Structural and Molecular Biology of Type I Galactosemia: Disease-associated Mutations

T.J. McCorvie, David Timson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Type I galactosemia results from reduced galactose 1-phosphate uridylyltransferase (GALT) activity. Signs of disease include damage to the eyes, brain, liver, and ovaries. However, the exact nature and severity of the pathology depends on the mutation(s) in the patient's genes and his/her environment. Considerable enzymological and structural knowledge has been accumulated and this provides a basis to explain, at a biochemical level, impairment in the enzyme in the more than 230 disease-associated variants, which have been described. The most common variant, Q188R, occurs close to the active site and the dimer interface. The substitution probably disrupts both UDP-sugar binding and homodimer stability. Other alterations, for example K285N, occur close to the surface of the enzyme and most likely affect the folding and stability of the enzyme. There are a number of unanswered questions in the field, which require resolution. These include the possibility that the main enzymes of galactose metabolism form a supramolecular complex and the need for a high resolution crystal structure of human GALT. (C) 2011 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 63(11): 949-954, 2011
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)949-954
Number of pages6
JournalIUBMB life
Volume63
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2011

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

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