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Sunday, October 19, 2008

MTHFR Gene

Definition:5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (NADPH)

Official Symbol:MTHFR

Chromosome:1


Gene Size: 20329 bp complement(11768374..11788702)


No Exons:12

Location : 1p36.3



Description:

MTHFR gene codes for an enzyme called methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase,which plays vital role in amino acid processing and protein building blocks ,Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase catalyzes the conversion of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, a cosubstrate for homocysteine remethylation to methionine


Disease :
Mutations in the gene MTHFR causes disease called Homocystinuria,Homocystinuria, also known as Cystathionine beta synthase deficiency, is an inherited disorder of the metabolism of the amino acid methionine, often involving cystathionine beta synthase. It is an inherited autosomal recessive trait, About 24 mutation in MTHFR gene have been identified in people with homocystinuria,Most of these mutaions are single amino acids in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase.These substitutions disrupt the function of the enzyme, and may inactivate it completely,Without methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, homocysteine cannot be converted to methionine. As a result, homocysteine builds up in the bloodstream and methionine is depleted. Some of the excess homocysteine is excreted in urine. Researchers have not determined how altered levels of homocysteine and methionine lead to the health problems associated with homocystinuria.

Homocystinuria, What is it?

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