Glutaric acidemia type I (GAI) is an autosomal recessive organic acidemia caused by a mutation in the gene encoding glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase (GCD). Clinically, GAI is characterized by progressive dystonia, resulting from degeneration of neurons in the caudate and putamen nuclei of the striatum. In an attempt to understand the basis for the specific neuropathology in GAI, we have analyzed the expression of the murine GCD gene using both in vitro and in vivo approaches. Transfection studies mapped the mouse GCD promoter to a 500-bp region of DNA 5' of the translation start site. The promoter lacks a TATA consensus sequence, but includes possible binding sites for several transcription factors with roles in the regulation of nuclear genes encoding mitochondrial proteins. Western blot and RT/PCR analyses of mouse tissues demonstrated that GCD is ubiquitously expressed, with the highest levels of expression in liver and kidney, consistent with its role in amino acid oxidation. Expression in multiple regions of the brain was also detected by Western blotting. Based on these results we conclude that the specific neuropathology associated with GCD deficiency in GAI cannot be accounted for by its expression pattern.
Copyright 2000 Academic Press.