Biomedical subjects

V K Khanna

Publications and source records attributed to V K Khanna.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Cerebrospinal fluid catecholamine levels in Japanese encephalitis patients with movement disorders.

Norepinephrine and dopamine have important role in movement disorders but their role in movement disorders associated with Japanese encephalitis (JE) has not been evaluated. Therefore, in the present study, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) catecholamine levels and its metabolites in JE patients with movement disorders were compared with those without JE. CSF was collected by lumbar puncture and analyzed by HPLC-ED. Norepinephrine, dopamine and homovanillic acid concentrations were significantly (P<0.005) lower in JE patients compared to control groups. Low levels of catecholamines in JE associated movement disorders compared to idiopathic Parkinson's disease and other extrapyramidal symptoms may be due to severe structural damage to thalamus, basal ganglia and brainstem in JE patients as revealed by MRI findings.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Co-transplantation of carotid body and ventral mesencephalic cells as an alternative approach towards functional restoration in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats: implications for Parkinson's disease.

Exogenous administration of various neurotrophic factors has been shown to protect neurons in animal model of Parkinson's disease (PD). Several attempts are being made to search a tissue source simultaneously expressing many of these neurotrophic factors. Carotid body (CB) contains oxygen-sensitive glomus cells rich in dopamine (DA) and expresses glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin-3. We have attempted to study the functional restoration following co-transplantation of CB cells and ventral mesencephalic cells (VMC) in a 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rat model of PD. A significant recovery (p < 0.001) in d-amphetamine-induced circling behavior (80%) and spontaneous locomotor activity (85%) was evident in co-transplanted animals at 12 weeks post-transplantation as compared to lesioned animals. Similarly, a significant (p < 0.001) restoration was observed in DA-D(2) receptor binding (77%), striatal DA (87%) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) (85%) levels and nigral DA (75%) and DOPAC (74%) levels. Functional recovery was accompanied by tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression and quantification of TH-positive cells by image analysis revealed a significant restoration in TH-immunoreactive (IR) fiber density in striatum, as well as TH-IR neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta in co-transplanted animals over VMC-transplanted animals. The result suggests that co-transplantation of CB cells along with VMC provides better and long-term functional restoration in the rat model of PD, possibly by supporting the survival of newly grafted cells as well as remaining host DA neurons.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗

PubMed2003

Platelet 3H ketanserin binding in tension-type headache.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to investigate the alterations in platelet 5-HT2 receptor binding in patients with tension-type headache. BACKGROUND: Serotonin (5-HT) has an important but complex role in pain modulation. The involvement of serotonin in tension-type headache has been investigated by studying serotonin in peripheral blood, but results have been inconclusive. There are, however, only a few investigations in which the status of platelet serotonin transporters has been studied by 3H imipramine and 3H paroxetine. The present study was undertaken to investigate alterations in platelet 5-HT2A receptors using 3H ketanserin as a ligand. METHODS: Platelet 3H ketanserin binding was studied in 14 patients with tension-type headache and in 15 healthy controls. The binding characteristics, equilibrium dissociation constant and maximal number of binding sites were determined by Scatchard analysis. RESULTS: There was no change in the equilibrium dissociation constant in the patients with headache as compared to the control group, but subgroup analysis revealed that patients with tension-type headache with a headache index of less than 360 had a significantly lower equilibrium dissociation constant as compared to those with a headache index of more than 360; there was a significant correlation between the equilibrium dissociation constant and the headache index. A significant decrease was observed in the maximal number of binding sites in tension-type headache. No correlation was observed between the maximal number of binding sites and age, duration of illness, or headache intensity. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study show that there is a decrease in the number of binding sites of 5-HT2A receptors in some patients with tension-type headache, suggesting postsynaptic serotonergic dysfunction and the involvement of serotonin in that group.

Binding Sites↗

PubMed2002

Brain neurotransmitter receptor binding and nootropic studies on Indian Hypericum perforatum Linn.

The high affinity binding sites for serotonin and benzodiazepine in the frontal cortex, for dopamine in the striatum and muscarinic cholinergic receptors in the hippocampus were investigated in the brains of Charles Foster rats treated for 3 days. Transfer latency on elevated plus maze (TL), passive and active avoidance behaviour (PA and AA) and electroconvulsive shock (ECS) induced amnesia were also studied. Pilot studies indicated that single dose administration of Indian Hypericum perforatum (IHp) had little or no acute behavioural effects and hence the extract of IHp was administered orally at two dose levels (100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) once daily for 3 consecutive days, while piracetam (500 mg/kg, i.p.), a clinically used nootropic agent, was administered acutely to rats as the standard nootropic agent. Control rats were treated with an equal volume of vehicle (0.3% carboxymethyl cellulose). The results indicate that IHp treatment caused a significant decrease in the binding of [3H] spiroperone (DA-D2 receptor) to the striatum and an increase in the binding of [3H] ketanserin (5-HT2A receptor) and [3H] flunitrazepam (BDZ receptor) to the frontal cortex in rats. Preliminary pharmacological studies with IHp extract indicate the presence of two major behavioural actions, namely, antidepressant and anxiolytic. The present findings tend to elucidate the mechanism of earlier observations, the downregulation of the dopamine D2 receptor being consonant with anxiolytic and the upregulation of 5-HT2A and BDZ receptors being consonant with antidepressant activity. Piracetam when given alone, shortened the TL on days 1, 2 and 9 day and also antagonized the amnesic effects of ECS on the TL significantly, whereas IHp antagonized the amnesia produced by ECS. IHp had no significant effect per se on the retention of the PA in rats but produced a significant reversal of ECS induced PA retention deficit. Piracetam showed a significant facilitatory effect per se on PA retention and also reversed the ECS induced impaired PA retention. In the AA test, piracetam facilitated the acquisition and retention of AA in rats but IHp had no effect per se. Both the doses of IHp and piracetam significantly attenuated the ECS induced impaired retention of AA. These results indicate a possible nootropic action of IHp in amnesic animals, which was comparable qualitatively to piracetam.

Amnesia↗

PubMed2001

Mutations to Gly2370, Gly2373 or Gly2375 in malignant hyperthermia domain 2 decrease caffeine and cresol sensitivity of the rabbit skeletal-muscle Ca2+-release channel (ryanodine receptor isoform 1).

Mutations G2370A, G2372A, G2373A, G2375A, Y3937A, S3938A, G3939A and K3940A were made in two potential ATP-binding motifs (amino acids 2370-2375 and 3937-3940) in the Ca(2+)-release channel of skeletal-muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum (ryanodine receptor or RyR1). Activation of [(3)H]ryanodine binding by Ca(2+), caffeine and ATP (adenosine 5'-[beta,gamma-methylene]triphosphate, AMP-PCP) was used as an assay for channel opening, since ryanodine binds only to open channels. Caffeine-sensitivity of channel opening was also assayed by caffeine-induced Ca(2+) release in HEK-293 cells expressing wild-type and mutant channels. Equilibrium [(3)H]ryanodine-binding properties and EC(50) values for Ca(2+) activation of high-affinity [(3)H]ryanodine binding were similar between wild-type RyR1 and mutants. In the presence of 1 mM AMP-PCP, Ca(2+)-activation curves were shifted to higher affinity and maximal binding was increased to a similar extent for wild-type RyR1 and mutants. ATP sensitivity of channel opening was also similar for wild-type and mutants. These observations apparently rule out sequences 2370-2375 and 3937-3940 as ATP-binding motifs. Caffeine or 4-chloro-m-cresol sensitivity, however, was decreased in mutants G2370A, G2373A and G2375A, whereas the other mutants retained normal sensitivity. Amino acids 2370-2375 lie within a sequence (amino acids 2163-2458) in which some eight RyR1 mutations have been associated with malignant hyperthermia and shown to be hypersensitive to caffeine and 4-chloro-m-cresol activation. By contrast, mutants G2370A, G2373A and G2375A are hyposensitive to caffeine and 4-chloro-m-cresol. Thus amino acids 2163-2458 form a regulatory domain (malignant hyperthermia regulatory domain 2) that regulates caffeine and 4-chloro-m-cresol sensitivity of RyR1.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed2001

Ryanodine sensitizes the cardiac Ca(2+) release channel (ryanodine receptor isoform 2) to Ca(2+) activation and dissociates as the channel is closed by Ca(2+) depletion.

In single-channel recordings, the rabbit cardiac Ca(2+) release channel (RyR2) is converted to a fully open subconductance state with about 50% of full conductance by micromolar concentrations of ryanodine. At +30 mV, corresponding to a luminal to cytoplasmic cation current, the probability of opening (P(o)) of ryanodine-modified channels was only marginally altered at pCa 10 (pCa = -log(10) Ca concentration). However, at -30 mV, the P(o) was highly sensitive to Ca(2+) added to the cis (cytoplasmic) side and, at pCa 10, was reduced to less than 0.27. The EC(50) value for channel opening was about pCa 8. No significant Ca(2+) inactivation was observed for ryanodine-modified channels at either -30 mV or +30 mV. The opening of unmodified Ca(2+) channels is Ca(2+) sensitive, with an EC(50) value of about pCa 6 (two orders of magnitude less sensitive than ryanodine-modified channels) and IC(50) values of pCa 2.2 at -30 mV and 2.5 at +30 mV. Mg(2+) decreased the P(o) of ryanodine-modified channels at low Ca(2+) concentrations at both -30 and +30 mV. Caffeine, ATP, and ruthenium red were modulators of the P(o) of ryanodine-modified channels. In a [(3)H]ryanodine binding assay, [(3)H]ryanodine dissociation from the high-affinity binding site was found to be Ca(2+) sensitive, with an IC(50) of pCa 7.1. High concentrations of unlabeled ryanodine prevented [(3)H]ryanodine dissociation, but ruthenium red accelerated dissociation. These results suggest that ryanodine sensitizes Ca(2+) activation of the Ca(2+) release channel and desensitizes Ca(2+) inactivation through an allosteric interaction. [(3)H]Ryanodine dissociates from the high-affinity site when the channel is closed by removal of Ca(2+), implying that high-affinity ryanodine and Ca(2+) binding sites are linked through either short- or long-range interactions, probably involving conformational changes.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Functional characterization of mutants in the predicted pore region of the rabbit cardiac muscle Ca(2+) release channel (ryanodine receptor isoform 2).

A highly conserved amino acid sequence, GVRAGGGIGD(4831), which may form part of the Ca(2+) release channel pore in RyR2, was subjected to Ala scanning or Ala to Val mutagenesis; function was then measured by expression in HEK-293 cells, followed by Ca(2+) photometry, high affinity [(3)H]ryanodine binding, and single-channel recording. All mutants except I4829A and I4829T (corresponding to the I4897T central core disease mutant in RyR1) displayed caffeine-induced Ca(2+) release in HEK-293 cells; only mutants G4826A, I4829V, and G4830A retained high affinity [(3)H]ryanodine binding; and single-channel function was found for all mutants tested, except for G4822A and A4825V. EC(50) values for caffeine-induced Ca(2+) release were increased for G4822A, R4824A, G4826A, G4828A, and D4831A; decreased for V4823A; and unchanged for A4825V, G4827A, I4829V, and G4830A. Ryanodine (10 microm), which did not stimulate Ca(2+) release in wild type (wt), did so in Ala mutants in amino acids 4823-4827. It inhibited the caffeine response in wt and most mutants, but enhanced the amplitude of caffeine-induced Ca(2+) release in mutant G4828A. It also restored caffeine-induced Ca(2+) release in mutants I4829A and I4829T. In single-channel recordings, mutants I4829V and G4830A retained normal conductance, whereas all others had decreased unitary channel conductances ranging from 27 to 540 picosiemens. Single-channel modulation was retained in G4826A, I4829V, and G4830A, but was lost in other mutants. In contrast to wt and G4826A, I4829V, and G4830A, in which divalent metals were preferentially conducted, mutants with loss of modulation had no selectivity of divalent cations over a monovalent cation. Analysis of Gly(4822) to Asp(4831) mutants in RyR2 supports the view that this highly conserved sequence constitutes part of the ion-conducting pore of the Ca(2+) release channel and plays a key role in ryanodine and caffeine binding and activation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2001

Platelet 3H ketanserin binding in migraine.

