Phenotypic Mutation 'abra' (pdf version)
Alleleabra
Mutation Type missense
Chromosome2
Coordinate126,765,514 bp (GRCm39)
Base Change A ⇒ G (forward strand)
Gene Sppl2a
Gene Name signal peptide peptidase like 2A
Synonym(s) C130089K23Rik, 2010106G01Rik
Chromosomal Location 126,732,311-126,775,155 bp (-) (GRCm39)
MGI Phenotype FUNCTION: [Summary is not available for the mouse gene. This summary is for the human ortholog.] This gene encodes a member of the GXGD family of aspartic proteases, which are transmembrane proteins with two conserved catalytic motifs localized within the membrane-spanning regions, as well as a member of the signal peptide peptidase-like protease (SPPL) family. This protein is expressed in all major adult human tissues and localizes to late endosomal compartments and lysosomal membranes. A pseudogene of this gene also lies on chromosome 15. [provided by RefSeq, Feb 2012]
PHENOTYPE: Mice homozygous for a knock-out allele exhibit decreased immunoglobulin prior to and after immunization and decreased splenic B cells, myeloid dendritic cells, T2 B cells and follicular B cells. Mice homozygous for a hypomorphic allele exhibit similar albeit less severe phenotypes. [provided by MGI curators]
Accession Number

NCBI RefSeq: NM_023220; MGI:1913802

MappedYes 
Amino Acid Change Serine changed to Proline
Institutional SourceBeutler Lab
Gene Model predicted gene model for protein(s): [ENSMUSP00000028844]
AlphaFold Q9JJF9
SMART Domains Protein: ENSMUSP00000028844
Gene: ENSMUSG00000027366
AA Change: S203P

DomainStartEndE-ValueType
signal peptide 1 25 N/A INTRINSIC
Pfam:PA 58 153 1.7e-12 PFAM
transmembrane domain 173 195 N/A INTRINSIC
PSN 218 486 3.65e-102 SMART
Predicted Effect probably benign

PolyPhen 2 Score 0.002 (Sensitivity: 0.99; Specificity: 0.30)
(Using ENSMUST00000028844)
SMART Domains Protein: ENSMUSP00000119064
Gene: ENSMUSG00000027366

DomainStartEndE-ValueType
PSN 3 233 1.27e-60 SMART
Predicted Effect probably benign
Meta Mutation Damage Score 0.0898 question?
Is this an essential gene? Probably nonessential (E-score: 0.081) question?
Phenotypic Category Autosomal Recessive
Candidate Explorer Status loading ...
Single pedigree
Linkage Analysis Data
Penetrance  
Alleles Listed at MGI

All Mutations and Alleles(14) : Chemically induced (ENU)(2) Chemically induced (other)(1) Gene trapped(6) Radiation induced(1) Targeted(4)

