LRRTM4-C538Y novel gene mutation is associated with hereditary macular degeneration with novel dysfunction of ON-type bipolar cells

J Hum Genet. 2018 Aug;63(8):893-900. doi: 10.1038/s10038-018-0465-4. Epub 2018 May 14.

Abstract

The macula is a unique structure in higher primates, where cone and rod photoreceptors show highest density in the fovea and the surrounding area, respectively. The hereditary macular dystrophies represent a heterozygous group of rare disorders characterized by central visual loss and atrophy of the macula and surrounding retina. Here we report an atypical absence of ON-type bipolar cell response in a Japanese patient with autosomal dominant macular dystrophy (adMD). To identify a causal genetic mutation for the adMD, we performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) on four affected and four-non affected members of the family for three generations, and identified a novel p.C538Y mutation in a post-synaptic gene, LRRTM4. WES analysis revealed seven rare genetic variations in patients. We further referred to our in-house WES data from 1360 families with inherited retinal diseases, and found that only p.C538Y mutation in LRRTM4 was associated with adMD-affected patients. Combinatorial filtration using public database of single-nucleotide polymorphism frequency and genotype-phenotype annotated database identified novel mutation in atypical adMD.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Asian People
  • Child, Preschool
  • Electroretinography
  • Exome Sequencing
  • Family
  • Female
  • Genes, Dominant
  • Genetic Association Studies*
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
  • Haplorhini
  • Humans
  • Macular Degeneration / pathology*
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation / genetics*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / chemistry
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
  • Pedigree
  • Protein Isoforms / chemistry
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics
  • Retinal Bipolar Cells / pathology*

Substances

  • LRRTM4 protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Protein Isoforms