Lack of spartin protein in Troyer syndrome: a loss-of-function disease mechanism?

BACKGROUND Hereditary spastic paraplegias (SPG1-SPG33) are characterized by progressive spastic weakness of the lower limbs. A nucleotide deletion (1110delA) in the (SPG20; OMIM 275900) spartin gene is the origin of autosomal recessive Troyer syndrome. This mutation is predicted to cause premature termination of the spartin protein. However, it remains unknown whether this truncated spartin protein is absent or is present and partially functional in patients. OBJECTIVE To determine whether the truncated spartin protein is present or absent in cells derived from patients with Troyer syndrome. DESIGN Case report. SETTING Academic research. PATIENTS We describe a new family with Troyer syndrome due to the 1110delA mutation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES We cultured primary fibroblasts and generated lymphoblasts from affected individuals, carriers, and control subjects and subjected these cells to immunoblot analyses. RESULTS Spartin protein is undetectable in several cell lines derived from patients with Troyer syndrome. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that Troyer syndrome results from complete loss of spartin protein rather than from the predicted partly functional fragment. This may reflect increased protein degradation or impaired translation.