Lab Alleles
AlleleSourceChrCoordTypePredicted EffectPPH Score
IGL00781:Sppl2a APN 2 126761640 missense probably benign 0.04
IGL01471:Sppl2a APN 2 126759787 nonsense probably null
IGL01572:Sppl2a APN 2 126762232 splice site probably null
IGL01712:Sppl2a APN 2 126746823 splice site probably benign
IGL02203:Sppl2a APN 2 126746861 missense possibly damaging 0.68
IGL02572:Sppl2a APN 2 126768216 missense probably benign 0.07
abra2 UTSW 2 126762233 splice site probably null
isaac UTSW 2 126755495 missense probably damaging 1.00
jacob UTSW 2 126755201 splice site probably null
PIT4431001:Sppl2a UTSW 2 126765396 missense probably damaging 1.00
R0023:Sppl2a UTSW 2 126755213 splice site probably null
R0240:Sppl2a UTSW 2 126762256 missense probably benign 0.14
R0240:Sppl2a UTSW 2 126762256 missense probably benign 0.14
R0458:Sppl2a UTSW 2 126746879 missense probably damaging 1.00
R0627:Sppl2a UTSW 2 126762337 unclassified probably benign
R0799:Sppl2a UTSW 2 126762227 splice site probably benign
R1029:Sppl2a UTSW 2 126765514 missense probably benign 0.00
R1245:Sppl2a UTSW 2 126755441 splice site probably benign
R1669:Sppl2a UTSW 2 126759714 splice site probably benign
R2047:Sppl2a UTSW 2 126768772 missense probably damaging 1.00
R2215:Sppl2a UTSW 2 126769754 missense probably benign 0.00
R2428:Sppl2a UTSW 2 126754615 missense possibly damaging 0.93
R3522:Sppl2a UTSW 2 126762242 missense possibly damaging 0.66
R4653:Sppl2a UTSW 2 126762233 splice site probably null
R5398:Sppl2a UTSW 2 126761638 missense probably benign 0.00
R6382:Sppl2a UTSW 2 126758949 splice site probably null
R6888:Sppl2a UTSW 2 126746912 missense probably damaging 0.99
R6892:Sppl2a UTSW 2 126755495 missense probably damaging 1.00
R7021:Sppl2a UTSW 2 126769663 splice site probably null
R7750:Sppl2a UTSW 2 126761625 missense probably damaging 1.00
R8129:Sppl2a UTSW 2 126765390 missense probably damaging 1.00
R8136:Sppl2a UTSW 2 126755201 splice site probably null
R8772:Sppl2a UTSW 2 126768231 missense probably benign 0.16
R9128:Sppl2a UTSW 2 126765393 missense probably damaging 1.00
R9144:Sppl2a UTSW 2 126769743 missense probably benign 0.00
RF016:Sppl2a UTSW 2 126769694 missense probably benign 0.01
Mode of Inheritance Autosomal Recessive
Local Stock
Repository
Last Updated 2019-09-04 9:47 PM by Katherine Timer
Record Created 2014-11-10 3:12 PM by Jin Huk Choi
Record Posted 2016-10-28
Phenotypic Description

Figure 1. Homozygous abra mice exhibit diminished T-independent IgM responses to NP-Ficoll. IgM levels were determined by ELISA. Normalized data are shown. Abbreviations: WT, wild-type; REF, homozygous reference mice; HET, heterozygous variant mice; VAR, homozygous variant mice. Mean (μ) and standard deviation (σ) are indicated.

The abra phenotype was identified among G3 mice of the pedigree R1029, some of which showed a diminished T-independent antibody response to 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenylacetyl-Ficoll (NP-Ficoll) (Figure 1). 

Nature of Mutation
Figure 2. Linkage mapping of the reduced antibody response to NP-Ficoll using a recessive model of inheritance. Manhattan plot shows -log10 P values (Y-axis) plotted against the chromosome positions of 37 mutations (X-axis) identified in the G1 male of pedigree R1029.  Normalized phenotype data are shown for single locus linkage analysis without consideration of G2 dam identity.  Horizontal pink and red lines represent thresholds of P = 0.05, and the threshold for P = 0.05 after applying Bonferroni correction, respectively.

Whole exome HiSeq sequencing of the G1 grandsire identified 37 mutations. The diminished T-independent antibody response to NP-Ficoll phenotype was linked by continuous variable mapping to three genes on chromosome 2: Lrp4, Sppl2a, and Zfp335. The Sppl2a mutation is presumed causative, because the immune phenotypes observed in abra mimic those listed on MGI and another Sppl2a mutant identified in a second pedigree (see abra2). The Sppl2a mutation is a T to C transition at base pair 126,923,594 (v38) on chromosome 2, or base pair 9,669 in the GenBank genomic region NC_000068 encoding the Sppl2a gene. Linkage was found with a recessive model of inheritance (P = 1.195 x 10-5), wherein one variant homozygote departed phenotypically from 23 homozygous reference mice and 13 heterozygous mice (Figure 2).  

The mutation corresponds to residue 830 in the mRNA sequence NM_023220 within exon 6 of 15 total exons.


 
815 TTGGAAAACATGAAGTCAGTGGAAGACGCAGAA
198 -L--E--N--M--K--S--V--E--D--A--E-

The mutated nucleotide is indicated in red.  The mutation results in a serine (S) to proline (P) substitution at position 203 (S203P) in the SPPL2A protein, and is strongly predicted by PolyPhen-2 to be benign (score = 0.002).

