Functional genomics of epilepsy-associated mutations in the GABAA receptor subunits reveal that one mutation impairs function and two are catastrophic. 2019

Nathan L Absalom, and Philip K Ahring, and Vivian W Liao, and Thomas Balle, and Tian Jiang, and Lyndsey L Anderson, and Jonathon C Arnold, and Iain S McGregor, and Michael T Bowen, and Mary Chebib
From the Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, 94 Mallett Street, Camperdown, New South Wales 2050, Australia; School of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, Australia.

A number of epilepsy-causing mutations have recently been identified in the genes of the α1, β3, and γ2 subunits comprising the γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor. These mutations are typically dominant, and in certain cases, such as the α1 and β3 subunits, they may lead to a mix of receptors at the cell surface that contain no mutant subunits, a single mutated subunit, or two mutated subunits. To determine the effects of mutations in a single subunit or in two subunits on receptor activation, we created a concatenated protein assembly that links all five subunits of the α1β3γ2 receptor and expresses them in the correct orientation. We created nine separate receptor variants with a single-mutant subunit and four receptors containing two subunits of the γ2R323Q, β3D120N, β3T157M, β3Y302C, and β3S254F epilepsy-causing mutations. We found that the singly mutated γ2R323Q subunit impairs GABA activation of the receptor by reducing GABA potency. A single β3D120N, β3T157M, or β3Y302C mutation also substantially impaired receptor activation, and two copies of these mutants within a receptor were catastrophic. Of note, an effect of the β3S254F mutation on GABA potency depended on the location of this mutant subunit within the receptor, possibly because of the membrane environment surrounding the transmembrane region of the receptor. Our results highlight that precise functional genomic analyses of GABAA receptor mutations using concatenated constructs can identify receptors with an intermediate phenotype that contribute to epileptic phenotypes and that are potential drug targets for precision medicine approaches.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011963 Receptors, GABA-A Cell surface proteins which bind GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID and contain an integral membrane chloride channel. Each receptor is assembled as a pentamer from a pool of at least 19 different possible subunits. The receptors belong to a superfamily that share a common CYSTEINE loop. Benzodiazepine-Gaba Receptors,GABA-A Receptors,Receptors, Benzodiazepine,Receptors, Benzodiazepine-GABA,Receptors, Diazepam,Receptors, GABA-Benzodiazepine,Receptors, Muscimol,Benzodiazepine Receptor,Benzodiazepine Receptors,Benzodiazepine-GABA Receptor,Diazepam Receptor,Diazepam Receptors,GABA(A) Receptor,GABA-A Receptor,GABA-A Receptor alpha Subunit,GABA-A Receptor beta Subunit,GABA-A Receptor delta Subunit,GABA-A Receptor epsilon Subunit,GABA-A Receptor gamma Subunit,GABA-A Receptor rho Subunit,GABA-Benzodiazepine Receptor,GABA-Benzodiazepine Receptors,Muscimol Receptor,Muscimol Receptors,delta Subunit, GABA-A Receptor,epsilon Subunit, GABA-A Receptor,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Subtype A Receptors,Benzodiazepine GABA Receptor,Benzodiazepine Gaba Receptors,GABA A Receptor,GABA A Receptor alpha Subunit,GABA A Receptor beta Subunit,GABA A Receptor delta Subunit,GABA A Receptor epsilon Subunit,GABA A Receptor gamma Subunit,GABA A Receptor rho Subunit,GABA A Receptors,GABA Benzodiazepine Receptor,GABA Benzodiazepine Receptors,Receptor, Benzodiazepine,Receptor, Benzodiazepine-GABA,Receptor, Diazepam,Receptor, GABA-A,Receptor, GABA-Benzodiazepine,Receptor, Muscimol,Receptors, Benzodiazepine GABA,Receptors, GABA A,Receptors, GABA Benzodiazepine,delta Subunit, GABA A Receptor,epsilon Subunit, GABA A Receptor,gamma Aminobutyric Acid Subtype A Receptors
D002462 Cell Membrane The lipid- and protein-containing, selectively permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Plasma Membrane,Cytoplasmic Membrane,Cell Membranes,Cytoplasmic Membranes,Membrane, Cell,Membrane, Cytoplasmic,Membrane, Plasma,Membranes, Cell,Membranes, Cytoplasmic,Membranes, Plasma,Plasma Membranes
D004827 Epilepsy A disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of paroxysmal brain dysfunction due to a sudden, disorderly, and excessive neuronal discharge. Epilepsy classification systems are generally based upon: (1) clinical features of the seizure episodes (e.g., motor seizure), (2) etiology (e.g., post-traumatic), (3) anatomic site of seizure origin (e.g., frontal lobe seizure), (4) tendency to spread to other structures in the brain, and (5) temporal patterns (e.g., nocturnal epilepsy). (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p313) Aura,Awakening Epilepsy,Seizure Disorder,Epilepsy, Cryptogenic,Auras,Cryptogenic Epilepsies,Cryptogenic Epilepsy,Epilepsies,Epilepsies, Cryptogenic,Epilepsy, Awakening,Seizure Disorders
D005680 gamma-Aminobutyric Acid The most common inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. 4-Aminobutyric Acid,GABA,4-Aminobutanoic Acid,Aminalon,Aminalone,Gammalon,Lithium GABA,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Calcium Salt (2:1),gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Hydrochloride,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Monolithium Salt,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Monosodium Salt,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Zinc Salt (2:1),4 Aminobutanoic Acid,4 Aminobutyric Acid,Acid, Hydrochloride gamma-Aminobutyric,GABA, Lithium,Hydrochloride gamma-Aminobutyric Acid,gamma Aminobutyric Acid,gamma Aminobutyric Acid, Hydrochloride,gamma Aminobutyric Acid, Monolithium Salt,gamma Aminobutyric Acid, Monosodium Salt
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014982 Xenopus laevis The commonest and widest ranging species of the clawed "frog" (Xenopus) in Africa. This species is used extensively in research. There is now a significant population in California derived from escaped laboratory animals. Platanna,X. laevis,Platannas,X. laevi
D019943 Amino Acid Substitution The naturally occurring or experimentally induced replacement of one or more AMINO ACIDS in a protein with another. If a functionally equivalent amino acid is substituted, the protein may retain wild-type activity. Substitution may also diminish, enhance, or eliminate protein function. Experimentally induced substitution is often used to study enzyme activities and binding site properties. Amino Acid Substitutions,Substitution, Amino Acid,Substitutions, Amino Acid
D020125 Mutation, Missense A mutation in which a codon is mutated to one directing the incorporation of a different amino acid. This substitution may result in an inactive or unstable product. (From A Dictionary of Genetics, King & Stansfield, 5th ed) Missense Mutation,Missense Mutations,Mutations, Missense
D021122 Protein Subunits Single chains of amino acids that are the units of multimeric PROTEINS. Multimeric proteins can be composed of identical or non-identical subunits. One or more monomeric subunits may compose a protomer which itself is a subunit structure of a larger assembly. Protomers,Protein Subunit,Protomer,Subunit, Protein,Subunits, Protein

