Axonal neuropathy with unusual pattern of amyotrophy and alacrima associated with a novel AAAS mutation p.Leu430Phe

Eur J Hum Genet. 2008 Dec;16(12):1499-506. doi: 10.1038/ejhg.2008.132. Epub 2008 Jul 16.

Abstract

The triple A syndrome is caused by autosomal recessively inherited mutations in the AAAS gene and is characterized by achalasia, alacrima and adrenal insufficiency as well as progressive neurological impairment. We report on a 14-year-old girl with slowly progressive axonal motor neuropathy with conspicuous muscle wasting of hypothenars and calves as well as alacrima. The mutation analysis of the AAAS gene revealed a compound heterozygous mutation: a c.251G>A mutation in exon 2 that had been reported previously, and a novel c.1288C>T mutation in exon 14. At the transcriptional level, the c.251G>A transition results in an aberrant splicing and decay of this RNA strand so that the particular clinical picture results from the novel c.1288C>T, (p.Leu430Phe, L430F) mutation in a hemizygous form. With transfection experiments, we demonstrate that GFP-ALADIN(L430F) correctly localizes to nuclear pore complexes. Therefore, we conclude that this point mutation impairs ALADIN function at the nuclear pore.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution / genetics
  • Amino Acid Substitution / physiology
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Female
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases / complications
  • Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases / genetics*
  • Leucine / genetics
  • Muscular Atrophy / complications
  • Muscular Atrophy / genetics*
  • Musculoskeletal Abnormalities / complications
  • Musculoskeletal Abnormalities / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
  • Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins / genetics*
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / complications
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / genetics*
  • Phenylalanine / genetics
  • Point Mutation
  • Syndrome
  • Transfection

Substances

  • AAAS protein, human
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins
  • Phenylalanine
  • Leucine