Long QT syndrome is a disease associated with delayed cardiac repolarization and prolonged QT intervals on the electrocardiogram, which can lead to ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death. The chromosome 7- linked inherited long QT syndrome (LQT2) is caused by mutations in the human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG). hERG encodes the pore-forming subunit of the rapidly activating delayed rectifier potassium channel in the heart. More than 200 hERG mutations have been identified in patients with LQT2. These LQT2 mutations result in decreased hERG channel function, which leads to action potential prolongation and cardiac arrhythmias. Most of the previous studies were focused on the analysis of mutant proteins and channel function. More than 30% of LQT2 mutations are nonsense, frameshift, or splice site mutations, which may affect hERG mRNA splicing and stability. However, the effect of LQT2 mutations on hERG mRNA splicing and stability are largely unexplored. In addition, most of the previous studies involved expressing disease-causing mutations in Xenopus oocytes or mammalian cell lines, but little is known about how LQT2 mutations function when expressed in cardiac myocytes.
The specific aims of this application are: 1) To study abnormal splicing of hERG mRNA caused by splice site mutations, 2) To study whether LQT2 mutations that carry premature termination codons cause a decrease in the level of hERG mRNA transcripts by nonsense mediated mRNA decay, and 3) To study pre-mRNA splicing, mRNA stability, protein trafficking, subcellular distribution, and pharmacological rescue of LQT2 mutants expressed in cardiac myocytes. We will use molecular biology, biochemical, and electrophysiological approaches to study LQT2 mutations expressed in HEK 293 cells and in neonatal and adult rat cardiac myocytes. We will also analyze the splicing patterns and stability of endogenously expressed hERG mRNA isolated from lymphocytes of patients carrying LQT2 mutations. The results from these studies will increase our knowledge of how LQT2 mutations lead to hERG channel dysfunction at both the mRNA and protein levels. Elucidating these mechanisms will not only strengthen our understanding of the pathogenesis of hERG mutations in human long QT syndrome, but will also provide invaluable information directed towards the development of new therapeutic strategies for long QT syndrome. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL068854-06
Application #
7229524
Study Section
Electrical Signaling, Ion Transport, and Arrhythmias Study Section (ESTA)
Program Officer
Wang, Lan-Hsiang
Project Start
2001-12-05
Project End
2011-05-31
Budget Start
2007-06-01
Budget End
2008-05-31
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$336,360
Indirect Cost
Name
Oregon Health and Science University
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
096997515
City
Portland
State
OR
Country
United States
Zip Code
97239
Gong, Qiuming; Zhou, Zhengfeng (2018) Nonsense-Mediated mRNA Decay of hERG Mutations in Long QT Syndrome. Methods Mol Biol 1684:37-49
Gong, Qiuming; Stump, Matthew R; Zhou, Zhengfeng (2018) Upregulation of functional Kv11.1a isoform expression by modified U1 small nuclear RNA. Gene 641:220-225
Gong, Qiuming; Stump, Matthew R; Zhou, Zhengfeng (2018) Regulation of Kv11.1 potassium channel C-terminal isoform expression by the RNA-binding proteins HuR and HuD. J Biol Chem 293:19624-19632
Gong, Qiuming; Zhou, Zhengfeng (2017) Regulation of Isoform Expression by Blocking Polyadenylation Signal Sequences with Morpholinos. Methods Mol Biol 1565:141-150
Hashem, Sherin I; Perry, Cynthia N; Bauer, Matthieu et al. (2015) Brief Report: Oxidative Stress Mediates Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis in a Human Model of Danon Disease and Heart Failure. Stem Cells 33:2343-50
Gong, Qiuming; Stump, Matthew R; Zhou, Zhengfeng (2014) Position of premature termination codons determines susceptibility of hERG mutations to nonsense-mediated mRNA decay in long QT syndrome. Gene 539:190-7
Gong, Qiuming; Stump, Matthew R; Deng, Vivianne et al. (2014) Identification of Kv11.1 isoform switch as a novel pathogenic mechanism of long-QT syndrome. Circ Cardiovasc Genet 7:482-90
Gong, Qiuming; Stump, Matthew R; Zhou, Zhengfeng (2014) Upregulation of functional Kv11.1 isoform expression by inhibition of intronic polyadenylation with antisense morpholino oligonucleotides. J Mol Cell Cardiol 76:26-32
Stump, Matthew R; Gong, Qiuming; Zhou, Zhengfeng (2013) LQT2 nonsense mutations generate trafficking defective NH2-terminally truncated channels by the reinitiation of translation. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 305:H1397-404
Stump, Matthew R; Gong, Qiuming; Zhou, Zhengfeng (2012) Isoform-specific dominant-negative effects associated with hERG1 G628S mutation in long QT syndrome. PLoS One 7:e42552

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