Inositol Hexakisphosphate Kinase-2 in Cerebellar Granule Cells Regulates Purkinje Cells and Motor Coordination via Protein 4.1N
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
Authors: Nagpal, Latika; Fu, Chenglai; Snyder, Solomon H.
Abstract
Inositol hexakisphosphate kinases (IP6Ks) regulate various biological processes. Among pyrophosphates generated by IP6Ks, diphosphoinositol pentakisphosphate (IP7), and bis-diphosphoinositol tetrakisphosphate have been extensively characterized. IP7 is produced in mammals by a family of inositol hexakisphosphate kinases, IP6K1, IP6K2, and IP6K3, which have distinct biological functions. We report that IP6K2 binds protein 4.1. N with high affinity and specificity. Nuclear translocation of 4.1N, which is required for its principal functions, is dependent on IP6K2. Both of these proteins are highly expressed in granule cells of the cerebellum where their interaction regulates Purkinje cell morphology and cerebellar synapses. The deletion of IP6K2 in male/female mice elicits substantial defects in synaptic influences of granule cells upon Purkinje cells as well as notable impairment of locomotor function. Moreover, the disruption of IP6K2-4.1N interactions impairs cell viability. Thus, IP6K2 and its interaction with 4.1N appear to be major determinants of cerebellar disposition and psychomotor behavior.
Genome-wide association analysis suggests novel loci for Hashimoto's thyroiditis
JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION
Authors: Brcic, L.; Baric, A.; Gracan, S.; Brekalo, M.; Kalicanin, D.; Gunjaca, I; Lovric, V. Torlak; Tokic, S.; Radman, M.; Skrabic, V; Miljkovic, A.; Kolcic, I; Stefanic, M.; Glavas-Obrovac, L.; Lessel, D.; Polasek, O.; Zemunik, T.; Barbalic, M.; Punda, A.; Perica, V. Boraska
Abstract
PurposeHashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is the most common form of autoimmune thyroid diseases. Current knowledge of HT genetics is limited, and not a single genome-wide association study (GWAS) focusing exclusively on HT has been performed to date. In order to decipher genetic determinants of HT, we performed the first GWAS followed by replication in a total of 1443 individuals from Croatia.MethodsWe performed association analysis in a discovery cohort comprising 405 cases and 433 controls. We followed up 13 independent signals (P<10(-5)) in 303 cases and 302 controls from two replication cohorts and then meta-analyzed results across discovery and replication datasets.ResultsWe identified three variants suggestively associated with HT: rs12944194 located 206kb from SDK2 (P=1.8x10(-6)), rs75201096 inside GNA14 (P=2.41x10(-5)) and rs791903 inside IP6K3 (P=3.16x10(-5)). Genetic risk score (GRS), calculated using risk alleles of these loci, accounted for 4.82% of the total HT variance, and individuals from the top GRS quartile had 2.76 times higher odds for HT than individuals from the lowest GRS quartile.ConclusionsAlthough discovered loci are implicated with susceptibility to HT for the first time, genomic regions harboring these loci exhibit good biological candidacy due to involvement in the regulation of the thyroid function and autoimmunity. Additionally, we observe genetic overlap between HT and several related traits, such as hypothyroidism, Graves' disease and TPOAb. Our study adds a new knowledge of underlying HT genetics and sets a firm basis for further research.