Slowed conduction and thin myelination of peripheral nerves associated with mutant rho Guanine-nucleotide exchange factor 10

Am J Hum Genet. 2003 Oct;73(4):926-32. doi: 10.1086/378159. Epub 2003 Aug 19.

Abstract

Slowed nerve-conduction velocities (NCVs) are a biological endophenotype in the majority of the hereditary motor and sensory neuropathies (HMSN). Here, we identified a family with autosomal dominant segregation of slowed NCVs without the clinical phenotype of HMSN. Peripheral-nerve biopsy showed predominantly thinly myelinated axons. We identified a locus at 8p23 and a Thr109Ile mutation in ARHGEF10, encoding a guanine-nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for the Rho family of GTPase proteins (RhoGTPases). Rho GEFs are implicated in neural morphogenesis and connectivity and regulate the activity of small RhoGTPases by catalyzing the exchange of bound GDP by GTP. Expression analysis of ARHGEF10, by use of its mouse orthologue Gef10, showed that it is highly expressed in the peripheral nervous system. Our data support a role for ARHGEF10 in developmental myelination of peripheral nerves.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8*
  • Female
  • Genetic Markers
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation*
  • Myelin Sheath / physiology*
  • Myelin Sheath / ultrastructure
  • Neural Conduction / genetics*
  • Pedigree
  • Peripheral Nerves / physiology*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • ARHGEF10 protein, human
  • Genetic Markers
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors

Associated data

  • RefSeq/NM_004745
  • RefSeq/NM_014629
  • RefSeq/NM_014867
  • RefSeq/NM_018941
  • RefSeq/NM_172751
  • RefSeq/NP_055444