PUBLICATION

The N-terminal region of centrosomal protein 290 (CEP290) restores vision in a zebrafish model of human blindness

Authors
Baye, L.M., Patrinostro, X., Swaminathan, S., Beck, J.S., Zhang, Y., Stone, E.M., Sheffield, V.C., and Slusarski, D.C.
ID
ZDB-PUB-110131-5
Date
2011
Source
Human molecular genetics   20(8): 1467-77 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Baye, Lisa, Slusarski, Diane C.
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Antigens, Neoplasm/biosynthesis*
  • Antigens, Neoplasm/genetics
  • Blindness/genetics*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Eye/embryology
  • Eye/metabolism
  • Eye Abnormalities/genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins/genetics*
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins/metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation, Missense
  • Neoplasm Proteins/biosynthesis*
  • Neoplasm Proteins/genetics
  • Optic Atrophy, Hereditary, Leber/genetics
  • Phenotype
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis*
  • Recombinant Proteins/genetics
  • Reflex, Startle
  • Tail/embryology
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Vision, Ocular/genetics*
  • Zebrafish/embryology*
  • Zebrafish/genetics
  • Zebrafish/metabolism
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics*
  • Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
PubMed
21257638 Full text @ Hum. Mol. Genet.
Abstract
The gene coding for Centrosomal Protein 290 (CEP290), a large multi-domain protein, is the most frequently mutated gene underlying the non-syndromic blinding disorder Leber's congenital amaurosis (LCA). CEP290 has also been implicated in several cilia related syndromic disorders including Meckel-Gruber syndrome, Joubert syndrome, Senor-Loken syndrome and Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS). In this study we characterize the developmental and functional roles of cep290 in the zebrafish. An antisense oligonucleotide (Morpholino, MO) designed to generate an altered cep290 splice product that models the most common LCA mutation was used for gene knockdown. We show that cep290 MO-injected embryos have reduced Kupffer's vesicle size and delays in melanosome transport, phenotypes that are also seen when bbs genes are knocked down in zebrafish. Consistent with roles in cilia function, the cep290 MO-injected embryos exhibited a curved body axis. Patients with LCA caused by mutations in CEP290 have reduced visual perception although they present with a fully laminated retina. Similarly, histological examination of retinas from cep290 MO-injected zebrafish revealed no gross lamination defects, yet the embryos had a statistically significant reduction in visual function. Finally, we demonstrate that the vision impairment caused by disruption of cep290 can be rescued by expressing only the N-terminal region of the human CEP290 protein. These data reveal that a specific region of the CEP290 protein is sufficient to restore visual function and this region may be a viable gene therapy target for LCA patients with mutations in CEP290.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping