Characterization of the human homozygous R182W POLG2 mutation in mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome.

Mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been linked to a variety of metabolic, neurological and muscular diseases which can present at any time throughout life. MtDNA is replicated by DNA polymerase gamma (Pol γ), twinkle helicase and mitochondrial single-stranded binding protein (mtSSB). The Po...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kirsten E Hoff, Karen L DeBalsi, Maria J Sanchez-Quintero, Matthew J Longley, Michio Hirano, Ali B Naini, William C Copeland
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2018-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC6114919?pdf=render
_version_ 1818305028823187456
author Kirsten E Hoff
Karen L DeBalsi
Maria J Sanchez-Quintero
Matthew J Longley
Michio Hirano
Ali B Naini
William C Copeland
author_facet Kirsten E Hoff
Karen L DeBalsi
Maria J Sanchez-Quintero
Matthew J Longley
Michio Hirano
Ali B Naini
William C Copeland
author_sort Kirsten E Hoff
collection DOAJ
description Mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been linked to a variety of metabolic, neurological and muscular diseases which can present at any time throughout life. MtDNA is replicated by DNA polymerase gamma (Pol γ), twinkle helicase and mitochondrial single-stranded binding protein (mtSSB). The Pol γ holoenzyme is a heterotrimer consisting of the p140 catalytic subunit and a p55 homodimeric accessory subunit encoded by the nuclear genes POLG and POLG2, respectively. The accessory subunits enhance DNA binding and promote processive DNA synthesis of the holoenzyme. Mutations in either POLG or POLG2 are linked to disease and adversely affect maintenance of the mitochondrial genome, resulting in depletion, deletions and/or point mutations in mtDNA. A homozygous mutation located at Chr17: 62492543G>A in POLG2, resulting in R182W substitution in p55, was previously identified to cause mtDNA depletion and fatal hepatic liver failure. Here we characterize this homozygous R182W p55 mutation using in vivo cultured cell models and in vitro biochemical assessments. Compared to control fibroblasts, homozygous R182W p55 primary dermal fibroblasts exhibit a two-fold slower doubling time, reduced mtDNA copy number and reduced levels of POLG and POLG2 transcripts correlating with the reported disease state. Expression of R182W p55 in HEK293 cells impairs oxidative-phosphorylation. Biochemically, R182W p55 displays DNA binding and association with p140 similar to WT p55. R182W p55 mimics the ability of WT p55 to stimulate primer extension, support steady-state nucleotide incorporation, and suppress the exonuclease function of Pol γ in vitro. However, R182W p55 has severe defects in protein stability as determined by differential scanning fluorimetry and in stimulating function as determined by thermal inactivation. These data demonstrate that the Chr17: 62492543G>A mutation in POLG2, R182W p55, severely impairs stability of the accessory subunit and is the likely cause of the disease phenotype.
first_indexed 2024-12-13T06:20:05Z
format Article
id doaj.art-df50385706fb4e65b9724f6ee0fdd5d7
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1932-6203
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-13T06:20:05Z
publishDate 2018-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj.art-df50385706fb4e65b9724f6ee0fdd5d72022-12-21T23:56:51ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032018-01-01138e020319810.1371/journal.pone.0203198Characterization of the human homozygous R182W POLG2 mutation in mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome.Kirsten E HoffKaren L DeBalsiMaria J Sanchez-QuinteroMatthew J LongleyMichio HiranoAli B NainiWilliam C CopelandMutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been linked to a variety of metabolic, neurological and muscular diseases which can present at any time throughout life. MtDNA is replicated by DNA polymerase gamma (Pol γ), twinkle helicase and mitochondrial single-stranded binding protein (mtSSB). The Pol γ holoenzyme is a heterotrimer consisting of the p140 catalytic subunit and a p55 homodimeric accessory subunit encoded by the nuclear genes POLG and POLG2, respectively. The accessory subunits enhance DNA binding and promote processive DNA synthesis of the holoenzyme. Mutations in either POLG or POLG2 are linked to disease and adversely affect maintenance of the mitochondrial genome, resulting in depletion, deletions and/or point mutations in mtDNA. A homozygous mutation located at Chr17: 62492543G>A in POLG2, resulting in R182W substitution in p55, was previously identified to cause mtDNA depletion and fatal hepatic liver failure. Here we characterize this homozygous R182W p55 mutation using in vivo cultured cell models and in vitro biochemical assessments. Compared to control fibroblasts, homozygous R182W p55 primary dermal fibroblasts exhibit a two-fold slower doubling time, reduced mtDNA copy number and reduced levels of POLG and POLG2 transcripts correlating with the reported disease state. Expression of R182W p55 in HEK293 cells impairs oxidative-phosphorylation. Biochemically, R182W p55 displays DNA binding and association with p140 similar to WT p55. R182W p55 mimics the ability of WT p55 to stimulate primer extension, support steady-state nucleotide incorporation, and suppress the exonuclease function of Pol γ in vitro. However, R182W p55 has severe defects in protein stability as determined by differential scanning fluorimetry and in stimulating function as determined by thermal inactivation. These data demonstrate that the Chr17: 62492543G>A mutation in POLG2, R182W p55, severely impairs stability of the accessory subunit and is the likely cause of the disease phenotype.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC6114919?pdf=render
spellingShingle Kirsten E Hoff
Karen L DeBalsi
Maria J Sanchez-Quintero
Matthew J Longley
Michio Hirano
Ali B Naini
William C Copeland
Characterization of the human homozygous R182W POLG2 mutation in mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome.
PLoS ONE
title Characterization of the human homozygous R182W POLG2 mutation in mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome.
title_full Characterization of the human homozygous R182W POLG2 mutation in mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome.
title_fullStr Characterization of the human homozygous R182W POLG2 mutation in mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome.
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of the human homozygous R182W POLG2 mutation in mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome.
title_short Characterization of the human homozygous R182W POLG2 mutation in mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome.
title_sort characterization of the human homozygous r182w polg2 mutation in mitochondrial dna depletion syndrome
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC6114919?pdf=render
work_keys_str_mv AT kirstenehoff characterizationofthehumanhomozygousr182wpolg2mutationinmitochondrialdnadepletionsyndrome
AT karenldebalsi characterizationofthehumanhomozygousr182wpolg2mutationinmitochondrialdnadepletionsyndrome
AT mariajsanchezquintero characterizationofthehumanhomozygousr182wpolg2mutationinmitochondrialdnadepletionsyndrome
AT matthewjlongley characterizationofthehumanhomozygousr182wpolg2mutationinmitochondrialdnadepletionsyndrome
AT michiohirano characterizationofthehumanhomozygousr182wpolg2mutationinmitochondrialdnadepletionsyndrome
AT alibnaini characterizationofthehumanhomozygousr182wpolg2mutationinmitochondrialdnadepletionsyndrome
AT williamccopeland characterizationofthehumanhomozygousr182wpolg2mutationinmitochondrialdnadepletionsyndrome