An ethyl-nitrosourea-induced point mutation in phex causes exon skipping, x-linked hypophosphatemia, and rickets

Am J Pathol. 2002 Nov;161(5):1925-33. doi: 10.1016/S0002-9440(10)64468-9.

Abstract

We describe the clinical, genetic, biochemical, and molecular characterization of a mouse that arose in the first generation (G(1)) of a random mutagenesis screen with the chemical mutagen ethyl-nitrosourea. The mouse was observed to have skeletal abnormalities inherited with an X-linked dominant pattern of inheritance. The causative mutation, named Skeletal abnormality 1 (Ska1), was shown to be a single base pair mutation in a splice donor site immediately following exon 8 of the Phex (phosphate-regulating gene with homologies to endopeptidases located on the X-chromosome) gene. This point mutation caused skipping of exon 8 from Phex mRNA, hypophosphatemia, and features of rickets. This experimentally induced phenotype mirrors the human condition X-linked hypophosphatemia; directly confirms the role of Phex in phosphate homeostasis, normal skeletal development, and rickets; and illustrates the power of mutagenesis in exploring animal models of human disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Bone and Bones / diagnostic imaging
  • Bone and Bones / pathology
  • Ethylnitrosourea
  • Exons
  • Female
  • Genetic Diseases, X-Linked / chemically induced
  • Genetic Diseases, X-Linked / diagnosis
  • Genetic Diseases, X-Linked / genetics*
  • Hypophosphatemia / chemically induced
  • Hypophosphatemia / diagnosis
  • Hypophosphatemia / genetics*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mutagens
  • PHEX Phosphate Regulating Neutral Endopeptidase
  • Point Mutation*
  • Proteins / genetics*
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • RNA Splicing
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Radiography
  • Rickets / chemically induced
  • Rickets / diagnosis
  • Rickets / genetics*

Substances

  • Mutagens
  • Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • PHEX Phosphate Regulating Neutral Endopeptidase
  • PHEX protein, human
  • Phex protein, mouse
  • Ethylnitrosourea