title: Novel mutation of aspartoacylase gene in a Turkish patient with Canavan disease.
abstract: Canavan disease is a neurodegenerative disease with autosomal recessive inheritance. Although this disease is prevalant among Ashkenazi Jewish population, several cases have been reported from all over the world. Canavan disease is caused by a genetic mutation in aspartoacylase gene. We have identified a novel mutation, a homozygous C432+1G>A mutation, in a 10-month-old boy who has a typical Canavan phenotype (without macrocephaly) accompanied by typical brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and diffusion magnetic resonance findings. The patient's mother was found to be heterozygous for this mutation. We believe that future studies of aspartoacylase gene in various ethnic groups could lead to a better understanding of Canavan's pathophysiology and gene therapy.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurology, Dr. Behçet Uz Children's Disease and Pediatric Surgery Education and Research Hospital, Montro-Izmir. aycanunalp@mynet.com
authors.forename: Aycan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Unalp
authors.forename: Ender
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Altiok
authors.forename: Nedret
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uran
authors.forename: Aysel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oztürk
authors.forename: Sirin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yüksel
mesh_terms: D000581:Amidohydrolases / Q000235:genetics*; D017825:Canavan Disease / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D000581:Amidohydrolases; C019751:aspartoacylase