BACKGROUND: Citrullinemia type 1 is an autosomal-recessive urea cycle disorder caused by mutations in the ASS1 gene and characterised by increased plasma citrulline concentrations. Of the ∼90 argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) missense mutations reported, 21 map near the substrate (aspartate or citrulline) binding site, and thus are potential kinetic mutations whose decreased activities could be amenable to substrate supplementation. This article aims at characterising these 21 ASS mutations to prove their disease-causing role and to test substrate supplementation as a novel therapeutic approach. METHODS: We used an Escherichia coli expression system to study all potentially kinetic ASS mutations. All mutant enzymes were nickel-affinity purified, their activity and kinetic parameters were measured using tandem mass spectrometry and their thermal stability using differential scanning fluorimetry. Structural rationalisation of the effects of these mutations was performed. RESULTS: Of the characterised mutants, 13 were totally inactive while 8 exhibited decreased affinity for aspartate and citrulline. The activity of these eight kinetic mutations could be rescued to ∼10-99% of the wild-type using high l-aspartate concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Substrate supplementation raised in vitro the activity of eight citrullinemia type 1 mutations with reduced affinity for aspartate. As a direct translation of these results to the clinics, we propose to further evaluate the use of oxaloacetate, a nitrogen-free aspartate precursor and already available medical food (anti-ageing and brain stimulating, not considered as a drug by the US Food and Drug Administration), in patients with citrullinemia type 1 with decreased aspartate affinity. Although only patients with kinetic mutations would benefit, oxaloacetate could offer a safe novel treatment. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/
BACKGROUND:Citrullinemia type 1 is an autosomal-recessive urea cycle disorder caused by mutations in the ASS1 gene and characterised by increased plasma citrulline concentrations. Of the ∼90 argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) missense mutations reported, 21 map near the substrate (aspartate or citrulline) binding site, and thus are potential kinetic mutations whose decreased activities could be amenable to substrate supplementation. This article aims at characterising these 21 ASS mutations to prove their disease-causing role and to test substrate supplementation as a novel therapeutic approach. METHODS: We used an Escherichia coli expression system to study all potentially kinetic ASS mutations. All mutant enzymes were nickel-affinity purified, their activity and kinetic parameters were measured using tandem mass spectrometry and their thermal stability using differential scanning fluorimetry. Structural rationalisation of the effects of these mutations was performed. RESULTS: Of the characterised mutants, 13 were totally inactive while 8 exhibited decreased affinity for aspartate and citrulline. The activity of these eight kinetic mutations could be rescued to ∼10-99% of the wild-type using high l-aspartate concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Substrate supplementation raised in vitro the activity of eight citrullinemia type 1 mutations with reduced affinity for aspartate. As a direct translation of these results to the clinics, we propose to further evaluate the use of oxaloacetate, a nitrogen-free aspartate precursor and already available medical food (anti-ageing and brain stimulating, not considered as a drug by the US Food and Drug Administration), in patients with citrullinemia type 1 with decreased aspartate affinity. Although only patients with kinetic mutations would benefit, oxaloacetate could offer a safe novel treatment. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/
Authors: Matthias Zielonka; Stefan Kölker; Florian Gleich; Nicolas Stützenberger; Sandesh C S Nagamani; Andrea L Gropman; Georg F Hoffmann; Sven F Garbade; Roland Posset Journal: Ann Clin Transl Neurol Date: 2019-08-30 Impact factor: 4.511
Authors: Alexander Lercher; Anannya Bhattacharya; Alexandra M Popa; Michael Caldera; Moritz F Schlapansky; Hatoon Baazim; Benedikt Agerer; Bettina Gürtl; Lindsay Kosack; Peter Májek; Julia S Brunner; Dijana Vitko; Theresa Pinter; Jakob-Wendelin Genger; Anna Orlova; Natalia Pikor; Daniela Reil; Maria Ozsvár-Kozma; Ulrich Kalinke; Burkhard Ludewig; Richard Moriggl; Keiryn L Bennett; Jörg Menche; Paul N Cheng; Gernot Schabbauer; Michael Trauner; Kristaps Klavins; Andreas Bergthaler Journal: Immunity Date: 2019-11-26 Impact factor: 31.745