ETHE1 mutations are specific to ethylmalonic encephalopathy
V Tiranti1, E Briem, E Lamantea
1Unit of Molecular Neurogenetics, Pierfranco and Luisa Mariani Center for the Study ofChildren's Mitochondrial Disorders, National Neurological Institute C. Besta, Via Temolo 4, 20126 Milan, Italy.
Mutations in the ETHE1 gene cause ethylmalonic encephalopathy (EE). Researchers found no ETHE1 mutations in similar conditions, ruling out SCAD variants in EE and suggesting ETHE1 is the primary cause.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Metabolic Disorders
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Ethylmalonic encephalopathy (EE) is a severe infantile metabolic disorder.
- EE is characterized by brain lesions, lactic acidemia, and high ethylmalonic acid levels.
- The ETHE1 gene's role in EE was recently identified.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the extent to which ETHE1 mutations cause EE.
- To investigate ETHE1 in patients with typical EE and related conditions.
- To analyze the role of SCAD variants in EE etiology.
Main Methods:
- Genetic analysis of the ETHE1 gene in 40 patients.
- Western blot analysis of ETHE1 protein.
- Two-dimensional blue native electrophoresis and 3D protein modeling.
- Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis of the SCAD gene.
Main Results:
- All typical EE patients had ETHE1 mutations (frameshift, stop, splice, missense).
- No ETHE1 mutations were found in non-EE ethylmalonic aciduria patients.
- SCAD variants were ruled out in EE but prevalent in non-EE EMA patients.
- ETHE1 protein functions as a supramolecular complex, likely a mitochondrial thioesterase.
Conclusions:
- ETHE1 mutations are the primary cause of ethylmalonic encephalopathy.
- ETHE1 is essential for normal neurological function in infants.
- SCAD variants are not implicated in EE pathogenesis.
More Related Videos
10:33Efficient Purification and LC-MS/MS-based Assay Development for Ten-Eleven Translocation-2 5-Methylcytosine Dioxygenase
Published on: October 15, 2018
08:56Modeling Mitochondrial Disease Using Brain Organoids: A Focus on Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy, Lactic Acidosis, and Stroke-like Episodes
Published on: October 10, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Mutations
Mutations
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
Inborn Errors of Metabolism
Pharmacogenetics of Phase II Enzymes: N-acetyltransferase, Thiopurine S-methyltransferase, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase
Hepatic Encephalopathy
