Search PubMed⌕ Search

PubMed · 7551122

Adrenoleukodystrophy.

Abstract

The main advances concerning adrenoleukodystrophy have been in the fields of genetics and therapy. Abnormalities in the 'putative gene' reported in 1993 have been confirmed. Mutations in this gene have been demonstrated in all of the 80 adrenoleukodystrophy families studied so far in various parts of the world. The same unusual dinucleotide deletion was present in approximately 20% of families. The remaining deletions involved nearly all parts of the gene and in most instances were unique in each family. There was no correlation between the phenotype and the nature or location of the mutation. Follow-up of patients treated with Lorenzo's Oil suggests that this therapy does not alter the course of the illness in symptomatic patients. However, dietary therapy started before the development of symptoms may reduce the frequency and severity of subsequent neurological disability.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

H W Moser. 1995. Adrenoleukodystrophy.. https://doi.org/10.1097/00019052-199506000-00011

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

[Adrenoleukodystrophy: structure and function of ALDP, and intracellular behavior of mutant ALDP with naturally occurring missense mutations].

Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is an inherited disorder characterized by progressive demyelination of the central nervous system and adrenal dysfunction. The biochemical characterization is based on the accumulation of pathgnomonic amounts of saturated very long-chain fatty acid (VLCFA; C>22) in all tissues, including the brain white matter, adrenal glands, and skin fibroblasts, of the patients. The accumulation of VLCFA in ALD is linked to a mutation in the ALD (ABCD1) gene, an ABC subfamily D member. The ALD gene product, so-called ALDP (ABCD1), is thought to be involved in the transport of VLCFA or VLCFA-CoA into the peroxisomes. ALDP is a half-sized peroxisomal ABC protein and it has 745 amino acids in humans. ALDP is thought to be synthesized on free polysomes, posttranslationally transported to peroxisomes, and inserted into the membranes. During this process, ALDP interacts with Pex19p, a chaperone-like protein for intracellular trafficking of peroxisomal membrane protein (PMP), the complex targets Pex3p on the peroxisomal membranes, and ALDP is inserted into the membranes. After integration into the membranes, ALDP is thought to form mainly homodimers. Here, we chose nine arbitrary mutations of human ALDP with naturally occurring missense mutations and examined the intracellular behavior of their ALDPs. We found that mutant ALDP (S606L, R617H, and H667D) was degraded together with wild-type ALDP by proteasomes. These results suggest that the complex of mutant and wild-type ALDP is recognized as misfolded proteins and degraded by the protein quality control system associated with proteasomes. Further, we found fragmentation of mutant ALDP (R104C) on peroxisomes and it was not inhibited by proteasomes inhibitors, suggesting that an additional protease(s) is also involved in the quality control of mutant ALDP. In addition, mutation of ALDP (Y174C) suggests that a loop between transmembrane domains 2 and 3 is important for the targeting of ALDP to peroxisomes.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily D, Mem↗

The peroxisomal ABC transporter family.

This review describes the current state of knowledge about the ABCD family of peroxisomal half adenosine-triphosphate-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. ABCDs are predicted to be present in a variety of eukaryotic organisms, although at present, only ABCDs in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the plant Arabidopsis thaliana, and different mammalian species have been identified and characterized to any significant extent. The functional role of none of these ABCDs has been established definitively and awaits successful reconstitution of ABCDs, either as homo- or heterodimers into liposomes, followed by transport studies. Data obtained in S. cerevisiae suggest that the two ABCDs, which have been identified in this organism, form a heterodimer, which actually transports acyl coenzyme A esters across the peroxisomal membrane. In mammals, four ABCDs have been identified, of which one [adrenoleukodystrophy protein (ALDP)] has been implicated in the transport of the coenzyme A esters of very-long-chain fatty acids. Mutations in the gene (ABCD1) encoding ALDP are the cause of a severe X-linked disease, called X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy. The availability of mutant mice in which Abcd1, Abcd2, or Abcd3 have been disrupted will help to resolve the true role of the peroxisomal half-ABC transporters.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily D, Mem↗

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy: clinical, biochemical and pathogenetic aspects.

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is a clinically heterogeneous disorder ranging from the severe childhood cerebral form to asymptomatic persons. The overall incidence is 1:16,800 including hemizygotes as well as heterozygotes. The principal molecular defect is due to inborn mutations in the ABCD1 gene encoding the adrenoleukodystrophy protein (ALDP), a transporter in the peroxisome membrane. ALDP is involved in the transport of substrates from the cytoplasm into the peroxisomal lumen. ALDP defects lead to characteristic accumulation of saturated very long-chain fatty acids, the diagnostic disease marker. The pathogenesis is unclear. Different molecular mechanisms seem to induce inflammatory demyelination, neurodegeneration and adrenocortical insufficiency involving the primary ABCD1 defect, environmental factors and modifier genes. Important information has been derived from the X-ALD mouse models; species differences however complicate the interpretation of results. So far, bone marrow transplantation is the only effective long-term treatment for childhood cerebral X-ALD, however, only when performed at an early-stage of disease. Urgently needed novel therapeutic strategies are under consideration ranging from dietary approaches to gene therapy.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily D, Mem↗