PUBLICATION
Identification and functional validation of a novel FBN1 variant in a Marfan syndrome family using a zebrafish model
- Authors
- Huang, S., Chen, J., Wang, Q., Zhang, R., Zhuang, J., Huang, R., Yu, C., Fang, M., Zhao, H., Lei, L.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-250325-11
- Date
- 2025
- Source
- BMC Genomics 26: 288288 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Keywords
- FBN1, Lipid metabolism, Marfan syndrome, Nonsense mutation, Novel pathogenic variant, Zebrafish
- MeSH Terms
-
- Exome Sequencing
- Disease Models, Animal
- Mutation
- Pedigree*
- Adult
- Fibrillin-1*/genetics
- Male
- Marfan Syndrome*/genetics
- Marfan Syndrome*/pathology
- Lipid Metabolism/genetics
- Female
- Animals
- Phenotype
- Humans
- Codon, Nonsense
- Adipokines
- Zebrafish*/genetics
- PubMed
- 40128660 Full text @ BMC Genomics
Citation
Huang, S., Chen, J., Wang, Q., Zhang, R., Zhuang, J., Huang, R., Yu, C., Fang, M., Zhao, H., Lei, L. (2025) Identification and functional validation of a novel FBN1 variant in a Marfan syndrome family using a zebrafish model. BMC Genomics. 26:288288.
Abstract
Background Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an inherited autosomal dominant disorder that affects connective tissue with an incidence of about 1 in 5,000 to 10,000 people. 90% of MFS is caused by mutations in the fibrillin-1 (FBN1) gene. We recruited a family with MFS phenotype in South China and identified a novel variant. This study investigated whether this genetic variant is pathogenic and the potential pathway related to lipid metabolism in MFS.
Methods A three-generation consanguineous family was recruited for this study. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was utilized on family members. The 3D structure of the protein was predicted using AlphaFold. CRISPR/Cas9 was applied to generate a similar fbn1 nonsense mutation (fbn1+/-) in zebrafish. RNA-seq analysis on zebrafish was performed to identify potential pathways related to MFS pathogenesis.
Results Our study identified a novel variant [NM_000138.5; c.7764 C > G: p.(Y2588*)] in FBN1 gene from the family and identified the same site mutation among the proband along with her son and daughter. Structural modeling showed the p.Y2588* mutation resulted from a truncated protein. Compared to wild-type zebrafish, the F2 generation fbn1+/- zebrafish exhibited MFS phenotype. RNA-seq analysis indicated that many genes related to leptin are up-regulating, which could affect bone development and adipose homeostasis.
Conclusion A novel variant was identified in FBN1 gene. In a zebrafish model, we found functional evidence supporting the pathogenicity of the detected nonsense mutation. Our research proposes a possible mechanism underlying the relationship between lipid metabolism and MFS. These findings can help improve the clinical diagnosis and treatment of MFS.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping