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M V Rossetti

Publications and source records attributed to M V Rossetti.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Acute porphyrias in the Argentinean population: a review.

The porphyrias are a group of inherited metabolic disorders of heme biosynthesis which result from a partial deficiency in one of its seven specific enzymes, after its first and rate limiting enzyme, delta-aminolevulinic acid synthetase. They can be classified on the basis of their clinical manifestations into cutaneous, acute and mixed disorders. Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is the most common type of hepatic acute porphyrias, inherited as an autosomal dominant trait, caused by a defect in the gene which codifies for the heme enzyme porphobilinogen deaminase. Its prevalence in the Argentinean population is about 1:125,000. A partial deficiency in another enzyme, protoporphyrinogen oxidase, produces variegate porphyria (VP), the second acute porphyria most frequent in the Argentinean population (1:600,000). Here, we review all the mutations we have found in 46 AIP and 9 VP unrelated Argentinean patients. To screen for mutations in symptomatic patients, we have proposed a geneticresearch strategy.

Argentina↗

Mutations in familial porphyria cutanea tarda: two novel and two previously described for hepatoerythropoietic porphyria.

Uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (URO-D) deficiency is responsible for two forms of genetic cutaneous porphyria: familial porphyria cutanea tarda (f-PCT) and hepatoerythropoietic porphyria (HEP). The f-PCT transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait, is characterized by photosensitive cutaneous lesions frequently associated to hepatic dysfunction and is precipitated by various ecogenic factors. The HEP, transmitted as a recessive trait, is more severe than f-PCT and would be considered as the homozygous form of f-PCT. For the mutational analysis of f-PCT patients, the entire URO-D gene was amplified and each exon, intron-exon boundaries and the promoter region were cycle sequenced. Five mutations were found in 6 unrelated families studied, of these, two were new: a nonsense mutation in exon 6 (W159X) and a splice defect in intron 9 (IVS9(-1)G-->C). The other two missense mutations, P62L and A80G, had been previously reported in the homozygous state in HEP families. The g10insA, reported in our laboratory, was again identified in other two unrelated families. In addition 3 novel URO-D polymorphisms in non-coding regions were found. The reverse transcription-PCR and sequencing of the splice mutation carrier's RNA did not reveal the presence of an abnormal mRNA, suggesting that no stable transcript from the mutated allele is synthesized. These results increase to 39 the number of mutations identified in the URO-D gene; 4 of them causing both HEP and f-PCT.

Adult↗

Identification and characterization of two novel mutations that produce acute intermittent porphyria: A 3-base deletion (841-843delGGA) and a missense mutation (T35M).

A partial deficiency of Porphobilinogen deaminase (PBGD) is responsible for acute intermittent porphyria (AIP). AIP is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion, and the prevalence in the Argentinean population is about 1:125,000. Here, two new mutations and two previously reported were found in the PBGD gene in 22 Argentinean AIP patients corresponding to 8 different families. To screen for AIP mutations in symptomatic patients, genomic DNA isolated was amplified in 6 PCR reactions, then all coding exons and flanking intronic regions were sequenced. The novel mutations are 841-843delGGA in exon 14, which results in the loss of glycine-281 (G281del), and one 104C>T point mutation in the exon 4 (T35M). To further characterize both novel mutations, the pKK-PBGD construct for the mutant alleles were expressed in E. coli, the enzymatic activity of the recombinant proteins were 1% and 4% of the mean level expressed by the normal allele for 841-843delGGA and T35M, respectively. Hum Mutat 16:373, 2000.

Adolescent↗

Identification and characterization of hydroxymethylbilane synthase mutations causing acute intermittent porphyria: evidence for an ancestral founder of the common G111R mutation.

Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP), the most common hepatic porphyria, results from the half-normal activity of hydroxymethylbilane synthase (HMB-synthase; EC 4.3.1.8), the third enzyme in the heme biosynthetic pathway. Because life-threatening acute neurologic attacks of this autosomal dominant disease are triggered by various ecogenic factors (e.g., certain drugs, hormones, alcohol, and starvation), efforts have been directed to identify and counsel presymptomatic heterozygotes in affected families to avoid the precipitating factors. Thus, to determine the nature of the mutations causing AIP in 26 unrelated enzyme-confirmed patients from Argentina, a long-range polymerase chain reaction method was developed to amplify the entire 10-kb gene in two fragments for efficient cycle sequencing and mutation detection. Eight new mutations were identified including two missense mutations (Q34P and G335S), four small deletions (728delCT, 815delAGGA, 948delA, and 985del12), a single base insertion (666insA), and a splice site mutation (IVS12(+1)). In addition, five previously reported mutations (G111R, R173W, Q204X, R201W, and 913insC) were detected. Notably, G111R was identified in 12 of the 26 (46%) presumably unrelated propositi; however, haplotype analysis with intragenic and flanking markers indicated an ancestral founder. Expression of the two new missense mutations (Q34P and G335S) in f1 E. coli resulted in 2.5% or less of the normal expressed enzyme, confirming their defective function. Thus, eight new and five previously reported HMB-synthase mutations, including a common lesion, were detected, permitting accurate identification and counseling of presymptomatic carriers in these 26 unrelated Argentinean AIP families with this dominant porphyria.

Adolescent↗

Acute intermittent porphyria: characterization of two novel mutations in the porphobilinogen deaminase gene, one amino acid deletion (453-455delAGC) and one splicing aceptor site mutation (IVS8-1G>T).

A partial deficiency of Porphobilinogen deaminase (PBG-D) is responsible for acute intermittent porphyria (AIP). AIP is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion, and the prevalence in the Argentinean population is about 1:125,000. Here, two new mutations and three previously reported were found in the PBG-D gene in 12 Argentinean AIP patients corresponding to 5 different families. To screen for AIP mutations in symptomatic patients, genomic DNA isolated was amplified in 2 Multiplex PCR reactions, then all coding exons and flanking intronic regions were sequenced. The new mutations are 453-455delAGC in exon 9 which results in the loss of an alanine residue at position 152, and one new point mutation in the splicing aceptor site in the last position of intron 8 (IVS8-1G>T) which leds to a 15 bp deletion because a cryptic site (first AG upstream) is used. Both mutations produce amino acid deletion without frameshift effect. To further characterize the 453-455delAGC mutation, the pKK-PBGD construct for the mutant allele was expressed in E. coli, the enzymatic activity of the recombinant protein was 1.3% of the mean level expressed by the normal allele. Finally, three missense mutations, previously reported, were identified in three unrelated families.

Adolescent↗

Acute intermittent porphyria: biochemical and clinical analysis in the Argentinean population.

Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is the most common type of hepatic acute porphyria. In this work, we have analyzed the biochemical data of all Argentinean AIP families studied in the Porphyrins and Porphyrias Research Centre (CIPYP). We have shown that: (i) the prevalence for this population is about 1:125,000; (ii) the disease is more frequent in women than in men (7:3); (iii) about 60% are latent carriers; (iv) 15% of patients with symptomatic AIP died during an acute attack; (v) the most important precipitating factors of acute attacks in our population were the ingestion of therapeutic drugs (25%), anesthetics in surgical interventions (25%) and infections (20%); (vi) the initial symptom in Argentinean AIP individuals is severe abdominal pain (100%), and it is often accompanied by constipation (37%), anorexia (37%) and tachycardia (30%); and (vii) the percentage of recurrence of the acute attacks is high (81%).

Adult↗

Familial porphyria cutanea tarda: characterization of seven novel uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase mutations and frequency of common hemochromatosis alleles.

Familial porphyria cutanea tarda (f-PCT) results from the half-normal activity of uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (URO-D). Heterozygotes for this autosomal dominant trait are predisposed to photosensitive cutaneous lesions by various ecogenic factors, including iron overload and alcohol abuse. The 3.6-kb URO-D gene was completely sequenced, and a long-range PCR method was developed to amplify the entire gene for mutation analysis. Four missense mutations (M165R, L195F, N304K, and R332H), a microinsertion (g10insA), a deletion (g645Delta1053), and a novel exonic splicing defect (E314E) were identified. Expression of the L195F, N304K, and R332H polypeptides revealed significant residual activity, whereas reverse transcription-PCR and sequencing demonstrated that the E314E lesion caused abnormal splicing and exon 9 skipping. Haplotyping indicated that three of the four families with the g10insA mutation were unrelated, indicating that these microinsertions resulted from independent mutational events. Screening of nine f-PCT probands revealed that 44% were heterozygous or homozygous for the common hemochromatosis mutations, which suggests that iron overload may predispose to clinical expression. However, there was no clear correlation between f-PCT disease severity and the URO-D and/or hemochromatosis genotypes. These studies doubled the number of known f-PCT mutations, demonstrated that marked genetic heterogeneity underlies f-PCT, and permitted presymptomatic molecular diagnosis and counseling in these families to enable family members to avoid disease-precipitating factors.

Alleles↗

Porphyrin biosynthesis in normal and haem mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Studies on the inheritance of the HEM R+ phenotype.

Heme biosynthesis was studied in the segregants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (DW10 tetrade 2) from D27 and D27/C6 mating, as a function of the carbon source in the growth medium and the physiological state of the cells. The effects of the HEM R+ gene on the 5-aminolevulinate synthase (ALA-S) and 5-aminolevulinate dehydratase (ALA-D) activities of heme biosynthesis in cells grown on nonfermentable and fermentable carbon sources were compared. Profiles obtained for both strains grown on a fermentable carbon source (glucose) were identical. However, in the presence of a nonfermentable carbon source (ethanol), they behave quite different, as if the mutation could only be expressed under these growth conditions. Moreover, their behavior is similar to that found for the parental strains, indicating that for the mutant its particular behavior might be inheritedly linked to the HEM R+ gene, which in turn affects some regulatory aspects of ALA synthesis explaining its characteristic phenotype.

5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase↗

Zinc aminolevulinic acid dehydratase reactivation index as a tool for diagnosis of lead exposure.

The correlation between blood lead level (BLL), delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase (ALA-D) activity, and other common biochemical parameters used to assess a plumbism diagnosis have been carefully analyzed, with the aim of correctly interpreting the data handled in the laboratory. No correlation was observed between BLL and free erythrocyte porphyrins. In the case of ALA-D or Zn-reactivated ALA-D despite the direct correlation with BLL, the curve follows a potential or a logarithmic line, which is not the best to calculate BLL. The so-called Zn-ALA-D-reactivation index (iZn) has been defined as the ratio between the activity of Zn-reactivated ALA-D and the activity of ALA-D. The plot of BLL against the iZn revealed a very good linear relationship which allows an estimate of BLL with reasonable accuracy within a very wide range.

Adult↗

The role of ALA-S and ALA-D in regulating porphyrin biosynthesis in a normal and a HEM R+ mutant strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Catabolite repression and derepression on delta-aminolevulinate synthase (ALA-S) and delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase (ALA-D) in a normal yeast strain, D27, and its derived D27/C6 (HEM R+) were investigated. ALA-S and ALA-D activities and intracellular ALA (I-ALA) at different physiological states of the cells were measured. In YPD medium, under conditions of repression and when glucose was exhausted, both strains behaved identically as if the mutation was not expressed. In YPEt medium, however, both ALA-S and ALA-D activities were higher than in YPD, but the I-ALA content and the enzymic activity profiles shown by the two strains were quite different. It appears, therefore, that the mutation causes a deregulation of ALA-S, so that its activity is kept at a high level throughout the cell cycle. This would explain the increased levels of cytochromes present in the mutant. This mutation may affect some regulatory aspect of ALA formation and renders an ALA-S of high activity; moreover, this enzyme species seems to be more stable than in the normal strain.

5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase↗

Different porphobilinogen-deaminase forms in wild and mutant strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A possible correlation with its segregants behaviour.

1. Different porphobilinogen-deaminase (PBG-D) enzyme forms were found for D 27 and D 27/C6 (HEM R+) strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. 2. PBG-D was partially purified and chromatographed on Sephadex G-100 in either the presence or absence of a protease inhibitor. For D 27 only one active peak was observed while for D 27/C6 strain two active peaks were found. 3. A correlation between this differential behaviour and the presence of HEM R+ gene was looked for employing two segregants of one tetrad from D 27 and D 27/C6 mating.

