[A-type lamins and progeroïd syndromes : persistent farnesylation with dramatic effects]

Med Sci (Paris). 2008 Oct;24(10):833-40. doi: 10.1051/medsci/20082410833.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria (HGPS), a rare and severe developmental disorder characterized by features recalling premature aging, and Restrictive Dermopathy (RD), a neonatal lethal genodermatosis, have recently been identified as being primary or secondary << Laminopathies >>. These heterogeneous disorders are caused by altered Lamin maturation pathway. In physiological conditions, mature Lamin A is obtained through a series of post-translational processing steps performed on a protein precursor, Prelamin A. The major pathophysiological mechanism involved in Progeria is an aberrant splicing due to a de novo heterozygous point mutation, leading to the accumulation of truncated Lamin A precursor. The same aberrant splicing mechanism was involved in RD, whereas the majority of RD cases are caused by ZMPSTE24/FACE1 inactivation, a key enzyme involved in the Lamin A maturation pathway. In functional terms, all these conditions share the same pathophysiological mechanism, i.e. the intranuclear accumulation of Lamin A precursors, which cannot be fully processed and exert a toxic effect on nuclear homeostasis. In this article, we review the structure and functions of A-type Lamins, focusing namely on HGPS, RD or MAD disorders, in relation to existing animal models and possible future therapeutic approaches.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Abnormalities, Multiple / genetics*
  • Abnormalities, Multiple / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cholesterol / biosynthesis
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Farnesyltranstransferase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Farnesyltranstransferase / physiology
  • Humans
  • Lamin Type A / chemistry
  • Lamin Type A / genetics
  • Lamin Type A / physiology*
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / deficiency
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / physiology
  • Metalloendopeptidases / deficiency
  • Metalloendopeptidases / genetics
  • Metalloendopeptidases / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • Prenylation
  • Progeria / genetics*
  • Progeria / metabolism
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics
  • Protein Isoforms / physiology
  • Protein Precursors / metabolism
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • RNA Splicing
  • Skin Diseases / genetics*
  • Syndrome

Substances

  • LMNA protein, human
  • Lamin Type A
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Protein Precursors
  • prelamin A
  • Cholesterol
  • Farnesyltranstransferase
  • Metalloendopeptidases
  • Zmpste24 protein, mouse