Pseudoachondroplasia and multiple epiphyseal dysplasia due to mutations in the cartilage oligomeric matrix protein gene.

Pseudoachondroplasia (PSACH) and multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (MED) are dominantly inherited chondrodysplasias characterized by short stature and early-onset osteoarthrosis. The disease genes in families with PSACH and MED have been localized to an 800 kilobase interval on the short arm of chromosome 19. Recently the gene for cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) was localized to chromosome 19p13.1. In three patients with these diseases, we identified COMP mutations in a region of the gene that encodes a Ca++ binding motif. Our data demonstrate that PSACH and some forms of MED are allelic and suggest an essential role for Ca++ binding in COMP structure and function.

An integrated metric physical map of human chromosome 19.

A metric physical map of human chromosome 19 has been generated. The foundation of the map is sets of overlapping cosmids (contigs) generated by automated fingerprinting spanning over 95% of the euchromatin, about 50 megabases (Mb). Distances between selected cosmid clones were estimated using fluorescence in situ hybridization in sperm pronuclei, providing both order and distance between contigs. An average inter-marker separation of 230 kb has been obtained across the non-centromeric portion of the chromosome. Various types of larger insert clones were used to span gaps between contigs. Currently, the map consists of 51 'islands' containing multiple clone types, whose size, order and relative distance are known. Over 450 genes, genetic markers, sequence tagged sites (STSs), anonymous cDNAs, and other markers have been localized. In addition, EcoRI restriction maps have been generated for > 41 Mb (approximately 83%) of the chromosome.

Functional characterization of Ape1 variants identified in the human population.

Apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites are common mutagenic and cytotoxic DNA lesions. Ape1 is the major human repair enzyme for abasic sites and incises the phosphodiester backbone 5' to the lesion to initiate a cascade of events aimed at removing the AP moiety and maintaining genetic integrity. Through resequencing of genomic DNA from 128 unrelated individuals, and searching published reports and sequence databases, seven amino acid substitution variants were identified in the repair domain of human Ape1. Functional characterization revealed that three of the variants, L104R, E126D and R237A, exhibited approximately 40-60% reductions in specific incision activity. A fourth variant, D283G, is similar to the previously characterized mutant D283A found to exhibit approximately 10% repair capacity. The most common substitution (D148E; observed at an allele frequency of 0.38) had no impact on endonuclease and DNA binding activities, nor did a G306A substitution. A G241R variant showed slightly enhanced endonuclease activity relative to wild-type. In total, four of seven substitutions in the repair domain of Ape1 imparted reduced function. These reduced function variants may represent low penetrance human polymorphisms that associate with increased disease susceptibility.

Nonconservative amino acid substitution variants exist at polymorphic frequency in DNA repair genes in healthy humans.

The removal or repair of DNA damage has a key role in protecting the genome of the cell from the insults of cancer-causing agents. This was originally demonstrated in individuals with the rare genetic disease xeroderma pigmentosum, the paradigm of cancer genes, and subsequently in the relationship between mismatch repair and colon cancer. Recent reports suggest that individuals with less dramatic reductions in the capacity to repair DNA damage are observed at polymorphic frequency in the population; these individuals have an increased susceptibility to breast, lung, and skin cancer. We report initial results from a study to estimate the extent of DNA sequence variation among individuals in genes encoding proteins of the DNA repair pathways. Nine different amino acid substitution variants have been identified in resequencing of the exons of three nucleotide excision repair genes (ERCC1, XPD, and XPF), a gene involved in double-strand break repair/recombination genes (XRCC3), and a gene functioning in base excision repair and the repair of radiation-induced damage (XRCCI). The frequencies for the nine different variant alleles range from 0.04 to 0.45 in a group of 12 healthy individuals; the average allele frequency is 0.17. The potential that this variation, and especially the six nonconservative amino acid substitutions occurring at residues that are identical in human and mouse, may cause reductions in DNA repair capacity or the fidelity of DNA repair is intriguing; the role of the variants as cancer risk factors or susceptibility alleles remains to be addressed.

The putative glioma tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 19q maps between APOC2 and HRC.

The frequent allelic loss of chromosome 19q in human gliomas suggests that 19q harbors a tumor suppressor gene that is integral to glioma tumorigenesis. Our initial deletion mapping of this gene localized the common region of deletion to the distal long arm, 19q13.2-13.4. To bracket the putative tumor suppressor gene further, we have studied this region in 55 gliomas, using loss of heterozygosity studies for 11 well mapped, highly informative microsatellite polymorphisms that cover this area: D19S178; BCL3; APOC2; ERCC1; DM; D19S112; HRC; D19S246; KLK; D19S180; and D19S254 (from centromeric to telomeric). Twenty astrocytic, oligodendroglial, and mixed gliomas had deletions affecting this region. Of nine partial deletions, two cases maintained heterozygosity at APOC2 while showing allelic loss at the more telomeric markers, ERCC1 and DM, while five cases maintained heterozygosity at HRC but lost the more centromeric markers, D19S112 and DM. Nine cases lost the entire D19S178 to D19S254 region. Three astrocytic gliomas, including one with an interstitial deletion, had terminal deletions of 19q13.4. The minimum area of overlap shared by the interstitial deletions is between APOC2 and HRC, including ERCC1, DM, and D19S112. These findings suggest that the glioma tumor suppressor gene maps to an approximately 8-cM/5-megabase region on 19q13.2-13.3 between the proximal marker APOC2 and the distal marker HRC. Among the DNA repair/DNA metabolism genes on chromosome 19q, ERCC1, LIG1, and perhaps ERCC2 are within the common area of deletion; XRCC1 is centromeric and is therefore excluded as a candidate.

Modulation of nucleotide excision repair capacity by XPD polymorphisms in lung cancer patients.

Sequence variations have been identified in a number of DNA repair genes, including XPD, but the effect of these polymorphisms on DNA repair capacity (DRC) is uncertain. We therefore examined XPD polymorphisms at Lys751Gln and Asp312Asn in 341 white lung cancer cases and 360 age-, sex-, ethnicity-, and smoking-matched controls accrued in a hospital-based molecular epidemiological study of susceptibility markers for lung cancer. As previously reported, DRC was statistically significantly lower in the cases than in the controls (7.8% versus 9.5%; P < 0.001), which represents an average 18% reduction among the cases. The variant Lys751Gln and Asp312Asn allele frequencies were 0.36 and 0.29, respectively, for the cases and 0.33 and 0.27, respectively, for the controls. For subjects homozygous for the variant genotype at either locus, the adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval (CI)] was 1.84 (1.11-3.04; P = 0.018, for trend). Both cases and controls with the wild-type genotypes exhibited the most proficient DRC. The risk (95% CI) for suboptimal DRC (defined as less than the median DRC value among the controls) was 1.57 (0.74-3.35) for those with the Gln/Gln751 genotype. For cases with the Asn/Asn312 genotype, the risk (95% CI) was 3.50 (1.06-11.59). For cases who were homozygous at either locus, the risk was 2.29 (1.03-5.12; P = 0.048, for trend). The pattern was less evident among the controls, although there was a nonsignificant 41% increase in the risk of suboptimal DRC for controls who were homozygous at either locus. These results suggest that the two XPD polymorphisms have a modulating effect on DRC, especially in the cases.

Refined deletion mapping of the chromosome 19q glioma tumor suppressor gene to the D19S412-STD interval.

Allelic loss of chromsome 19q occurs frequently in malignant gliomas, suggesting the presence of a chromosome 19q glioma tumor suppressor gene. Deletion mapping studies have delineated a 3.5 Mb candidate region between D19S219 and HRC. Cloned sequences from the proximal 425 kb of this interval, however, have not shown tumor-specific alterations. To refine the location of the tumor suppressor gene further, we conducted loss of heterozygosity studies on 191 malignant gliomas using nine PCR-based polymorphisms. These included the previously identified and physically mapped markers D19S219, DM, D19S112, HRC and the recently physically mapped polymorphisms at D19S412, STD, D19S596 and GYS. In addition, we isolated a novel microsatellite polymorphism that maps 400 kb telomeric to D19S112. Oligodendroglial tumors showed frequent loss of heterozygosity in all grades, and typically displayed allelic loss at all studied markers. Astrocytomas, however, showed frequent loss primarily in anaplastic astrocytomas and displayed deletion breakpoints within the candidate region. Deletion mapping revealed a minimal region of overlap between D19S412 and STD, a distance of 900 kb. These data suggest that the D19S412-STD interval represents the most likely location for a chromsome 19q glioma tumor suppressor gene involved in astrocytoma, and perhaps oligodendroglioma, tumorigenesis.

Enzyme changes associated with mitoichondrial malic enzyme deficiency in mice.

A genetically determined absence of mitochondrial malic enzyme (EC 1.1.1.40) in c3H/c6H mice is accompanied by a four-fold increase in liver glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and a two-fold increase for 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase activity. Smaller increases in the activity of serine dehydratase and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase are observed while the level of glutamic pyruvate transaminase activity is reduced in the liver of deficient mice. Unexpectedly, the level of activity of total malic enzyme in the livers of mitochondrial malic enzyme-deficient mice is increased approximately 50% compared to littermate controls. No similar increase in soluble malic enzyme activity is observed in heart of kidney tissue of mutant mice and the levels of total malic enzyme in these tissues are in accord with expected levels of activity in mitochondrial malic enzyme-deficient mice. The divergence in levels of enzyme activity between mutant and wild-type mice begins at 19--21 days of age. Immunoinactivation experiments with monospecific antisera to the soluble malic enzyme and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase demonstrate that the activity increases represent increases in the amount of enzyme protein. The alterations are not consistent with a single hormonal response.

Arginine to tryptophan substitution in the active site of a human lactate dehydrogenase variant--LDHB GUA1: postulated effects on subunit structure and catalysis.

A variant of lactate dehydrogenase (LDHB GUA1) was previously identified among the Guaymi Indians of Panama and Costa Rica. The LDHB GUA1 variant is enzymatically inactive; however, the variant subunits alter the electrophoretic mobility of the tetramers that include active LDHA and LDHB subunits. The kinetic properties of the tetrameric enzyme, comprised of the inactive B plus active A subunits, are similar to properties of the heterotetramers with active B subunits, except for the reduced specific activity. We have determined that a single C.G to T.A transition changes an Arg to a Trp at amino acid residue 106. This substitution explains the increase in net negative charge observed by protein electrophoresis. This Arg 106 residue is absolutely conserved throughout evolution. Published high-resolution crystal structures of LDH reveal that this residue is within the hinge of a loop that closes over the active site of the subunit upon binding of substrate and cofactor and also has a direct role in catalysis. Computer modeling of the variant enzyme suggests that replacement of this Arg residue with a Trp does not induce significant change in the structure of the active site. However, this substitution would result in disruption of enzyme activity through the inability of the uncharged tryptophan side-chain to polarize the substrate carbonyl bond. This would explain the loss of the catalytic function with maintenance of normal kinetic properties in the heterotetramers containing the variant subunits. The ability to maintain normal, tissue-specific kinetic properties could explain the absence of clinical manifestations in the homozygous LDHB GUA1 individuals.

Chromosome 19q deletions in human gliomas overlap telomeric to D19S219 and may target a 425 kb region centromeric to D19S112.

Chromosome 19q harbors a tumor suppressor gene that is involved in astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma and mixed glioma tumorigenesis. We had previously mapped this gene to an approximately 5 megabase region of chromosome 19q13.2-13.3 between APOC2 and HRC. To narrow the location of this tumor suppressor further, we studied 138 gliomas for loss of allelic heterozygosity at six microsatellite polymorphisms between APOC2 and HRC, including a newly described polymorphism in the ERCC2 gene. Allelic loss occurred in 48 gliomas (35%), including 25 of 41 oligodendroglial tumors (61%). Four cases had proximal breakpoints within the APOC2-HRC region, two telomeric to ERCC2 and two telomeric to D19S219. In addition, one of the latter tumors had an interstitial deletion between D19S219 and D19S112, a distance of only 425 kilobases surrounding the DM (myotonic dystrophy) gene. These findings suggest that the glioma tumor suppressor on chromosome 19q maps to 19q13.3, telomeric to D19S219 and perhaps centromeric to D19S112. The data exclude a number of candidate genes from 19q13.2-13.3, including a putative phosphatase gene and the DNA repair/metabolism genes ERCC1, ERCC2 and probably LIG1.

