ZmSOC1, a MADS-box transcription factor from Zea mays, promotes flowering in Arabidopsis.

Zea mays is an economically important crop, but its molecular mechanism of flowering remains largely uncharacterized. The gene, SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS 1 (SOC1), integrates multiple flowering signals to regulate floral transition in Arabidopsis. In this study, ZmSOC1 was isolated from Zea mays. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the ZmSOC1 protein contained a highly conserved MADS domain and a typical SOC1 motif. ZmSOC1 protein was localized in the nucleus in protoplasts and showed no transcriptional activation activity in yeast cells. ZmSOC1 was highly expressed in maize reproductive organs, including filaments, ear and endosperm, but expression was very low in embryos; on the other hand, the abiotic stresses could repress ZmSOC1 expression. Overexpression of ZmSOC1 resulted in early flowering in Arabidopsis through increasing the expression of AtLFY and AtAP1. Overall, these results suggest that ZmSOC1 is a flowering promoter in Arabidopsis.

De novo frameshift variant in MT-ND1 causes a mitochondrial complex I deficiency associated with MELAS syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The variant m.3571_3572insC/MT-ND1 thus far only reported in oncocytic tumors of different tissues. However, the role of m.3571_3572insC in inherited mitochondrial diseases has yet to be elucidated. METHODS: A patient diagnosed with MELAS syndrome was recruited, and detailed medical records were collected and reviewed. The muscle was biopsied for mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme activity. Series of fibroblast clones bearing different m.3571_3572insC variant loads were generated from patient-derived fibroblasts and subjected to functional assays. RESULTS: Complex I deficiency was confirmed in the patient's muscle via mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme activity assay. The m.3571_3572insC was filtered for the candidate variant of the patient according to the guidelines for mitochondrial mRNA variants interpretation. Three cell clones with different m.3571_3572insC variant loads were generated to evaluate mitochondrial function. Blue native PAGE analysis revealed that m.3571_3572insC caused a deficiency in the mitochondrial complex I. Oxygen consumption rate, ATP production, and lactate assays found an impairment of cellular bioenergetic capacity due to m.3571_3572insC. Mitochondrial membrane potential was decreased, and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production was increased with the variant of m.3571_3572insC. According to the competitive cell growth assay, the mutant cells had impaired cell growth capacity compared to wild type. CONCLUSIONS: A novel variant m.3571_3572insC was identified in a patient diagnosed with MELAS syndrome, and the variant impaired mitochondrial respiration by decreasing the activity of complex I. In conclusion, the genetic spectrum of mitochondrial diseases was expanded by including m.3571_3572insC/MT-ND1.

Cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome-associated pathogenic MAP2K1 variants activate autophagy.

MAP2K1 encodes mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MEK1). Mutations in MAP2K1 lead to continuous activation of MEK/ERK signaling pathway, giving rise to cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome (CFCS). However, the molecular mechanisms of abnormal activation of MEK/ERK signaling pathway and the role of autophagy, if any, in manifesting CFCS in MAP2K mutants remain unclear. Here, we report three Chinese children with CFCS having MAP2K1 pathogenic variants, identified by exome sequencing. They presented with dysmorphic facial features, seizures, psychomotor retardation, and short stature. Additionally, the third child showed pulmonary valve stenosis, multiple skeletal deformities, and osteoporosis. Whole exome sequencing revealed two heterozygous missense mutations in exon 3 of MAP2K1 (c.383G>T; p.Gly128Val and c.389A>G; p.Tyr130Cys), as well as a novel heterozygous missense variant (c.170A>T; p.Lys57Met) in exon 2 of MAP2K1. In SH-SY5Y cells, we identified, for the first time, that MAP2K1 mutations can activate the p-ERK-dependent cell cycle progression and autophagy, and cause CFCS. Our results extended the mutational spectrum of MAP2K1, examined the role of MEK1 protein in nerve cell functions, and demonstrated, for the first time, that autophagy may mediate the altered MAP2K1 function, leading to CFCS phenotypes.

Identification of a novel mutation in the FGFR3 gene in a Chinese family with Hypochondroplasia.

BACKGROUND: Hypochondroplasia (HCH; OMIM 146000) is a common autosomal dominant skeletal dysplasia characterized by disproportionate short stature, short extremities, relative macrocephaly, and lumbar lordosis. Because of its clinical and genetic heterogeneity, gene mutational analysis is particularly important in diagnosis and the phenotypes may be ameliorated if diagnosed early. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we examined a Chinese family with HCH, performed an inductive analysis of their clinical features and radiographic results, and applied targeted exome sequencing (TES) technology to perform a molecular diagnosis. RESULTS: The proband and his mother all presented disproportionate short stature, short, stubby extremities, unchanged interpedicular distances from L1-L5, and short iliac bones, with a 'fish mouth-shaped' sciatic notch. The mother received induced abortion recently because an ultrasound showed short femur length of her fetus at 24-week gestation. Eventually, a novel heterozygous mutation (c.1145G>A) in FGFR3 was identified by TES in the proband, his mother, and her fetus; this causes the substitution of glycine with aspartic acid in codon 382. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we diagnosed a Chinese pedigree with HCH based on clinical data, radiographic features, and genetic testing results. Our results extend the genetic mutation spectrum of FGFR3 and demonstrate that TES is an effective method for the diagnosis of skeletal dysplasia in clinical practices.