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Mutations in NMNAT1 cause Leber congenital amaurosis and identify a new disease pathway for retinal degeneration.

ABSTRACT: Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is a blinding retinal disease that presents within the first year after birth. Using exome sequencing, we identified mutations in the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) synthase gene NMNAT1 encoding nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase 1 in eight families with LCA, including the family in which LCA was originally linked to the LCA9 locus. Notably, all individuals with NMNAT1 mutations also have macular colobomas, which are severe degenerative entities of the central retina (fovea) devoid of tissue and photoreceptors. Functional assays of the proteins encoded by the mutant alleles identified in our study showed that the mutations reduce the enzymatic activity of NMNAT1 in NAD biosynthesis and affect protein folding. Of note, recent characterization of the slow Wallerian degeneration (Wld(s)) mouse model, in which prolonged axonal survival after injury is observed, identified NMNAT1 as a neuroprotective protein when ectopically expressed. Our findings identify a new disease mechanism underlying LCA and provide the first link between endogenous NMNAT1 dysfunction and a human nervous system disorder.

SUBMITTER: Koenekoop RK

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3657614 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Mutations in NMNAT1 cause Leber congenital amaurosis and identify a new disease pathway for retinal degeneration.

Koenekoop Robert K RK Wang Hui H Majewski Jacek J Wang Xia X Lopez Irma I Ren Huanan H Chen Yiyun Y Li Yumei Y Fishman Gerald A GA Genead Mohammed M Schwartzentruber Jeremy J Solanki Naimesh N Traboulsi Elias I EI Cheng Jingliang J Logan Clare V CV McKibbin Martin M Hayward Bruce E BE Parry David A DA Johnson Colin A CA Nageeb Mohammed M Poulter James A JA Mohamed Moin D MD Jafri Hussain H Rashid Yasmin Y Taylor Graham R GR Keser Vafa V Mardon Graeme G Xu Huidan H Inglehearn Chris F CF Fu Qing Q Toomes Carmel C Chen Rui R

Nature genetics 20120729 9

Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is a blinding retinal disease that presents within the first year after birth. Using exome sequencing, we identified mutations in the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) synthase gene NMNAT1 encoding nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase 1 in eight families with LCA, including the family in which LCA was originally linked to the LCA9 locus. Notably, all individuals with NMNAT1 mutations also have macular colobomas, which are severe degenerative enti ...[more]

PMID: 22842230

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Project description:PurposeThe gene encoding nicotinamide nucleotide adenylyltransferase 1 (NMNAT1) was recently found to be mutated in a subset of patients with Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) with macular atrophy. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence and frequency of NMNAT1 mutations and associated phenotypes in different types of inherited retinal dystrophies.MethodsDNA samples of 161 patients with LCA without genetic diagnosis were analyzed for variants in NMNAT1 using Sanger sequencing. Variants in exon 5 of NMNAT1, which harbors the majority of the previously identified mutations, were screened in 532 additional patients with retinal dystrophies. This cohort encompassed 108 persons with isolated or autosomal recessive cone-rod dystrophy (CRD), 271 with isolated or autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (RP), and 49 with autosomal dominant RP, as well as 104 persons with LCA in whom the causative mutation was previously identified.ResultsCompound heterozygous alterations were found in six patients with LCA and in one person with early-onset RP. All except one carried the common p.E257K variant on one allele. Macular atrophy was absent in one patient, who carried this variant in combination with a truncating mutation on the other allele. The p.E257K alteration was also found in a heterozygous state in five individuals with LCA and one with RP while no mutation was detected on the other allele. Two individuals with LCA carried other NMNAT1 variants in a heterozygous state, whereas no NMNAT1 variants in exon 5 were identified in individuals with CRD. The p.E257K variant was found to be enriched in a heterozygous state in individuals with LCA (0.94%) compared to Caucasian controls (0.18%), although the difference was statistically insignificant (p=0.12).ConclusionsAlthough macular atrophy can occur in LCA and CRD, no NMNAT1 mutations were found in the latter cohort. NMNAT1 variants were also not found in a large group of patients with sporadic or autosomal recessive RP. The enrichment of p.E257K in a heterozygous state in patients with LCA versus controls suggests that this allele could act as a modifier in other genetic subtypes of LCA.

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Mutations in NMNAT1 cause Leber congenital amaurosis and identify a new disease pathway for retinal degeneration.

Publications

Mutations in NMNAT1 cause Leber congenital amaurosis and identify a new disease pathway for retinal degeneration.

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