Identification of a Novel Death Domain-Containing Adaptor Molecule for Ectodysplasin-A Receptor that Is Mutated in crinkled Mice

Hypohydrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia (HED) is a genetic disease seen in humans and mice. It is characterized by loss of hair, sweat glands, and teeth. The predominant X-linked form results from mutations in ectodysplasin-A (EDA), a TNF-like ligand [1–4]. A phenotypically indistinguishable autosomal form of the disease results from mutations in the receptor for EDA (EDAR) [4, 5]. EDAR is a NF-κB-activating, death domain-containing member of the TNF receptor family [6–8]. crinkled, a distinct autosomal form of HED, was discovered in a mouse strain in which both the ligand (EDA) and receptor (EDAR) were wild-type, suggestive of a disruption further downstream in the signaling pathway [9, 10]. Employing a forward genetic approach, we have cloned crinkled (CR) and find it to encode a novel death domain-containing adaptor. crinkled binds EDAR through a homotypic death domain interaction and mediates engagement of the NF-κB pathway, possibly by recruiting TRAF2 to the receptor-signaling complex. This is an unprecedented example of naturally occurring mutations in ligand, receptor, or adaptor giving rise to the same phenotypic disease characterized by a defect in the proper development of epidermal appendages.