Platelet 3H ketanserin binding was studied in 33 patients of migraine and 30 healthy controls. The binding characteristics: equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) and maximal number of binding sites (Bmax) determined by Scatchard analysis revealed a significant decrease in Kd and no change in Bmax in migraine cases. No correlation was observed between the Kd and Bmax with the clinical features of migraine. The findings of the present study show that there is a decreased affinity of platelet 5-HT2 receptors in migraine.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Platelet dopamine receptors and oxidative stress parameters as markers of manganese toxicity.

The present study has been undertaken to investigate whether neurotoxic effects of manganese (Mn) are reflected in platelets in rats to monitor the usefulness of platelet as peripheral model. Exposure of rats to Mn (10 or 15 mg/kg bw, i.p.) for 45 days caused a significant increase in membrane fluidity as evidenced by decrease in fluorescence polarisation in platelets (11% and 14%) and striatum (9% and 13%). These rats exhibited a significant increase in superoxide dismutase activity both in platelets (24% and 37%) and striatum (31% and 42%), respectively, in comparison to controls. Exposure of rats to Mn for 45 days (15 mg/kg bw, i.p.) caused a significant decrease in reduced glutathione content (platelets 20%, striatum 24%) and catalase activity (platelets 35%, striatum 44%) compared to control rats. Rats exposed to Mn (10 or 15 mg/ kg bw, i.p.) for 15 days exhibited a significant increase in dopamine receptors both in platelets (55% and 40%) and striatum (38% and 31%). The results suggest that exposure to Mn may alter the membrane functions and impair the anti-oxidant defense mechanism both in platelets and brain. The study also suggests that dopaminergic mechanisms are impaired following Mn exposure and such changes are reflected in platelets. Interestingly, parallel changes both in striatum and platelets, as observed in the present study, strengthen the usefulness of platelets as a peripheral neuronal model.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Mutation of divergent region 1 alters caffeine and Ca(2+) sensitivity of the skeletal muscle Ca(2+) release channel (ryanodine receptor).

Replacement of amino acids 4187-4628 in the skeletal muscle Ca(2+) release channel (skeletal ryanodine receptor (RyR1)), including nearly all of divergent region 1 (amino acids 4254-4631), with the corresponding cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) sequence leads to increased sensitivity of channel activation by caffeine and Ca(2+) and to decreased sensitivity of channel inactivation by elevated Ca(2+) (Du, G. G., and MacLennan, D. H. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 26120-26126). In further investigations, this region was subdivided by the construction of new chimeras, and alterations in channel function were detected by measurement of the caffeine dependence of in vivo Ca(2+) release and the Ca(2+) dependence of [(3)H]ryanodine binding. Chimera RF10a (amino acids 4187-4381) had a lower EC(50) value for activation by caffeine, and RF10c (4557-4628) had a higher EC(50) value, whereas the EC(50) value for chimera RF10b (4382-4556) was unchanged. Chimeras RF10b and RF10c were more sensitive to activation by Ca(2+), whereas RF10a was less sensitive to inactivation by Ca(2+), implicating RF10b and RF10c in Ca(2+) activation and RF10a in Ca(2+) inactivation. Deletion of much of divergent region 1 sequence to create mutant Delta4274-4535 led to higher caffeine and Ca(2+) sensitivity of channel activation and to lower Ca(2+) sensitivity for inactivation. Thus, deletion results demonstrate that caffeine, Ca(2+), and ryanodine binding sites are not located in amino acids 4274-4535. Nevertheless, the properties of the deletion and chimeric mutants demonstrate that amino acids 4274-4535 and three shorter sequences in this region (F10a, amino acids 4187-4381; F10b, 4382-4556; and F10c, 4557-4628) in RyR1 modulate Ca(2+) and caffeine sensitivity of the Ca(2+) release channel.

