A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Novel mitofusin 2 splice-site mutation causes Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2 with prominent sensory dysfunction
Authors: Mika H. Martikainen, Laura Kytövuori, Kari Majamaa
Publisher: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
Publishing place: OXFORD; THE BOULEVARD, LANGFORD LANE, KIDLINGTON, OXFORD OX5 1GB, ENGLAND
Publication year: 2014
Journal: Neuromuscular Disorders
Journal name in source: Neuromuscular Disorders
Journal acronym: Neuromusc.Disord.
Volume: 24
Issue: 4
First page : 360
Last page: 364
Number of pages: 5
ISSN: 0960-8966
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nmd.2014.01.007
MFN2 mutations are a major cause of the axonal form of Charcot Marie Tooth disease (CMT2). MFN2 encodes mitofusin 2, a mitochondrial fusion protein that is critical for mitochondrial DNA integrity and function. Here we describe CMT2 in a Finnish man and his son, with disease onset in young adulthood, slow progression, and prominent sensory as well as autonomic dysfunction. Molecular analysis revealed in both subjects a previously unreported heterozygous MFN2 mutation c.708G>A that is predicted to abolish a donor splice site for exon 7 of the MFN2 gene. An incorrectly spliced transcript without exon 7 was detected in RT-PCR analysis. The lack of exon 7 creates frameshift and, consequently, premature termination within exon 8. We demonstrated the presence of the aberrant mRNA suggesting either dominant-negative or toxic gain-of-function effect of the heterozygous c.708G>A mutation. This novel mutation adds to the few previously reported pathogenic MFN2 splice site mutations causing CMT2. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.