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Combined malonic and methylmalonic aciduria with normal malonyl-coenzyme A decarboxylase activity: a case supporting multiple aetiologies.

We identified a patient who excreted large amounts of methylmalonic acid and malonic acid. In contrast to other patients who have been described with combined methylmalonic and malonic aciduria, our patient excreted much larger amounts of methylmalonic acid than malonic acid. Since most previous patients with this biochemical phenotype have been reported to have deficiency of malonyl-CoA decarboxylase, we assayed malonyl-CoA decarboxylase activity in skin fibroblasts derived from our patient and found the enzyme activity to be normal. We examined four isocaloric (2000 kcal/day) dietary regimes administered serially over a period of 12 days with 3 days devoted to each dietary regimen. These diets were high in carbohydrate, fat or protein, or enriched with medium-chain triglycerides. Diet-induced changes in malonic and methylmalonic acid excretion became evident 24-36 h after initiating a new diet. Total excretion of malonic and methylmalonic acid was greater (p < 0.01) during a high-protein diet than during a high-carbohydrate or high-fat diet. A high-carbohydrate, low-protein diet was associated with the lowest levels of malonic and methylmalonic acid excretion. Perturbations in these metabolites were most marked at night. On all dietary regimes, our patient excreted 3-10 times more methylmalonic acid than malonic acid, a reversal of the ratios reported in patients with malonyl-CoA decarboxylase deficiency. Our data support a previous observation that combined malonic and methylmalonic aciduria has aetiologies other than malonyl-CoA decarboxylase deficiency. The malonic acid to methylmalonic acid ratio in response to dietary intervention may be useful in identifying a subgroup of patients with normal enzyme activity.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗

[Carnitine: vitamin or doping?].

Carnitine (L-trimethyl-3-hydroxy-4-ammonio-butyrate) is a chemically simple substance with essential functions in energy metabolism. Most of the carnitine needed is ingested by the diet, in particular by meat and dairy products. The rest is biosynthesized, starting from the amino acids lysine and methionine. In humans, carnitine biosynthesis is just sufficient to avoid symptomatic carnitine deficiency, when carnitine intake by the diet is absent or low. Carnitine can therefore not be regarded as a vitamin. Primary carnitine deficiency is mostly due to increased renal carnitine excretion because of a defective carnitine transport in the proximal tubule. Secondary carnitine deficiency can develop due to increased excretion of acylcarnitines in patients with organic acidurias or after longterm treatment with pivaloyl-esters or other drugs. Symptomatic carnitine deficiency should be treated with pharmacological doses of carnitine. There are no studies supporting the concept that acute administration of carnitine is associated with increased physical performance in athletes. Acute ingestion of carnitine by athletes is not doping, but cannot be advised from a scientific standpoint. So far, there are no randomized controlled studies investigating the effect of chronic carnitine administration on physical performance in athletes.

Biological Transport↗

Biochemical studies in the cerebro-hepato-renal syndrome of Zellweger: a disturbance in the metabolism of pipecolic acid.

The metabolism of pipecolic acid ahs been studied in three patients suffering from the cerebro-hepato-renal syndrome of Zellweger. A marked pipecolic aciduria was observed in these patients and serum levels of pipecolic acid were also elevated. From in vivo studies evidence was obtained that a disturbance in the catabolic pathway of pipecolic acid was present in all patients. This conclusion was based on the delayed return of the serum pipecolic acid concentration to the fasting concentration after oral loading of the patients with DL-pipecolic acid. Moreover, no increase in the excretion of alpha-amino adipic acid was observed in the patients after loading, in contrast with the control subjects, who showed a marked increase in the excretion of this metabolite of pipecolic acid. Further evidence for the presence of a metabolic defect in the catabolism of pipecolic acid was obtained from the observation that patients excreted significantly higher amounts of pipecolic acid during the loading experiment.

Amino Acids↗

Inherited disorders of GABA metabolism.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system, is produced from glutamic acid in a reaction catalysed by glutamic acid decarboxylase. The sequential actions of GABA-transaminase (converting GABA to succinic semialdehyde) and succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (oxidizing succinic semialdehyde to succinic acid) allow oxidative metabolism of GABA through the tricarboxylic acid cycle. The inherited disorders of GABA metabolism include: (1) pyridoxine-dependent seizures (?glutamic acid decarboxylase deficiency) (> 50 patients); (2) GABA-transaminase deficiency (2 patients/1 family); (3) succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency (32 patients/21 families); and (4) homocarnosinosis associated with serum carnosinase deficiency (3 patients/1 family). Homocarnosine is a brain-specific dipeptide of GABA and L-histidine. Of these four defects, definitive enzymatic diagnoses have been made only for GABA-transaminase and succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiencies. The presumptive mode of inheritance for all disorders is autosomal recessive, and all are associated with central nervous system dysfunction. Only succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency manifests organic aciduria, which may account for the higher number of patients identified with this disorder; identification of additional patients with some of the other disorders will require increased request for analysis of cerebrospinal fluid metabolites by paediatricians and neurometabolic specialists.

4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase↗

Aspartoacylase deficiency and N-acetylaspartic aciduria in patients with Canavan disease.

An increased amount of N-acetylaspartic acid was found in urine and plasma of three patients, from two families, with the diagnosis of cerebral spongy degeneration (Canavan disease). Aspartoacylase was assayed in cultured skin fibroblasts from one patient of each family and a profound deficiency of this enzyme was found. Although the function of N-acetylaspartic acid is not understood, it is known to occur in high concentration in human brain. The finding of a defect in the metabolism of N-acetylaspartic acid causing progressive spongy degeneration of the brain may lead to a better understanding of the function of this amino acid derivative. The aspartoacylase assay affords a new tool for determining the diagnosis of Canavan disease. Since aspartoacylase activity was present in cultured amniotic cells and chorionic villi, it is likely that the assay for this enzyme can be used for the prenatal diagnosis of Canavan disease.

Amidohydrolases↗

Alpha-ketoadipic aciduria: a description of a new metabolic error in lysine-tryptophan degradation.

Our studies of a mentally retarded male with extremely elevated levels of alpha-aminoadipic acid and alpha-ketoadipic acid in his urine have led to the description of a new metabolic defect, alpha-ketoadipic aciduria. Analysis of the urine and serum from the patient's family revealed that the patient (KW) had a mentally and physically normal sister (CW) with the same metabolites elevated, but the rest of the family appeared normal.

Adipates↗

[Methylmalonic aciduria. A case report].

A Black girl aged 19 months presented with vomiting, dehydration and severe acidosis without apparent cause. Further investigation revealed urinary excretion of large amounts of methylmalonic acid. The literature on methylmalonic aciduria is briefly reviewed. Seven possible biochemical defects have been described. Our patient did not improve with vitamin B12 therapy but the response after instituting a low-protein diet was excellent. The condition may be life-threatening if left untreated.

Acidosis↗

[Carnitine deficiency in inborn errors of metabolism].

Several conditions, considered as inborn errors of metabolism, involve severe deficiencies in carnitine in both plasma and muscle. In the absence of evidence suggesting primary carnitine deficiency due to a biosynthetic enzymatic defect in the liver, the various diseases with carnitine deficiency are related to genetic defects in organic acid metabolism leading to blocked mitochondrial beta oxidation. We describe a 4.5-year-old boy and 2 female infants with glutaric aciduria type I, isovaleric acidemia, and long-chain acid dehydrogenase deficiency, in whom severe carnitine deficiency was apparent. In all 3, long-term carnitine treatment proved to be vital and eliminated most of the symptoms.

Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase, Long-Chain↗

X-linked cardioskeletal myopathy and neutropenia (Barth syndrome) (MIM 302060).

X-linked cardioskeletal myopathy, neutropenia and abnormal mitochondria (MIM 302060) (synonyms: Barth syndrome, 3-methylglutaconic acid-uria type II, endocardial fibroelastosis type 2) has been reported in patients and families from Europe, North America and Australia. Previous studies characterized the main components of the disease: dilated cardiomyopathy, skeletal myopathy, neutropenia, 3-methylglutaconic aciduria and diminished statural growth. Respiratory chain impairments have been found in several studies, without pinpointing a single enzyme complex. 3-Methylglutaconic aciduria is shared with several other disorders that affect the respiratory chain. Previous studies excluded a block in the major pathway of leucine catabolism. We performed leucine loading, accompanied by fasting, in patients and observed a significant rise of 3-methylglutaconic acid and 3-methylglutaric acid. Taken together with the absence of an enzymatic block in the major leucine catabolic route, the possibility remains that the increased basal excretion of 3-methylglutaconic acid and other products of branched-chain amino acids is the result of overload of this pathway or--more likely--mitochondrial leakage. Linkage studies have localized the gene to the Xq28 region. The associated tafazzin gene (TAZ), has been fully characterized recently, and mutations located in conserved regions have been reported. Carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis have now become possible through mutation analysis. Sequence homology of the TAZ gene to a highly conserved superclass of acyltransferases (Neuwald's hypothesis) predicts a glycerophospholipid as the missing end product. This points to the (lipid) structure of the inner mitochondrial membrane as a promising new area of research.

Cardiomyopathy, Dilated↗

Structural (betaalpha)8 TIM barrel model of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A lyase.

This study describes three novel homozygous missense mutations (S75R, S201Y, and D204N) in the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) lyase gene, which caused 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric aciduria in patients from Germany, England, and Argentina. Expression studies in Escherichia coli show that S75R and S201Y substitutions completely abolished the HMG-CoA lyase activity, whereas D204N reduced catalytic efficiency to 6.6% of the wild type. We also propose a three-dimensional model for human HMG-CoA lyase containing a (betaalpha)8 (TIM) barrel structure. The model is supported by the similarity with analogous TIM barrel structures of functionally related proteins, by the localization of catalytic amino acids at the active site, and by the coincidence between the shape of the substrate (HMG-CoA) and the predicted inner cavity. The three novel mutations explain the lack of HMG-CoA lyase activity on the basis of the proposed structure: in S75R and S201Y because the new amino acid residues occlude the substrate cavity, and in D204N because the mutation alters the electrochemical environment of the active site. We also report the localization of all missense mutations reported to date and show that these mutations are located in the beta-sheets around the substrate cavity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

3-Methylglutaconic and 3-methylglutaric aciduria in a patient with suspected 3-methylglutaconyl-CoA hydratase deficiency.

A girl suffering from marked muscular hypotonia, severe statomotor and mental retardation, bilateral optic atrophy with chorioretinal degeneration, convulsions and a moderate compensated metabolic acidosis is described. Screening for metabolic disorders revealed massive 3-methylglutaconic with 3-methylglutaric aciduria leading to the tentative diagnosis of 3-methylglutaconyl-CoA hydratase deficiency. Metabolite excretion was correlated with variation of leucine intake. 3-methyl-3-hydroxyglutaryl-CoA lyase activity in cultured fibroblasts was normal. The suspected metabolic defect was not demonstrable in cultured skin fibroblasts, however.

Acidosis↗

Phenotypic variability in glutaric aciduria type I: Report of fourteen cases in five Canadian Indian kindreds.

We describe 14 patients with glutaric aciduria type 1 in five Canadian Indian kindreds living in Manitoba and northwest Ontario. The patients had marked clinical variability of the disease, even within families. Eight followed the typical clinical course of normal early growth and development until the onset of neurologic abnormalities, often precipitated by infection, between 6 weeks and 7 1/2 months of age. Five patients had early developmental delay; one was thought to be normal until 8 years of age. Three patients died, seven are severely mentally and physically handicapped, and four have only mild mental retardation or incoordination. Six patients had macrocephaly in the neonatal period. Computed tomography was done for 12 patients, and findings were abnormal in 11. Glutaric acid and 3-hydroxyglutaric acid were detected in increased amounts in the urine of all patients, but the concentrations were much lower than those in most other reported patients. Glutaryl coenzyme A dehydrogenase activity in skin fibroblasts, interleukin-2-dependent lymphocytes, or both, ranged from 0% to 13% of control values. There was no correlation between clinical severity and urine glutaric acid concentration or level of residual enzyme activity. We recommend that organic acid analysis of the urine be done in patients with unexplained cerebral palsy-like disorders, especially if the computed tomographic scan is abnormal. If there is suspicion of glutaric aciduria, glutaryl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase should be measured in fibroblasts or lymphocytes even if glutaric acid is not increased in the urine.

