Readthrough of nonsense mutations in Rett syndrome: evaluation of novel aminoglycosides and generation of a new mouse model.

Abstract

Thirty-five percent of patients with Rett syndrome carry nonsense mutations in the MECP2 gene. We have recently shown in transfected HeLa cells that readthrough of nonsense mutations in the MECP2 gene can be achieved by treatment with gentamicin and geneticin. This study was performed to test if readthrough can also be achieved in cells endogenously expressing mutant MeCP2 and to evaluate potentially more effective readthrough compounds. A mouse model was generated carrying the R168X mutation in the MECP2 gene. Transfected HeLa cells expressing mutated MeCP2 fusion proteins and mouse ear fibroblasts isolated from the new mouse model were treated with gentamicin and the novel aminoglycosides NB30, NB54, and NB84. The localization of the readthrough product was tested by immunofluorescence. Readthrough of the R168X mutation in mouse ear fibroblasts using gentamicin was detected but at lower level than in HeLa cells. As expected, the readthrough product, full-length Mecp2 protein, was located in the nucleus. NB54 and NB84 induced readthrough more effectively than gentamicin, while NB30 was less effective. Readthrough of nonsense mutations can be achieved not only in transfected HeLa cells but also in fibroblasts of the newly generated Mecp2(R168X) mouse model. NB54 and NB84 were more effective than gentamicin and are therefore promising candidates for readthrough therapy in Rett syndrome patients.

• Authors: Cornelia Brendel, Valery Belakhov, Hauke Werner, Eike Wegener, Jutta Gärtner, Igor Nudelman, Timor Baasov, Peter Huppke
• Journal: Journal of molecular medicine (Berlin, Germany) (J Mol Med (Berl)) Vol. 89 Issue 4 Pg. 389-98 (Apr 2011) ISSN: 1432-1440 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 21120444 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Aminoglycosides
• Codon, Nonsense
• Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2

Topics

• Aminoglycosides (metabolism, pharmacology)
• Animals
• Codon, Nonsense
• Disease Models, Animal
• Embryonic Stem Cells (metabolism)
• Female
• Fibroblasts (drug effects, metabolism)
• Gene Expression Regulation (drug effects)
• Gene Knock-In Techniques
• Gene Order
• Genetic Vectors (genetics, metabolism)
• HeLa Cells
• Humans
• Male
• Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 (genetics, metabolism)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Mice, Transgenic
• Rett Syndrome (genetics)