Intellectual disability (ID) is a common untreatable neurological disorder that affects a significant portion of the US population. ID is a major burden to the family as associated health care costs are high and patients with ID are frequently reliant upon family members for their activities of daily living. Little is known about the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying ID and treatment options are limited to supportive care. One way to improve therapies for ID could be by identifying novel genetic pathways regulating neural development and function. The knowledge gained from these studies will be useful for future development of clinically relevant treatment options for ID patients as well as improve genetic counseling for families. Using whole exome sequencing; I have identified a 3 novel gene mutations in families with inherited progressive microcephaly and ID. These genes encode proteins involved in mRNA processing and nuclear export. Therefore, I hypothesize that mutations in these genes will affect the processing or cellular localization of a subset of mRNAs required for neural viability. To test this hypothesis, I have proposed the following aims: 1. Investigate how mutations in these genes affect neural progenitor cell viability and growth, and maturation of neurons in vitro and in vivo. 2. Determine whether the mutations in these genes alter mRNA splicing, abundance, and cellular localization. 3. Identify direct mRNA targets of these proteins by performing RNA immunoprecipitation and sequencing (RIP-seq). Understanding disease onset and progression as well as the underlying cellular and molecular changes associated with mutations in causal ID genes will provide insight into basic human developmental processes in addition to novel disease mechanisms in patients with ID.

Public Health Relevance

Progressive microcephaly with intellectual disability (PMC-ID) is an extremely debilitating condition often resulting from postnatal neurodegeneration. The genetic causes underlying PMC-ID are not well understood, and at present, no treatments exist for this disorder. This proposal seeks to explore the function of newly identified mRNA processing genes mutated in families with inherited PMC-ID using mice, patient-specific stem cells, biochemistry, and sequencing technologies.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Transition Award (R00)
Project #
5R00HD082337-05
Application #
9638446
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (NSS)
Program Officer
Parisi, Melissa
Project Start
2017-02-01
Project End
2020-01-31
Budget Start
2019-02-01
Budget End
2020-01-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Case Western Reserve University
Department
Genetics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
077758407
City
Cleveland
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
44106
Schaffer, Ashleigh E; Breuss, Martin W; Caglayan, Ahmet Okay et al. (2018) Biallelic loss of human CTNNA2, encoding ?N-catenin, leads to ARP2/3 complex overactivity and disordered cortical neuronal migration. Nat Genet 50:1093-1101
Mishra-Gorur, Ketu; Ça?layan, Ahmet Okay; Schaffer, Ashleigh E et al. (2015) Mutations in KATNB1 Cause Complex Cerebral Malformations by Disrupting Asymmetrically Dividing Neural Progenitors. Neuron 85:228
Mishra-Gorur, Ketu; Ça?layan, Ahmet Okay; Schaffer, Ashleigh E et al. (2014) Mutations in KATNB1 cause complex cerebral malformations by disrupting asymmetrically dividing neural progenitors. Neuron 84:1226-39