Related Publications

Nathan L Absalom, and Philip K Ahring, and Vivian W Liao, and Thomas Balle, and Tian Jiang, and Lyndsey L Anderson, and Jonathon C Arnold, and Iain S McGregor, and Michael T Bowen, and Mary Chebib
May 2024, Epilepsia open,
Nathan L Absalom, and Philip K Ahring, and Vivian W Liao, and Thomas Balle, and Tian Jiang, and Lyndsey L Anderson, and Jonathon C Arnold, and Iain S McGregor, and Michael T Bowen, and Mary Chebib
June 2010, The Journal of physiology,
Nathan L Absalom, and Philip K Ahring, and Vivian W Liao, and Thomas Balle, and Tian Jiang, and Lyndsey L Anderson, and Jonathon C Arnold, and Iain S McGregor, and Michael T Bowen, and Mary Chebib
February 1991, Trends in pharmacological sciences,
Nathan L Absalom, and Philip K Ahring, and Vivian W Liao, and Thomas Balle, and Tian Jiang, and Lyndsey L Anderson, and Jonathon C Arnold, and Iain S McGregor, and Michael T Bowen, and Mary Chebib
January 1990, Advances in biochemical psychopharmacology,
Nathan L Absalom, and Philip K Ahring, and Vivian W Liao, and Thomas Balle, and Tian Jiang, and Lyndsey L Anderson, and Jonathon C Arnold, and Iain S McGregor, and Michael T Bowen, and Mary Chebib
December 2005, The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience,
Nathan L Absalom, and Philip K Ahring, and Vivian W Liao, and Thomas Balle, and Tian Jiang, and Lyndsey L Anderson, and Jonathon C Arnold, and Iain S McGregor, and Michael T Bowen, and Mary Chebib
November 2004, The Journal of biological chemistry,
Nathan L Absalom, and Philip K Ahring, and Vivian W Liao, and Thomas Balle, and Tian Jiang, and Lyndsey L Anderson, and Jonathon C Arnold, and Iain S McGregor, and Michael T Bowen, and Mary Chebib
October 2010, The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience,
Nathan L Absalom, and Philip K Ahring, and Vivian W Liao, and Thomas Balle, and Tian Jiang, and Lyndsey L Anderson, and Jonathon C Arnold, and Iain S McGregor, and Michael T Bowen, and Mary Chebib
January 2001, Nature biotechnology,
Nathan L Absalom, and Philip K Ahring, and Vivian W Liao, and Thomas Balle, and Tian Jiang, and Lyndsey L Anderson, and Jonathon C Arnold, and Iain S McGregor, and Michael T Bowen, and Mary Chebib
September 2008, Annals of neurology,
Nathan L Absalom, and Philip K Ahring, and Vivian W Liao, and Thomas Balle, and Tian Jiang, and Lyndsey L Anderson, and Jonathon C Arnold, and Iain S McGregor, and Michael T Bowen, and Mary Chebib
January 2021, Brain communications,
Copied contents to your clipboard!