Loss of DDRGK1 modulates SOX9 ubiquitination in spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia

Adetutu T. Egunsola, Yangjin Bae, Ming Ming Jiang, David S. Liu, Yuqing Chen-Evenson, Terry Bertin, Shan Chen, James T. Lu, Lisette Nevarez, Nurit Magal, Annick Raas-Rothschild, Eric C. Swindell, Daniel H. Cohn, Richard A. Gibbs, Philippe M. Campeau, Mordechai Shohat, Brendan H. Lee*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

Shohat-type spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia (SEMD) is a skeletal dysplasia that affects cartilage development. Similar skeletal disorders, such as spondyloepiphyseal dysplasias, are linked to mutations in type II collagen (COL2A1), but the causative gene in SEMD is not known. Here, we have performed whole-exome sequencing to identify a recurrent homozygous c.408+1G>A donor splice site loss-of-function mutation in DDRGK domain containing 1 (DDRGK1) in 4 families affected by SEMD. In zebrafish, ddrgk1 deficiency disrupted craniofacial cartilage development and led to decreased levels of the chondrogenic master transcription factor sox9 and its downstream target, col2a1. Overexpression of sox9 rescued the zebrafish chondrogenic and craniofacial phenotype generated by ddrgk1 knockdown, thus identifying DDRGK1 as a regulator of SOX9. Consistent with these results, Ddrgk1-/-mice displayed delayed limb bud chondrogenic condensation, decreased SOX9 protein expression and Col2a1 transcript levels, and increased apoptosis. Furthermore, we determined that DDRGK1 can directly bind to SOX9 to inhibit its ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. Taken together, these data indicate that loss of DDRGK1 decreases SOX9 expression and causes a human skeletal dysplasia, identifying a mechanism that regulates chondrogenesis via modulation of SOX9 ubiquitination.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1475-1484
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation
Volume127
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 3 Apr 2017

Funding

FundersFunder number
Baylor College of Medicine Advanced Technology Cores
Baylor College of Medicine Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research CenterHD024064
Baylor College of Medicne Center for Skeletal Medicine and BiologyR01AR062651
National Institutes of HealthRR024574, AI036211
National Cancer InstituteP30CA125123
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Tel Aviv University

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