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Desmosterolosis—phenotypic and molecular characterization of a third case and review of the literature
Author(s) -
Schaaf Christian P.,
Koster Janet,
Katsonis Panagiotis,
Kratz Lisa,
Shchelochkov Oleg A.,
Scaglia Fernando,
Kelley Richard I.,
Lichtarge Olivier,
Waterham Hans R.,
Shinawi Marwan
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
american journal of medical genetics part a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.064
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1552-4833
pISSN - 1552-4825
DOI - 10.1002/ajmg.a.34040
Subject(s) - biology , micropenis , phenotype , allele , genetics , biochemistry , enzyme , compound heterozygosity , complementary dna , gene , hypospadias
Desmosterolosis, a rare disorder of cholesterol biosynthesis, is caused by mutations in DHCR24 , the gene encoding the enzyme 24‐dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR24). To date, desmosterolosis has been described in only two patients. Here we report on a third patient with desmosterolosis who presented after delivery with relative macrocephaly, mild arthrogryposis, and dysmorphic facial features. Brain MRI revealed hydrocephalus, thickening of the tectum and massa intermedia, mildly effaced gyral pattern, underopercularization, and a thin corpus callosum. The diagnosis of desmosterolosis was established by detection of significant elevation of plasma desmosterol levels and reduced enzyme activity of DHCR24 upon expression of the patient's DHCR24 cDNA in yeast. The patient was found to be a compound heterozygote for c.281G>A (p.R94H) and c.1438G>A (p.E480K) mutations. Structural and evolutionary analyses showed that residue R94 resides at the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) binding site and is strictly conserved throughout evolution, while residue E480 is less conserved, but the charge shift substitution is accompanied by drastic changes in the local protein environment of that residue. We compare the phenotype of our patient with previously reported cases. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.