Missense mutation in mouse GALC mimics human gene defect and offers new insights into Krabbe disease.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-1-2013
JAX Source
Hum Mol Genet 2013 Sep 1; 22(17):3397-414.
ISSN
1460-2083
PMID
23620143
Abstract
Krabbe disease is a devastating pediatric leukodystrophy caused by mutations in the galactocerebrosidase (GALC) gene. A significant subset of the infantile form of the disease is due to missense mutations that result in aberrant protein production. The currently used mouse model, twitcher, has a nonsense mutation not found in Krabbe patients, although it is similar to the human 30 kb deletion in abrogating GALC expression. Here, we identify a spontaneous mutation in GALC, GALC(twi-5J), that precisely matches the E130K missense mutation in patients with infantile Krabbe disease. GALC(twi-5J) homozygotes show loss of enzymatic activity despite normal levels of precursor protein, and manifest a more severe phenotype than twitcher, with half the life span. Although neuropathological hallmarks such as gliosis, globoid cells and psychosine accumulation are present throughout the nervous system, the CNS does not manifest significant demyelination. In contrast, the PNS is severely hypomyelinated and lacks large diameter axons, suggesting primary dysmyelination, rather than a demyelinating process. Our data indicate that early demise is due to mechanisms other than myelin loss and support an important role for neuroinflammation in Krabbe disease progression. Furthermore, our results argue against a causative relationship between psychosine accumulation, white matter loss and gliosis. Hum Mol Genet 2013 Sep 1; 22(17):3397-414.
Recommended Citation
Potter G,
Santos M,
Davisson MT,
Rowitch D,
Marks D,
Bongarzone E,
Petryniak M.
Missense mutation in mouse GALC mimics human gene defect and offers new insights into Krabbe disease. Hum Mol Genet 2013 Sep 1; 22(17):3397-414.