Loss of Dnajc21 leads to cytopenia and altered nucleotide metabolism in zebrafish
Mutations in the DNAJC21 gene were recently described in Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS), a bone marrow failure syndrome with high predisposition for myeloid malignancies. To study the underlying biology in hematopoiesis regulation and disease, we generated the first in vivo model of Dnajc21 deficiency using the zebrafish. Zebrafish dnajc21 mutants phenocopy key SDS patient phenotypes such as cytopenia, reduced growth, and defective protein synthesis. We show that cytopenia results from impaired hematopoietic differentiation, accumulation of DNA damage, and reduced cell proliferation. The introduction of a biallelic tp53 mutation in the dnajc21 mutants leads to the development of myelodysplastic neoplasia-like features defined by abnormal erythroid morphology and expansion of hematopoietic progenitors. Using transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, we uncover a novel role for Dnajc21 in nucleotide metabolism. Exogenous nucleoside supplementation restores neutrophil counts, revealing an association between nucleotide imbalance and neutrophil differentiation, suggesting a novel mechanism in dnajc21-mutant SDS biology.
Authors
- Serkan Doğan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6932-7165)
- Irina Alecu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7659-9190)
- Miroslava Čuperlović‐Culf (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9483-8159)
- Mira Liebman
- Huy‐Dung Hoang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8793-1673)
- Jason N. Berman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4053-6067)
- Steffany A. L. Bennett (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7944-5800)
- Sarada Ketharnathan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8950-7195)
- Sergey V. Prykhozhij (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2801-6122)
- Yigal Dror (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3953-1477)
- Tommy Alain (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0396-9138)
- Elaine Leung (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8574-7872)
- Anna Cordeiro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6012-1259)
- Kevin Ban
- Sujata Pokharel
Institutions
- University of Ottawa (CA)
- University of Toronto (CA)
- Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (CA)
- Hospital for Sick Children (CA)
- AGADA Biosciences (CA)
- National Research Council Canada (CA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Leukemia
- Published
- 2024-08-13
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41375-024-02367-8
- Citations
- 4
- Primary Topic
- Blood disorders and treatments
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.20
Funders
- Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
- University of Ottawa
- Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada
- Terry Fox Foundation
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research
- CIHR Skin Research Training Centre