Adrenoleukodystrophy and other peroxisomal diseases

The gene predisposing for X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), the most common peroxisomal disorder, has been identified recently by positional cloning. The ALD protein is a 75 kDa peroxisomal membrane protein belonging to the family of ATP-binding cassette transporter proteins. With the combination of genetic complementation and candidate gene approaches, two genes responsible for Zellweger syndrome, a group of genetically heterogeneous disorders affecting peroxisome biogenesis, have also been identified.