A 3-Mb region for the familial hemiplegic migraine locus on 19p13.1-p13.2: exclusion of PRKCSH as a candidate gene. Dutch Migraine Genetic Research Group.

Familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM) is an autosomal domianant subtype of migraine with attacks, associated with transient episodes of hemiparesis. One of the genes for FHM has been assigned to chromosome 19p13. Detailed analysis of critical recombinants from two different chromosome 19-linked FHM families, using new markers indicated a 6-cM candidate region on 19p13.1-p13.2 flanked by loci D19S394 and D19S226. Another paroxysmal neurological disorder, episodic ataxia type 2 (EA-2), has also been linked to the same chromosomal region. Most of the interval was completely covered by YAC and cosmid contigs; the physical map yielded approximately 3 Mb encompassing several genes including the protein kinase substrate 80K-H (PRKCSH) gene. Since PRKCSH is involved in neuronal signal transduction, it was considered to be an FHM candidate gene. The genomic structure of this gene was established and mutation analysis for all exon and flanking intron sequences was performed in FHM- and EA-2-affected individuals. Five polymorphisms were identified, including a trinucleotide repeat length variation in the coding sequence. However, no potential disease causing mutation was found and therefore the PRKCSH gene can be excluded for both FHM and EA-2.

Polymorphisms in the DNA repair gene XRCC1 and breast cancer.

X-ray repair cross complementing group 1 (XRCC1) encodes a protein involved in base excision repair. We examined the association of polymorphisms in XRCC1 (codon 194 Arg-->Trp and codon 399 Arg-->Gln) and breast cancer in the Carolina Breast Cancer Study, a population-based case-control study in North Carolina. No association was observed between XRCC1 codon 194 genotype and breast cancer, and odds ratios (ORs) were not modified by smoking or radiation exposure. A positive association for XRCC1 codon 399 Arg/Gln or Gln/Gln genotypes compared with Arg/Arg was found among African Americans (253 cases, 266 controls; OR = 1.7, 95% confidence interval, 1.1-2.4) but not whites (386 cases, 381 controls; OR =1.0, 95% confidence interval, 0.8-1.4). Among African-American women, ORs for the duration of smoking were elevated among women with XRCC1 codon 399 Arg/Arg genotype (trend test; P < 0.001) but not Arg/Gln or Gln/Gln (P = 0.23). There was no difference in OR for smoking according to XRCC1 codon 399 genotype in white women. ORs for occupational exposure to ionizing radiation were stronger for African-American and white women with codon 399 Arg/Arg genotype. High-dose radiation to the chest was more strongly associated with breast cancer among white women with XRCC1 codon 399 Arg/Arg genotype. Our results suggest that XRRC1 codon 399 genotype may influence breast cancer risk, perhaps by modifying the effects of environmental exposures. However, interpretation of our results is limited by incomplete knowledge regarding the biological function of XRCC1 alleles.

A distinctive autosomal dominant vacuolar neuromyopathy linked to 19p13.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize a kindred with a distinctive autosomal dominant neuromuscular disorder. BACKGROUND: The authors studied a large Italian family affected by a progressive neuromyopathy. Ten individuals over three generations were affected. The disease was characterized by onset from the late teens to early 50s with distal leg weakness and atrophy, development of generalized muscle weakness with distal-to-proximal progression sparing facial and ocular muscles, dysphonia and dysphagia, pes cavus and areflexia, variable clinical expression ranging from subclinical myopathy to severely disabling weakness, and mixed neurogenic and myopathic abnormalities on electromyography. METHODS: Morphologic, immunocytochemical, and ultrastructural studies were performed in muscle biopsies from three affected patients. A genomewide linkage analysis through the genotyping of 292 microsatellite markers spanning the 22 autosomes was undertaken to map the disorder segregating in this family. RESULTS: All muscle biopsies showed variation of fiber size, panesterase-positive angular fibers, mild to severe fibrosis, and numerous "rimmed vacuoles." Electron microscopy failed to demonstrate the nuclear or cytoplasmic filamentous inclusions specific of inclusion-body myopathies and, accordingly, immunohistochemistry did not show any positivity with SMI-31 antibodies detecting hyperphosphorylated tau. Preliminary analysis of 292 microsatellite markers provided evidence for linkage to chromosome 19p13. CONCLUSIONS: This distinctive autosomal dominant disorder is characterized by a vacuolar neuromyopathy. Localization to chromosome 19p13 will allow the genetic relationship between this disease and inherited myopathies with rimmed vacuoles, in particular autosomal dominant inclusion-body myopathies, to be defined.

