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




AuthorsMika H. Martikainen, Laura Kytövuori, Kari Majamaa

PublisherPERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Publishing placeOXFORD; THE BOULEVARD, LANGFORD LANE, KIDLINGTON, OXFORD OX5 1GB, ENGLAND

Publication year2014

JournalNeuromuscular Disorders

Journal name in sourceNeuromuscular Disorders

Journal acronymNeuromusc.Disord.

Volume24

Issue4

First page 360

Last page364

Number of pages5

ISSN0960-8966

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.nmd.2014.01.007


Abstract

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.




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