Molecular Deconvolution Platform to Establish Disease Mechanisms by Surveying GPCR Signaling

Cell Rep. 2018 Jul 17;24(3):557-568.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.06.080.

Abstract

Despite the wealth of genetic information available, mechanisms underlying pathological effects of disease-associated mutations in components of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling cascades remain elusive. In this study, we developed a scalable approach for the functional analysis of clinical variants in GPCR pathways along with a complete analytical framework. We applied the strategy to evaluate an extensive set of dystonia-causing mutations in G protein Gαolf. Our quantitative analysis revealed diverse mechanisms by which pathogenic variants disrupt GPCR signaling, leading to a mechanism-based classification of dystonia. In light of significant clinical heterogeneity, the mechanistic analysis of individual disease-associated variants permits tailoring personalized intervention strategies, which makes it superior to the current phenotype-based approach. We propose that the platform developed in this study can be universally applied to evaluate disease mechanisms for conditions associated with genetic variation in all components of GPCR signaling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenylyl Cyclases / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Disease / genetics*
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases / metabolism
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Models, Molecular
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Nucleotides / metabolism
  • Protein Domains
  • Protein Multimerization
  • Protein Stability
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction*

Substances

  • Nucleotides
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases
  • GTP-Binding Proteins
  • Adenylyl Cyclases