Abstract
Protein synthesis is a tightly regulated, energy-consuming process. The control of mRNA translation into protein is fundamentally important for the fine-tuning of gene expression; additionally, precise translational control plays a critical role in many cellular processes, including development, cellular growth, proliferation, differentiation, synaptic plasticity, memory, and learning. Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4h (Eif4h) encodes a protein involved in the process of protein synthesis, at the level of initiation phase. Its human homolog, WBSCR1, maps on 7q11.23, inside the 1.6 Mb region that is commonly deleted in patients affected by the Williams-Beuren syndrome, which is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by cardiovascular defects, cerebral dysplasias and a peculiar cognitive-behavioral profile. In this study, we generated knockout mice deficient in Eif4h. These mice displayed growth retardation with a significant reduction of body weight that began from the first week of postnatal development. Neuroanatomical profiling results generated by magnetic resonance imaging analysis revealed a smaller brain volume in null mice compared with controls as well as altered brain morphology, where anterior and posterior brain regions were differentially affected. The inactivation of Eif4h also led to a reduction in both the number and complexity of neurons. Behavioral studies revealed severe impairments of fear-related associative learning and memory formation. These alterations suggest that Eif4h might contribute to certain deficits associated with Williams-Beuren syndrome.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1121-1135 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | American Journal of Pathology |
| Volume | 180 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Mar 2012 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Cite this
Growth defects and impaired cognitivebehavioral abilities in mice with knockout for Eif4h, a gene located in the mouse homolog of the williams-beuren syndrome critical region. / Capossela, Simona; Muzio, Luca; Bertolo, Alessandro; Bianchi, Veronica; Dati, Gabriele; Chaabane, Linda; Godi, Claudia; Politi, Letterio S.; Biffo, Stefano; D'Adamo, Patrizia; Mallamaci, Antonello; Pannese, Maria.
In: American Journal of Pathology, Vol. 180, No. 3, 03.2012, p. 1121-1135.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Growth defects and impaired cognitivebehavioral abilities in mice with knockout for Eif4h, a gene located in the mouse homolog of the williams-beuren syndrome critical region
AU - Capossela, Simona
AU - Muzio, Luca
AU - Bertolo, Alessandro
AU - Bianchi, Veronica
AU - Dati, Gabriele
AU - Chaabane, Linda
AU - Godi, Claudia
AU - Politi, Letterio S.
AU - Biffo, Stefano
AU - D'Adamo, Patrizia
AU - Mallamaci, Antonello
AU - Pannese, Maria
PY - 2012/3
Y1 - 2012/3
N2 - Protein synthesis is a tightly regulated, energy-consuming process. The control of mRNA translation into protein is fundamentally important for the fine-tuning of gene expression; additionally, precise translational control plays a critical role in many cellular processes, including development, cellular growth, proliferation, differentiation, synaptic plasticity, memory, and learning. Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4h (Eif4h) encodes a protein involved in the process of protein synthesis, at the level of initiation phase. Its human homolog, WBSCR1, maps on 7q11.23, inside the 1.6 Mb region that is commonly deleted in patients affected by the Williams-Beuren syndrome, which is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by cardiovascular defects, cerebral dysplasias and a peculiar cognitive-behavioral profile. In this study, we generated knockout mice deficient in Eif4h. These mice displayed growth retardation with a significant reduction of body weight that began from the first week of postnatal development. Neuroanatomical profiling results generated by magnetic resonance imaging analysis revealed a smaller brain volume in null mice compared with controls as well as altered brain morphology, where anterior and posterior brain regions were differentially affected. The inactivation of Eif4h also led to a reduction in both the number and complexity of neurons. Behavioral studies revealed severe impairments of fear-related associative learning and memory formation. These alterations suggest that Eif4h might contribute to certain deficits associated with Williams-Beuren syndrome.
AB - Protein synthesis is a tightly regulated, energy-consuming process. The control of mRNA translation into protein is fundamentally important for the fine-tuning of gene expression; additionally, precise translational control plays a critical role in many cellular processes, including development, cellular growth, proliferation, differentiation, synaptic plasticity, memory, and learning. Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4h (Eif4h) encodes a protein involved in the process of protein synthesis, at the level of initiation phase. Its human homolog, WBSCR1, maps on 7q11.23, inside the 1.6 Mb region that is commonly deleted in patients affected by the Williams-Beuren syndrome, which is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by cardiovascular defects, cerebral dysplasias and a peculiar cognitive-behavioral profile. In this study, we generated knockout mice deficient in Eif4h. These mice displayed growth retardation with a significant reduction of body weight that began from the first week of postnatal development. Neuroanatomical profiling results generated by magnetic resonance imaging analysis revealed a smaller brain volume in null mice compared with controls as well as altered brain morphology, where anterior and posterior brain regions were differentially affected. The inactivation of Eif4h also led to a reduction in both the number and complexity of neurons. Behavioral studies revealed severe impairments of fear-related associative learning and memory formation. These alterations suggest that Eif4h might contribute to certain deficits associated with Williams-Beuren syndrome.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84857197777&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84857197777&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ajpath.2011.12.008
DO - 10.1016/j.ajpath.2011.12.008
M3 - Article
C2 - 22234171
AN - SCOPUS:84857197777
VL - 180
SP - 1121
EP - 1135
JO - American Journal of Pathology
JF - American Journal of Pathology
SN - 0002-9440
IS - 3
ER -