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Journal ArticleDOI

Identification of HE1 as the Second Gene of Niemann-Pick C Disease

TL;DR: Treatment of NP-C2 fibroblasts with exogenous recombinant HE1 protein ameliorated lysosomal accumulation of low density lipoprotein-derived cholesterol.
Abstract: Niemann-Pick type C2 disease (NP-C2) is a fatal hereditary disorder of unknown etiology characterized by defective egress of cholesterol from lysosomes. Here we show that the disease is caused by a deficiency in HE1, a ubiquitously expressed lysosomal protein identified previously as a cholesterol-binding protein. HE1 was undetectable in fibroblasts from NP-C2 patients but present in fibroblasts from unaffected controls and NP-C1 patients. Mutations in the HE1 gene, which maps to chromosome 14q24.3, were found in NP-C2 patients but not in controls. Treatment of NP-C2 fibroblasts with exogenous recombinant HE1 protein ameliorated lysosomal accumulation of low density lipoprotein-derived cholesterol.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
15 Sep 2011-Nature
TL;DR: It is shown that membrane fusion mediated by filovirus glycoproteins and viral escape from the vesicular compartment require the NPC1 protein, independent of its known function in cholesterol transport, which indicates potential antiviral strategies to combat these deadly agents.
Abstract: The extraordinary virulence of the Ebola and Marburg filoviruses has spurred intensive research into the molecular mechanisms by which they multiply and cause disease. Carette et al. use a genome-wide genetic screen in human cells to identify factors required for entry of Ebola virus. The screen uncovered 67 mutations disrupting all six members of the homotypic fusion and vacuole protein-sorting (HOPS) multisubunit tethering complex, which is involved in the fusion of endosomes to lysosomes, and 39 independent mutations that disrupt the endo/lysosomal cholesterol transporter protein Niemann–Pick C1 (NPC1). Cote et al. report the identification of a novel benzylpiperazine adamantane diamide-derived compound that inhibits EboV infection in cell culture, with NPC1 being the target. The unexpected role for the hereditary disease gene NPC1 in Ebola virus infection may facilitate the development of antifilovirus therapeutics. Infections by the Ebola and Marburg filoviruses cause a rapidly fatal haemorrhagic fever in humans for which no approved antivirals are available1. Filovirus entry is mediated by the viral spike glycoprotein (GP), which attaches viral particles to the cell surface, delivers them to endosomes and catalyses fusion between viral and endosomal membranes2. Additional host factors in the endosomal compartment are probably required for viral membrane fusion; however, despite considerable efforts, these critical host factors have defied molecular identification3,4,5. Here we describe a genome-wide haploid genetic screen in human cells to identify host factors required for Ebola virus entry. Our screen uncovered 67 mutations disrupting all six members of the homotypic fusion and vacuole protein-sorting (HOPS) multisubunit tethering complex, which is involved in the fusion of endosomes to lysosomes6, and 39 independent mutations that disrupt the endo/lysosomal cholesterol transporter protein Niemann–Pick C1 (NPC1)7. Cells defective for the HOPS complex or NPC1 function, including primary fibroblasts derived from human Niemann–Pick type C1 disease patients, are resistant to infection by Ebola virus and Marburg virus, but remain fully susceptible to a suite of unrelated viruses. We show that membrane fusion mediated by filovirus glycoproteins and viral escape from the vesicular compartment require the NPC1 protein, independent of its known function in cholesterol transport. Our findings uncover unique features of the entry pathway used by filoviruses and indicate potential antiviral strategies to combat these deadly agents.

1,147 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
07 Jun 2002-Science
TL;DR: This work proposes that the molecular address for proteins targeted to lipid domains is a lipid shell, which is high in cholesterol and sphingolipids, have a light buoyant density, and function in both endocytosis and cell signaling.
Abstract: The surface membrane of cells is studded with morphologically distinct regions, or domains, like microvilli, cell-cell junctions, and coated pits. Each of these domains is specialized for a particular function, such as nutrient absorption, cell-cell communication, and endocytosis. Lipid domains, which include caveolae and rafts, are one of the least understood membrane domains. These domains are high in cholesterol and sphingolipids, have a light buoyant density, and function in both endocytosis and cell signaling. A major mystery, however, is how resident molecules are targeted to lipid domains. Here, we propose that the molecular address for proteins targeted to lipid domains is a lipid shell.

1,139 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The history of the LDL receptor is recounted by its codiscoverers to explain a genetic cause of heart attacks and introduce three general concepts to cell biology: receptor-mediated endocytosis, receptor recycling, and feedback regulation of receptors.
Abstract: In this article, the history of the LDL receptor is recounted by its codiscoverers. Their early work on the LDL receptor explained a genetic cause of heart attacks and led to new ways of thinking about cholesterol metabolism. The LDL receptor discovery also introduced three general concepts to cell biology: receptor-mediated endocytosis, receptor recycling, and feedback regulation of receptors. The latter concept provides the mechanism by which statins selectively lower plasma LDL, reducing heart attacks and prolonging life.

