title: Genetics of the neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (Batten disease).
abstract: The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs) are a group of inherited neurodegenerative disorders that affect children and adults and are grouped together by similar clinical features and the accumulation of autofluorescent storage material. More than a dozen genes containing over 430 mutations underlying human NCLs have been identified. These genes encode lysosomal enzymes (CLN1, CLN2, CLN10, CLN13), a soluble lysosomal protein (CLN5), a protein in the secretory pathway (CLN11), two cytoplasmic proteins that also peripherally associate with membranes (CLN4, CLN14), and many transmembrane proteins with different subcellular locations (CLN3, CLN6, CLN7, CLN8, CLN12). For most NCLs, the function of the causative gene has not been fully defined. Most of the mutations in these genes are associated with a typical disease phenotype, but some result in variable disease onset, severity, and progression, including distinct clinical phenotypes. There remain disease subgroups with unknown molecular genetic backgrounds. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: "Current Research on the Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses (Batten Disease)."
authors.affiliation: MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK; UCL Institute of Child Health and Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK. Electronic address: s.mole@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Sara E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Mole
authors.affiliation: Center for Human Genetic Research, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Cotman
keywords: Batten; CLN; NCL; Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis; genetics, mutation