Characterization of a L136P mutation in Formin-like 2 (FMNL2) from a patient with chronic inflammatory bowel disease

PLoS One. 2021 May 27;16(5):e0252428. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252428. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Diaphanous related formins are highly conserved proteins regulated by Rho-GTPases that act as actin nucleation and assembly factors. Here we report the functional characterization of a non-inherited heterozygous FMNL2 p.L136P mutation carried by a patient who presented with severe very early onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We found that the FMNL2 L136P protein displayed subcellular mislocalization and deregulated protein autoinhibition indicating gain-of-function mechanism. Expression of FMNL2 L136P impaired cell spreading as well as filopodia formation. THP-1 macrophages expressing FMNL2 L136P revealed dysregulated podosome formation and a defect in matrix degradation. Our data indicate that the L136P mutation affects cellular actin dynamics in fibroblasts and immune cells such as macrophages.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Line
  • Chronic Disease
  • Formins / chemistry
  • Formins / genetics*
  • Formins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / genetics*
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / pathology
  • Macrophages / cytology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Podosomes / metabolism
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Pseudopodia / metabolism
  • Pseudopodia / pathology

Substances

  • FMNL2 protein, human
  • Formins

Grants and funding

this work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft” (GR 2111/8-1 to R.G.). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.