title: Characterization of six novel mutations in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene in patients with homocystinuria.
abstract: Severe deficiency of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is the most common inborn error of folate metabolism. Patients are characterized by severe hyperhomocysteinemia, homocystinuria and a variety of neurological and vascular problems. Eighteen rare mutations have been reported in this group of patients. Two polymorphisms which cause mild enzyme deficiencies have been described (677C-->T and 1298A-->C). The first sequence change encodes a thermolabile enzyme and is associated with mild hyperhomocysteinemia. Six novel point mutations are described in patients with severe deficiency of MTHFR, along with their associated polymorphisms and clinical phenotypes. Of the two nonsense mutations (1762A-->T, 1134C-->G) and four missense mutations (1727C-->T, 1172G-->A, 1768G-->A, and 358G-->A), one was identified in the N-terminal catalytic domain, while the others were located in the regulatory C-terminal region. All four residues affected by missense mutations are conserved in one or more MTHFRs of other species. This report brings the total to 24 mutations identified in severe MTHFR deficiency, with two mutations identified in each of 22 patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sibani
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: O'Ferrall
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Saadi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hiou-Tim
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Rosenblatt
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rozen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006712:Homocystinuria / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); D009154:Mutation; D000587:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics*; D010375:Pedigree; D017354:Point Mutation
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; D000587:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)