TY - JOUR
T1 - Choline acetyltransferase mutations cause myasthenic syndrome associated with episodic apnea in humans
AU - Ohno, Kinji
AU - Tsujino, Akira
AU - Brengman, Joan M.
AU - Harper, C. Michel
AU - Bajzer, Zeljko
AU - Udd, Bjarne
AU - Beyring, Roger
AU - Robb, Stephanie
AU - Kirkham, Fenella J.
AU - Engel, Andrew G.
PY - 2001/2/13
Y1 - 2001/2/13
N2 - Choline acetyltransferase (CHAT; EC 2.3.1.6) catalyzes the reversible synthesis of acetylcholine (ACh) from acetyl CoA and choline at cholinergic synapses. Mutations in genes encoding ChAT affecting motility exist in Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila, but no CHAT mutations have been observed in humans to date. Here we report that mutations in CHAT cause a congenital myasthenic syndrome associated with frequently fatal episodes of apnea (CMS-EA). Studies of the neuromuscular junction in this disease show a stimulation-dependent decrease of the amplitude of the miniature endplate potential and no deficiency of the ACh receptor. These findings point to a defect in ACh resynthesis or vesicular filling and to CHAT as one of the candidate genes. Direct sequencing of CHAT reveals 10 recessive mutations in five patients with CMS-EA. One mutation (523insCC) is a frameshifting null mutation. Three mutations (1305T, R420C, and E441K) markedly reduce ChAT expression in COS cells. Kinetic studies of nine bacterially expressed ChAT mutants demonstrate that one mutant (E441K) lacks catalytic activity, and eight mutants (L210P, P211A, 1305T, R420C, R482G, S498L, V506L, and R560H) have significantly impaired catalytic efficiencies.
AB - Choline acetyltransferase (CHAT; EC 2.3.1.6) catalyzes the reversible synthesis of acetylcholine (ACh) from acetyl CoA and choline at cholinergic synapses. Mutations in genes encoding ChAT affecting motility exist in Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila, but no CHAT mutations have been observed in humans to date. Here we report that mutations in CHAT cause a congenital myasthenic syndrome associated with frequently fatal episodes of apnea (CMS-EA). Studies of the neuromuscular junction in this disease show a stimulation-dependent decrease of the amplitude of the miniature endplate potential and no deficiency of the ACh receptor. These findings point to a defect in ACh resynthesis or vesicular filling and to CHAT as one of the candidate genes. Direct sequencing of CHAT reveals 10 recessive mutations in five patients with CMS-EA. One mutation (523insCC) is a frameshifting null mutation. Three mutations (1305T, R420C, and E441K) markedly reduce ChAT expression in COS cells. Kinetic studies of nine bacterially expressed ChAT mutants demonstrate that one mutant (E441K) lacks catalytic activity, and eight mutants (L210P, P211A, 1305T, R420C, R482G, S498L, V506L, and R560H) have significantly impaired catalytic efficiencies.
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U2 - 10.1073/pnas.98.4.2017
DO - 10.1073/pnas.98.4.2017
M3 - Article
C2 - 11172068
AN - SCOPUS:0035852681
SN - 0027-8424
VL - 98
SP - 2017
EP - 2022
JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
IS - 4
ER -