1,099 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The primary laboratory diagnosis requires living skin fibroblasts to demonstrate accumulation of unesterified cholesterol in perinuclear vesicles (lysosomes) after staining with filipin, and genotyping of patients is useful to confirm the diagnosis in the latter patients and essential for future prenatal diagnosis.
Abstract: Niemann-Pick C disease (NP-C) is a neurovisceral atypical lysosomal lipid storage disorder with an estimated minimal incidence of 1/120 000 live births. The broad clinical spectrum ranges from a neonatal rapidly fatal disorder to an adult-onset chronic neurodegenerative disease. The neurological involvement defines the disease severity in most patients but is typically preceded by systemic signs (cholestatic jaundice in the neonatal period or isolated spleno- or hepatosplenomegaly in infancy or childhood). The first neurological symptoms vary with age of onset: delay in developmental motor milestones (early infantile period), gait problems, falls, clumsiness, cataplexy, school problems (late infantile and juvenile period), and ataxia not unfrequently following initial psychiatric disturbances (adult form). The most characteristic sign is vertical supranuclear gaze palsy. The neurological disorder consists mainly of cerebellar ataxia, dysarthria, dysphagia, and progressive dementia. Cataplexy, seizures and dystonia are other common features. NP-C is transmitted in an autosomal recessive manner and is caused by mutations of either the NPC1 (95% of families) or the NPC2 genes. The exact functions of the NPC1 and NPC2 proteins are still unclear. NP-C is currently described as a cellular cholesterol trafficking defect but in the brain, the prominently stored lipids are gangliosides. Clinical examination should include comprehensive neurological and ophthalmological evaluations. The primary laboratory diagnosis requires living skin fibroblasts to demonstrate accumulation of unesterified cholesterol in perinuclear vesicles (lysosomes) after staining with filipin. Pronounced abnormalities are observed in about 80% of the cases, mild to moderate alterations in the remainder ("variant" biochemical phenotype). Genotyping of patients is useful to confirm the diagnosis in the latter patients and essential for future prenatal diagnosis. The differential diagnosis may include other lipidoses; idiopathic neonatal hepatitis and other causes of cholestatic icterus should be considered in neonates, and conditions with cerebellar ataxia, dystonia, cataplexy and supranuclear gaze palsy in older children and adults. Symptomatic management of patients is crucial. A first product, miglustat, has been granted marketing authorization in Europe and several other countries for specific treatment of the neurological manifestations. The prognosis largely correlates with the age at onset of the neurological manifestations.

974 citations


Cites background from "Identification of HE1 as the Second..."

  • ...Etiology Mutations in either of the two genes, NPC1 or NPC2, may cause the disease [13-16]....

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  • ...Major advances have been the description of two genetic complementation groups [13,14] and the subsequent isolation of the two underlying genes [15,16]....

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  • ...The remainder have mutations in the NPC2 gene, which encodes a small soluble lysosomal protein that binds cholesterol with high affinity [16,55,56]....

    [...]

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The broad role of glycans in immunity, cancer, xenotransplantation and glomerular filtration and the potential of ‘glycomedicine’ are discussed.
Abstract: The glycome describes the complete repertoire of glycoconjugates composed of carbohydrate chains, or glycans, that are covalently linked to lipid or protein molecules. Glycoconjugates are formed through a process called glycosylation and can differ in their glycan sequences, the connections between them and their length. Glycoconjugate synthesis is a dynamic process that depends on the local milieu of enzymes, sugar precursors and organelle structures as well as the cell types involved and cellular signals. Studies of rare genetic disorders that affect glycosylation first highlighted the biological importance of the glycome, and technological advances have improved our understanding of its heterogeneity and complexity. Researchers can now routinely assess how the secreted and cell-surface glycomes reflect overall cellular status in health and disease. In fact, changes in glycosylation can modulate inflammatory responses, enable viral immune escape, promote cancer cell metastasis or regulate apoptosis; the composition of the glycome also affects kidney function in health and disease. New insights into the structure and function of the glycome can now be applied to therapy development and could improve our ability to fine-tune immunological responses and inflammation, optimize the performance of therapeutic antibodies and boost immune responses to cancer. These examples illustrate the potential of the emerging field of ‘glycomedicine’. Glycosylation refers to the addition of carbohydrate chains to proteins and lipids. In this Review, the authors discuss the broad role of glycans in immunity, cancer, xenotransplantation and glomerular filtration and the potential of ‘glycomedicine’.

