Tissue-specific isoform expression of GNE gene in human tissues

Mutations in the sialic acid biosynthesis enzyme GNE lead to a late-onset, debilitating neuromuscular disorder, GNE myopathy, characterized by progressive skeletal muscle weakness. The mechanisms responsible for skeletal muscle specificity, late-onset, and disease progression are unknown. Our main aim is to understand the reason for skeletal muscle-specific phenotype. To answer this question, we have analyzed the expression profile of the GNE gene and its multiple mRNA variants in different human tissues. A combinatorial approach encompassing bioinformatics tools and molecular biology techniques was used. NCBI, Ensembl, and GTEx were used for data mining. The expression analysis of GNE and its variants was performed with cDNA tissue panel using PCR and targeted RNA-seq. Among nine different GNE isoforms reported in this study, transcript variants 1, X1, and X2 were not tissue specific. Transcript variants 1, 6, X1, and X2, were found in skeletal muscles suggesting their possible role in GNE myopathy. In the current study, we present new data about GNE expression patterns in human tissues. Our results suggest that there may be a link between tissue-specific pathology and isoform pattern in skeletal muscles, which could provide clues for the development of new treatment strategies for GNE myopathy.