The aristaless (Arx) gene: one gene for many "interneuronopathies".
The ARX (Aristaless-related (X-linked) homeobox) gene is not only present in arthropods and their ancestors, but also in vertebrates including humans (ARX orthologs). The gene is composed of 5 coding exons and it is expressed predominantly in foetal and adult brain and skeletal muscle. In this review we report on our experience and review the existing literature on the genotype and phenotype heterogeneity associated with ARX abnormalities in humans ranging from severe neuronal migration defects (e.g., lissencephaly), to mild forms of X-linked mental retardation without apparent brain abnormalities. The ARX-related disorders are reviewed focusing on their clinical features and on the role of the ARX gene. It has yet to be established whether the molecular defect alone could cause a given cerebral abnormality and/or malformation or an additional or related molecular or environmental event could contribute to a given phenotype in molecularly.
Ruggieri
Martino
M
Institute of Neurological Science, National Research Council, Catania, Italy. m.ruggieri@isn.cnr.it
Pavone
Piero
P
Scapagnini
Giovanni
G
Romeo
Loriana
L
Lombardo
Ilaria
I
Li Volti
Giovanni
G
Corsello
Giovanni
G
Pavone
Lorenzo
L
D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D000089662:Doublecortin Protein; D005838:Genotype; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007395:Interneurons / Q000473:pathology*; D038901:X-Linked Intellectual Disability / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D015027:Zebrafish
C469264:ARX protein, human; C000714847:Dcx protein, mouse; D000089662:Doublecortin Protein; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors