metabolic heterogeneity that varies among cellular microenvironments within a tumor. Metabolic targeting has long been advocated as a therapy against many tumors including GBM, but how lipid metabolism is altered to suit different microenvironmental conditions and whether cancer stem cells (CSCs) have altered lipid metabolism are outstanding questions in the field. We interrogated gene expression in separate microenvironments of GBM organoid models that mimic the transition between nutrient-rich and nutrient-poor pseudopalisading/perinecrotic tumor zones using spatial-capture RNA-sequencing. We revealed a striking difference in lipid processing gene expression and total lipid content between diverse cell populations from the same patient, with lipid enrichment in hypoxic organoid cores and also in perinecrotic and pseudopalisading regions of primary patient tumors. This was accompanied by regionally restricted upregulation of hypoxia-inducible lipid droplet-associated (HILPDA) gene expression in organoid cores and pseudopalisading regions of clinical GBM specimens, but not lower-grade brain tumors. CSCs have low lipid droplet accumulation compared to non-CSCs in organoid models and xenograft tumors, and prospectively sorted lipid-low GBM cells are functionally enriched for stem cell activity. Targeted lipidomic analysis of multiple patient-derived models revealed a significant shift in lipid metabolism between GBM CSCs and non-CSCs, suggesting that lipid levels may not be simply a product of the microenvironment but also may be a reflection of cellular state. CSCs had decreased levels of major classes of neutral lipids compared to non-CSCs, but had significantly increased polyunsaturated fatty acid production due to high fatty acid desaturase (FADS1/2) expression which was essential to maintain CSC viability and self-renewal. Our data demonstrate spatially and hierarchically distinct lipid metabolism phenotypes occur clinically in the majority of patients, can be recapitulated in laboratory models, and may represent therapeutic targets for GBM. Show less

The success of immune checkpoint therapy shows tumor-reactive T cells can eliminate cancer cells but are restrained by immunosuppression within the tumor micro-environment (TME). Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the dominant stromal cell in the TME and co-localize with T cells in non-small cell lung cancer. We demonstrate the bidirectional nature of CAF/T cell interactions; T cells promote expression of co-inhibitory ligands, MHC molecules and CD73 on CAFs, increasing their production of IL-6 and eliciting production of IL-27. In turn CAFs upregulate co-inhibitory receptors on T cells including the ectonucleotidase CD39 promoting development of an exhausted but highly cytotoxic phenotype. Our results highlight the bidirectional interaction between T cells and CAFs in promoting components of the immunosuppressive CD39, CD73 adenosine pathway and demonstrate IL-27 production can be induced in CAF by activated T cells. Show less

Sugars and refined carbohydrates are major components of the modern diet. ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY) is upregulated in adipocytes in response to carbohydrate consumption and generates acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) for both lipid synthesis and acetylation reactions. Here, we investigate the role of ACLY in the metabolic and transcriptional responses to carbohydrates in adipocytes and unexpectedly uncover a sexually dimorphic function in maintaining systemic metabolic homeostasis. When fed a high-sucrose diet, Acly Show less

Genetic testing for families with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) provides a significant opportunity to improve care. Recent trends to increase gene panel sizes often mean variants in genes with questionable association are reported to patients. Classification of HCM genes and variants is critical, as misclassification can lead to genetic misdiagnosis. We show the validity of previously reported HCM genes using an established method for evaluating gene-disease associations. A systematic approach was used to assess the validity of reported gene-disease associations, including associations with isolated HCM and syndromes including left ventricular hypertrophy. Genes were categorized as having definitive, strong, moderate, limited, or no evidence of disease causation. We also reviewed current variant classifications for HCM in ClinVar, a publicly available variant resource. Fifty-seven genes were selected for curation based on their frequent inclusion in HCM testing and prior association reports. Of 33 HCM genes, only 8 (24%) were categorized as definitive ( MYBPC3, MYH7, TNNT2, TNNI3, TPM1, ACTC1, MYL2, and MYL3); 3 had moderate evidence ( CSRP3, TNNC1, and JPH2; 33%); and 22 (66%) had limited (n=16) or no evidence (n=6). There were 12 of 24 syndromic genes definitively associated with isolated left ventricular hypertrophy. Of 4191 HCM variants in ClinVar, 31% were in genes with limited or no evidence of disease association. The majority of genes previously reported as causative of HCM and commonly included in diagnostic tests have limited or no evidence of disease association. Systematically curated HCM genes are essential to guide appropriate reporting of variants and ensure the best possible outcomes for HCM families. Show less

