Transaldolase deficiency: liver cirrhosis associated with a new inborn error in the pentose phosphate pathway.

ABSTRACT: This article describes the first patient with a deficiency of transaldolase (TALDO1 [E.C.2.2.1.2]). Clinically, the patient presented with liver cirrhosis and hepatosplenomegaly during early infancy. In urine and plasma, elevated concentrations of ribitol, D-arabitol, and erythritol were found. By incubating the patient's lymphoblasts and erythrocytes with ribose-5-phosphate and subsequently analyzing phosphate sugar metabolites, we discovered a deficiency of transaldolase. Sequence analysis of the transaldolase gene from this patient showed a homozygous deletion of 3 bp. This deletion results in absence of serine at position 171 of the transaldolase protein. This amino acid is invariable between species and is located in a conserved region, indicating its importance for enzyme activity. T

SUBMITTER: Verhoeven NM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1226089 | biostudies-literature | 2001 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature