Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 24, 2026

Targeted Next-generation Sequencing and Bioinformatics Pipeline to Evaluate Genetic Determinants of Constitutional Disease
Published on: April 4, 2018
The most frequent ABCA3 nonsense mutation -p.Tyr1515* (Y1515X) causing lethal neonatal respiratory failure in a term
AlNashmi AlAnazi1, Ralph Epaud2, Humariya Heena3
1Department of Pediatrics, Security Forces Hospital, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Abstract:
Defects in the surfactant biosynthesis are associated with respiratory distress syndrome, commonly occurring in premature infants due to lung immaturity. However, interstitial lung diseases have also been observed in full-term infants with mutations in the SFTPC, SFTPB, NKX2-1, or ABCA3 genes, involved in the surfactant metabolism. Herein, we report a newborn baby with neonatal respiratory distress and diffuse lung disease caused by ABCA3 mutation. The baby died at 5 weeks of age after developing pulmonary hypertension. Genomic DNA was analyzed for four genes involved in surfactant metabolism out of which the c. 4545C>G (p.Tyr1515*) homozygous mutation in exon 29 of ABCA3 was identified which is one of the most frequent mutation causing lethal neonatal respiratory failure in a term neonate. This case study emphasizes the importance of raising awareness about this diagnosis in the clinical settings for fruitful outcomes in health-care delivery.
Related Concept Videos
Inborn Errors of Metabolism
Acute Respiratory Failure-III
Lethal Alleles
Lucien Cuénot discovered lethal alleles in 1905 while studying the inheritance of coat color in mice. The agouti gene is responsible for the color of the coat in mice. This gene codes for an agouti-signaling protein, which is responsible for melanin distribution in mammals. The wild-type allele gives rise to gray-brown coat color in mice, while the mutant allele gives rise to yellow coat color. In addition to coat color, the agouti gene is associated with the yellow...
Nonsense-mediated mRNA Decay
Usually, Upf3 binds to an Exon Junction Complex (EJC) at mRNA splice sites. If a ribosome fully translates the mRNA,...
Translation
Translation Produces the Building Blocks of Life
Proteins are...
Translation
Translation is the process of synthesizing proteins from the genetic information carried by messenger RNA (mRNA). Following transcription, it constitutes the final step in the expression of genes. This process is carried out by ribosomes, complexes of protein and specialized RNA molecules. Ribosomes, transfer RNA (tRNA), and other proteins produce a chain of amino acids—the polypeptide—as the end product of translation.
Translation Produces the Building Blocks of...

