Uridine preserves the expression of respiratory enzyme deficiencies in cultured fibroblasts.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A Munnich.
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Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a frequent congenital disorder (1 in 5,000 newborns) of unknown origin characterized by the absence of parasympathetic intrinsic ganglion cells of the hindgut. Taking advantage of a proximal deletion of chromosome 10q (del 10q11.2-q21.2) in a patient with total colonic aganglionosis, and of a high-density genetic map of microsatellite DNA markers, we performed genetic linkage analysis in 15 non-syndromic long-segment and short-segment HSCR families. Multipoint linkage analysis indicated that the most likely location for a HSCR locus is between loci D10S208 and D10S196, suggesting that a dominant gene for HSCR maps to 10q11.2, a region to which other neural crest defects have been mapped.
Recently, a mutation in the gene for the neural cell adhesion molecule L1CAM, located at chromosome Xq28, was found in a family with X-linked hydrocephalus (HSAS). However, as the L1CAM mutation could only be identified in one HSAS family, it remained unclear whether or not L1CAM was the gene responsible for HSAS. We have conducted a mutation analysis of L1CAM in 25 HSAS families. The mutation reported previously was not found in any of these families. In one family, however, a 1.3 kilobases (kb) genomic duplication was identified, cosegregating with HSAS and significantly changing the intracellular domain of the L1CAM protein. These results confirm that L1CAM is the HSAS gene.
Autosomal dominant familial spastic paraplegia (FSP) is a degenerative disorder of unknown aetiology characterized by a progressive spasticity of the legs. Three families with autosomal dominant FSP of early onset were analysed in linkage studies using highly polymorphic microsatellite markers. Close linkage to a group of markers on chromosome 14q (maximum multipoint lodscore z = 10) was observed in one family. This chromosome 14q candidate region was entirely excluded in the two other families, providing evidence of genetic heterogeneity within a homogeneous clinical form of FSP.
Taking advantage of the 'illegitimate' transcription of the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene, we have been able to analyse the PAH cDNA sequence of hyperphenylalaninemic children in circulating lymphocytes. Using this approach, we have also identified 3 novel mutations in cDNA from liver and lymphocytes of two patients. One mutation, detected by the abnormal pattern of migration of an amplified fragment, is a C to T transition in the splice acceptor site of intron 10, which resulted in the skipping of exon 11 with the premature termination of RNA translation downstream from exon 12 (-3 IVS10). The other two mutations are missense mutations in exons 10 and 11 (respectively, L333F and E390G). The present study supports the view that circulating lymphocytes give easy access to PAH gene transcripts whose nucleotide sequence is identical to that reported in liver and therefore represent a useful tool for molecular genetic studies in phenylketonuria.
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In order to elucidate the clinical homogeneity and severity of the hyperphenylalaninaemias in Poland, a total of 71 children with typical phenylketonuria (PKU) originating from western and northern Poland were screened for 13 mutations in the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene. Eighty percent of all PKU alleles tested were found to carry an identified mutation. One mutation, namely the R408W mutation, accounted for more than 63% of mutant PAH alleles in Poland, the other 27% being accounted for by six mutations: IVS12nt1 (5%), IVSnt546 (5%), Y414C (4%), R252W (1.5%), R261Q (< 1%), and G272ter (< 1%). The predominance of the R408W mutation resulted in a high rate of homozygotes (35.2%) and compound heterozygotes for this mutation in children from western and northern Poland. The frequency and deleterious nature of this mutation probably accounts for the clinical homogeneity and severity of the hyperphenylalaninaemias in Poland. In addition, the high rate of the R408W mutation and its association with mutant haplotype 2 at the PAH locus in Poland give additional support to the Balto-Slavic origin of this mutant gene.
X linked hereditary spastic paraplegia is a rare condition that has been divided into two forms (the pure spastic form and the complicated form) as a function of clinical course and severity. A gene for pure hereditary spastic paraplegia (SPG2) has been mapped to the proximal long arm of the X chromosome (Xq21) by linkage to the DXS17 locus, while a gene for a complicated form of the disease has been mapped to the distal long arm by linkage to the DXS52 locus (Xq28). Here we report on the mapping of a gene for complicated hereditary spastic paraplegia to the Xq21 region by linkage to the probe S9 at the DXS17 locus (Z = 5 at theta = 0.04) in a three generation pedigree. Multipoint linkage analysis supports the distal location of the disease gene with respect to the DXYS1-DXS17 block (cen-DXYS1-DXS3-DXS17-SPG2-tel). The observation of a complicated form of spastic paraplegia mapping to Xq21 raises the difficult issue of variable phenotypic expression, allelic heterogeneity, or even close proximity of two genes for hereditary spastic paraplegia in this region. However, since our study provides clinical evidence for intrafamilial heterogeneity in complicated X linked spastic paraplegia, the present data support the hypothesis of variable clinical expression of a single gene at the SPG2 locus, as previously suggested for SPG1. Finally, we report here what we believe to be the first evidence of clinical expression in heterozygous carriers, a feature that is relevant to genetic counselling in at risk females.
