Skip to main content
Log in

Molecular basis of phenotype expression in homocystinuria

  • Komrower Lecture
  • Published:
Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease

Summary

Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) deficiency is the most common cause of homocystinuria in humans. The human gene maps to chromosome 21q22.3 and encodes the CBS subunit of 551 amino acid residues (63 kDa). CBS, a tetramer of these subunits, binds its two substrates, homocysteine and serine, and three additional ligands: pyridoxal 5′-phosphate,S-adenosylmethionine, and haem. Screening for mutations by expressing patient cDNA segments inE. coli permitted us to separate the parental CBS alleles, localize each mutation within one third of the cDNA, and functionally analyse the mutant protein. Using this method we identified the first 14 mutations in homocystinuria. The most common mutation in patients of predominantly ‘Celtic’ origin is the G919A transition which substitutes serine for glycine 307.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bukovska G, Kery V, Kraus JP (1994) Expression of human cystathionine β-synthase inE. coli: purification and characterization.Protein Exp Purif, in press.

  • de Franchis R, Kožich V, McInnes R, Krauf JP (1993) Three mutations in three homocystinuric siblings and homozygous CBS deficiency in their asymptomatic mother.Am J Hum Genet 53: 898A.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Franchis R, Kožich V, McInnes R, Kraus JP (1994) Identical genotype in a sibship with different homocystinuric phenotypes: Identification of 3 mutations in cystathionine-β-synthase using an improved bacterial expression system.Hum Mol Genet, in press.

  • Gallagher PM, Ward P, Soon T et al (1994) High frequency of cystathionine β-synthase mutation G307S in Irish homocystinuria patients.Hum Mutat, in press.

  • Hu FL, Gu Z, Kožich V, Kraus JP, Ramesh V, Shih VE (1993) Molecular basis of cystathionine β-synthase deficiency in pyridoxine responsive and nonresponsive homocystinuria.Hum Mol Genet 2: 1857–1860.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koch HG, Ullrich K, Harms E, Deufel T (1993) Homocystinuria: Linkage studies with markers for the cystathionine beta-synthase gene region and detection of mutations in German patients.Abstracts of the 31st Annual Symposium of SSIEM, O 01.

  • Kožich V, Kraus JP (1992) Screening for mutations by expressing patient cDNA segments inE. coli: homocystinuria due to cystathionine β-synthase deficiency.Hum Mutat 1: 113–123.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kožich V, de Franchis R, Kraus JP (1993) Molecular defect in a patient with pyridoxine-responsive homocystinuria.Hum Mol Genet 2: 815–816.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kraus JP, Rosenberg LE (1983) Cystathionine β-synthase from human liver: Improved purification and additional characterization of the enzyme in crude and pure form.Arch Biochem Biophys 222: 44–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kraus J, Packman S, Fowler B, Rosenberg LE (1978) Purification and properties of cystathionine β-synthase from human liver: Evidence for identical subunits.J Biol Chem 253: 6523–6528.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kraus JP, Le K, Swaroop M, Ohura T et al (1993) Human cystathionine β-synthase cDNA: Sequence, alternative splicing, and expression in cultured cells.Hum Mol Genet 2: 1633–1638.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marble M, Gerathy MT, de Franchis R, Kraus J, Valle D (1993) A cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) allele with three mutations in cis in a patient with B6 nonresponsive homocystinuria.Am J Hum Genet 53: 925A.

  • Mudd SH, Levy HL, Skovby F (1989) Disorders of transsulfuration. In Scriver CR, Beaudet AL, Sly WS, Valle D, eds.The Metabolic Basis of Inherited Disease, 6th edn. New York: McGraw-Hill, 693–734.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munke M, Kraus JP, Ohura T, Francke U (1988) The gene for cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) maps to the subtelomeric region on human chromosome 21q and to proximal mouse chromosome 17.Am J Hum Genet 42: 550–559.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roper MD, Kraus JP (1992) Rat cystathionine β-synthase: Expression of four alternatively spliced isoforms in transfected cultured cells.Arch Biochem Biophys 298: 514–521.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sebastio G, Panico M, Incerti B et al (1993) Molecular analysis of two patients affected by homocystinuria due to cystathionine β-synthase deficiency.Am J Hum Genet 53: 946A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skovby F, Krassikoff N, Francke U (1984a) Assignment of the gene for cystathionine β-synthase to human chromosome 21 in somatic cell hybrids.Hum Genet 65: 291–294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skovby F, Kraus JP, Rosenberg LE (1984b) Biosynthesis and proteolytic activation of cystathionine β-synthase in rat liver.J Biol Chem 259: 588–593.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swaroop M, Bradley K, Ohura T, Tahara T, Roper MD, Rosenberg LE (1992) Rat cystathionine β-synthase: Gene organization and alternative splicing.J Biol Chem 267: 11455–11461.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kraus, J.P. Molecular basis of phenotype expression in homocystinuria. J Inherit Metab Dis 17, 383–390 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00711354

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00711354

Keywords

Navigation