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Investigating the purpose of prelamin A processing
Brandon Sj Davies1, Catherine Coffinier, Shao H Yang
1Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
Nucleus (Austin, Tex.)
|June 8, 2011
Summary
The processing of prelamin A into mature lamin A is essential for heart health. Exclusive production of nonfarnesylated prelamin A in mice causes cardiomyopathy, highlighting the importance of prelamin A processing.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- The LMNA gene encodes lamin C and prelamin A.
- Mature lamin A results from four posttranslational modifications of prelamin A.
- The physiological role of prelamin A processing is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the physiological significance of prelamin A processing.
- To determine the roles of lamin C, mature lamin A, and nonfarnesylated prelamin A in vivo.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Lmna knock-in mouse models.
- Generated mice producing exclusively prelamin A (Lmna(PLAO)).
- Generated mice producing mature lamin A (Lmna(LAO)).
- Generated mice producing nonfarnesylated prelamin A (Lmna(nPLAO)).
Main Results:
- Lamin C synthesis is dispensable in mice.
- Direct production of mature lamin A without prelamin A processing caused no pathology.
- Exclusive production of nonfarnesylated prelamin A resulted in cardiomyopathy.
Conclusions:
- Prelamin A processing is crucial for preventing heart disease.
- The direct production of mature lamin A is viable, but nonfarnesylated prelamin A is pathogenic.
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