A loss-of-function mutation in RORB disrupts saltatorial locomotion in rabbits

• Tipo: Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional
• Data: 2021-03-25

Autores

ferrand, n (Autor) FCUP; Miguel Carneiro (Autor) Outra; Jennifer Vieillard (Autor) Outra; Pedro Andrade (Autor) Outra; Samuel Boucher (Autor) Outra; Sandra Afonso (Autor) Outra; José A. Blanco-Aguiar (Autor) Outra; Nuno Santos (Autor) Outra; João Branco (Autor) Outra; Pedro J. Esteves (Autor) Outra; Klas Kullander (Autor) Outra; Leif Andersson (Autor) Outra

Revista

Título: Plos Genetics

Vol. 17

ISSN: 1553-7390

Editora: Public Library of Science

Indexação

ISI Web of Knowledge - 6 Citações

ISI Web of Science - 3 Citações

Scopus - 9 Citações

Outras Informações

ID Authenticus: P-00T-RE2

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009429

Abstract (EN): Saltatorial locomotion is a type of hopping gait that in mammals can be found in rabbits, hares, kangaroos, and some species of rodents. The molecular mechanisms that control and fine-tune the formation of this type of gait are unknown. Here, we take advantage of one strain of domesticated rabbits, the sauteur d'Alfort, that exhibits an abnormal locomotion behavior defined by the loss of the typical jumping that characterizes wild-type rabbits. Strikingly, individuals from this strain frequently adopt a bipedal gait using their front legs. Using a combination of experimental crosses and whole genome sequencing, we show that a single locus containing the RAR related orphan receptor B gene (RORB) explains the atypical gait of these rabbits. We found that a splice-site mutation in an evolutionary conserved site of RORB results in several aberrant transcript isoforms incorporating intronic sequence. This mutation leads to a drastic reduction of RORB-positive neurons in the spinal cord, as well as defects in differentiation of populations of spinal cord interneurons. Our results show that RORB function is required for the performance of saltatorial locomotion in rabbits. Author summary Rabbits and hares have a characteristic jumping gait composed of an alternate rhythmical movement of the forelimbs and a synchronous bilateral movement of the hindlimbs. We have now characterized a recessive mutation present in a specific strain of domestic rabbits (sauteur d'Alfort) that disrupts the jumping gait. The mutation causing this defect in locomotion pattern occurs in the gene coding for the transcription factor RORB that is normally expressed in many regions of the nervous system especially in the spinal cord dorsal horn. Our results show that expression of RORB is drastically reduced in the spinal cord of affected rabbits which results in a developmental defect. This study is an advance in our understanding how locomotion is controlled in vertebrates.

Idioma: Inglês

Tipo (Avaliação Docente): Científica

Nº de páginas: 19