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A Mutation that Creates a Pseudoexon in SOD1 Causes Familial ALS
Author(s) -
Valdmanis Paul N.,
Belzil Veronique V.,
Lee James,
Dion Patrick A.,
StOnge Judith,
Hince Pascale,
Funalot Benoit,
Couratier Philippe,
Clavelou Pierre,
Camu William,
Rouleau Guy A.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
annals of human genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.537
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1469-1809
pISSN - 0003-4800
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-1809.2009.00546.x
Subject(s) - exon , amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , genetics , sod1 , biology , intron , gene , locus (genetics) , mutation , medicine , disease , pathology , mutant
Summary Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult onset neurodegenerative disease which targets motor neurons of the cortex, brainstem and spinal cord. About 5–10% of all amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cases are familial (FALS), and 15–20% of FALS cases are caused by mutations in the zinc‐copper superoxide dismutase gene ( SOD1 ). We identified a large family from France with ten members affected with ALS. Linkage was established to the SOD1 locus on chromosome 21 and genomic and cDNA sequencing was performed for the SOD1 gene. This revealed an activated pseudoexon between exons 4 and 5 that was present in two tested members of the family. Translation of this 43 base pair exon results in the introduction of seven amino acids before a stop codon is present, leading to a prematurely truncated SOD1 protein product of 125 amino acids. Sequencing intron 4 in a patient revealed a heterozygous change 304 bp before exon 5 (c.358 – 304C > G), but only 5 bp after the cryptic exon, thus causing this alternative splice product. This mutation segregated in all affected individuals of the family. This adds an additional genetic mechanism for developing SOD1 ‐linked ALS and is one which can be more readily targeted by gene therapy.