Authors:
Kelly A McGowan, Jun Z Li, Christopher Y Park, Veronica Beaudry, Holly K Tabor, Amit J Sabnis, Weibin Zhang, Helmut Fuchs, Martin Hrab de Angelis, Richard M Myers, Laura D Attardi, and Gregory S Barsh
Summary:
Mutations in genes encoding ribosomal proteins cause the Minute phenotype in Drosophila and mice, and Diamond-Blackfan syndrome in humans. Here we report two mouse dark skin (Dsk) loci caused by mutations in Rps19 (ribosomal protein S19) and Rps20 (ribosomal protein S20). We identify a common pathophysiologic program in which p53 stabilization stimulates Kit ligand expression, and, consequently, epidermal melanocytosis via a paracrine mechanism. Accumulation of p53 also causes reduced body size and erythrocyte count. These results provide a mechanistic explanation for the diverse collection of phenotypes that accompany reduced dosage of genes encoding ribosomal proteins, and have implications for understanding normal human variation and human disease.
Source:
Nature Genetics; 40, 963 - 970 (08/01/08)