Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is the central regulator of gonadotropins, which stimulate gonadal function. Hypothalamic neurons that produce kisspeptin and neurokinin B stimulate GnRH release. Inactivating mutations in the genes encoding the human kisspeptin receptor (KISS1R, formerly called GPR54), neurokinin B (TAC3), and the neurokinin B receptor (TACR3) result in pubertal failure. H...

Human disorders of phosphate (Pi) handling and hypophosphatemic rickets have been shown to result from mutations in PHEX, FGF23, and DMP1, presenting as X-linked recessive, autosomal-dominant, and autosomal-recessive patterns, respectively. We present the identification of an inactivating mutation in the ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1) gene causing autosomal-recessiv...

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare cystic lung disease presenting with cough, dyspnea on exertion and recurrent pneumothorax. Substantial achievements have been made during the past two decades regarding the pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of this disorder. LAM, affecting almost exclusively women, is associated with inactivating tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) gene mutations in LA...

CONTEXT Heterozygous GNAS inactivating mutations are known to induce pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1a when maternally inherited and pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism when paternally inherited. Progressive osseous heteroplasia (POH) is a rare disease of ectopic bone formation, and studies in different families have shown that POH is also caused by paternally inherited GNAS mutations. OBJECTIVE Ou...

UNLABELLED Renal control of systemic phosphate homeostasis is critical as evident from inborn and acquired diseases causing renal phosphate wasting. At least three transport proteins are responsible for renal phosphate reabsorption: NAPI-IIa (SLC34A1), NAPI-IIc (SLC34A3) and PIT-2 (SLC20A2). These transporters are highly regulated by various cellular mechanisms and factors including acid-base s...

BACKGROUND Activation of Ras or Raf contributes to tumorigenesis of melanoma. However, constitutive Raf activation is also a characteristic of the majority of benign melanocytic nevi and high intensity signaling of either Ras or Raf was found to induce growth inhibition and senescence rather than transformation. Since the chromosome 3p kinase (3pK)) is a target of the Ras/Raf/Mek/Erk signaling ...

Von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) loss is the hallmark event characterizing clear cell renal cancer subtype (ccRCC). Carriers of germinal VHL mutations have an increased prevalence kidney cysts and ccRCC as well hemangioblastoma, pheochromocytoma pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. In both sporadic inherited ccRCC, primary mechanism VHL-mediated carcinogenesis abnormal stabilization hypoxia-inducible facto...