title: Aberrant transcription of the LHCGR gene caused by a mutation in exon 6A leads to Leydig cell hypoplasia type II.
abstract: The luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) is essential for normal male sex differentiation. Recently, the additional primate-specific exon 6A of the LHCGR was discovered and it was shown to act as regulatory element at the transcriptional level. Compound heterozygous mutations in exon 6A (c.580 A>G) and exon 11 (c.1244T>C) were identified in the LHCGR of a male 46,XY patient with genital malformation. Analysis revealed that mutation c.580A>G in exon 6A affects the splicing pattern resulting in an increase of transcripts containing the internal variants of exon 6A prone to nonsense-mediated decay. In contrast, mutation c.1244T>C results in an amino acid substitution (Ile415Thr), which abolishes signal transduction due to structural changes. When inherited in a compound heterozygous fashion these mutations result in Leydig cell hypoplasia (LCH) type II. Thus this study provides proof that mutations causing aberrant transcription can impair receptor function and thereby be causative of LCH.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Muenster, Germany.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kossack
authors.forename: Britta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Troppmann
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Richter-Unruh
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kleinau
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gromoll
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D058490:Disorder of Sex Development, 46,XY / Q000235:genetics*; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics*; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011974:Receptors, LH / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D013737:Testis / Q000002:abnormalities; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011974:Receptors, LH