Biallelic variants in AGMO with diminished enzyme activity are associated with a neurodevelopmental disorder

Hum Genet. 2019 Dec;138(11-12):1259-1266. doi: 10.1007/s00439-019-02065-x. Epub 2019 Sep 25.

Abstract

Alkylglycerol monooxygenase (AGMO) is the only enzyme known to cleave the O-alkyl bonds of ether lipids (alkylglycerols) which are essential components of cell membranes. A homozygous frameshift variant [p.(Glu324LysfsTer12)] in AGMO has recently been reported in two male siblings with syndromic microcephaly. In this study, we identified rare nonsense, in frame deletion, and missense biallelic variants in AGMO in two unrelated individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities. We assessed the activity of seven disease associated AGMO variants including the four variants identified in our two affected individuals expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK293T) cells. We demonstrated significantly diminished enzyme activity for all disease-associated variants, supporting the mechanism as decreased AGMO activity. Future mechanistic studies are necessary to understand how decreased AGMO activity leads to the neurologic manifestations.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases / genetics*
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases / metabolism*
  • Mutation*
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders / enzymology
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders / genetics
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders / pathology*
  • Prognosis

Substances

  • Mixed Function Oxygenases
  • glyceryl-ether monooxygenase