Rational correction of pathogenic conformational defects in HTRA1

Version 1

Loss-of-function mutations in the homotrimeric serine protease HTRA1 cause cerebral vasculopathy. Here, we establish independent approaches to achieve the functional correction of trimer assembly defects. Focusing on the prototypical R274Q mutation, we identify an HTRA1 variant that promotes trimer formation thus restoring enzymatic activity in vitro. Genetic experiments in Htra1R274Q mice further demonstrate that expression of this protein-based corrector in trans is sufficient to stabilize ...

Dissection of ventral pial cerebral vessels: Mice were anesthetized with Ketamine (100 mg/kg) and Xylazine (10 mg/kg) and transcardially perfused with 20 ml PBS, followed by 2 ml of 2% Evan’s blue (w/v) prepared in PBS. After brain harvest, pial vessels were collected from the ventral face of the brain with micro forceps under a M205 A dissection microscope (Leica) and snap frozen on dry ice. Lysis of cerebral vessels. Vessels were mixed with 4% (w/v) SDS, 100 mM dithiothreitol, 100 mM Tris–HCl, ...