Binding Sites↗

PubMed2000

The mutation of Pro789 to Leu reduces the activity of the fast-twitch skeletal muscle sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA1) and is associated with Brody disease.

Brody disease is a rare inherited disorder of fast-twitch skeletal muscle function and is characterized by a lifelong history of exercise-induced impairment of skeletal muscle relaxation, stiffness, and cramps. The autosomal recessive inheritance of mutations in ATP2A1, the gene encoding SERCA1, which is the fast-twitch skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase, has been associated with Brody disease in three of six Brody families in which ATP2A1 has been sequenced. In the present analysis of the ATP2A1 gene in four unrelated families with autosomal recessive inheritance of Brody disease, three mutations were found in two families, leading to premature stop codons and truncated SERCA1. In a third family, the homozygous substitution of T for C2366 led to the missense mutation of Pro789 to Leu. The Pro789 to Leu mutant was readily expressed in HEK-293 cells, but it demonstrated an almost complete loss of Ca2+ transport activity because of reduced Ca2+ affinity. In a fourth family, the heterozygous substitution of T for C2455, mutating Arg819 to Cys, was identified. This mutation was also readily expressed in HEK-293 cells and shown to have near normal Ca2+ transport activity, indicating that it is not causal for Brody disease. These results confirm the genetic heterogeneity of Brody disease and emphasize the importance of a functional test for mutant SERCA1; immunostaining of skeletal muscle to detect the loss of SERCA1a protein is not adequate for the diagnosis of ATP2A1-linked Brody disease.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Raised platelet thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances in proliferative Eales' disease.

BACKGROUND: Platelets are an elective site for oxidative stress owing to their high content of polyunsaturated fatty acid. Increased lipid peroxidation and elevated platelet thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances (TBARS) signal oxidative stress. This possibly leads to retinal neovascularization in Eales' disease. METHODS: TBARS levels were estimated in consecutive cases of Eales' disease with neovascularisation (n = 26), Eales' disease without neovascularisation (n = 17) and healthy controls (n = 17). RESULTS: Platelet TBARS levels in the cases of Eales' disease with neovascularisation, Eales' disease without neovascularisation, and healthy controls were 0.66 +/- 0.1, 0.57 +/- 0.11 and 0.42 +/- 0.14 n moles TBARS formed/hour/10(8) platelets respectively. Student's t-test showed a significant increase in platelet TBARS levels in cases with neovascularisation as compared to cases without neovascularization (p < 0.05) and healthy controls (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The increase in platelet TBARS levels in proliferative Eales' disease is consistent with an emerging view that lipid peroxides may be associated with retinal neovascularisation.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Changes in neurotransmitter receptors and neurobehavioral variables in rats co-exposed to lead and ethanol.

The influence of lead (10 mg/kg) and ethanol (10% v/v, in drinking water) administration, either alone or in combination for 8 weeks was investigated on the uptake of lead in tissues, dopamine, benzodiazepine and cholinergic (muscarinic) receptors, motor activity, number of fighting episodes and several selected lead-sensitive biochemical indices in young rats. Lead or ethanol treatment did not elicit any appreciable influence on body weight gain, tissue weight, and food intake. However, a decreased amount of mean water intake was noticed in animals ingesting ethanol plus lead. Both lead and ethanol when administered individually exacerbate the decrease of blood delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity while lead and ethanol administered together exhibited a pronounced inhibition of ALAD activity. A significant increase in hepatic GSH levels, hepatic and brain MDA levels was also observed in animals co-exposed to lead and ethanol compared to lead alone treated rats. Simultaneous exposure to lead and ethanol also resulted in a significantly more pronounced decrease in binding of [3H]fluintrazepam in membranes prepared from the fronto-cortical region compared to the corresponding controls. The binding of [3H]spiroperidol to striatal and [3H]quinuclidinyl benzylate (QNB) to cerebellar membranes remained unaltered in all the exposed animals. Spontaneous locomotor activity and aggressive behaviour increased significantly in the group treated with both lead and ethanol compared to the control group. The lead concentrations in blood, liver, kidney and brain were significantly higher in rats exposed simultaneously to lead and ethanol compared to lead alone exposed group. The results indicate more pronounced neurotoxic and neurobehavioural changes in animals co-exposed to lead and ethanol; however, the exact mechanism or site of its action is still not clear.

Aggression↗

PubMed1998

Sarcolipin regulates the activity of SERCA1, the fast-twitch skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase.

The 31-amino acid proteolipid, sarcolipin (SLN), is associated with the fast-twitch skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA1). Constructs of human and rabbit SLN and of rabbit SLN with the FLAG epitope at its N terminus (NF-SLN) or its C terminus (SLN-FC) were coexpressed with SERCA1 in HEK-293 T-cells. Immunohistochemistry was used to demonstrate colocalization of NF-SLN and SERCA1 in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane and to demonstrate the cytosolic orientation of the N terminus of SLN. Coexpression of native rabbit SLN or NF-SLN with SERCA1 decreased the apparent affinity of SERCA1 for Ca2+ but stimulated maximal Ca2+ uptake rates (Vmax). The N terminus of SLN is not well conserved among species, and the addition of an N-terminal FLAG epitope did not alter SLN function. Anti-FLAG antibody reversed both the inhibition of Ca2+ uptake by NF-SLN at low Ca2+ concentrations and the stimulatory effect of NF-SLN on Vmax. Addition of the FLAG epitope to the highly conserved C terminus decreased the apparent affinity of SERCA1 for Ca2+ relative to native SLN and decreased Vmax significantly. Mutations in the C-terminal domain showed that this sequence is critical for SLN function. Mutational analysis of the transmembrane helix, together with the additive regulatory effects of coexpression of both SLN and phospholamban (PLN) with SERCA1, provided evidence for different mechanisms of interaction of SLN and PLN with SERCA molecules. Ca2+ uptake rates in sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles, isolated from rabbit fast-twitch muscle (tibialis anterior) subjected to chronic low frequency stimulation, were reduced by approximately 40% in 3- and 4-day stimulated muscle, with a marginal increase in apparent affinity of SERCA1 for Ca2+. SERCA1 mRNA and protein levels were unaltered after stimulation. In contrast, SLN mRNA was decreased by 15%, and SLN protein was reduced by 40%. Reduced SLN expression could explain the decrease in SERCA1 activity observed in these muscles and might represent an early functional adaptation to chronic low frequency stimulation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1997

Characterization of the gene encoding human sarcolipin (SLN), a proteolipid associated with SERCA1: absence of structural mutations in five patients with Brody disease.

Sarcolipin (SLN) is a low-molecular-weight protein that copurifies with the fast-twitch skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA1). Genomic DNA and cDNA encoding human sarcolipin (SLN) were isolated and characterized and the SLN gene was mapped to chromosome 11q22-q23. Human, rabbit, and mouse cDNAs encode a protein of 31 amino acids. Homology of SLN with phospholamban (PLN) suggests that the first 7 hydrophilic amino acids are cytoplasmic, the next 19 hydrophobic amino acids form a single transmembrane helix, and the last 5 hydrophilic amino acids are lumenal. The cytoplasmic and transmembrane sequences are not well conserved among the three species, but the lumenal sequence is highly conserved. Like SERCA1, SLN is highly expressed in rabbit fast-twitch skeletal muscle, but it is expressed to a lower extent in slow-twitch muscle and to an even lower extent in cardiac muscle, where SERCA2a and PLN are highly expressed. It is expressed in only trace amounts in pancreas and prostate. SLN and PLN genes resemble each other in having two small exons, with their entire coding sequences lying in exon 2 and a large intron separating the two segments. Brody disease is an inherited disorder of skeletal muscle function, characterized by exercise-induced impairment of muscle relaxation. Mutations in the ATP2A1 gene encoding SERCA1 have been associated with the autosomal recessive inheritance of Brody disease in three families, but not with autosomal dominant inheritance of the disease. A search for mutations in the SLN gene in five Brody families, four of which were not linked to ATP2A1, did not reveal any alterations in coding, splice junction or promoter sequences. The homozygous deletion of C438 in the coding sequence of ATP2A1 in Brody disease family 3, leading to a frameshift and truncation following Pro147 in SERCA1, is the fourth ATP2A1 mutation to be associated with autosomal recessive Brody disease.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1996

The structural organization of the human skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor (RYR1) gene.

The RYR1 gene encoding the Ca2+ release channel of human skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum has been cloned and exon/intron boundaries have been determined, together with a minimum of 30 bp of intron sequence flanking each splice junction. The gene contains 106 exons, of which two are alternatively spliced. The length of the gene, determined by the alignment of 16 genomic phage clones, a cosmid clone, and several long polymerase chain reaction products, is approximately 160 kb. Exons range from 15 to 813 bp, while introns range from 85 to about 16,000 bp. Analysis of the gene has confirmed published errors in the human RYR1 cDNA and confirmed the structure of two alternatively spliced exons. The numbering of the nucleotides comprising the RYR1 cDNA and the numbering of amino acids encoded by them were corrected to account for these earlier errors and omissions. Analysis of 2.4 kb of the 5' upstream sequence indicated the presence of a CCAAT box and several Sp1 binding sites between nucleotides -200 and -60 bp, flanking the proposed transcription start site at -130 bp. Several other potential transcription factor binding sites were identified throughout the 5' sequence. Knowledge of the structure of the RYR1 gene will provide an invaluable resource for the discovery of mutations in the gene that are causal of human malignant hyperthermia and central core disease.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1996

Mutations in the gene-encoding SERCA1, the fast-twitch skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase, are associated with Brody disease.

Brody disease is a rare inherited disorder of skeletal muscle function. Symptoms include exercise-induced impairment of skeletal muscle relaxation, stiffness and cramps. Ca2+ uptake and Ca2+ ATPase activities are reduced in the sarcoplasmic reticulum, leading to the prediction that Brody disease results from defects in the ATP2A1 gene on chromosome 16p12.1-12.2, encoding SERCA1, the fast-twitch skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase. A recent search, however, did not reveal any mutations in the ATP2A1 gene in three Brody patients. We have now associated Brody disease with the autosomal recessive inheritance of three ATP2A1 mutations in two families, suggesting that the disease is genetically heterogeneous. One mutation occurs at the splice donor site of intron 3, while the other two mutations lead to premature stop codons, truncating SERCA1, deleting essential functional domains and raising the intriguing question: how have these Brody patients partially compensated for the functional knockout of a gene product believed to be essential for fast-twitch skeletal muscle relaxation?

Calcium-Transporting ATPases↗

PubMed1994

The substitution of Arg for Gly2433 in the human skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor is associated with malignant hyperthermia.

Single strand conformational polymorphism analysis was used to screen exons 43 and 44 in the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor gene from 17 positively diagnosed members of families in which chromosome 19-linked malignant hyperthermia (MH) was segregating. A polymorphism in two unrelated individuals was found to result from the substitution of A for G7297, leading to the substitution of Arg for Gly2433. This mutation is adjacent to a mutation (Arg2434 to His) previously linked to MH and central core disease (Y. Zhang et al., Nature Genet. 1993, 5, 46-50). Subsequent screening showed the presence of the mutation in four of 106 MH families tested and its absence from about 1000 other chromosomes. The mutation was present in all six individuals in four families who had had an MH reaction, in two obligate carriers and in 10 individuals diagnosed as MH susceptible by the caffeine/halothane contracture test (CHCT). The mutation was present in an individual with a normal response to the CHCT and was absent in three individuals with a positive CHCT response. These discrepancies would be consistent with inaccuracies in the CHCT and/or with segregation of a second MH allele within two of the four affected families.

Arginine↗