Identification of a novel transthyretin Thr59Lys/Arg104His. A case of compound heterozygosity in a Chinese patient diagnosed with familial transthyretin amyloidosis

Amyloid. 2002 Jun;9(2):134-40.

Abstract

Transthyretin (TTR) is a 127-amino acid residue protein synthesized mainly in the liver and in several minor sites, including the choroid plexus and the eye. In plasma, TTR circulates as a homotetramer and transports the hormone thyroxine and the retinol-binding protein-vitamin A complex. It is hypothesized that amino acid substitutions in TTR destabilize the tetramer by causing each subunit toform intermediates that may self-associate into amyloid fibrils. Deposition of wild type TTR, its variants and/or fragments as amyloid fibrils in tissues and organs is associated with familial transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR). Reported herein is the characterization of a novel TTR Thr59Lys/Arg104His in a patient of Chinese ancestry, who was diagnosed with ATTR. The two variant proteins and the double gene mutations in this compound heterozygous case were detected and identified using a multifaceted approach consisting of isoelectric focusing, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (MS), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight MS in combination with enzymatic digestion, and direct DNA sequence analysis. Previous studies have shown that the TTR Arg104His variant is non-pathologic. It appeared to provide a protective effect in another compound heterozygous case (TTR Val30Met/Arg104His). However, the TTR Arg104His variant when presented with the TTR Thr59Lys variant did not seem to have any protective role.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Amyloidosis, Familial / diagnosis
  • Amyloidosis, Familial / ethnology
  • Amyloidosis, Familial / genetics*
  • Asian People
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • DNA Primers / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Isoelectric Focusing
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation / genetics*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Prealbumin / genetics*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • Prealbumin