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A newly identified chromosomal microdeletion and an N-box mutation of the AChR epsilon gene cause a congenital myasthenic syndrome

Abicht, A. and Stucka, R. and Schmidt, C. and Briguet, A. and Hopfner, S. and Song, I. -H. and Pongratz, D. and Muller-Felber, W. and Ruegg, M. A. and Lochmuller, H.. (2002) A newly identified chromosomal microdeletion and an N-box mutation of the AChR epsilon gene cause a congenital myasthenic syndrome. Brain, 125 (5). pp. 1005-1013.

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Official URL: http://edoc.unibas.ch/dok/A5258401

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Abstract

Congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMSs) are frequently caused by mutations of the coding region of the acetylcholine receptor epsilon subunit (AChRepsilon) gene leading to a reduced expression of the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) at the postsynaptic membrane. Two recent observations have linked two different N-box mutations of the human AChRepsilon promoter to a clinical CMS phenotype. N-boxes are regulatory sequence elements of mammalian promoters that confer synapse-specific expression of several genes, including the AChR subunit genes. Here, we report on a novel point mutation (epsilon-154G--<A) in the N-box of the AChRepsilon promoter in a German CMS pedigree. Semiquantitative analysis of AChRepsilon mRNA levels in the patient's muscle indicated significantly impaired AChRepsilon expression. We provide additional evidence of a pathogenic role for this mutation using the mutated promoter (epsilon-154G--<A) driving a heterologous gene (luciferase) in rat skeletal muscle. We show that agrin-induced gene expression is significantly reduced by the N-box mutant (mt) compared with the wild-type (wt) promoter. Refined haplotype analysis and direct sequencing revealed maternal inheritance of the mutant AChRepsilon promoter (epsilon-154G--<A) together with paternal inheritance of a chromosomal microdeletion (Delta1290 bp) encompassing the promoter and the first two exons of the AChRepsilon gene in the index patient. In conclusion, we provide genetic and functional evidence that a mutation of the AChRepsilon subunit promoter (epsilon-154G--<A) causes CMS due to the reduction of gene expression in skeletal muscle. Moreover, this is the first report of a chromosomal microdeletion affecting an AChR gene. This type of mutation may be missed in standard screening techniques of CMS patients.
Faculties and Departments:05 Faculty of Science > Departement Biozentrum > Neurobiology > Pharmacology/Neurobiology (Rüegg)
UniBasel Contributors:Rüegg, Markus A.
Item Type:Article, refereed
Article Subtype:Research Article
Publisher:Oxford University Press
ISSN:0006-8950
e-ISSN:1460-2156
Note:Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal article
Language:English
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Last Modified:15 Nov 2017 13:02
Deposited On:22 Mar 2012 13:20

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