De novo mutations affecting the G protein α o subunit (Gαo)-encoding gene (GNAO1) cause childhood-onset developmental delay, hyperkinetic movement disorders, and epilepsy. Recently, we established Caenorhabditis elegans as an informative experimental model for deciphering pathogenic mechanisms associated with GNAO1 defects and identifying new therapies. In this study, we generated two additional gene-edited strains that harbor pathogenic variants which affect residues Glu246 and Arg209—two mutational hotspots in Gαo. In line with previous findings, biallelic changes displayed a variable hypomorphic effect on Gαo-mediated signaling that led to the excessive release of neurotransmitters by different classes of neurons, which, in turn, caused hyperactive egg laying and locomotion. Of note, heterozygous variants showed a cell-specific dominant-negative behavior, which was strictly dependent on the affected residue. As with previously generated mutants (S47G and A221D), caffeine was effective in attenuating the hyperkinetic behavior of R209H and E246K animals, indicating that its efficacy is mutation-independent. Conversely, istradefylline, a selective adenosine A2A receptor antagonist, was effective in R209H animals but not in E246K worms, suggesting that caffeine acts through both adenosine receptor-dependent and receptor-independent mechanisms. Overall, our findings provide new insights into disease mechanisms and further support the potential efficacy of caffeine in controlling dyskinesia associated with pathogenic GNAO1 mutations.

Phenotypic Assessment of Pathogenic Variants in GNAO1 and Response to Caffeine in C. elegans Models of the Disease / DI ROCCO, Martina; Galosi, Serena; Follo, Francesca C.; Lanza, Enrico; Folli, Viola; Martire, Alberto; Leuzzi, Vincenzo; Martinelli, Simone. - In: GENES. - ISSN 2073-4425. - 14:2(2023). [10.3390/genes14020319]

Phenotypic Assessment of Pathogenic Variants in GNAO1 and Response to Caffeine in C. elegans Models of the Disease

Martina Di Rocco;Serena Galosi;Francesca C. Follo;Enrico Lanza;Viola Folli;Vincenzo Leuzzi;
2023

Abstract

De novo mutations affecting the G protein α o subunit (Gαo)-encoding gene (GNAO1) cause childhood-onset developmental delay, hyperkinetic movement disorders, and epilepsy. Recently, we established Caenorhabditis elegans as an informative experimental model for deciphering pathogenic mechanisms associated with GNAO1 defects and identifying new therapies. In this study, we generated two additional gene-edited strains that harbor pathogenic variants which affect residues Glu246 and Arg209—two mutational hotspots in Gαo. In line with previous findings, biallelic changes displayed a variable hypomorphic effect on Gαo-mediated signaling that led to the excessive release of neurotransmitters by different classes of neurons, which, in turn, caused hyperactive egg laying and locomotion. Of note, heterozygous variants showed a cell-specific dominant-negative behavior, which was strictly dependent on the affected residue. As with previously generated mutants (S47G and A221D), caffeine was effective in attenuating the hyperkinetic behavior of R209H and E246K animals, indicating that its efficacy is mutation-independent. Conversely, istradefylline, a selective adenosine A2A receptor antagonist, was effective in R209H animals but not in E246K worms, suggesting that caffeine acts through both adenosine receptor-dependent and receptor-independent mechanisms. Overall, our findings provide new insights into disease mechanisms and further support the potential efficacy of caffeine in controlling dyskinesia associated with pathogenic GNAO1 mutations.
2023
GNAO1; Gαo; movement disorders; epilepsy; caffeine; Caenorhabditis elegans
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Phenotypic Assessment of Pathogenic Variants in GNAO1 and Response to Caffeine in C. elegans Models of the Disease / DI ROCCO, Martina; Galosi, Serena; Follo, Francesca C.; Lanza, Enrico; Folli, Viola; Martire, Alberto; Leuzzi, Vincenzo; Martinelli, Simone. - In: GENES. - ISSN 2073-4425. - 14:2(2023). [10.3390/genes14020319]
File allegati a questo prodotto
File Dimensione Formato  
genes_2023.pdf

accesso aperto

Note: Di Rocco_Phenotypic Assessment_2023
Tipologia: Versione editoriale (versione pubblicata con il layout dell'editore)
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 2.72 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
2.72 MB Adobe PDF

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1698111
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 3
  • Scopus 6
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 7
social impact