Arjona, Francisco J., de Baaij, Jeroen H. F., Schlingmann, Karl P., Lameris, Anke L. L., van Wijk, Erwin, Flik, Gert ORCID: 0000-0001-9285-7957, Regele, Sabrina, Korenke, G. Christoph, Neophytou, Birgit, Rust, Stephan, Reintjes, Nadine, Konrad, Martin, Bindels, Rene J. M. and Hoenderop, Joost G. J. (2014). CNNM2 Mutations Cause Impaired Brain Development and Seizures in Patients with. PLoS Genet., 10 (4). SAN FRANCISCO: PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE. ISSN 1553-7404

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Abstract

Intellectual disability and seizures are frequently associated with hypomagnesemia and have an important genetic component. However, to find the genetic origin of intellectual disability and seizures often remains challenging because of considerable genetic heterogeneity and clinical variability. In this study, we have identified new mutations in CNNM2 in five families suffering from mental retardation, seizures, and hypomagnesemia. For the first time, a recessive mode of inheritance of CNNM2 mutations was observed. Importantly, patients with recessive CNNM2 mutations suffer from brain malformations and severe intellectual disability. Additionally, three patients with moderate mental disability were shown to carry de novo heterozygous missense mutations in the CNNM2 gene. To elucidate the physiological role of CNNM2 and explain the pathomechanisms of disease, we studied CNNM2 function combining in vitro activity assays and the zebrafish knockdown model system. Using stable Mg2+ isotopes, we demonstrated that CNNM2 increases cellular Mg2+ uptake in HEK293 cells and that this process occurs through regulation of the Mg2+-permeable cation channel TRPM7. In contrast, cells expressing mutated CNNM2 proteins did not show increased Mg2+ uptake. Knockdown of cnnm2 isoforms in zebrafish resulted in disturbed brain development including neurodevelopmental impairments such as increased embryonic spontaneous contractions and weak touch-evoked escape behaviour, and reduced body Mg content, indicative of impaired renal Mg2+ absorption. These phenotypes were rescued by injection of mammalian wild-type Cnnm2 cRNA, whereas mammalian mutant Cnnm2 cRNA did not improve the zebrafish knockdown phenotypes. We therefore concluded that CNNM2 is fundamental for brain development, neurological functioning and Mg2+ homeostasis. By establishing the loss-of-function zebrafish model for CNNM2 genetic disease, we provide a unique system for testing therapeutic drugs targeting CNNM2 and for monitoring their effects on the brain and kidney phenotype. Author Summary Mental retardation affects 1-3% of the population and has a strong genetic etiology. Consequently, early identification of the genetic causes of mental retardation is of significant importance in the diagnosis of the disease, as predictor of the progress of the disease and for the determination of treatment. In this study, we identify mutations in the gene encoding for cyclin M2 (CNNM2) to be causative for mental retardation and seizures in patients with hypomagnesemia. Particularly, in patients with a recessive mode of inheritance, the intellectual disability caused by dysfunctional CNNM2 is dramatically severe and is accompanied by severely limited motor skills and brain malformations suggestive of impaired early brain development. Although hypomagnesemia has been associated to several neurological diseases, Mg2+ status is not regularly assessed in patients with seizures and mental disability. Our findings establish CNNM2 as an important protein for renal magnesium handling, brain development and neurological functioning, thus explaining the physiology of human disease caused by (dysfunctional) mutations in CNNM2. CNNM2 mutations should be taken into account in patients with seizures and mental disability, specifically in combination with hypomagnesemia.

Item Type: Journal Article
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCIDORCID Put Code
Arjona, Francisco J.UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
de Baaij, Jeroen H. F.UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Schlingmann, Karl P.UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Lameris, Anke L. L.UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
van Wijk, ErwinUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Flik, GertUNSPECIFIEDorcid.org/0000-0001-9285-7957UNSPECIFIED
Regele, SabrinaUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Korenke, G. ChristophUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Neophytou, BirgitUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Rust, StephanUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Reintjes, NadineUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Konrad, MartinUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Bindels, Rene J. M.UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Hoenderop, Joost G. J.UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
URN: urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-442855
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004267
Journal or Publication Title: PLoS Genet.
Volume: 10
Number: 4
Date: 2014
Publisher: PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE
Place of Publication: SAN FRANCISCO
ISSN: 1553-7404
Language: English
Faculty: Unspecified
Divisions: Unspecified
Subjects: no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:
KeywordsLanguage
EPITHELIAL CA2+; ZEBRAFISH; TRPM7; PROTEIN; CATION; MODELMultiple languages
Genetics & HeredityMultiple languages
URI: http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/44285

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