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a therapeutic target for metabolic diseases; thus, understanding its metabolic circuitry is clinically important. Many studies of BAT compare rodents mildly cold to those severely cold. Here, we compared BAT remodeling between thermoneutral and mild-cold-adapted mice, conditions more relevant to humans. Although BAT is renowned for catabolic β-oxidative capacity, we find paradoxically that the anabolic de novo lipogenesis (DNL) genes encoding ACLY, ACSS2, ACC, and FASN were among the most upregulated by mild cold and that, in humans, DNL correlates with Ucp1 expression. The regulation and function of adipocyte DNL and its association with thermogenesis are not understood. We provide evidence suggesting that AKT2 drives DNL in adipocytes by stimulating ChREBPβ transcriptional activity and that cold induces the AKT2-ChREBP pathway in BAT to optimize fuel storage and thermogenesis. These data provide insight into adipocyte DNL regulation and function and illustrate the metabolic flexibility of thermogenesis. Show less

VPS13 protein family members VPS13A through VPS13C have been associated with various recessive movement disorders. We describe the first disease association of rare recessive VPS13D variants including frameshift, missense, and partial duplication mutations with a novel complex, hyperkinetic neurological disorder. The clinical features include developmental delay, a childhood onset movement disorder (chorea, dystonia, or tremor), and progressive spastic ataxia or paraparesis. Characteristic brain magnetic resonance imaging shows basal ganglia or diffuse white matter T2 hyperintensities as seen in Leigh syndrome and choreoacanthocytosis. Muscle biopsy in 1 case showed mitochondrial aggregates and lipidosis, suggesting mitochondrial dysfunction. These findings underline the importance of the VPS13 complex in neurological diseases and a possible role in mitochondrial function. Ann Neurol 2018;83:1089-1095. Show less

Circulating blood cell counts and indices are important indicators of hematopoietic function and a number of clinical parameters, such as blood oxygen-carrying capacity, inflammation, and hemostasis. By performing whole-exome sequence association analyses of hematologic quantitative traits in 15,459 community-dwelling individuals, followed by in silico replication in up to 52,024 independent samples, we identified two previously undescribed coding variants associated with lower platelet count: a common missense variant in CPS1 (rs1047891, MAF = 0.33, discovery + replication p = 6.38 × 10(-10)) and a rare synonymous variant in GFI1B (rs150813342, MAF = 0.009, discovery + replication p = 1.79 × 10(-27)). By performing CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in hematopoietic cell lines and follow-up targeted knockdown experiments in primary human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, we demonstrate an alternative splicing mechanism by which the GFI1B rs150813342 variant suppresses formation of a GFI1B isoform that preferentially promotes megakaryocyte differentiation and platelet production. These results demonstrate how unbiased studies of natural variation in blood cell traits can provide insight into the regulation of human hematopoiesis. Show less

Adipose tissue de novo lipogenesis (DNL) positively influences insulin sensitivity, is reduced in obesity, and predicts insulin resistance. Therefore, elucidating mechanisms controlling adipose tissue DNL could lead to therapies for type 2 diabetes. Here, we report that mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2) functions in white adipose tissue (WAT) to control expression of the lipogenic transcription factor ChREBPβ. Conditionally deleting the essential mTORC2 subunit Rictor in mature adipocytes decreases ChREBPβ expression, which reduces DNL in WAT, and impairs hepatic insulin sensitivity. Mechanistically, Rictor/mTORC2 promotes ChREBPβ expression in part by controlling glucose uptake, but without impairing pan-AKT signalling. High-fat diet also rapidly decreases adipose tissue ChREBPβ expression and insulin sensitivity in wild-type mice, and does not further exacerbate insulin resistance in adipose tissue Rictor knockout mice, implicating adipose tissue DNL as an early target in diet-induced insulin resistance. These data suggest mTORC2 functions in WAT as part of an extra-hepatic nutrient-sensing mechanism to control glucose homeostasis. Show less

