title: Choline acetyltransferase mutations in myasthenic syndrome due to deficient acetylcholine resynthesis.
abstract: The myasthenic syndrome due to abnormal acetylcholine resynthesis is characterized by early onset, recessive inheritance, and recurrent episodes of potentially fatal apnea. Mutations in the gene encoding choline acetyltransferase (CHAT) have been found to account for this condition. We have identified five patients from three independent families with features of this disease including, in four patients, a paradoxical worsening of symptoms with cold temperatures. Electrodiagnostic studies demonstrated impaired neuromuscular transmission in all patients. In vitro microelectrode studies performed in the anconeus muscle biopsies of two patients showed moderate reduction of quantal release. Electron microscopy of the neuromuscular junction was normal in both patients. Each patient had two heterozygous CHAT mutations including L210P and P211A (family 1), V194L and V506L (family 2), and R548stop and S694C (family 3). Three of these mutations have previously been reported and suggest that, in this syndrome, some molecular defects may be more prevalent than others.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of California, 1515 Newton Court, Room 510, Davis, CA 95616, USA. ramaselli@ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: Ricardo A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Maselli
authors.forename: Darlene
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Delores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mo
authors.forename: Constance
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bowe
authors.forename: Grace
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fenton
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Wollmann
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000293:Adolescent; D001706:Biopsy; D002038:Bungarotoxins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D018657:Muscle Fibers, Slow-Twitch / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D020294:Myasthenic Syndromes, Congenital / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009431:Neural Conduction
chemical_list: D002038:Bungarotoxins; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D000109:Acetylcholine