The location of MZF-1 at the telomere of human chromosome 19q makes it vulnerable to degeneration in aging cells.

A zinc-finger gene encoding a transcription factor that regulates hematopoiesis, MZF-1, is located at the extreme end of the q arm of human chromosome 19. Several lines of evidence indicate that MZF-1 lies less than 20 kb from the subtelomeric repeat region of 19q. Telomeres are known to degenerate as cells age; disruption of MZF-1 due to telomeric degeneration may play a role in the increased incidence of leukemia in the elderly.

Duplication 8p syndrome: studies in a family with a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 8 and 12.

We report a family in which six individuals were carriers of a translocation between chromosomes 8 and 12. The balanced carriers had a chromosomes constitution: 46,XX or 46,XY,t(8;12)(021;p13). Six individuals in five generations were mentally retarded. Three of them were examined; their chromosome constitution was 46,XX or 46,XYder(12),t(8;12)(p21;p13); thus they had a duplication of 8pter leads to 8p21 and possible deficiency of 12pter leads to 12p13. The activities of the enzymes that are coded by genes on 8p (glutathione reductase, GSR, E.C. 1.6.4.2.) and 12p (triosephosphate isomerase, TPI, E.C. 5.3.1.1.; lactate dehydrogenase-B, LDH-B, E.C. 1.1.1.27.; and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, G3PD, E.C. 1.2.1.12.) were normal in these individuals. These findings helped in interpreting the position of the break points in the respective chromosomes. The phenotypic findings in our patients are discussed. Segregation analysis indicates no significant variation from a 25% recurrence risk for each of the possible genotypes in the offspring of balanced carriers.

Production and processing of erythropoietin receptor transcripts in brain.

The expression of erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) in brain and neuronal cells, and hypoxia-responsive production of erythropoietin (Epo) in the brain suggests that the function of Epo as a survival or viability factor may extend beyond hematopoietic tissue and erythroid progenitor cells. Epo, produced by astrocytes and neurons, can be induced by hypoxia by severalfold, and in animal models Epo administration is neuroprotective to ischemic challenge. We characterized the human EpoR transcript in brain and neuronal cells to determine its contribution in regulating the Epo response in brain. Screening of a human brain cDNA library and quantitative analysis of EpoR transcripts indicate that the EpoR gene locus is transcriptionally active in brain. In addition to the proximal promoter that is active in hematopoietic cells, a significant proportion of transcripts originates far upstream from the EpoR coding region. Unlike erythroid cells with efficient splicing of EpoR transcripts to its mature form, brain EpoR transcripts are inefficiently or alternately processed with a bias towards the 3' coding region. In human EpoR transgenic mice, anemic stress induces expression of the transgene and endogenous EpoR gene in hematopoietic tissue and brain. In culture of neuronal cells, hypoxia induces EpoR expression and increases sensitivity to Epo. Induction of EpoR expression appears to be a consequence of increased transcription from the upstream region and proximal promoter, and a shift towards increased processing efficiency. These data suggest that in contrast to erythropoiesis where erythroid progenitor cells express high levels of EpoR and are directly responsive to Epo stimulation, the neuroprotective effect of Epo and its receptor may require two molecular events: the induction of Epo production by hypoxia and an increase in EpoR expression in neuronal cells resulting in increased sensitivity to Epo.

The BAX gene maps to the glioma candidate region at 19q13.3, but is not altered in human gliomas.

