A missense mutation in LIM2 causes autosomal recessive congenital cataract.
OBJECTIVE
To identify mutations in the LIM2 gene in families with hereditary congenital or juvenile-onset cataract.


METHODS
Forty families (total of 100 affected and 84 unaffected individuals) were recruited for the study. Probands were screened for pathogenic alterations in 10 different candidate genes including the lens intrinsic membrane protein-2 (LIM2) gene. Exons and flanking regions were screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, single-strand conformation polymorphism, and sequencing. Sequence changes were evaluated in 75 unrelated normal controls.


RESULTS
A missense mutation, Gly154Glu, was found in LIM2 in one family with four individuals diagnosed with autosomal recessive cataract from two generations. An evaluation of seven individuals (four affected and three unaffected) showed that the mutation was homozygous in the affected members and heterozygous in unaffected members tested. It was absent in 75 unrelated ethnically matched normal controls. All affected individuals had a severe phenotype of congenital cataracts and visual impairment.


CONCLUSIONS
The Gly154Glu mutation involves a non-conservative change that presumably results in loss of function of the MP19 protein. This study shows the involvement of LIM2 in human congenital cataract.
Ponnam
Surya Prakash G
SP
Kallam Anji Reddy Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Hyderabad Eye Research Foundation, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India.
Ramesha
Kekunnaya
K
Tejwani
Sushma
S
Matalia
Jyoti
J
Kannabiran
Chitra
C
D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D002386:Cataract / Q000151:congenital* / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005808:Genes, Recessive; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020125:Mutation, Missense / Q000235:genetics*; D010375:Pedigree
D005136:Eye Proteins; C044539:LIM2 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins