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Homozygous mutation in MFSD2A, encoding a lysolipid transporter for docosahexanoic acid, is associated with microcephaly and hypomyelination

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Abstract

The major facilitator superfamily domain-containing protein 2A (MFSD2A) is a constituent of the blood-brain barrier and functions to transport lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) into the central nervous system. LPCs such as that derived from docosahexanoic acid (DHA) are indispensable to neurogenesis and maintenance of neurons, yet cannot be synthesized within the brain and are dependent on MFSD2A for brain uptake. Recent studies have implicated MFSD2A mutations in lethal and non-lethal microcephaly syndromes, with the severity correlating to the residual activity of the transporter. We describe two siblings with shared parental ancestry, in whom we identified a homozygous missense mutation (c.1205C > A; p.Pro402His) in MFSD2A. Both affected individuals had microcephaly, hypotonia, appendicular spasticity, dystonia, strabismus, and global developmental delay. Neuroimaging revealed paucity of white matter with enlarged lateral ventricles. Plasma lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) levels were elevated, reflecting reduced brain transport. Cell-based studies of the p.Pro402His mutant protein indicated complete loss of activity of the transporter despite the non-lethal, attenuated phenotype. The aggregate data of MFSD2A-associated genotypes and phenotypes suggest that additional factors, such as nutritional supplementation or modifying genetic factors, may modulate the severity of disease and call for consideration of treatment options for affected individuals.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the family for their participation in this study.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Funding

The work was supported in part by National Research Foundation grants, Singapore NRF2016NRF-NRFI001-15 (to D.L.S.), NRFI2015-05 (to M.R.W.); by the Biomedical Research Council of A*STAR (to H. F.); and by a BMRC-SERC joint grant (BMRC-SERC 112 148 0006, to M.R.W.) from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Genetic and Metabolic Diseases, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, POB 12000, 9112001, Jerusalem, Israel

    Tamar Harel, Avraham Shaag & Orly Elpeleg

  2. Signature Research Program in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, 169857, Singapore

    Debra Q. Y. Quek, Bernice H. Wong & David L. Silver

  3. Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, 8 Medical Drive, Block MD 7, Singapore, 117597, Singapore

    Amaury Cazenave-Gassiot & Markus R. Wenk

  4. Singapore Lipidomics Incubator (SLING), Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117456, Singapore

    Amaury Cazenave-Gassiot & Markus R. Wenk

  5. Bioinformatics Institute (BII), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 30 Biopolis St., Matrix No. 07-01, Singapore, 138671, Singapore

    Hao Fan

  6. Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117543, Singapore

    Hao Fan

  7. Centre for Computational Biology, DUKE-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore, 169857, Singapore

    Hao Fan

  8. Pediatric Neurology Unit, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, 9112001, Jerusalem, Israel

    Itai Berger & Shimon Edvardson

  9. Child Developmental Center, Clalit Health Services, Jerusalem, Israel

    Dorit Shmueli

  10. Monique and Jacques Roboh Department of Genetic Research, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, 9112001, Jerusalem, Israel

    Avraham Shaag, Orly Elpeleg & Shimon Edvardson

Authors
  1. Tamar Harel
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  2. Debra Q. Y. Quek
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  3. Bernice H. Wong
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  6. Hao Fan
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  7. Itai Berger
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  9. Avraham Shaag
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  12. Shimon Edvardson
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Tamar Harel or David L. Silver.

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Harel, T., Quek, D.Q.Y., Wong, B.H. et al. Homozygous mutation in MFSD2A, encoding a lysolipid transporter for docosahexanoic acid, is associated with microcephaly and hypomyelination. Neurogenetics 19, 227–235 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10048-018-0556-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10048-018-0556-6

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