RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Steroid 21-hydroxylase deficiency is the most common cause of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Detection of underlying mutations in CYP21A2 gene encoding steroid 21-hydroxylase enzyme is helpful both for confirmation of diagnosis and management of CAH patients. Here we report a novel 9-bp insertion in CYP21A2 gene and its structural and functional consequences on P450c21 protein by molecular modeling and molecular dynamics simulations methods. METHODS: A 30-day-old child was referred to our laboratory for molecular diagnosis of CAH. Sequencing of the entire CYP21A2 gene revealed a novel insertion (duplication) of 9-bp in exon 2 of one allele and a well-known mutation I172N in exon 4 of other allele. Molecular modeling and simulation studies were carried out to understand the plausible structural and functional implications caused by the novel mutation. RESULTS: Insertion of the nine bases in exon 2 resulted in addition of three valine residues at codon 71 of the P450c21 protein. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the mutant exhibits a faster unfolding kinetics and an overall destabilization of the structure due to the triple valine insertion was also observed. CONCLUSION: The novel 9-bp insertion in exon 2 of CYP21A2 genesignificantly lowers the structural stability of P450c21 thereby leading to the probable loss of its function.
Assuntos
Biologia Computacional/métodos , Análise Mutacional de DNA , Mutagênese Insercional , Esteroide 21-Hidroxilase/genética , Hiperplasia Suprarrenal Congênita/enzimologia , Hiperplasia Suprarrenal Congênita/genética , Alelos , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Sequência de Bases , Éxons , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Modelos Moleculares , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Conformação Proteica , Esteroide 21-Hidroxilase/química , Esteroide 21-Hidroxilase/metabolismoRESUMO
This is a case report of a very rare combination of congenital aganglionosis of the intestine (Hirschsprung's disease) and congenital central hypoventilation syndrome-CCHS- (Ondine's curse). The combination is also called Haddad syndrome. In about 50% of the cases of CCHS there is associated Hirschsprung's disease. There are only about 48 cases reported worldwide. The disease has a very high mortality especially in the settings of a developing country.