Mutations in core components of the spliceosome are responsible for a group of syndromes collectively known as spliceosomopathies. Patients exhibit microcephaly, micrognathia, malar hypoplasia, external ear anomalies, eye anomalies, psychomotor delay, intellectual disability, limb, and heart defects. Craniofacial malformations in these patients are predominantly found in neural crest cells‐derived structures of the face and head. Mutations in eight genes SNRPB, RNU4ATAC, SF3B4, PUF60, EFTUD2, TXNL4, EIF4A3, and CWC27 are associated with craniofacial spliceosomopathies. In this review, we provide a brief description of the normal development of the head and the face and an overview of mutations identified in genes associated with craniofacial spliceosomopathies. We also describe a model to explain how and when these mutations are most likely to impact neural crest cells. We speculate that mutations in a subset of core splicing factors lead to disrupted splicing in neural crest cells because these cells have increased sensitivity to inefficient splicing. Hence, disruption in splicing likely activates a cellular stress response that includes increased skipping of regulatory exons in genes such as MDM2 and MDM4, key regulators of P53. This would result in P53‐associated death of neural crest cells and consequently craniofacial malformations associated with spliceosomopathies.

Haploinsufficiency of EFTUD2 is associated with MFDM (mandibulofacial dysostosis with microcephaly), but the etiology of this syndrome remains unknown. Our goal is to determine the tissue and temporal specific expression and requirement for Eftud2 during craniofacial development. We used RT‐PCR and in situ hybridization to examine expression of Eftud2 during embryogenesis. Using CRISPR/Cas9 we designed guide RNAs to generate mice with deletion (Eftud2 del) and conditional mutation of exon 2 of Eftud2 (Eftud2 flox). At embryonic day (E) 7.5 and 8.5 of mouse development, Eftud2 was highly expressed in both ectodermal and mesodermal components of the developing head and craniofacial region, by E9.5 Eftud2 was more broadly expressed, in the body wall and developing heart. Eftud2 del heterozygous mice and embryos were viable and fertile and showed a 38% and a 30% reduction of Eftud2 mRNA and protein expression, respectively. Before the onset of organogenesis, Eftud2 del heterozygous embryos had reduced number of somites when compared to their wild type litter mates, indicating a delay in development. Noticeably, RNA sequencing revealed that Eftud2 was the only transcript significantly affected in these heterozygous mice. Eftud2 del homozygous mutant embryos did not implant and failed to grow and hatch ex vivo. Next, we used the Wnt1‐Cre2 transgenic line to delete exon 2 of Eftud2 specifically in the neural crest cells. Eftud2 flox heterozygous embryos carrying the Wnt‐Cre2 transgene were normal. However, Eftud2 flox homozygous mutant embryos that also carry the Wnt1‐Cre2 transgene displayed hypoplasia of the midbrain and pharyngeal arches starting as early as E9.5. By E11.5, most of these embryos showed an open neural tube, all embryos showed exencephaly at E14.5. Cartilage preparations revealed an absence of cartilage in the head, reduced/or absence of Meckel's cartilage, and abnormal inner ear development. Crosses with the Rosa26R mice reporter line, revealed reduced neural crest cell migration into the pharyngeal region at E10.5. Since the mutation designed is predicted to generate a truncated protein with partial function, our data suggest that normal levels of Eftud2 is crucial during embryogenesis. Future studies are focused on determining the molecular and transcriptional basis of MFDM using this mouse model. Support or Funding Information Canadian Institutes of Health Research This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Mucopolysaccharidosis VI (MPS VI) is an autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism caused by mutations in the arylsulfatase B gene (ARSB) and consequent deficient activity of ARSB, a lysosomal enzyme. We present here the results of a study undertaken to identify the mutations in ARSB in MPS VI patients in India. Around 160 ARSB mutations, of which just 4 are from India, have been reported in the literature. Our study covered nine MPS VI patients from eight families. Both familial mutations were found in seven families, and only one mutation was found in one family. Seven mutations were found — four novel (p.G38_G40del3, p.C91R, p.L98R and p.R315P), two previously reported from India (p.D53N and p.W450C), and one reported from outside India (p.R160Q). One mutation, p.W450C, was present in two families, and the other six mutations were present in one family each. Analysis of the molecular structure of the enzyme revealed that most of these mutations either cause loss of an active site residue or destabilize the structure of the enzyme. The only previous study on mutations in ARSB in Indian MPS VI patients, by Kantaputra et al. 2014 [1], reported four novel mutations of which two (p.D53N and p.W450C) were found in our study as well. Till date, nine mutations have been reported from India, through our study and the Kantaputra study. Eight out of these nine mutations have been found only in India. This suggests that the population studied by us might have its own typical set of mutations, with other populations equally likely to have their own set of mutations.

