Cantú syndrome resulting from activating mutation in the KCNJ8 gene

Hum Mutat. 2014 Jul;35(7):809-13. doi: 10.1002/humu.22555. Epub 2014 May 6.

Abstract

ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP ) channels, composed of inward-rectifying potassium channel subunits (Kir6.1 and Kir6.2, encoded by KCNJ8 and KCNJ11, respectively) and regulatory sulfonylurea receptor (SUR1 and SUR2, encoded by ABCC8 and ABCC9, respectively), couple metabolism to excitability in multiple tissues. Mutations in ABCC9 cause Cantú syndrome (CS), a distinct multiorgan disease, potentially via enhanced KATP channel activity. We screened KCNJ8 in an ABCC9 mutation-negative patient who also exhibited clinical hallmarks of CS (hypertrichosis, macrosomia, macrocephaly, coarse facial appearance, cardiomegaly, and skeletal abnormalities). We identified a de novo missense mutation encoding Kir6.1[p.Cys176Ser] in the patient. Kir6.1[p.Cys176Ser] channels exhibited markedly higher activity than wild-type channels, as a result of reduced ATP sensitivity, whether coexpressed with SUR1 or SUR2A subunits. Our results identify a novel causal gene in CS, but also demonstrate that the cardinal features of the disease result from gain of KATP channel function, not from a Kir6-independent SUR2 function.

Keywords: Cantú syndrome; KATP; KCNJ8; Kir6.1; hypertrichosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Cardiomegaly / diagnosis
  • Cardiomegaly / genetics*
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Facies
  • Genetic Diseases, X-Linked / diagnosis
  • Genetic Diseases, X-Linked / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Hypertrichosis / diagnosis
  • Hypertrichosis / genetics*
  • KATP Channels / chemistry
  • KATP Channels / genetics*
  • KATP Channels / metabolism
  • Male
  • Membrane Potentials
  • Models, Molecular
  • Mutation*
  • Mutation, Missense
  • Osteochondrodysplasias / diagnosis
  • Osteochondrodysplasias / genetics*
  • Phenotype
  • Protein Conformation

Substances

  • KATP Channels
  • uK-ATP-1 potassium channel

Supplementary concepts

  • Cantu syndrome