To investigate genetic determinants of macular pigment optical density in women from the Carotenoids in Age-Related Eye Disease Study (CAREDS), an ancillary study of the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study. 1585 of 2005 CAREDS participants had macular pigment optical density (MPOD) measured noninvasively using customized heterochromatic flicker photometry and blood samples genotyped for 440 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 26 candidate genes related to absorption, transport, binding, and cleavage of carotenoids directly, or via lipid transport. SNPs were individually tested for associations with MPOD using least-squares linear regression. Twenty-one SNPs from 11 genes were associated with MPOD (P ≤ 0.05) after adjusting for dietary intake of lutein and zeaxanthin. This includes variants in or near genes related to zeaxanthin binding in the macula (GSTP1), carotenoid cleavage (BCMO1), cholesterol transport or uptake (SCARB1, ABCA1, ABCG5, and LIPC), long-chain omega-3 fatty acid status (ELOVL2, FADS1, and FADS2), and various maculopathies (ALDH3A2 and RPE65). The strongest association was for rs11645428 near BCMO1 (βA = 0.029, P = 2.2 × 10(-4)). Conditional modeling within genes and further adjustment for other predictors of MPOD, including waist circumference, diabetes, and dietary intake of fiber, resulted in 13 SNPs from 10 genes maintaining independent association with MPOD. Variation in these single gene polymorphisms accounted for 5% of the variability in MPOD (P = 3.5 × 10(-11)). Our results support that MPOD is a multi-factorial phenotype associated with variation in genes related to carotenoid transport, uptake, and metabolism, independent of known dietary and health influences on MPOD. Show less

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and substance use disorders frequently co-occur; their dual presence predicts poor prognosis. The genetic underpinnings of BPD have not been well-characterized and could offer insight into comorbidity. The current report focuses on the association of neurexin 3 (NRXN3) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with BPD symptoms in heroin dependent cases and controls. The sample of the Comorbidity and Trauma Study, a genetic association study of heroin dependence, consists of Australian heroin dependent cases ascertained from opioid replacement therapy clinics and controls ascertained in nearby economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. The assessment included a screening instrument for BPD, used previously in Australian population surveys. Genotypic and BPD phenotypic data were available for 1439 cases and 507 controls. We examined the association of 1430 candidate gene SNPs with BPD phenotypes. One or more NRXN3 SNPs were nominally associated with all BPD phenotypes; however, none met the conservative significance threshold we employed to correct for multiple testing. The most strongly associated SNPs included rs10144398 with identity disturbance (p=4.9×10(-5)) and rs10151731 with affective instability (p=8.8×10(-5)). The strongest association with screening positive for BPD was found for the NRXN3 SNP, rs10083466 (p=.0013). Neither the correlation of BPD phenotypes nor the linkage disequilibrium relationships of the SNPs account for the number of observed associations involving NRXN3 SNPs. Our findings provide intriguing preliminary evidence for the association of NRXN3 with BPD phenotypes. The strongest associations were found for traits (i.e., affective instability; identity disturbance) also observed with other disorders. Show less

Concentrations of liver enzymes in plasma are widely used as indicators of liver disease. We carried out a genome-wide association study in 61,089 individuals, identifying 42 loci associated with concentrations of liver enzymes in plasma, of which 32 are new associations (P = 10(-8) to P = 10(-190)). We used functional genomic approaches including metabonomic profiling and gene expression analyses to identify probable candidate genes at these regions. We identified 69 candidate genes, including genes involved in biliary transport (ATP8B1 and ABCB11), glucose, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism (FADS1, FADS2, GCKR, JMJD1C, HNF1A, MLXIPL, PNPLA3, PPP1R3B, SLC2A2 and TRIB1), glycoprotein biosynthesis and cell surface glycobiology (ABO, ASGR1, FUT2, GPLD1 and ST3GAL4), inflammation and immunity (CD276, CDH6, GCKR, HNF1A, HPR, ITGA1, RORA and STAT4) and glutathione metabolism (GSTT1, GSTT2 and GGT), as well as several genes of uncertain or unknown function (including ABHD12, EFHD1, EFNA1, EPHA2, MICAL3 and ZNF827). Our results provide new insight into genetic mechanisms and pathways influencing markers of liver function. Show less

Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) are surface active fluorochemicals that, due to their exceptional stability to degradation, are persistent in the environment. Both PFOA and PFOS are eliminated slowly in humans, with geometric mean serum elimination half-lives estimated at 3.5 and 4.8 years, respectively. The biological activity of PFOA and PFOS in rodents is attributed primarily to transactivation of the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPARA), which is an important regulator of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. However, there are significant species-specific differences in the response to PFOA and PFOS exposure; non-rodent species, including humans, are refractory to several but not all of these effects. Many of the metabolic effects have been attributed to the activation of PPARA; however, recent studies using PPARα knockout mice demonstrate residual PPARA-independent effects, some of which may involve the activation of alternate nuclear receptors, including NR1I2 (PXR), NR1I3 (CAR), NR1H3 (LXRA), and NR1H4 (FXR). The objective of this investigation was to characterize the activation of multiple nuclear receptors and modulation of metabolic pathways associated with exposure to PFOA and PFOS, and to compare and contrast the effects between rat and human primary liver cells using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). Our results demonstrate that multiple nuclear receptors participate in the metabolic response to PFOA and PFOS exposure resulting in a substantial shift from carbohydrate metabolism to fatty acid oxidation and hepatic triglyceride accumulation in rat liver cells. This shift in intermediary metabolism was more pronounced for PFOA than PFOS. Furthermore, while there is some similarity in the activation of metabolic pathways between rat and humans, particularly in PPARA regulated responses; the changes in primary human cells were more subtle and possibly reflect an adaptive metabolic response rather than an overt metabolic regulation observed in rodents. Show less

