Mutations of the MTHFR gene (428C>T and [458G>T+459C>T]) markedly decrease MTHFR enzyme activity

Neurogenetics. 2004 Jun;5(2):135-40. doi: 10.1007/s10048-004-0177-0. Epub 2004 Mar 27.

Abstract

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is the only route for the synthesis of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, which is utilized to convert homocysteine to methionine. In this study, we measured the enzyme activity of a mutant MTHFR that was detected in a patient with hyperhomocysteinemia. The 428C>T mutation in exon 2 of the MTHFR gene is a novel mutation, while the [458G>T+459C>T] mutation in exon 2 is a previously reported mutation. The activity of mutant enzymes containing the 428C>T, [458G>T+459C>T] and 677C>T mutations was 12.7+/-4.7%, 48.1+/-18.8%, and 43.6+/-14.4%, respectively, of that of the wild type enzyme. Our results suggest that these two variants each result in a severe MTHFR deficiency, which causes a developmental delay and cerebral vascular disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Developmental Disabilities / genetics*
  • Developmental Disabilities / metabolism
  • Enzyme Activation / genetics
  • Haplotypes
  • Humans
  • Hyperhomocysteinemia / genetics*
  • Hyperhomocysteinemia / metabolism
  • Intellectual Disability / genetics*
  • Intellectual Disability / metabolism
  • Male
  • Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / genetics*
  • Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Point Mutation*
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

Substances

  • Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)