Inherited defects of cobalamin metabolism

Abstract

Cobalamin (vitamin B₁₂) is required for activity of the enzymes methylmalonyl-CoA mutase and methionine synthase in human cells. Inborn errors affecting cobalamin uptake or metabolism are characterized by accumulation of the substrates for these enzymes, methylmalonic acid and homocysteine, in blood and urine. Inborn errors affecting synthesis of the adenosylcobalamin coenzyme required by methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (cblA and cblB) result in isolated methylmalonic aciduria; inborn errors affecting synthesis of the methylcobalamin coenzyme required by methionine synthase (cblE and cblG) result in isolated homocystinuria. Combined methylmalonic aciduria and homocystinuria is seen in patients with impaired intestinal cobalamin absorption (intrinsic factor deficiency, Imerslund-Gräsbeck syndrome) and with defects affecting synthesis of both cobalamin coenzymes (cblC, cblD, cblF and cblJ). A series of disorders caused by pathogenic variant mutations affecting gene regulators (transcription factors) of the MMACHC gene have recently been described (HCFC1 [cblX disorder] and deficiencies of THAP11, and ZNF143 [the cblK disorder]).

Keywords: Cobalamin; Homocysteine; Inborn errors; Inherited metabolic disease; Methylmalonic acid; Vitamin B12.