Polyglutamine-binding protein 1 (PQBP1) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PQBP1 gene. [5] [6] [7]
Polyglutamine binding protein-1, which was identified as a binding protein to the polyglutamine tract sequence, [5] [7] is an evolutionally conserved protein [8] expressed in various tissues including developmental [9] and adult brains [7] or mesodermal tissues. [10] In cells, PQBP1 is dominantly located in the nucleus [7] [11] but also in the cytoplasm dependently on the cell type [12] and stress conditions. [13] PQBP1 has recently been found to play a role in the innate immune response of dendritic cells. [14]
It should be of note that PQBP1 has no relationship with QBP1, an artificial synthetic peptide.
PQBP1 is a nuclear polyglutamine-binding protein that contains a WW domain. [7] [15]
The molecular roles of PQBP1 are mainly in mRNA splicing [16] [17] and transcription. [11] [18] PQBP1 interacts with splicing proteins [19] [20] [21] [22] and RNA-binding proteins. [23] [24] PQBP1 deficiency critically affects mRNA splicing of cell cycle and synapse related genes. [16] Recent results indicated implication of PQBP1 in cytoplasmic RNA metabolism [25] and elongation of protein translation from mRNA. [26] Research also seems to suggest that PQBP1 also plays a role in the innate immune system as a necessary adaptor for the cGAS-mediated innate response to lentiviruses such as HIV1. This PQBP-1 dependent response initiates a sensor that detects lentiviral DNA. [27]
Mutations in the PQBP1 gene, which encodes for this protein, have been known to cause X-linked intellectual disabilities (XLID), commonly referred to as Renpenning's syndrome. [28] Recent studies indicate that PQBP-1 interaction with TXNL4A is missing in patients with frameshift mutations causing Renpenning's syndrome. PQBP-1 seems to facilitate the nuclear import of TXNL4A, however the biological function of that interaction requires further investigation. [29] People who suffer from these disabilities share a common set of symptoms including: microcephaly, shortened stature and impaired intellectual development. [30] There are 11 types of mutations that have been identified, but the most common being frameshift mutations. [28] [31] Other syndromic XLIDs such as Golabi-Ito-Hall syndrome and non-syndromic ID patients were also associated with PQBP1 gene mutations. [32] [33] [34]
Mutant Ataxin-1 and Huntingtin, disease proteins of spinocerebellar ataxia type-1 and Huntington's disease respectively, interact with PQBP1 and disturbed the functions of PQBP1. [11] [35] Moreover, recent investigations revealed pathological roles of PQBP1 in neurons [36] and microglia [12] under neurodegeneration of Alzheimer's disease and tauopathy. SRRM2 phosphorylation detected in neurons at the early stage of Alzheimer's disease pathology [37] leads to reduction of SRRM2, a scaffold protein for RNA metabolism related molecules in the nucleus, which causes reduction of PQBP1 in the nucleus and acquired intellectual disability. [36] PQBP1 was shown as an intracellular receptor for HIV1 in dendritic cells [38] for innate immune system. Recent studies indicate that PQBP1 recognizes intact capsids of HIV-1 particles. It interacts with these capsids through its amino-terminus, and when capsid disassembles it triggers the PQBP-1 dependent recruitment of cGAS. This is crucial to activating the sensor that detects HIV-1 DNA as soon as synthesis is initiated. [39] Similarly, PQBP1 functions as an intracellular receptor for tau proteins and trigger brain inflammation. [12]
Mouse models of knockdown and conditional knockout were generated, and they showed cognitive impairment and microcephaly. [40] [16] The KD mice possess a transgene expressing 498 bp double-strand RNA that is endogenously cleaved to siRNA suppressing PQBP1 efficiently, and did not show obvious developmental abnormality. [40] Another knockdown model of the gene in mouse embryo primary neurons revealed a decrease in splicing efficiency and resulted in abnormal gastrulation and neuralation patterning. [10]
Drosophila models of underexpression and overexpression were also generated. [41] [42] The hypomorph Drosophila model revealed molecular function of PQBP1 in learning acquisition mediated by decreased mRNA and protein expressions of NMDA receptor subunit NR1. [41] Research indicates that in order to appropriately function, the protein must be expressed within a critical range. [43] [10]
Alternative splicing, or alternative RNA splicing, or differential splicing, is an alternative splicing process during gene expression that allows a single gene to code for multiple proteins. In this process, particular exons of a gene may be included within or excluded from the final, processed messenger RNA (mRNA) produced from that gene. This means the exons are joined in different combinations, leading to different (alternative) mRNA strands. Consequently, the proteins translated from alternatively spliced mRNAs usually contain differences in their amino acid sequence and, often, in their biological functions.
L1, also known as L1CAM, is a transmembrane protein member of the L1 protein family, encoded by the L1CAM gene. This protein, of 200-220 kDa, is a neuronal cell adhesion molecule with a strong implication in cell migration, adhesion, neurite outgrowth, myelination and neuronal differentiation. It also plays a key role in treatment-resistant cancers due to its function. It was first identified in 1984 by M. Schachner who found the protein in post-mitotic mice neurons.
