Heterozygous Variants in the Mechanosensitive Ion Channel TMEM63A Result in Transient Hypomyelination during Infancy

Mechanically activated (MA) ion channels convert physical forces into electrical signals. Despite the importance of this function, the involvement of mechanosensitive ion channels in human disease is poorly understood. Here we report heterozygous missense mutations in the gene encoding the MA ion channel TMEM63A that result in an infantile disorder resembling a hypomyelinating leukodystrophy. Four unrelated individuals presented with congenital nystagmus, motor delay, and deficient myelination on serial scans in infancy, prompting the diagnosis of Pelizaeus-Merzbacher (like) disease.

Source: The American Journal of Human Genetics - October 2, 2019 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Huifang Yan, Guy Helman, Swetha E. Murthy, Haoran Ji, Joanna Crawford, Thomas Kubisiak, Stephen J. Bent, Jiangxi Xiao, Ryan J. Taft, Adam Coombs, Ye Wu, Ana Pop, Dongxiao Li, Linda S. de Vries, Yuwu Jiang, Gajja S. Salomons, Marjo S. van der Knaap, Ardem Tags: Report Source Type: research