Biomaterial Database

First trimester diagnosis of methylmalonic aciduria. 1988

B Fowler, and L Giles, and I B Sardharwalla, and P Donnai, and J K Clayton

Willink Biochemical Genetics Unit, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, U.K.

We have studied methylmalonyl CoA mutase activity in control chorionic villi to establish the potential use of assays performed directly on this tissue for prenatal diagnosis of methylmalonic aciduria. We report the detection of a fetus affected with the apo-mutase deficient form of this condition at 9 weeks' gestation. Methylmalonyl CoA mutase was markedly deficient in chorionic villi, approximately 2.5 per cent of the mean control value. However, incorporation of label from [14C]-propionate into protein was 10 and 40 per cent of the mean control value, respectively, in two portions of the same biopsy, highlighting potential problems in the use of this indirect assay. Normal results were obtained in chorionic villus samples from four other pregnancies 'at risk' for methylmalonic aciduria which were subsequently shown to be unaffected with this condition. The diagnosis in the affected pregnancy was confirmed by demonstration of a marked deficiency of methylmalonyl CoA mutase activity in villi obtained at termination and in cultured fetal fibroblasts. Reduced incorporation of [14C]-propionate label into protein was also found in these tissues.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008314	Malonates	Derivatives of malonic acid (the structural formula CH2(COOH)2), including its salts and esters.
D008764	Methylmalonic Acid	A malonic acid derivative which is a vital intermediate in the metabolism of fat and protein. Abnormalities in methylmalonic acid metabolism lead to methylmalonic aciduria. This metabolic disease is attributed to a block in the enzymatic conversion of methylmalonyl CoA to succinyl CoA.	Acid, Methylmalonic
D008765	Methylmalonyl-CoA Mutase	An enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of methylmalonyl-CoA to succinyl-CoA by transfer of the carbonyl group. It requires a cobamide coenzyme. A block in this enzymatic conversion leads to the metabolic disease, methylmalonic aciduria. EC 5.4.99.2.	Methylmalonyl-CoA Isomerase,Isomerase, Methylmalonyl-CoA,Methylmalonyl CoA Isomerase,Methylmalonyl CoA Mutase,Mutase, Methylmalonyl-CoA
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011261	Pregnancy Trimester, First	The beginning third of a human PREGNANCY, from the first day of the last normal menstrual period (MENSTRUATION) through the completion of 14 weeks (98 days) of gestation.	Early Placental Phase,Pregnancy, First Trimester,Trimester, First,Early Placental Phases,First Pregnancy Trimester,First Pregnancy Trimesters,First Trimester,First Trimester Pregnancies,First Trimester Pregnancy,First Trimesters,Phase, Early Placental,Phases, Early Placental,Placental Phase, Early,Placental Phases, Early,Pregnancies, First Trimester,Pregnancy Trimesters, First,Trimesters, First
D011296	Prenatal Diagnosis	Determination of the nature of a pathological condition or disease in the postimplantation EMBRYO; FETUS; or pregnant female before birth.	Diagnosis, Prenatal,Fetal Diagnosis,Fetal Imaging,Fetal Screening,Intrauterine Diagnosis,Antenatal Diagnosis,Antenatal Screening,Diagnosis, Antenatal,Diagnosis, Intrauterine,Prenatal Screening,Antenatal Diagnoses,Antenatal Screenings,Diagnosis, Fetal,Fetal Diagnoses,Fetal Imagings,Fetal Screenings,Imaging, Fetal,Intrauterine Diagnoses,Prenatal Diagnoses,Prenatal Screenings,Screening, Antenatal,Screening, Fetal,Screening, Prenatal
D002824	Chorionic Villi	Threadlike vascular projections of the chorion. Chorionic villi may be free or embedded within the DECIDUA forming the site for exchange of substances between fetal and maternal blood (PLACENTA).	Placental Villi,Labyrinth of the Placenta,Labyrinthine Placenta,Placental Labyrinth Layer,Chorionic Villus,Labyrinth Layer, Placental,Placental Labyrinth Layers,Placental Villus,Villi, Chorionic,Villi, Placental,Villus, Chorionic,Villus, Placental
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000592	Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors	Disorders affecting amino acid metabolism. The majority of these disorders are inherited and present in the neonatal period with metabolic disturbances (e.g., ACIDOSIS) and neurologic manifestations. They are present at birth, although they may not become symptomatic until later in life.	Amino Acidopathies, Congenital,Amino Acid Metabolism Disorders, Inborn,Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Error,Amino Acid Metabolism, Inherited Disorders,Amino Acidopathies, Inborn,Congenital Amino Acidopathies,Inborn Errors, Amino Acid Metabolism,Inherited Errors of Amino Acid Metabolism,Amino Acidopathy, Congenital,Amino Acidopathy, Inborn,Congenital Amino Acidopathy,Inborn Amino Acidopathies,Inborn Amino Acidopathy