Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase: characteristics of the mutant enzyme in erythrocytes from patients with the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. 1972

W J Arnold, and J C Meade, and W N Kelley

The Lesch-Nyhan syndrome is characterized clinically by choreoathetosis, spasticity, selfmutilation, and mental and growth retardation. Biochemically, there is a striking reduction of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) activity in affected individuals. We have examined erythrocytes from 14 patients with the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome for the presence of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase activity and enzyme protein. In contrast to the usual finding of no detectable hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase activity, we have found low levels (0.002-0.79 nmoles/mg protein per hr) of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase activity in erythrocyte lysates from five of these patients. In three of the five patients, hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase activity appeared to be substantially more labile in vivo than normal using erythrocytes which had been separated according to their density (age). Immunochemical studies using a monospecific antiserum prepared from a homogeneous preparation of normal human erythrocyte hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase revealed immunoreactive protein (CRM) in hemolysate from all 14 patients with the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. The immunoreactive protein from each patient gave a reaction of complete identity with normal erythrocyte hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase and was present in quantities equal to those observed in normal erythrocytes. In addition, a constant amount of CRM was found in erythrocytes of increasing density (age) from patients with the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome despite the decreasing hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase activity. These studies confirm previous data which indicate that the mutations leading to the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome are usually, if not always on the structural gene coding for hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase. In addition, although the mutant proteins appear to be present in normal amounts, they are often very labile in vivo with respect to enzymatic activity. These observations suggest that therapy directed at stabilization or activation of enzyme activity in vivo may be of potential benefit.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007042 Hypoxanthines Purine bases related to hypoxanthine, an intermediate product of uric acid synthesis and a breakdown product of adenine catabolism.
D007122 Immunoelectrophoresis A technique that combines protein electrophoresis and double immunodiffusion. In this procedure proteins are first separated by gel electrophoresis (usually agarose), then made visible by immunodiffusion of specific antibodies. A distinct elliptical precipitin arc results for each protein detectable by the antisera.
D007926 Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome An inherited disorder transmitted as a sex-linked trait and caused by a deficiency of an enzyme of purine metabolism; HYPOXANTHINE PHOSPHORIBOSYLTRANSFERASE. Affected individuals are normal in the first year of life and then develop psychomotor retardation, extrapyramidal movement disorders, progressive spasticity, and seizures. Self-destructive behaviors such as biting of fingers and lips are seen frequently. Intellectual impairment may also occur but is typically not severe. Elevation of uric acid in the serum leads to the development of renal calculi and gouty arthritis. (Menkes, Textbook of Child Neurology, 5th ed, pp127) Choreoathetosis Self-Mutilation Hyperuricemia Syndrome,Hypoxanthine-Phosphoribosyl-Transferase Deficiency Disease,Choreoathetosis Self-Mutilation Syndrome,Complete HGPRT Deficiency Disease,Complete HPRT Deficiency,Complete Hypoxanthine-Guanine Phosphoribosyltransferase Deficiency,Deficiency Disease, Complete HGPRT,Deficiency Disease, Hypoxanthine-Phosphoribosyl-Transferase,Deficiency of Guanine Phosphoribosyltransferase,Deficiency of Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase,HGPRT Deficiency,HGPRT Deficiency Disease, Complete,Hypoxanthine Guanine Phosphoribosyltransferase 1 Deficiency,Hypoxanthine Guanine Phosphoribosyltransferase Deficiency,Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase Deficiency,Juvenile Gout, Choreoathetosis, Mental Retardation Syndrome,Juvenile Hyperuricemia Syndrome,Lesch-Nyhan Disease,Primary Hyperuricemia Syndrome,Total HPRT Deficiency,Total Hypoxanthine-Guanine Phosphoribosyl Transferase Deficiency,X-Linked Hyperuricemia,X-Linked Primary Hyperuricemia,Choreoathetosis Self Mutilation Hyperuricemia Syndrome,Choreoathetosis Self Mutilation Syndrome,Choreoathetosis