Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Isolation and Functional Characterization of Human Ventricular Cardiomyocytes from Fresh Surgical Samples
Published on: April 21, 2014
Characterization of HACD1 K64Q mutant found in arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia patients
Hiroyuki Konishi1, Ayaka Okuda, Yusuke Ohno
1Laboratory of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita 12-jo, Nishi 6-choume, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan.
Insights
The K64Q mutation in the HACD1 gene is unlikely to cause arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD). This study found normal enzyme function and revealed that VLCFA elongase enzymes form a complex.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Genetics
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) is an inherited heart condition.
- A specific mutation (K64Q) in the HACD1 gene was previously linked to ARVD, but its role was unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional impact of the HACD1 (K64Q) mutation.
- To determine if this mutation is causative for ARVD.
- To explore interactions within the very long-chain fatty acid (VLCFA) elongation pathway.
Main Methods:
- Assessed HACD1 (K64Q) enzyme activity, localization, and interaction with other VLCFA enzymes.
- Evaluated the effect of the mutation on VLCFA elongation.
- Investigated interactions between HACD1 and KAR/TER reductase enzymes.
Main Results:
- HACD1 (K64Q) demonstrated normal enzyme activity, localization, and interaction, with no dominant-negative effect on VLCFA elongation.
- The K64Q mutation is unlikely to be the cause of ARVD.
- HACD1 was found to interact with KAR and TER, key enzymes in VLCFA elongation.
Conclusions:
- The HACD1 (K64Q) mutation is not a likely cause of ARVD.
- These findings suggest that enzymes in the VLCFA elongation pathway form a functional complex.
Abstract:
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) is an autosomal dominant heart disease. A K64Q mutation was found in ARVD-affected individuals in the HACD1 gene, which encodes an enzyme involved in very long-chain fatty acid (VLCFA) elongation, although any relationship between mutation and pathology remained unclear. Here, we demonstrate that HACD1 (K64Q) exhibits normal enzyme activity, intracellular localization and interaction with other VLCFA enzymes, with no dominant negative effect on VLCFA elongation. Thus, it appears unlikely that this mutation is ARVD-causative. Moreover, through these analyses we found that HACD1 interacts with KAR and TER, the reductase enzymes involved in the second and fourth VLCFA elongation cycle, respectively. This finding indicates that the enzymes responsible for the VLCFA elongation cycle form an elongase complex.
Related Concept Videos
Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy I: Introduction and Classification
Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Mechanism of Cardiac Arrhythmias
ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias II: Atrial, Junctional and Ventricular Arrhythmias
Disturbances in Heart Rhythm
Arrhythmias are categorized by their speed, rhythm, and origin. A slow heart...

