Megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts; a founder effect in Israeli patients and a higher than expected carrier rate among Libyan Jews.
Megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts (MLC) is a progressive inherited neurological disorder characterized by macrocephaly, deterioration in motor functions and cerebellar ataxia. In Israel the disease is found in an increased frequency among Libyan Jews. The disease is caused by mutations in the MLC1 gene, which encodes a putative CNS membrane transporter. We describe three novel mutations (p.G59E, p.P92S, and 134_136insC) in seven MLC families. One of these mutations, p.G59E, was found in the vast majority of MLC patients in Israel. Screening of 200 normal Libyan Jewish individuals for the p.G59E mutation, revealed a carrier rate of 1/40 compared with an expected carrier rate of 1/81. Several explanations could account for this difference the most likely one is an admixture of the Libyan Jewish population.
Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
Bruria
B
Ben-Zeev
Etgar
E
Levy-Nissenbaum
Hadas
H
Lahat
Yair
Y
Anikster
Yael
Y
Shinar
Nathan
N
Brand
Varda
V
Gross-Tzur
Daune
D
MacGregor
Roy
R
Sidi
Robert
R
Kleta
Moshe
M
Frydman
Elon
E
Pras
D020863:Central Nervous System Cysts / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005091:Exons; D005260:Female; D018703:Founder Effect; D005838:Genotype; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D007585:Jews; D008002:Libya / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation; D010375:Pedigree
C425069:MLC1 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D004247:DNA