Mutations in PNPLA6 are linked to photoreceptor degeneration and various forms of childhood blindness
Copyright policy )Mutations in PNPLA6 are linked to photoreceptor degeneration and various forms of childhood blindness
Blindness due to retinal degeneration affects millions of people worldwide, but many disease-causing mutations remain unknown. PNPLA6 encodes the patatin-like phospholipase domain containing protein 6, also known as neuropathy target esterase (NTE), which is the target of toxic organophosphates that induce human paralysis due to severe axonopathy of large neurons. Mutations in PNPLA6 also cause human spastic paraplegia characterized by motor neuron degeneration. Here we identify PNPLA6 mutations in childhood blindness in seven families with retinal degeneration, including Leber congenital amaurosis and Oliver McFarlane syndrome. PNPLA6 localizes mostly at the inner segment plasma membrane in photoreceptors and mutations in Drosophila PNPLA6 lead to photoreceptor cell death. We also report that lysophosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidic acid levels are elevated in mutant Drosophila. These findings show a role for PNPLA6 in photoreceptor survival and identify phospholipid metabolism as a potential therapeutic target for some forms of blindness.
- McGill University Canada
- Oregon Health & Science University United States
- Hebrew University of Jerusalem Israel
- Cardiff University United Kingdom
- UNIVERSIDADE DE SAO PAULO Brazil
Male, Molecular Sequence Data, Sequence Homology, Inbred C57BL, Blindness, Fluorescence, Retina, Mice, Animals, Humans, Amino Acid Sequence, Preschool, Child, Phospholipids, Microscopy, Spectrometry, Electrospray Ionization, Retinal Degeneration, DNA, Mass, R1, Pedigree, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Amino Acid, Phenotype, Microscopy, Fluorescence, Phospholipases, Child, Preschool, Mutation, Drosophila, Female, Sequence Analysis
Male, Molecular Sequence Data, Sequence Homology, Inbred C57BL, Blindness, Fluorescence, Retina, Mice, Animals, Humans, Amino Acid Sequence, Preschool, Child, Phospholipids, Microscopy, Spectrometry, Electrospray Ionization, Retinal Degeneration, DNA, Mass, R1, Pedigree, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Amino Acid, Phenotype, Microscopy, Fluorescence, Phospholipases, Child, Preschool, Mutation, Drosophila, Female, Sequence Analysis
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