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), with an array of industrial uses, is one of the most common perfluoroalkyl acids. Resistance to biological degradation and a global distribution are characteristics that have caused PFOA to become a frequent subject of toxicological studies. PFOA treatment in rodents causes peroxisome proliferation, mitochondrial biogenesis, and transactivation of PPARs. Prior work has shown urea cycle gene expression to be reduced in mice by another PPARalpha ligand, WY14643. In light of these findings, the aim of our investigation was to determine if PFOA treatment in rats alters expression of genes responsible for ureogenesis. 30 mg/kg of PFOA was administered to adult male Sprague-Dawley rats via oral gavage for 28 days and their livers were harvested. Gene transcription was measured using real time PCR and protein expression was determined through western blotting. We observed a decrease in mRNA for the coordinately expressed urea cycle genes Cps1, Ass1, and Asl; mRNA of the ammonia generating Gls2 was also reduced. Protein amounts for CPS1, ASS1, and OTC were all decreased in the PFOA treated rats, and interestingly there was an increase in the amount of S133 phosphorylated CREB, which is a regulator of urea cycle gene transcription. We conclude that the transactivation of PPARalpha by PFOA leads to a metabolic shift that favors the catabolism of lipids over proteins, thereby suppressing urea cycle gene expression. Our findings provide further evidence of the effect of PFOA on intermediary metabolism in rodents and add valuable information in assessing the potential risks of PFOA exposure. Show less

Phthalates are chemical plasticizers used in a variety of consumer products; in rodents, they alter testicular development, leading to decreased testosterone synthesis and maldevelopment of the reproductive tract. Here, our goals were to discover a set of biomarker genes that respond early after relatively low-dose-level dibutyl phthalate (DBP) exposure and map the responding testicular cell types. To identify testicular phthalate biomarker genes, 34 candidate genes were examined by quantitative PCR at 1, 2, 3, or 6 h after exposure of Gestational Day 19 rats to DBP dose levels ranging from 0.1 to 500 mg/kg body weight. Twelve genes (Ctgf, Cxcl10, Dusp6, Edn1, Egr1, Fos, Ier3, Junb, Nr4a1, Stc1, Thbs1, and Tnfrsf12a) were identified with increased expression by 1-3 h at 100 or 500 mg/kg DBP, and 7 of these 12 genes had increased expression by 6 h at 10 mg/kg DBP. Using in situ hybridization of fetal testis cryosections from DBP-exposed rats, the temporal cellular expression of 10 biomarker genes was determined. Genes with a robust response at 1 h (Dusp6, Egr1, Fos, and Thbs1) were induced in peritubular myoid cells. For Egr1 and Fos, the interstitial compartment also showed increased expression at 1 h. Cxcl10 and Nr4a1 were induced by 1-3 h in both sparsely located interstitial cells and peritubular myoid cells. By 3 h, Stc1 was induced in Leydig cells, and Edn1, Ier3, and Tnfrsf12a were increased in Sertoli cells. These data reveal a complex early cascade of phthalate-induced cellular responses in the fetal testis, and for the first time suggest that peritubular myoid cells are an important proximal phthalate target cell. Show less

The genomic sequence of the human CLN3 gene, which is defective in juvenile onset neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (Batten disease) is being delineated using a variety of methods. A Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene, YHC3 (for Yeast Homologue to human CLN3), which is highly similar to the human disease gene, has been identified by computer-aided homology searching. Topology predictions indicate the CLN3 protein contains six transmembrane segments. Most similarity between the human and yeast proteins lies either in the transmembrane segments or along one face of the predicted protein structure. Show less

In an attempt to understand the molecular nature of Batten disease, we have examined the amino acid sequence of the affected CLN3 gene product (The International Batten Disease Consortium (1995) Cell 82, 949-957) and the site-specific mutations which give rise to the biological defect. Homology searches and molecular modeling have led to the development of a model for the folding and disposition of the protein, possibly within a mitochondrial membrane. High homology with a yeast protein of unknown function suggests a strong evolutionary conservation of function. We speculate that a possible role for the protein may be in chaperoning the folding/unfolding or assembly/ disassembly of other proteins, specifically subunit c of the mitochondrial ATP synthase complex. Show less