Illustration of Mutations in
Gene & Protein
Protein Prediction
Figure 3. Domain organization of mouse SPPL2A. The location of the abra mutation (S203P) and the YD, GXGD, and PAL motifs are indicated. Abbreviations: SP, signal peptide; PA, protease-associated domain; TM, transmembrane domains. The orientation of the N- (lumenal) and C- (cytoplasmic) termini are indicated. The image is interactive; click to view other mutations in SPPL2A.

Sppl2a encodes SPPL2a, a signal peptide peptidase-like (SPPL) protease, and member of the GxGD intramembrane-cleaving protease family of aspartyl intramembrane-cleaving proteases (I-CLiPs) (Figure 3). SPPL proteins share several motifs, including a Tyr-Asp (YD) motif (amino acids 354-355), a GxGD motif (amino acids 413-416), and a PAL sequence (amino acids 466-468) (1-4). All three motifs contribute to SPPL proteolytic activity; the aspartate residues in the YD and GxGD motifs are required for SPPL protease activity (1;5). It is unknown how the PAL motif affects SPPL activity, but it is thought to promote the activity of the YD and GxGD motifs.

SPPL2A has nine transmembrane domains. Within the N-terminal tail is a protease-associated (PA) domain, an insert domain found in several proteases (SMART). SPPL2A has six putative N-glycosylation sites (Asn51, 61, 69, 119, 129, and 135) at the luminal N-terminus and two putative lysosomal targeting motifs at the cytoplasmic C-terminus (amino acids 498-501 [YQVM] and 506-509 [YSTN]) (6). SPPL proteins are predicted to form homodimers, which promotes their proteolytic activity.

The abra mutation results in a serine (S) to proline (P) substitution at position 203. Ser203 is within the cytoplasmic loop between transmembrane domains 1 and 2.

Expression/Localization

SPPL2A is ubiquitously expressed and localizes to lysosomes and late endosomes (5;7). SPPL2A is expressed in enamel epithelium during the secretory and maturation stage amelogenesis (8).

Background
Figure 4. SPPL2A mediates the cleavage of several type II transmembrane proteins, including FasL. After posttranslational processing by ADAM10 and SPPL2A, the FasL intracellular domain binds Lef-1 to negatively regulate Lef-1-dependent pro-proliferative Wnt signaling, subsequently impeding proliferation.

GxGD proteases are essential for the regulated intramembrane proteolysis (RIP) of single span type II transmembrane proteins. RIP is a sequential processing of transmembrane substrates in which there is a proteolytic cleavage of a protein’s ectodomain and then subsequent cleavage of the remaining membrane-bound fragment by an I-CLiP (Figure 4). I-CLiP-mediated cleavage promotes reverse signaling through the liberated intracellular domain (see the record for PanR1 for information about reverse signaling), and the degradation of the membrane-retained stubs.

SPPL2A cleaves TNF-α (see the record for PanR1; (7)), ITM2B (Bri2) (9), Fas ligand (FasL; see the record for riogrande) (10), CD74 (11-16), TMEM106B (14;17), and neuregulin 1 type III (18) (Table 1). TNF-α, Bri2, and FasL undergo ectodomain shedding by a protease of the ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloprotease) family (see the record for wavedx for information about ADAM17) before cleavage by SPPL2A (7;9;10).

Table 1. SPPL2A substrates.

SPPL2A target

Brief Description

References

TNF-α

Proinflammatory cytokine; see PanR1

(7)

ITM2B

Precise function is unknown; binding of ITM2B to APP is proposed to interfere with APP cleavage by α- and β-secretases; mutations in ITM2B are associated with forms of dementia, the familial British and Danish dementia (FBD and FDD)

(9)

FasL

Induces cell death by binding to the Fas receptor on target cells; see riogrande

(10;19)

CD74 (mouse)

Mediates antigen presentation by acting as a chaperone of MHCII

(11-16)

TMEM106B

Risk factor for fronto-temporal lobar dementia (FTLD); knockdown of TMEM106B was found to induce perinuclear clustering of lysosomes and reduced dendritic branching in neuronal cells; regulates lysosome number, size and mobility in neurons

(14;17;20;21)