Ammonia-Lyases↗

Saccharomyces cerevisiae porphobilinogenase: some physical and kinetic properties.

1. Properties of porphobilinogenase (PBGase), the enzyme complex converting porphobilinogen (PBG) into uroporphyrinogens, were studied in a wild strain, D273-10B and a mutant, B231, of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. 2. A well-defined maximum of enzyme activity was observed for the mutant strain after 20 hr of growth; whilst the activity in the wild strain did not vary significantly during growth. 3. Neither PBG consumption nor uroporphyrinogen formation were modified by the presence of air either in the wild or in the mutant strain. 4. In both the wild and mutant strains uroporphyrinogen formation increased linearly with both protein concentration and incubation time. 5. The addition of a mixture of sodium and magnesium salts to the assay system inhibited the enzyme activity of both strains by 50% without modifying the isomer composition. 6. The same optimum pH (7.4) and mol. wt (50,000 +/- 5000) was found for the enzyme from both strains. 7. The enzyme from both the wild and mutant strains shows Michaelis-Menten kinetics when isolated from cells at either the exponential or the stationary phases of growth. Accumulation of porphyrins and delta-aminolevulinic acid occurring during the exponential phase in the mutant strain, did not modify the kinetics.

Ammonia-Lyases↗

S-adenosyl-L-methionine and lead intoxication: its therapeutic effect varying the route of administration.

A comparative study on the effect of oral and subcutaneous (sc) or intravenous (iv) administration of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) in lead poisoning was carried out. SAM was given daily sc (20 mg/kg) and orally (80 mg/kg) to acute lead-intoxicated mice for 20 days. Chronic lead-poisoned patients received SAM, administered intravenously at a daily dose of 12 mg/kg or orally at a dose of 25-30 mg/kg. Independent of the method of administration in either animals or patients, GSH concentration in reduced lead intoxication was increased after SAM dosing. Corresponding blood lead content rapidly decreased and a significant recovery of hepatic and erythrocytic delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase (ALA-D), initially reduced, was clearly produced in the groups receiving SAM, although the response was slightly slower when SAM was given orally. It was found that the bulk of body lead burden was excreted in the feces, showing a peak within the first 24-48 hr and being much greater in animals treated with SAM. In these cases, urinary lead excretion was very low. Lead ALA-D inhibition was also evidenced by elevated urinary excretion of delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), porphobilinogen (PBG), and porphyrins. During treatment, precursors and porphyrins elimination declined, reaching normal levels soon after therapy ended. A good correlation between the recovery of both GSH levels and ALA-D activity and decreased lead content was observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Human red cell porphobilinogen deaminase. A simpler method of purification and some unusual properties.

A simpler method for purifying human red cell deaminase, using a mixture of n-butanol and chloroform, which denatures hemoglobin, followed by ammonium sulphate fractionation, heat treatment, Sephadex G-100 and DEAE-cellulose chromatography, yielding a 3400 fold purified enzyme is described. Some properties of purified deaminase were studied. The enzyme seems to have a strict requirement for oxygen, neither PBG consumption nor uroporphyrinogens formation were measured under anaerobiosis. Uroporphyrinogens formation was linear with both protein and time over a wide range of enzyme concentration and up to 2 h. The optimum pH was 7.4 and the mol. wt was 40,000 +/- 4000. The enzyme was heat-stable and increased its activity by heating. Ammonium and hydroxylamine ions inhibited the reaction. K+ and Na+ ions did not greatly affect activity, while most divalent cations tested significantly diminished uroporphyrinogen formation and to a lesser degree PBG consumption. Direct plots of velocity against PBG concentration were hyperbolic, however double-reciprocal plots were non-linear, Hill plots gave an n value of 2 and Eadie plots were bell-shaped, indicating the existence of weakly positive cooperative effect between 2 binding sites for PBG per molecule of deaminase.

1-Butanol↗