FMR1 is a human gene that codes for a protein called fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein, or FMRP. This protein, most commonly found in the brain, is essential for normal cognitive development and female reproductive function. Mutations of this gene can lead to fragile X syndrome, intellectual disability, premature ovarian failure, autism, Parkinson's disease, developmental delays and other cognitive deficits. The FMR1 premutation is associated with a wide spectrum of clinical phenotypes that affect more than two million people worldwide.
IKBKAP is a human gene encoding the IKAP protein, which is ubiquitously expressed at varying levels in all tissue types, including brain cells. The IKAP protein is thought to participate as a sub-unit in the assembly of a six-protein putative human holo-Elongator complex, which allows for transcriptional elongation by RNA polymerase II. Further evidence has implicated the IKAP protein as being critical in neuronal development, and directs that decreased expression of IKAP in certain cell types is the molecular basis for the severe, neurodevelopmental disorder familial dysautonomia. Other pathways that have been connected to IKAP protein function in a variety of organisms include tRNA modification, cell motility, and cytosolic stress signalling. Homologs of the IKBKAP gene have been identified in multiple other Eukaryotic model organisms. Notable homologs include Elp1 in yeast, Ikbkap in mice, and D-elp1 in fruit flies. The fruit fly homolog (D-elp1) has RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity and is involved in RNA interference.
The PAX3 gene encodes a member of the paired box or PAX family of transcription factors. The PAX family consists of nine human (PAX1-PAX9) and nine mouse (Pax1-Pax9) members arranged into four subfamilies. Human PAX3 and mouse Pax3 are present in a subfamily along with the highly homologous human PAX7 and mouse Pax7 genes. The human PAX3 gene is located in the 2q36.1 chromosomal region, and contains 10 exons within a 100 kb region.
Prickle is also known as REST/NRSF-interacting LIM domain protein, which is a putative nuclear translocation receptor. Prickle is part of the non-canonical Wnt signaling pathway that establishes planar cell polarity. A gain or loss of function of Prickle1 causes defects in the convergent extension movements of gastrulation. In epithelial cells, Prickle2 establishes and maintains cell apical/basal polarity. Prickle1 plays an important role in the development of the nervous system by regulating the movement of nerve cells.
Ataxin-1 is a DNA-binding protein which in humans is encoded by the ATXN1 gene.
Type III Collagen is a homotrimer, or a protein composed of three identical peptide chains (monomers), each called an alpha 1 chain of type III collagen. Formally, the monomers are called collagen type III, alpha-1 chain and in humans are encoded by the COL3A1 gene. Type III collagen is one of the fibrillar collagens whose proteins have a long, inflexible, triple-helical domain.
Tumor protein p63, typically referred to as p63, also known as transformation-related protein 63 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TP63 gene.
Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HNRNPK gene. It is found in the cell nucleus that binds to pre-messenger RNA (mRNA) as a component of heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein particles. The simian homolog is known as protein H16. Both proteins bind to single-stranded DNA as well as to RNA and can stimulate the activity of RNA polymerase II, the protein responsible for most gene transcription. The relative affinities of the proteins for DNA and RNA vary with solution conditions and are inversely correlated, so that conditions promoting strong DNA binding result in weak RNA binding.
Harmonin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the USH1C gene. It is expressed in sensory cells of the inner ear and retina, where it plays a role in hearing, balance, and vision. Mutations at the USH1C locus cause Usher syndrome type 1c and nonsyndromic sensorineural deafness.
X-linked retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator is a GTPase-binding protein that in humans is encoded by the RPGR gene. The gene is located on the X-chromosome and is commonly associated with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP). In photoreceptor cells, RPGR is localized in the connecting cilium which connects the protein-synthesizing inner segment to the photosensitive outer segment and is involved in the modulation of cargo trafficked between the two segments.
SON protein is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SON gene.
The serine/threonine-protein kinase/endoribonuclease inositol-requiring enzyme 1 α (IRE1α) is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ERN1 gene.
T-box transcription factor TBX3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TBX3 gene.
POU domain, class 3, transcription factor 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the POU3F2 gene.
RNA-binding motif 10 is a protein that is encoded by the RBM10 gene. This gene maps on the X chromosome at Xp11.23 in humans. RBM10 is a regulator of alternative splicing. Alternative splicing is a process associated with gene expression to produce multiple protein isoforms from a single gene, thereby creating functional diversity and cellular complexity. RBM10 influences the expression of many genes, participating in various cellular processes and pathways such as cell proliferation and apoptosis. Its mutations are associated with various human diseases such as TARP syndrome, an X-linked congenital disorder in males resulting in pre‐ or postnatal lethality, and various cancers in adults.
Thioredoxin-like protein 4A is a protein that is encoded by the TXNL4A gene in humans.
X-linked intellectual disability refers to medical disorders associated with X-linked recessive inheritance that result in intellectual disability.
Renpenning's syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder recognised in males that causes intellectual disability, mild growth retardation with examples in the testes and head, and a somewhat short stature. The condition only affects males, starting at birth.