The novel duplication HRAS c.186_206dup p.(Glu62_Arg68dup): clinical and functional aspects

Eur J Hum Genet. 2020 Nov;28(11):1548-1554. doi: 10.1038/s41431-020-0662-4. Epub 2020 Jun 4.

Abstract

Specific activating missense HRAS variants cause Costello syndrome (CS), a RASopathy with recognizable facial features. The majority of these dominant disease causing variants affect the glycine residues in position 12 or 13. A clinically suspected CS diagnosis can be confirmed through identification of a dominant pathogenic HRAS variant. A novel HRAS variant predicting p.(Glu62_Arg68dup) was identified in an individual with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, Chiari 1 malformation and ectodermal findings consistent with a RASopathy. Functional studies showed that the p.Glu62_Arg68dup alteration affects HRAS interaction with effector protein PIK3CA (catalytic subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase) and the regulator neurofibromin 1 (NF1) GTPase-activating protein (GAP). HRASGlu62_Arg68dup binding with effectors rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma (RAF1), RAL guanine nucleotide dissociation stimulator (RALGDS) and phospholipase C1 (PLCE1) was enhanced. Accordingly, p.Glu62_Arg68dup increased steady-state phosphorylation of MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 downstream of RAF1, whereas AKT phosphorylation downstream of PI3K was not significantly affected. Growth factor stimulation revealed that expression of HRASGlu62_Arg68dup abolished the HRAS' capacity to modulate downstream signaling. Our data underscore that different qualities of dysregulated HRAS-dependent signaling dynamics determine the clinical severity in CS.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Child, Preschool
  • Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Costello Syndrome / genetics*
  • Costello Syndrome / pathology
  • Gene Duplication*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System
  • Male
  • Neurofibromin 1 / metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • Protein Binding
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / metabolism

Substances

  • NF1 protein, human
  • Neurofibromin 1
  • Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • PIK3CA protein, human
  • HRAS protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)