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Heterozygous mutations in SNRPB, an essential core component of the five small ribonucleoprotein particles of the spliceosome, are responsible for Cerebrocostomandibular Syndrome (CCMS). We show that Snrpb heterozygous embryos arrest shortly after implantation. Additionally, heterozygous deletion of Snrpb in the developing brain and neural crest cells models craniofacial malformations found in CCMS, and results in death shortly after birth. RNAseq analysis of mutant heads prior to morphological defects revealed increased exon-skipping and intron-retention in association with increased 5’ splice site strength. We found increased exon-skipping in negative regulators of the P53-pathway, increased levels of nuclear P53, P53-target genes. However, removing TrP53 in Snrpb heterozygous mutant neural crest cells did not completely rescue craniofacial development. We also found a small but significant increase in exon-skipping of several transcripts required for head and midface development, including Smad2 and Rere. Furthermore, mutant embryos exhibited ectopic or missing expression of Fgf8 and Shh, which are required to coordinate face and brain development. Thus, we propose that mis-splicing of transcripts that regulate P53-activity and craniofacial-specific genes both contribute to craniofacial malformations.

ZNF76 is a transcriptional repressor that targets the TATA-binding protein (TBP) and plays an essential role during brain development; however, its function during embryogenesis remains unclear. Here, we report the expression pattern and potential functions of znf76 in zebrafish embryos. Maternal transcripts of znf76 were detected at low levels in embryos at the 1-cell stage, with zygotic transcripts appearing at the sphere stage. At the bud stage, the distribution of znf76 transcripts was polarized to the anterior and posterior regions of the embryos, and znf76 transcripts were further restricted to the trigeminal placode and proctodeum posterior gut of the embryos at 18 h postfertilization (hpf). znf76 transcripts were localized to the midbrain–hindbrain boundary (MHB), hindbrain, and developing eyes at 24 hpf. Ectopic expression of znf76 with 5’-capped znf76 mRNA microinjected into embryos at the 1-cell stage caused phenotypic defects in the eyes, MHB, hindbrain, and spinal cord. Overexpression of znf76 resulted in a drastic reduction of pax2a , fgf8a , and rx1 transcripts in the optic stalk, MHB, and eyes, respectively. Taken together, these data indicate that Znf76 governs developmental processes in the MHB, hindbrain, and eyes in zebrafish embryos. We also discuss the Fgf8 signaling networks associated with the Znf76 function.

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Nager Syndrome (NS) is a rare disorder that affects the face as well as the limb including both hands and feet. Patients with NS typically have malar and mandibular hypoplasia, cleft palate, as well as hearing problems. Limb defects include radial hypoplasia as well as thumb abnormalities. Using exome sequencing, NS was attributed to haploinsufficiency of the SF3B4 gene, an important component of the U2 subunit of the spliceosome complex. We hypothesized that Sf3b4 will show tissue‐specific expression during development and that mice with heterozygous mutation in this gene will model NS. To create heterozygous Sf3b4 mutant mice, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to target loxP sequences in intronic regions flanking exon 2 and 3 of the Sf3b4 gene. We will breed loxP founders with Wnt‐1 Cre transgenic mice, and report the resulting phenotypes. Additionally, whole mount in situ hybridization was used to examine expression of Sf3b4 during embryonic development of wild type mouse. We found that Sf3b4 shows ubiquitous expression at early stages of development. In midgestation embryos, although still globally expressed, Sf3b4 expression becomes stronger in the maxillomandibular region, limbs and tail bud. Our research will elucidate the expression of Sf3b4 in embryonic tissues affected in NS patients and generate a mouse model that will be used to further characterize the molecular basis of this syndrome. As there are currently no mouse models or therapy available for NS our work will help to identify some of the targets of Sf3b4 and pave the path for the creation of new therapies for spliceosomal disorders.Support or Funding InformationCanadian Institutes of Health ResearchThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.