Functional characterization of missense variants in the creatine transporter gene (SLC6A8): improved diagnostic application.

Abstract

Creatine transporter deficiency is an X-linked mental retardation disorder caused by mutations in the creatine transporter gene (SLC6A8). So far, 20 mutations in the SLC6A8 gene have been described. We have developed a diagnostic assay to test creatine uptake in fibroblasts. Additionally, we expanded the assay to characterize novel SLC6A8 missense variants. A total of 13 variants were introduced in the SLC6A8 cDNA by site-directed mutagenesis. All variants were transiently transfected in SLC6A8-deficient fibroblasts and tested for restoration of creatine uptake in deficient primary fibroblasts. Thus, we proved that nine variants (p.Gly87Arg, p.Phe107del, p.Tyr317X, p.Asn336del, p.Cys337Trp, p.Ile347del, p.Pro390Leu, p.Arg391Trp, and p.Pro554Leu) are pathogenic mutations and four variants (p.Lys4Arg, p.Gly26Arg, p.Met560Val, and p.Val629Ile) are nonpathogenic. The present study provides an improved diagnostic tool to classify sequence variants of unknown significance.

• Authors: Efraim H Rosenberg, Cristina Martínez Muñoz, Ofir T Betsalel, Silvy J M van Dooren, Matilde Fernandez, Cornelis Jakobs, Ton J deGrauw, Tjitske Kleefstra, Charles E Schwartz, Gajja S Salomons
• Journal: Human mutation (Hum Mutat) Vol. 28 Issue 9 Pg. 890-6 (Sep 2007) ISSN: 1098-1004 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 17465020 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Chemical References

• Nerve Tissue Proteins
• Plasma Membrane Neurotransmitter Transport Proteins
• Recombinant Fusion Proteins
• SLC6A8 protein, human
• enhanced green fluorescent protein
• Green Fluorescent Proteins
• Creatine

Topics

• Algorithms
• Cells, Cultured
• Creatine (pharmacokinetics)
• Diagnostic Techniques, Radioisotope
• Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
• Green Fluorescent Proteins (genetics)
• Humans
• Mental Retardation, X-Linked (diagnosis, genetics)
• Molecular Diagnostic Techniques (methods)
• Mutation, Missense
• Nerve Tissue Proteins (deficiency, genetics)
• Plasma Membrane Neurotransmitter Transport Proteins (deficiency, genetics)
• Recombinant Fusion Proteins (genetics)
• Reference Values
• Transfection