Identification a novel mononucleotide deletion mutation in GAA in pompe disease patients

GAA gene mutation detection following clinical evaluation and enzyme activity analysis in Azeri Turkish patients with Pompe disease

Pompe disease (PD) is a rare autosomal recessive multi-systemic lysosomal storage disorder, caused by mutations in the acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA) gene located on 17q25.2-q25.3. It is one of about 50 rare genetic diseases categorized as lysosomal storage disorders. This disease is characterized by a range of different symptoms related to acid alpha-glucosidase deficiency. Mutation recognition in the GAA gene can be very significant for purposes such as therapeutic interference, early diagnosis and genotype-phenotype relationship. In the current study, peripheral blood samples were gathered from patients with PD and healthy members of three families. Enzymatic activity of GAA was checked. Then, mutation detection was performed by polymerase chain reaction followed by direct sequencing of all exons in samples with decreased enzyme activity. The identified mutations were investigated using bioinformatics tools to predict possible effects on the protein product and also to compare the mutated sequence with near species. Three novel mutations (c.1966-1968delGAG, c.2011-2012delAT and c.1475-1481dupACCCCAC) were identified in the GAA gene. Assessment of the effects of these mutations on protein structure and function showed the possibility of harmful effects and their significant alterations in the protein structure. The three novel GAA gene mutations detected in this study expand the information about the molecular genetics of PD and can be used to helpdiagnosis and genetic counseling of affected families.

Diagnostic methods for Lysosomal Storage Disease

Lysosomal storage disorders (LSD) are a class of metabolic disturbance in which manifested by the accumulation of large molecules (complex lipids, glycoproteins, glycosaminoglycans, etc.) in lysosomes. LSDs have a wide range of clinical symptoms that may contain organ dysfunction, neurological and skeletal disorders. The first stage of diagnosis is clinically suspected by a physician. Next stage is enzyme activity assays including Fluorometry and MS/MS methods. These methods usually placed in newborn program screening. The second laboratory diagnostic stage is molecular examination (RFLP-PCR and ARMS-PCR, Mutations Scanning Methods, DNA sequencing, MLPA and NGS methods) that is confirmation of the enzyme assays. In this article, routine diagnostic methods for LSDs were discussed. The gold standard for enzyme activity assay and molecular diagnosis is TMS and NGS, respectively.