Publication
Title
Simultaneous impairment of neuronal and metabolic function of mutated gephyrin in a patient with epileptic encephalopathy
Author
Institution/Organisation
EuroEPINOMICS Dravet Working Grp
Abstract
Synaptic inhibition is essential for shaping the dynamics of neuronal networks, and aberrant inhibition plays an important role in neurological disorders. Gephyrin is a central player at inhibitory postsynapses, directly binds and organizes GABA(A) and glycine receptors (GABA(A)Rs and GlyRs), and is thereby indispensable for normal inhibitory neurotransmission. Additionally, gephyrin catalyzes the synthesis of the molybdenum cofactor (MoCo) in peripheral tissue. We identified a de novo missense mutation (G375D) in the gephyrin gene (GPHN) in a patient with epileptic encephalopathy resembling Dravet syndrome. Although stably expressed and correctly folded, gephyrin-G375D was non-synaptically localized in neurons and acted dominant-negatively on the clustering of wild- type gephyrin leading to a marked decrease in GABA(A)R surface expression and GABAergic signaling. We identified a decreased binding affinity between gephyrin-G375D and the receptors, suggesting that Gly375 is essential for gephyrin-receptor complex formation. Surprisingly, gephyrin-G375D was also unable to synthesize MoCo and activate MoCo-dependent enzymes. Thus, we describe a missense mutation that affects both functions of gephyrin and suggest that the identified defect at GABAergic synapses is the mechanism underlying the patient's severe phenotype.
Language
English
Source (journal)
EMBO molecular medicine. - -
Publication
2015
ISSN
1757-4676
1757-4684
DOI
10.15252/EMMM.201505323
Volume/pages
7 :12 (2015) , p. 1580-1594
ISI
000368135400006
Pubmed ID
26613940
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
SYNSYS: Synaptic Systems: dissecting brain function in health and disease
GEUVADIS: Sharing capacity across Europe in high-throughput sequencing technology to explore genetic variation in health and disease
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 16.02.2016
Last edited 04.03.2024
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