The Wolfram syndrome (MIM 222300) is a disease of unknown origin consisting of diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, and deafness. Here we report on a generalized deficiency of the mitochondrial respiratory enzyme activities in skeletal muscle and lymphocyte homogenate of a girl suffering from the Wolfram syndrome. In addition, we provide evidence for a 7.6-kilobase pair heteroplasmic deletion (spanning nucleotides 6465-14135) of the mitochondrial DNA in the two tissues and show that directly repeated sequences (11 bp) were present in the wild-type mitochondrial genome at the boundaries of the deletion. Neither of the patient's parents was found to bear rearranged molecules. This study supports the view that a respiratory chain defect can present with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus as the onset symptom. It also suggests that a defect of oxidative phosphorylation should be considered when investigating other cases of Wolfram syndrome, especially because this syndrome fulfills the criteria for a genetic defect of the mitochondrial energy supply: (a) an unexplained association of symptoms (b) with early onset and rapidly progressive course, (c) involving seemingly unrelated organs and tissues.
Juberg-Marsidi syndrome (McKusick 309590) is a rare X-linked recessive condition characterized by severe mental retardation, growth failure, sensorineural deafness, and microgenitalism. Here we report on the genetic mapping of the Juberg-Marsidi gene to the proximal long arm of the X chromosome (Xq12-q21) by linkage to probe pRX214H1 at the DXS441 locus (Z = 3.24 at theta = .00). Multipoint linkage analysis placed the Juberg-Marsidi gene within the interval defined by the DXS159 and the DXYS1X loci in the Xq12-q21 region. These data provide evidence for the genetic distinction between Juberg-Marsidi syndrome and several other X-linked mental retardation syndromes that have hypogonadism and hypogenitalism and that previously. Finally, the mapping of the Juberg-Marsidi gene is of potential interest for reliable genetic counseling of at-risk women.
In this paper we report the identification of a new disorder of mitochondrial fatty acid beta-oxidation in a patient which presented with clear manifestations of a mitochondrial beta-oxidation disorder. Subsequent studies in fibroblasts revealed an impairment in palmitate beta-oxidation and in addition, a combined deficiency of long-chain enoyl-CoA hydratase, long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA-dehydrogenase and long-chain 3-oxoacyl-CoA thiolase. The recent identification of a multifunctional, membrane-bound beta-oxidation enzyme protein catalyzing all these three enzyme activities (Carpenter et al. (1992) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 183, 443-448; Uchida et al. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 1034-1041) suggested an underlying basis for this peculiar combination of three enzyme deficiencies. We show by means of size-exclusion chromatography that there is, indeed, a deficiency of the multifunctional beta-oxidation enzyme protein in this patient.
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Mitochondria were isolated from detergent-treated Epstein-Barr virus-transformed human lymphocytes to examine their potential use in the study of the functional expression of genetic disorders of the respiratory chain. The increase of cytochrome c oxidase activity in the mitochondrial fraction indicated a 6-fold purification of intact mitochondria. Polarographic and spectrophotometric studies revealed that the isolated mitochondria were functionally well preserved. Furthermore, the isolated mitochondria supported an active in organello protein synthesis, which was dependent on the presence of a respiratory substrate generating ATP and was essentially abolished by chloramphenicol or by a specific respiratory chain inhibitor, such as antimycin. Thus, B lymphoblastoid cell lines constitute a valuable source of mitochondria to investigate mitochondrial functions in patients affected by respiratory chain disorders.
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Mitochondrial disorders have long been regarded as neuromuscular diseases only. In fact, owing to the ubiquitous nature of the oxidative phosphorylation, a broad spectrum of clinical features should be expected in mitochondrial disorders. Here, we present eight puzzling observations which give support to the view that a disorder of oxidative phosphorylation can give rise to any symptom in any organ or tissue with any apparent mode of inheritance. Consequently, we suggest giving consideration to the diagnosis of a mitochondrial disorder when dealing with an unexplained association of symptoms, with an early onset and a rapidly progressive course involving seemingly unrelated organs. Determination of lactate/pyruvate and ketone body molar ratios in plasma can help to select patients at risk for this condition.