Molecular characterization of p.Asp77Gly and the novel p.Ala163Val and p.Ala163Glu mutations causing protein C deficiency

Abstract

Introduction: Protein C (PC) is a major anticoagulant and numerous distinct mutations in its coding gene result in quantitative or qualitative PC deficiency with high thrombosis risk. Homozygous or compound heterozygous PC deficiency usually leads to life-threatening thrombosis in neonates.

Patients and methods: The molecular consequences of 3 different missense mutations of two patients have been investigated. The first patient suffered from neonatal purpura fulminans and was a compound heterozygote for p.Asp77Gly and p.Ala163Glu mutations. The second patient had severe deep venous thrombosis in young adulthood and carried the p.Ala163Val mutation. The fate of mutant proteins expressed in HEK cells was monitored by ELISA, by Western blotting, by investigation of polyubiquitination and by functional assays. Their intracellular localization was examined by immunostaining and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Molecular modeling and dynamics simulations were also carried out.

Results and conclusions: The 163Val and 163Glu mutants had undetectable levels in the culture media, showed intracellular co-localization with the 26S proteasome and were polyubiquitinated. The 77Gly mutant was secreted to the media showing similar activity as the wild type. There was no difference among intracellular PC levels of wild type and mutant proteins. The 163Val and 163Glu mutations caused significant changes in the relative positions of the EGF2 domains suggesting misfolding with the consequence of secretion defect. No major structural alteration was observed in case of 77Gly mutant; it might influence the stability of protein complexes in which PC participates and may have an impact on the clearance of PC requiring further research.

Keywords: Expression study; Missense mutation; Molecular modeling; Protein C deficiency; Secretion defect.