Insights into severe 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase deficiency: molecular genetic and enzymatic characterization of 76 patients.
5,10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) deficiency is the most common inherited disorder of folate metabolism and causes severe hyperhomocysteinaemia. To better understand the relationship between mutation and function, we performed molecular genetic analysis of 76 MTHFR deficient patients, followed by extensive enzymatic characterization of fibroblasts from 72 of these. A deleterious mutation was detected on each of the 152 patient alleles, with one allele harboring two mutations. Sixty five different mutations (42 novel) were detected, including a common splicing mutation (c.1542G>A) found in 21 alleles. Using an enzyme assay in the physiological direction, we found residual activity (1.7%-42% of control) in 42 cell lines, of which 28 showed reduced affinity for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), one reduced affinity for methylenetetrahydrofolate, five flavin adenine dinucleotide-responsiveness, and 24 abnormal kinetics of S-adenosylmethionine inhibition. Missense mutations causing virtually absent activity were found exclusively in the N-terminal catalytic domain, whereas missense mutations in the C-terminal regulatory domain caused decreased NADPH binding and disturbed inhibition by S-adenosylmethionine. Characterization of patients in this way provides a basis for improved diagnosis using expanded enzymatic criteria, increases understanding of the molecular basis of MTHFR dysfunction, and points to the possible role of cofactor or substrate in the treatment of patients with specific mutations.
Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, CH-8032, Switzerland.
Patricie
P
Burda
Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, CH-8032, Switzerland.
Alexandra
A
Schäfer
Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, CH-8032, Switzerland.
Terttu
T
Suormala
Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, Münster, D-48149, Germany.
Till
T
Rummel
Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, CH-8032, Switzerland.
Céline
C
Bürer
Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, CH-8032, Switzerland.
Dorothea
D
Heuberger
Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, CH-8032, Switzerland.
Michele
M
Frapolli
Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, CH-8032, Switzerland.
Cecilia
C
Giunta
Institute of Inherited Metabolic Disorders, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.
Jitka
J
Sokolová
Institute of Inherited Metabolic Disorders, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.
Hana
H
Vlášková
Institute of Inherited Metabolic Disorders, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.
Viktor
V
Kožich
Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, Münster, D-48149, Germany.|Klinikum für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Klinikum Braunschweig, Braunschweig, D-38118, Germany.
Hans Georg
HG
Koch
Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, CH-8032, Switzerland.
Brian
B
Fowler
Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, CH-8032, Switzerland.|radiz - Rare Disease Initiative Zurich, Clinical Research Priority Program for Rare Diseases, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
D Sean
DS
Froese
Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, CH-8032, Switzerland.|radiz - Rare Disease Initiative Zurich, Clinical Research Priority Program for Rare Diseases, University of Zurich, Switzerland.|Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
Matthias R
MR
Baumgartner
D000483:Alleles; D017398:Alternative Splicing; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005091:Exons; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D006712:Homocystinuria / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007438:Introns; D007700:Kinetics; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D055550:Protein Stability; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)
MTHFR; enzyme kinetics; homocystinuria; methylenetetrahydrofolate