Biomaterial Database

The clinical diagnosis of autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxias. 2008

Thomas Klockgether

Department of Neurology, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, D-53105 Bonn, Germany. klockgether@uni-bonn.de

The spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a heterogeneous group of autosomal dominantly inherited progressive ataxia diseases. Up to now, almost 30 different gene loci have been found. In 14 of them, the underlying mutations have been identified. The more common SCAs, SCA1, 2, 3 and 6 are due to translated CAG repeat expansions that code for an elongated polyglutamine tract within the respective proteins. These diseases belong to a larger group of polyglutamine disorders that also includes Huntington's disease. Epidemiological studies conducted in different European regions found prevalence rates of SCAs ranging from 0.9 to 3.0:100,000. In all SCAs, ataxia is the prominent symptom. However, the majority have a complex phenotype in which ataxia is accompanied by varying non-ataxia symptoms. In all ataxia patients with proven or suspected autosomal dominant mode of inheritance, the available molecular genetic tests for SCA mutations should be performed. Depending on the geographical origin of the family, these tests will lead to positive diagnostic results in at least half of the families.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009154	Mutation	Any detectable and heritable change in the genetic material that causes a change in the GENOTYPE and which is transmitted to daughter cells and to succeeding generations.	Mutations
D009419	Nerve Tissue Proteins		Proteins, Nerve Tissue,Tissue Proteins, Nerve
D009687	Nuclear Proteins	Proteins found in the nucleus of a cell. Do not confuse with NUCLEOPROTEINS which are proteins conjugated with nucleic acids, that are not necessarily present in the nucleus.	Nucleolar Protein,Nucleolar Proteins,Nuclear Protein,Protein, Nuclear,Protein, Nucleolar,Proteins, Nuclear,Proteins, Nucleolar
D010455	Peptides	Members of the class of compounds composed of AMINO ACIDS joined together by peptide bonds between adjacent amino acids into linear, branched or cyclical structures. OLIGOPEPTIDES are composed of approximately 2-12 amino acids. Polypeptides are composed of approximately 13 or more amino acids. PROTEINS are considered to be larger versions of peptides that can form into complex structures such as ENZYMES and RECEPTORS.	Peptide,Polypeptide,Polypeptides
D005799	Genes, Dominant	Genes that influence the PHENOTYPE both in the homozygous and the heterozygous state.	Conditions, Dominant Genetic,Dominant Genetic Conditions,Genetic Conditions, Dominant,Condition, Dominant Genetic,Dominant Gene,Dominant Genes,Dominant Genetic Condition,Gene, Dominant,Genetic Condition, Dominant
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000067528	Ataxins	A family of predominantly nuclear proteins that regulate gene transcription and protein degradation. The expansion of CAG trinucleotide repeats in genes that encode Ataxins is associated with SPINOCEREBELLAR ATAXIAS (SCA). In SCA patients, the number of CAG repeats correlates with the severity of disease and inversely correlates with the age of disease onset.	Ataxin,Ataxin Protein,Spinocerebellar Ataxia Protein,Ataxin Proteins,Spinocerebellar Ataxia Proteins,Ataxia Protein, Spinocerebellar,Ataxia Proteins, Spinocerebellar,Protein, Ataxin,Protein, Spinocerebellar Ataxia,Proteins, Ataxin,Proteins, Spinocerebellar Ataxia
D000067696	Ataxin-1	A chromatin-binding factor that represses Notch signaling and associates with RNA. Expansion of the polyglutamine tract by expanded CAG repeats in the ATXN1 gene coding region is associated with SPINOCEREBELLAR ATAXIA 1.	Ataxin-1 Protein,Atxn-1 Protein,Atxn1 Protein,SCA1 Protein,Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1 Protein,Ataxin 1,Ataxin 1 Protein,Atxn 1 Protein,Protein, Ataxin-1,Protein, Atxn-1,Protein, Atxn1,Protein, SCA1
D014176	Protein Biosynthesis	The biosynthesis of PEPTIDES and PROTEINS on RIBOSOMES, directed by MESSENGER RNA, via TRANSFER RNA that is charged with standard proteinogenic AMINO ACIDS.	Genetic Translation,Peptide Biosynthesis, Ribosomal,Protein Translation,Translation, Genetic,Protein Biosynthesis, Ribosomal,Protein Synthesis, Ribosomal,Ribosomal Peptide Biosynthesis,mRNA Translation,Biosynthesis, Protein,Biosynthesis, Ribosomal Peptide,Biosynthesis, Ribosomal Protein,Genetic Translations,Ribosomal Protein Biosynthesis,Ribosomal Protein Synthesis,Synthesis, Ribosomal Protein,Translation, Protein,Translation, mRNA,mRNA Translations
D015994	Incidence	The number of new cases of a given disease during a given period in a specified population. It also is used for the rate at which new events occur in a defined population. It is differentiated from PREVALENCE, which refers to all cases in the population at a given time.	Attack Rate,Cumulative Incidence,Incidence Proportion,Incidence Rate,Person-time Rate,Secondary Attack Rate,Attack Rate, Secondary,Attack Rates,Cumulative Incidences,Incidence Proportions,Incidence Rates,Incidence, Cumulative,Incidences,Person time Rate,Person-time Rates,Proportion, Incidence,Rate, Attack,Rate, Incidence,Rate, Person-time,Rate, Secondary Attack,Secondary Attack Rates