Rationale: Dominant heterozygous variants in filamin C ( FLNC ) cause diverse cardiomyopathies, although the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Objective: We aimed to define the molecular mechanisms by which FLNC variants altered human cardiomyocyte gene and protein expression, sarcomere structure, and contractile performance. Methods and Results: Using CRISPR/Cas9, we introduced FLNC variants into human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs). We compared isogenic hiPSC-CMs with normal (wild-type), ablated expression ( FLNC −/− ), or haploinsufficiency ( FLNC +/− ) that causes dilated cardiomyopathy. We also studied a heterozygous in-frame deletion ( FLNC +/Δ7aa ) which did not affect FLNC expression but caused aggregate formation, similar to FLNC variants associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. FLNC −/− hiPSC-CMs demonstrated profound sarcomere misassembly and reduced contractility. Although sarcomere formation and function were unaffected in FLNC +/ − and FLNC +/Δ7aa hiPSC-CMs, these heterozygous variants caused increases in lysosome content, enhancement of autophagic flux, and accumulation of FLNC-binding partners and Z-disc proteins. Conclusions: FLNC expression is required for sarcomere organization and physiological function. Variants that produce misfolded FLNC proteins cause the accumulation of FLNC and FLNC-binding partners which leads to increased lysosome expression and activation of autophagic pathways. Surprisingly, similar pathways were activated in FLNC haploinsufficient hiPSC-CMs, likely initiated by the loss of stoichiometric FLNC protein interactions and impaired turnover of proteins at the Z-disc. These results indicate that both FLNC haploinsufficient variants and variants that produce misfolded FLNC protein cause disease by similar proteotoxic mechanisms and indicate the therapeutic potential for augmenting protein degradative pathways to treat a wide range of FLNC -related cardiomyopathies.
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Mechanisms of Congenital Heart Disease Caused by NAA15 Haploinsufficiency
Rationale: NAA15 (N-alpha-acetyltransferase 15) is a component of the NatA (N-terminal acetyltransferase complex). The mechanism by which NAA15 haploinsufficiency causes congenital heart disease remains unknown. To better understand molecular processes by which NAA15 haploinsufficiency perturbs cardiac development, we introduced NAA15 variants into human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and assessed the consequences of these mutations on RNA and protein expression. Objective: We aim to understand the role of NAA15 haploinsufficiency in cardiac development by investigating proteomic effects on NatA complex activity and identifying proteins dependent upon a full amount of NAA15. Methods and Results: We introduced heterozygous loss of function, compound heterozygous, and missense residues (R276W) in iPSCs using CRISPR/Cas9. Haploinsufficient NAA15 iPSCs differentiate into cardiomyocytes, unlike NAA15 -null iPSCs, presumably due to altered composition of NatA. Mass spectrometry analyses reveal ≈80% of identified iPSC NatA targeted proteins displayed partial or complete N-terminal acetylation. Between null and haploinsufficient NAA15 cells, N-terminal acetylation levels of 32 and 9 NatA-specific targeted proteins were reduced, respectively. Similar acetylation loss in few proteins occurred in NAA15 R276W induced pluripotent stem cells. In addition, steady-state protein levels of 562 proteins were altered in both null and haploinsufficient NAA15 cells; 18 were ribosomal-associated proteins. At least 4 proteins were encoded by genes known to cause autosomal dominant congenital heart disease. Conclusions: These studies define a set of human proteins that requires a full NAA15 complement for normal synthesis and development. A 50% reduction in the amount of NAA15 alters levels of at least 562 proteins and N-terminal acetylation of only 9 proteins. One or more modulated proteins are likely responsible for NAA15-haploinsufficiency mediated congenital heart disease. Additionally, genetically engineered induced pluripotent stem cells provide a platform for evaluating the consequences of amino acid sequence variants of unknown significance on NAA15 function.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1647837
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10331864
- Author(s) / Creator(s):
- ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; more »
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Circulation Research
- Volume:
- 128
- Issue:
- 8
- ISSN:
- 0009-7330
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1156 to 1169
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.120.316966