Neuregulin 1 type III

Substrate of β-secretase BACE1 (β-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1)

(18)

SPPL2A-mediated processing of CD74 is essential for B cell development (11) and B cell receptor signaling in transitional B cells (14). CD74 binds to MHCII dimers in the ER of antigen-presenting cells and prevents premature peptide binding. Upon the proteolytic processing of CD74, MHCII is released. Impaired processing of CD74 leads to impaired Ag presentation by MHCII (22). CD74 also functions in the endocytic trafficking and endosomal maturation of antigen presenting cells (23;24). Dendritic cell migration (25) and the function of the proinflammatory cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (26) are also CD74-dependent.

Sppl2a knockout (Sppl2a-/-) mice have a B cell developmental block during the splenic phase of B cell maturation. As a result, the frequency of mature and functionally competent B cells is reduced and the mice exhibit impaired humoral immune responses (11). In Sppl2a-deficient B cells, accumulation of the CD74 N-terminal fragment results in B cell maturation arrest at the transitional stage 1 (T1) (11). However, in Sppl2a-/- mice, B cell maturation and function improved, indicating that the B cell phenotype observed in the Sppl2a-deficient mice was due to incomplete turnover of the CD74 N-terminal fragment (11). In the Sppl2a-/- B cells, Akt activation was impaired and aberrant BCR trafficking led to reduced surface IgM and impaired BCR-associated signal transduction (14). The B cell defects in the Sppl2a-/- mice is due to an accumulation of the CD74 N-terminal fragment and subsequent aberrant endocytic membrane traffic (12;14). Bergmann and colleagues also attributed surface B cell receptor and BAFFR expression to SPPL2A expression (12). SPPL2A is required for maintaining the cellular homeostasis of ameloblasts and subsequent dental enamel formation (8). In Sppl2a-/- mice, the enamel of erupted incisors was chalky white and rapidly eroded after eruption. The mineral content in the incisors from the Sppl2a-/- mice was not homogeneous and was reduced compared to that in wild-type incisors.

An ENU-induced Sppl2a allele (named chompB) also exhibited blockade in early B cell development after the T1 stage (13). As a result of the aberrant B cell development, the chompB mice exhibited a reduced frequency of mature B cell subsets and defects in T cell-dependent antibody responses. The chompB mice also exhibited reduced frequencies of myeloid dendritic cells.

Putative Mechanism

Abra mice exhibited defects in the T-independent B cell response to NP-Ficoll. The abra mice did not exhibit overt reduction in the frequency of B cells in the peripheral blood or defects in antibody responses to the T-dependent B cell antigens recombinant Semliki Forest virus (rSFV)-encoded β-galactosidase (rSFV-β-gal) or ovalbumin administered with aluminum hydroxide. Taken together, the abra mutation in Sppl2a may not confer as severe effects as those observed in other Sppl2a models, but some function was lost.

Primers PCR Primer
abra_pcr_F: CCAGTTTCTTACCAAGCCACCTGT
abra_pcr_R: AGGTGACTCTTGCTGGGAGAATTCATA

Sequencing Primer
abra_seq_F: TTCTTACCAAGCCACCTGTAGAAG
abra_seq_R: tgggaggcagaggcagg
Genotyping

PCR program

1) 94°C 2:00
2) 94°C 0:30
3) 55°C 0:30
4) 72°C 1:00
5) repeat steps (2-4) 40x
6) 72°C 10:00
7) 4°C hold


The following sequence of 176 nucleotides is amplified (chromosome 2, - strand):


1   atgtttatac agggaaaaca tgaagtcagt ggaagacgca gaagacagag agacaagaaa
61  aaagaaggac gattacttaa cattcagtcc tctcacggtt gttgtgttcg tggtcatctg
121 ctgtataatg attgtcttac tgtatttctt ctacaggtgg cttggtaaga aactgg


Primer binding sites are underlined and the sequencing primers are highlighted; the mutated nucleotide is shown in red.

References
Science Writers Anne Murray
Illustrators Peter Jurek, Katherine Timer
AuthorsKuan-Wen Wang, Jin Huk Choi, Apiruck Watthanasurorot, Bruce Beutler