Functional analysis of BMP4 mutations identified in pediatric CAKUT patients

Pediatr Nephrol. 2009 Dec;24(12):2361-8. doi: 10.1007/s00467-009-1287-6. Epub 2009 Aug 14.

Abstract

Human congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) represent the major causes of chronic renal failure (CRF) in children. This set of disorders comprises renal agenesis, hypoplasia, dysplastic or double kidneys, and/or malformations of the ureter. It has recently been shown that mutations in several genes, among them BMP4, are associated with hereditary renal developmental diseases. In BMP4, we formerly identified three missense mutations (S91C, T116S, N150K) in five pediatric CAKUT patients. These BMP4 mutations were subsequently studied in a cellular expression system, and here we present functional data demonstrating a lower level of messenger RNA (mRNA) abundance in Bmp4 mutants that indicates a possible negative feedback of the mutants on their own mRNA expression and/or stability. Furthermore, we describe the formation of alternative protein complexes induced by the S91C-BMP4 mutation, which results in perinuclear endoplasmic reticulum (ER) accumulation and enhanced lysosomal degradation of Bmp4. This work further supports the role of mutations in BMP4 for abnormalities of human kidney development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 / analysis*
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 / genetics*
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 / metabolism
  • COS Cells
  • Cell Line
  • Child
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Computational Biology / methods
  • Computer Simulation
  • Epitopes
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Humans
  • Kidney / abnormalities
  • Kidney / cytology
  • Lysosomes / metabolism
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Mutation, Missense*
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • Subcellular Fractions / metabolism
  • Transfection
  • Urinary Tract / abnormalities

Substances

  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4
  • Epitopes
  • RNA, Messenger