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Variants in EXOSC9 Disrupt the RNA Exosome and Result in Cerebellar Atrophy with Spinal Motor Neuronopathy

Lookup NU author(s): Dr David Burns, Michele Giunta, Benjamin Munro, Professor Gavin Hudson, Dr Helen GriffinORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

© 2018 The Author(s)The exosome is a conserved multi-protein complex that is essential for correct RNA processing. Recessive variants in exosome components EXOSC3, EXOSC8, and RBM7 cause various constellations of pontocerebellar hypoplasia (PCH), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and central nervous system demyelination. Here, we report on four unrelated affected individuals with recessive variants in EXOSC9 and the effect of the variants on the function of the RNA exosome in vitro in affected individuals’ fibroblasts and skeletal muscle and in vivo in zebrafish. The clinical presentation was severe, early-onset, progressive SMA-like motor neuronopathy, cerebellar atrophy, and in one affected individual, congenital fractures of the long bones. Three affected individuals of different ethnicity carried the homozygous c.41T>C (p.Leu14Pro) variant, whereas one affected individual was compound heterozygous for c.41T>C (p.Leu14Pro) and c.481C>T (p.Arg161∗). We detected reduced EXOSC9 in fibroblasts and skeletal muscle and observed a reduction of the whole multi-subunit exosome complex on blue-native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. RNA sequencing of fibroblasts and skeletal muscle detected significant >2-fold changes in genes involved in neuronal development and cerebellar and motor neuron degeneration, demonstrating the widespread effect of the variants. Morpholino oligonucleotide knockdown and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis of exosc9 in zebrafish recapitulated aspects of the human phenotype, as they have in other zebrafish models of exosomal disease. Specifically, portions of the cerebellum and hindbrain were absent, and motor neurons failed to develop and migrate properly. In summary, we show that variants in EXOSC9 result in a neurological syndrome combining cerebellar atrophy and spinal motoneuronopathy, thus expanding the list of human exosomopathies.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Burns DT, Donkervoort S, Muller JS, Knierim E, Bharucha-Goebel D, Faqeih EA, Bell SK, AlFaifi AY, Monies D, Millan F, Retterer K, Dyack S, MacKay S, Morales-Gonzalez S, Giunta M, Munro B, Hudson G, Scavina M, Baker L, Massini TC, Lek M, Hu Y, Ezzo D, AlKuraya FS, Kang PB, Griffin H, Foley AR, Schuelke M, Horvath R, Bonnemann CG

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: American Journal of Human Genetics

Year: 2018

Volume: 102

Issue: 5

Pages: 858-873

Print publication date: 03/05/2018

Online publication date: 03/05/2018

Acceptance date: 06/03/2018

Date deposited: 25/06/2018

ISSN (print): 0002-9297

ISSN (electronic): 1537-6605

Publisher: Cell Press

URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajhg.2018.03.011

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2018.03.011


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
201064/Z/16/ZWellcome Trust
203105/Z/16/ZWellcome Trust
109915/Z/15/ZWellcome Trust
MR/N025431/1Medical Research Council (MRC)

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