title: Missense mutation in the pore region of HERG causes familial long QT syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Long QT syndrome (LQT) is an inherited cardiac disorder that results in syncope, seizures, and sudden death. In a family with LQT, we identified a novel mutation in human ether-a-go-go-related gene (HERG), a voltage-gated potassium channel.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We used DNA sequence analysis, restriction enzyme digestion analysis, and allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization to identify the HERG mutation. A single nucleotide substitution of thymidine to guanine (T1961G) changed the coding sense of HERG from isoleucine to arginine (Ile593Arg) in the channel pore region. The mutation was present in all affected family members; the mutation was not present in unaffected family members or in 100 normal, unrelated individuals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that the Ile593Arg missense mutation in HERG is the cause of LQT in this family because it segregates with disease, its presence was confirmed in three ways, and it is not found in normal individuals. The Ile593Arg mutation may result in a change in potassium selectivity and permeability leading to a loss of HERG function, thereby resulting in LQT.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: MacRae
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Vesely
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Seidman
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Seidman
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Satler
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D000072237:ERG1 Potassium Channel; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000235:genetics*; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D015534:Trans-Activators; D000071230:Transcriptional Regulator ERG
chemical_list: D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C072312:ERG protein, human; D000072237:ERG1 Potassium Channel; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels; C000606913:KCNH2 protein, human; C092509:KCNH6 protein, human; D015221:Potassium Channels; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D015534:Trans-Activators; D000071230:Transcriptional Regulator ERG