Beta-actin deficiency with oxidative posttranslational modifications in Rett syndrome erythrocytes: insights into an altered cytoskeletal organization

PLoS One. 2014 Mar 26;9(3):e93181. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0093181. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Beta-actin, a critical player in cellular functions ranging from cell motility and the maintenance of cell shape to transcription regulation, was evaluated in the erythrocyte membranes from patients with typical Rett syndrome (RTT) and methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene mutations. RTT, affecting almost exclusively females with an average frequency of 1∶10,000 female live births, is considered the second commonest cause of severe cognitive impairment in the female gender. Evaluation of beta-actin was carried out in a comparative cohort study on red blood cells (RBCs), drawn from healthy control subjects and RTT patients using mass spectrometry-based quantitative analysis. We observed a decreased expression of the beta-actin isoforms (relative fold changes for spots 1, 2 and 3: -1.82±0.15, -2.15±0.06, and -2.59±0.48, respectively) in pathological RBCs. The results were validated by western blotting and immunofluorescence microscopy. In addition, beta-actin from RTT patients also showed a dramatic increase in oxidative posttranslational modifications (PTMs) as the result of its binding with the lipid peroxidation product 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE). Our findings demonstrate, for the first time, a beta-actin down-regulation and oxidative PTMs for RBCs of RTT patients, thus indicating an altered cytoskeletal organization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actin Cytoskeleton / metabolism*
  • Actins / deficiency*
  • Aldehydes / metabolism
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Erythrocytes / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lipid Peroxidation
  • Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 / genetics
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Rett Syndrome / metabolism*
  • Rett Syndrome / pathology

Substances

  • Actins
  • Aldehydes
  • MECP2 protein, human
  • Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2
  • Protein Isoforms
  • 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal

Grants and funding

The work was supported by Tuscany Region [Bando Salute 2009, “Antioxidants (ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, lipoic acid) supplementation in Rett syndrome: A novel approach to therapy”], Italy. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.