939 citations

References
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Book
01 Jan 1995
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a list of disorders of MITOCHONDRIAL FUNCTION, including the following: DISORDERS OF MIOCHONDRIC FERTILITY XIX, XVI, XIX.
Abstract: I. INTRODUCTION II. PERSPECTIVES III. GENERAL THEMES IV. CANCER V. CHROMOSOMES VI. DIAGNOSTIC APPROACHES VII. CARBOHYDRATES VIII. AMINO ACIDS IX. ORGANIC ACIDS X. DISORDERS OF MITOCHONDRIAL FUNCTION XI. PURINES AND PYRIMIDINES XII. LIPIDS XIII. PORPHYRINS XIV. METALS XV. PEROXISOMES XVI. LYSOSOMAL DISORDERS XVII. VITAMINS XVIII. HORMONES XIX. BLOOD XX. IMMUNE AND DEFENSE SYSTEMS XXI. MEMBRANE TRANSPORT DISORDERS XXII. CONNECTIVE TISSUE XXIII. CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM XXIV. KIDNEY XXV. MUSCLE XXVI. LUNG XXVII. SKIN XXVIII. NEUROGENETICS XXIX. EYE XXX. MULTISYSTEM INBORN ERRORS OF DEVELOPMENT

10,525 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results are shown to favour the ferryl ion structure, or an isomer of this structure, for the higher oxidation state, and theHigher oxidation state may provisionally be named ferrylmyoglobin.
Abstract: more acidic solutions, with pH < 7 0, a few seconds elapsed before equilibrium was attained. Taking into account the ionization of the haem-linked group on MetMb and the higher oxidation state, the variation of Kb,. with pH is shown to confirm the conclusion that 2 moles ofH+ are liberated/mole of acidic MetMb. Using 6-1 for the pK of the group in MetMb as established in other studies, the results give apK of75 for the group in the higher oxidation state at 200 and I= 0 04. 3. The variation of KRb, with temperature gives AHO = 10-0 ± 2*0 kcal./g.mol.: if the ionization of the haem-linked group is allowed for, the value 9*0 ± 1.0 kcal./g.mol. is obtained. 4. The dependence of Kob. on ionic strength is in accord with a change in charge from + 1 on MetMb to zero on the higher oxidation state. 5. The results are shown to favour the ferryl ion structure, or an isomer of this structure, for the higher oxidation state. The isomeric structures would, in general, require the presence of another ionizing group in myoglobin, but no evidence for such an ionization could be found. With other direct evidence favouring the ferryl ion structure this is to be preferred, and the higher oxidation state may provisionally be named ferrylmyoglobin.

3,654 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
19 Sep 1997-Science
TL;DR: In this paper, the mannose 6-phosphate modification of newly synthesized lysosomal enzymes was used as an affinity marker, and a single protein was identified that is absent in LINCL.
Abstract: Classical late-infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (LINCL) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease whose defective gene has remained elusive. A molecular basis for LINCL was determined with an approach applicable to other lysosomal storage diseases. When the mannose 6-phosphate modification of newly synthesized lysosomal enzymes was used as an affinity marker, a single protein was identified that is absent in LINCL. Sequence comparisons suggest that this protein is a pepstatin-insensitive lysosomal peptidase, and a corresponding enzymatic activity was deficient in LINCL autopsy specimens. Mutations in the gene encoding this protein were identified in LINCL patients but not in normal controls.

560 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Characterizing the subcellular location of the NPC1 protein suggests that U18666A may inhibit the retrograde transport of NPC1 from lysosomes to late endosomes for subsequent transfer to the trans-Golgi network.

254 citations

Journal Article
TL;DR: In this article, the authors conducted a study on skin fibroblast cultures from 32 unrelated Niemann-Pick C patients covering the range of known clinical and biochemical phenotypes.
Abstract: The primary molecular defect underlying Niemann-Pick C disease (NPC) is still unknown. A wide spectrum of clinical and biochemical phenotypes has previously been documented. Indication of genetic heterogeneity has recently been provided for one patient. In the present study, somatic cell hybridization experiments were carried out on skin fibroblast cultures from 32 unrelated NPC patients covering the range of known clinical and biochemical phenotypes. The criterion for complementation was the restoration of a normal intracellular fluorescent pattern in polykaryons stained with filipin to document cholesterol distribution. Crosses between the various cell lines revealed a major complementation group comprising 27 unrelated patients and a second minor group comprising 5 patients. Linkage analysis in one multiplex family belonging to the minor complementation group showed that the mutated gene does not map to the 18q11-12 region assigned to the major gene. Patients in the first group spanned the whole spectrum of clinical and cellular phenotypes. No consistent clinical or biochemical phenotypes was associated with the second complementation group. Three of the five group 2 patients, however, presented with a new rare phenotype associated with severe pulmonary involvement leading to death within the first year of life. No biochemical abnormality specific of either group could be demonstrated with regard to tissue lipid storage pattern, intralysosomal cholesterol storage, and regulation of cholesterol homeostasis. Mutations affecting at least two different genes have thus been shown to underlie NPC. The two gene products may function together or sequentially in a common metabolic pathway affecting intracellular cholesterol transport.

214 citations

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