Novel mutation in the NHLRC1 gene in a Malian family with a severe phenotype of Lafora disease

Neurogenetics. 2009 Oct;10(4):319-23. doi: 10.1007/s10048-009-0190-4. Epub 2009 Mar 26.

Abstract

We studied a Malian family with parental consanguinity and two of eight siblings affected with late-childhood-onset progressive myoclonus epilepsy and cognitive decline, consistent with the diagnosis of Lafora disease. Genetic analysis showed a novel homozygous single-nucleotide variant in the NHLRC1 gene, c.560A>C, producing the missense change H187P. The changed amino acid is highly conserved, and the mutation impairs malin's ability to degrade laforin in vitro. Pathological evaluation showed manifestations of Lafora disease in the entire brain, with particularly severe involvement of the pallidum, thalamus, and cerebellum. Our findings document Lafora disease with severe manifestations in the West African population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Brain / pathology
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • Child
  • Consanguinity
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lafora Disease / genetics*
  • Lafora Disease / pathology
  • Lafora Disease / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Mali
  • Mutation, Missense*
  • Pedigree
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • NHLRC1 protein, human
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases