Expression of a truncated Sall1 transcriptional repressor is responsible for Townes–Brocks syndrome birth defects

• Published in: Human molecular genetics Vol. 12; no. 17; pp. 2221 - 2227
• Main Authors: Kiefer, Susan McLeskey, Ohlemiller, Kevin K., Yang, Jing, McDill, Bradley W., Kohlhase, Jürgen, Rauchman, Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01.09.2003; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Abnormalities, Multiple - genetics; Anal Canal - abnormalities; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Bone and Bones - abnormalities; Carrier Proteins - genetics; Cell differentiation, maturation, development, hematopoiesis; Cell physiology; Cercopithecus aethiops; Congenital Abnormalities - genetics; COS Cells; DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Hand Deformities, Congenital; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural - genetics; Heterozygote; Histone Deacetylases - genetics; Histone Deacetylases - metabolism; Homozygote; Kidney - abnormalities; Limb Deformities, Congenital; Luciferases - metabolism; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Molecular and cellular biology; Nerve Tissue Proteins - genetics; Plasmids; Transcription Factors; Human; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Mouse; Pathogenesis; Rodentia; Truncated shape; Mutation; Gene expression; Transcription factor; Birth; Complex syndrome
• DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddg233
• ISSN: 0964-6906; 1460-2083

Townes–Brocks syndrome (TBS, OMIM #107480) is an autosomal dominant disorder that causes multiple birth defects including renal, ear, anal and limb malformations. Mutations in SALL1 have been postulated to cause TBS by haploinsufficiency; however, a mouse model carrying a sall1-null allele does not mimic the human syndrome. Since the mutations that cause TBS could express a truncated SALL1 protein containing the domain necessary for transcriptional repression but lacking the complete DNA binding domain, we hypothesized that TBS is due to dominant-negative or gain-of-function activity of a mutant protein. To test this hypothesis, we have created a mutant allele, sall1-ΔZn2-10, that produces a truncated protein and recapitulates the abnormalities found in human TBS. Heterozygous mice mimic TBS patients by displaying high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss, renal cystic hypoplasia and wrist bone abnormalities. Homozygous sall1-ΔZn2-10 mutant mice exhibit more severe defects than sall1-null mice including complete renal agenesis, exencephaly, limb and anal deformities. We demonstrate that truncated Sall1 mediates interaction with all Sall family members and could interfere with the normal function of all Sall proteins. These data support a model for the pathogenesis of TBS in which expression of a truncated SALL1 protein causes abnormal development of multiple organs.