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Prochazka, J.

Publications and source records attributed to Prochazka, J..

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Cytoplasmic polyadenylation by TENT5A is required for proper bone formation

Osteoblasts orchestrate bone formation by secreting dense, highly cross-linked type I collagen and other proteins involved in osteogenesis. Mutations in Col11, Col12, or collagen biogenesis factors lead to the human genetic disease, osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). Herein, we show that the TENT5A gene, whose mutation is responsible for poorly characterized type XVIII OI, encodes an active cytoplasmic poly(A) polymerase regulating osteogenesis. TENT5A is induced during osteoblast differentiation and TENT5A KO osteoblasts are defective in mineralization. The TENT5A KO mouse recapitulates OI disease symptoms such as bone fragility and hypomineralization. Direct RNA sequencing revealed that TENT5A polyadenylates and increases expression of Col11 and Col12 RNAs, as well as those of other genes mutated in OI, resulting in lower production and improper folding of collagen chains. Thus, we have identified the specific pathomechanism of XVIII OI and report for the first time a biologically relevant post-transcriptional regulator of collagen production. We further postulate that TENT5A, possibly together with its paralogue TENT5C, is responsible for the wave of cytoplasmic polyadenylation of mRNAs encoding secreted proteins occurring during bone mineralization.

genetics↗

MEIS-WNT5A axis regulates development of 4th ventricle choroid plexus

The choroid plexus (ChP) produces cerebrospinal fluid and forms a critical barrier between the brain and the circulation. While the ChP forms in each brain ventricle, it adopts a different shape in each one and remarkably little is known about the mechanisms underlying its development. Here, we show that epithelial WNT5A is critical for determining fourth ventricle (4V) ChP morphogenesis and size. Systemic Wnt5a knockout, or forced WNT5A overexpression beginning at E10.5, profoundly reduced the size and development of ChP in all ventricles. However, conditional deletion of Wnt5a expression in Foxj1-expressing epithelial cells affected only the branched, villous morphology of the 4V ChP. We found that WNT5A was enriched in epithelial cells localized to the distal tips of 4V ChP villi, where WNT5A acted locally to activate non-canonical Wnt signaling via Ror1/Ror2 receptors. During 4V ChP development, MEIS1 bound to the proximal Wnt5a promoter, and gain- and loss-of-function approaches demonstrated that MEIS1 regulated Wnt5a expression. Collectively, our findings demonstrate a dual function of WNT5A in ChP development and identify MEIS1 and MEIS2 as upstream regulators of Wnt5a in the 4V ChP epithelium.

developmental biology↗

Regulation of neutrophil NADPH oxidase by PSTPIP2 affects bone damage in murine autoinflammatory osteomyelitis

Autoinflammatory diseases are characterized by dysregulation of the innate immune system leading to spontaneous inflammation. Pstpip2cmo mouse strain is a well-characterized model of this class of disorders. Due to the mutation leading to the lack of adaptor protein PSTPIP2, these animals suffer from autoinflammatory chronic multifocal osteomyelitis similar to several human syndromes. Current evidence suggests that it is driven by hyperproduction of IL-1{beta} by neutrophil granulocytes. Here we show that in addition to IL-1{beta}, PSTPIP2 also negatively regulates ROS generation by neutrophil NADPH oxidase. Pstpip2cmo neutrophils display highly elevated ROS production in response to a range of stimuli. Inactivation of NADPH oxidase in Pstpip2cmo mice did not affect IL-1{beta} levels and the autoinflammatory process was initiated with similar kinetics. However, the bone destruction was almost completely alleviated, suggesting that dysregulated NADPH oxidase activity is a key factor promoting autoinflammatory bone damage in Pstpip2cmo mice.

immunology↗

Human and mouse essentiality screens as a resource for disease gene discovery

Although genomic sequencing has been transformative in the study of rare genetic diseases, identifying causal variants remains a considerable challenge that can be addressed in part by new gene-specific knowledge. Here, we integrate measures of how essential a gene is to supporting life, as inferred from the comprehensive viability and phenotyping screens performed on knockout mice by the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium and from human cell line essentiality screens. We propose a novel, cross-species gene classification across the Full Spectrum of Intolerance to Loss-of-function (FUSIL) and demonstrate that genes in five mutually exclusive FUSIL categories have differing characteristics in the biological processes they regulate, tissue expression levels and human mutation rates. Most notably, Mendelian disease genes, particularly those associated with developmental disorders, are highly overrepresented in the developmental lethal category, representing genes not essential for cell survival but required for organism development. Exploiting this finding, we have screened developmental disorder cases from three independent disease sequencing consortia and identified potentially pathogenic, de novo variants shared in different patients for several developmental lethal genes that have not previously been associated with rare disease. We therefore propose FUSIL as an efficient resource for disease gene discovery.

genomics↗