The bax protein regulates apoptosis in a cellular pathway that involves both bcl-2 and p53, two molecules associated with human glioma tumorigenesis. We therefore evaluated the possibility that BAX functions as a glioma tumor suppressor gene. Somatic cell hybrid panels, fluorescence in situ hybridization and cosmid mapping localized the BAX gene to 19q13.3, approximately 300 kb centromeric to HRC. Thus BAX maps to the region of chromosome 19 most frequently deleted in gliomas. Routine and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis/Southern blotting studies, however, failed to reveal large-scale deletions or rearrangements of the BAX gene in gliomas. In addition, single strand conformation polymorphism analysis of all six BAX exons and flanking intronic sequences did not disclose mutations in 20 gliomas with allelic loss of the other copy of 19q. A C/T polymorphism was detected in intron 3 and was common in the general population. Therefore, although BAX maps to the glioma candidate region on the long arm of chromosome 19, BAX is probably not the 19q glioma tumor suppressor gene.

Mosaicism: the embryo as a target for induction of mutations leading to cancer and genetic disease.

Mosaicism, the existence of "patches" of cells with a genetic constitution that differs from that of other cells of an organism, has been observed in both germinal and somatic tissues of several species, including humans. Mutational events occurring during early embryogenesis can give rise to an organism with a significant number of cells with the mutant genotype in one or more tissues. If this event occurs in a precursor of the germ cells, the mutation can be transferred to subsequent generations. In the F1 generation, this event will usually be perceived as a de novo germinal mutation rather than a transmitted variant allele, unless significant effort is directed toward detecting the mosaicism. Similarly, mutations in oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes in proliferating somatic cells can generate populations of cells that are at increased risk of transforming into tumor cells. The number of potential preneoplastic cells is larger when the mutagenic event occurs in early development than if it occurs in the mature adult. Experimental data confirm that treatment of the developing embryo or fetus with carcinogenic and mutagenic agents increases the cancer incidence in these animals and the frequency of mutations in the offspring of the animals that were exposed in utero. The available data are conclusive that the developing organism is at risk from exposure to mutagenic and carcinogenic agents. However, the data are insufficient to estimate the level of risk associated with exposures in utero, relative to either the background (spontaneous) level of risk or risk associated with similar exposures to the adult organism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Genetic variability in susceptibility and response to toxicants.

Everyone has a unique combination of polymorphic traits that modify susceptibility and response to drugs, chemicals and carcinogenic exposures. The metabolism of exogenous and endogenous chemical toxins may be modified by inherited and induced variation in CYP (P450), acetyltransferase (NAT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes. We observe that specific 'at risk' genotypes for GSTM1 and NAT1/2 increase risk for bladder cancer among smokers. Genotypic and phenotypic variation in DNA repair may affect risk of somatic mutation and cancer. Variants of base excision and nucleotide excision repair genes (XRCC1 and XPD) appear to modify exposure-induced damage from cigarette smoke and radiation. We are currently engaged in discovering genetic variation in environmental response genes and determining if this variation has any effect on gene function or if it is associated with disease risk. These and other results are discussed in the context of evaluating inherited or acquired susceptibility risk factors for environmentally caused disease.

International Commission for Protection Against Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens. Working paper no. 5. Impact of the molecular spectrum of mutational lesions on estimates of germinal gene-mutation rates.

Review of the molecular characteristics of the variants identified at a series of disease loci suggests significant differences among loci in the relative frequency of nucleotide substitutions versus more complex events such as deletions. Some common features are repeatedly observed in each class of variant. For example, a high proportion of the nucleotide substitutions involve transitions of deoxycytidine and are suggested to result from deamination of cytosine at 5-methyl-CpG sites. Similarly, deletions of three or fewer nucleotides are relatively common in the non-nucleotide substitution class and these deletions are often associated with a seven-nucleotide core sequence. A significant fraction of the larger deletions and rearrangements may be associated with repetitive elements. Many of the deletion events do not appear to involve a chromosomal recombination mechanism. Mechanisms involving transcription slippage and chromatid exchange have been suggested as possible alternative mechanisms for generating deletion events. The spectrum of mutational events identified, e.g. nucleotide substitutions versus deletions, differs between loci and is probably a reflection of both the gene structure and the selective pressure to generate a disease phenotype. This locus specificity (at both the biological and molecular level) would appear to have significant potential to compromise estimates of increases in the gene germinal mutation rate following exposure to mutagenic agents.