Self-Mutilation Syndromes,Complete HPRT Deficiencies,Complete Hypoxanthine Guanine Phosphoribosyltransferase Deficiency,Deficiencies, Complete HPRT,Deficiencies, HGPRT,Deficiencies, Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase,Deficiencies, Total HPRT,Deficiency Disease, Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyl Transferase,Deficiency Diseases, Hypoxanthine-Phosphoribosyl-Transferase,Deficiency, Complete HPRT,Deficiency, HGPRT,Deficiency, Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase,Deficiency, Total HPRT,Guanine Phosphoribosyltransferase Deficiencies,Guanine Phosphoribosyltransferase Deficiency,HGPRT Deficiencies,HPRT Deficiencies, Complete,HPRT Deficiencies, Total,HPRT Deficiency, Complete,HPRT Deficiency, Total,Hyperuricemia Syndrome, Juvenile,Hyperuricemia Syndrome, Primary,Hyperuricemia Syndromes, Juvenile,Hyperuricemia Syndromes, Primary,Hyperuricemia, X-Linked,Hyperuricemia, X-Linked Primary,Hyperuricemias, X-Linked,Hyperuricemias, X-Linked Primary,Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyl Transferase Deficiency Disease,Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase Deficiencies,Hypoxanthine-Phosphoribosyl-Transferase Deficiency Diseases,Juvenile Hyperuricemia Syndromes,Lesch Nyhan Disease,Lesch Nyhan Syndrome,Phosphoribosyltransferase Deficiencies, Guanine,Phosphoribosyltransferase Deficiencies, Hypoxanthine,Phosphoribosyltransferase Deficiency, Guanine,Phosphoribosyltransferase Deficiency, Hypoxanthine,Primary Hyperuricemia Syndromes,Primary Hyperuricemia, X-Linked,Primary Hyperuricemias, X-Linked,Self-Mutilation Syndrome, Choreoathetosis,Self-Mutilation Syndromes, Choreoathetosis,Syndrome, Choreoathetosis Self-Mutilation,Syndrome, Juvenile Hyperuricemia,Syndrome, Primary Hyperuricemia,Syndromes, Choreoathetosis Self-Mutilation,Syndromes, Juvenile Hyperuricemia,Syndromes, Primary Hyperuricemia,Total HPRT Deficiencies,Total Hypoxanthine Guanine Phosphoribosyl Transferase Deficiency,X Linked Hyperuricemia,X Linked Primary Hyperuricemia,X-Linked Hyperuricemias,X-Linked Primary Hyperuricemias
D008607 Intellectual Disability Subnormal intellectual functioning which originates during the developmental period. This has multiple potential etiologies, including genetic defects and perinatal insults. Intelligence quotient (IQ) scores are commonly used to determine whether an individual has an intellectual disability. IQ scores between 70 and 79 are in the borderline range. Scores below 67 are in the disabled range. (from Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1992, Ch55, p28) Disability, Intellectual,Idiocy,Mental Retardation,Retardation, Mental,Deficiency, Mental,Intellectual Development Disorder,Mental Deficiency,Mental Retardation, Psychosocial,Deficiencies, Mental,Development Disorder, Intellectual,Development Disorders, Intellectual,Disabilities, Intellectual,Disorder, Intellectual Development,Disorders, Intellectual Development,Intellectual Development Disorders,Intellectual Disabilities,Mental Deficiencies,Mental Retardations, Psychosocial,Psychosocial Mental Retardation,Psychosocial Mental Retardations,Retardation, Psychosocial Mental,Retardations, Psychosocial Mental
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
D011686 Purine-Pyrimidine Metabolism, Inborn Errors Dysfunctions in the metabolism of PURINES or PYRIMIDINES resulting from inborn genetic mutations that are inherited or acquired in utero. Purine Pyrimidine Metabolism, Inborn Errors
D002247 Carbon Isotopes Stable carbon atoms that have the same atomic number as the element carbon but differ in atomic weight. C-13 is a stable carbon isotope. Carbon Isotope,Isotope, Carbon,Isotopes, Carbon
D004912 Erythrocytes Red blood cells. Mature erythrocytes are non-nucleated, biconcave disks containing HEMOGLOBIN whose function is to transport OXYGEN. Blood Cells, Red,Blood Corpuscles, Red,Red Blood Cells,Red Blood Corpuscles,Blood Cell, Red,Blood Corpuscle, Red,Erythrocyte,Red Blood Cell,Red Blood Corpuscle
D005779 Immunodiffusion Technique involving the diffusion of antigen or antibody through a semisolid medium, usually agar or agarose gel, with the result being a precipitin reaction. Gel Diffusion Tests,Diffusion Test, Gel,Diffusion Tests, Gel,Gel Diffusion Test,Immunodiffusions,Test, Gel Diffusion,Tests, Gel Diffusion
D006147 Guanine

Related Publications

W J Arnold, and J C Meade, and W N Kelley
January 1973, Advances in experimental medicine and biology,
W J Arnold, and J C Meade, and W N Kelley
February 1996, Acta paediatrica Japonica : Overseas edition,
W J Arnold, and J C Meade, and W N Kelley
January 1968, Federation proceedings,
W J Arnold, and J C Meade, and W N Kelley
January 1986, Neurologia (Barcelona, Spain),
W J Arnold, and J C Meade, and W N Kelley
May 1983, The Journal of clinical investigation,
W J Arnold, and J C Meade, and W N Kelley
February 1969, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America,
Copied contents to your clipboard!