Adult↗

Glucose polymer regimens and hypernatraemia.

A 3 year old boy who had glutaric aciduria diagnosed at 22 months of age was admitted with a history of lethargy, vomiting, and fever. He had been receiving glucose polymers as part of his dietary management. He was severely hypernatraemic, but after resuscitation and rehydration made a good recovery. The possible aetiology of his hypernatraemia is discussed.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗

Mutation and biochemical analysis of patients belonging to the cblB complementation class of vitamin B12-dependent methylmalonic aciduria.

Methylmalonic aciduria, cblB type (OMIM 251110) is an inborn error of vitamin B(12) metabolism that occurs due to mutations in the MMAB gene. MMAB encodes the enzyme ATP:cobalamin adenosyltransferase, which catalyzes the synthesis of the coenzyme adenosylcobalamin required for the activity of the mitochondrial enzyme methylmalonyl CoA mutase (MCM). MCM catalyzes the isomerization of methylmalonyl CoA to succinyl CoA. Deficient MCM activity results in methylmalonic aciduria and a susceptibility to life-threatening acidotic crises. The MMAB gene was sequenced from genomic DNA from a panel of 35 cblB patients, including five patients previously investigated. Nineteen MMAB mutations were identified, including 13 previously unknown mutations. These included 11 missense mutations, two duplications, one deletion, four splice-site mutations, and one nonsense mutation. None of these mutations was identified in 100 control alleles. Most of the missense mutations (9/11) were clustered in exon 7; many of these affected amino acid residues that are part of the probable active site of the enzyme. One previously described mutation, c.556C >T (p.R186W), was particularly common, accounting for 33% of pathogenic alleles. It was seen almost exclusively in patients of European background and was typically associated with presentation in the first year of life.

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases↗

Mutations in phenotypically mild D-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria.

D-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria is a neurometabolic disorder with mild and severe phenotypes. Recently, we reported pathogenic mutations in the D-2-hydroxyglutarate dehydrogenase gene as the cause of the severe phenotype of D-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria in two patients. Here, we report two novel pathogenic mutations in this gene in one patient with a mild presentation and two asymptomatic siblings with D-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria from two unrelated consanguineous Palestinian families: a splice error (IVS4-2A-->G) and a missense mutation (c.1315A-->G;p.Asn439Asp). Overexpression of this mutant protein showed marked reduction of the enzyme activity.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

Glutaric aciduria: biochemical and morphologic considerations.

Biochemical and morphologic studies on a patient with glutaric aciduria are presented. Generalized aminoaciduria, alpha-aminoadipic aciduria, and saccharopinuria were noted just prior to death, as well as glutaconic aciduria greater than beta-hydroxyglutaric aciduria. Mutant liver mitochondria did not oxidize glutaryl-CoA to glutaconyl-CoA, indicating deficiency of glytaryl-CoA dehydrogenase. Autopsy revealed cerebral edema, ischemic neuronal changes, and striatal degeneration in the brain with fatty changes in liver, kidney, and myocardium.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗

Intermittently progressive dyskinetic syndrome in glutaric aciduria.

A case of glutaric aciduria, a recently discovered inborn error of tryptophan-lysine metabolism, is reported. Development was normal during the first year of life. Signs of dyskinesia and dystonia associated with developmental regression occurred twice during gastrointestinal disease. By two years of age, a dystonic syndrome with a severe motor and language disability had resulted.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