Gap junction gamma-2 (GJC2), also known as connexin-46.6 (Cx46.6) and connexin-47 (Cx47) and gap junction alpha-12 (GJA12), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GJC2gene.[1]
This gene encodes a gap junction protein. Gap junction proteins are members of a large family of homologous connexins and comprise 4 transmembrane, 2 extracellular, and 3 cytoplasmic domains. This gene plays a key role in central myelination and is involved in peripheral myelination in humans.[1]
Clinical significance
Homozygous or compound heterozygous defects in this gene are the cause of autosomal recessive Pelizaeus-Merzbacher-like disease-1.[1]
Heterozygous missense mutations in this same gene cause pubertal onset hereditary lymphedema.
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Odermatt B, Wellershaus K, Wallraff A, et al. (2003). "Connexin 47 (Cx47)-deficient mice with enhanced green fluorescent protein reporter gene reveal predominant oligodendrocytic expression of Cx47 and display vacuolized myelin in the CNS". J. Neurosci. 23 (11): 4549–59. PMID12805295.
Menichella DM, Goodenough DA, Sirkowski E, et al. (2003). "Connexins are critical for normal myelination in the CNS". J. Neurosci. 23 (13): 5963–73. PMID12843301.
Salviati L, Trevisson E, Baldoin MC, et al. (2007). "A novel deletion in the GJA12 gene causes Pelizaeus-Merzbacher-like disease". Neurogenetics. 8 (1): 57–60. doi:10.1007/s10048-006-0065-x. PMID17031678.
Wang J, Wang H, Wang Y, et al. (2010). "Two novel gap junction protein alpha 12 gene mutations in two Chinese patients with Pelizaeus-Merzbacher-like disease". Brain Dev. 32 (3): 236–43. doi:10.1016/j.braindev.2009.03.013. PMID19423250.
Henneke M, Combes P, Diekmann S, et al. (2008). "GJA12 mutations are a rare cause of Pelizaeus-Merzbacher-like disease". Neurology. 70 (10): 748–54. doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000284828.84464.35. PMID18094336.
Ruf N, Uhlenberg B (2009). "Analysis of human alternative first exons and copy number variation of the GJA12 gene in patients with Pelizaeus-Merzbacher-like disease". Am. J. Med. Genet. B Neuropsychiatr. Genet. 150B (2): 226–32. doi:10.1002/ajmg.b.30792. PMID18521858.
Wolf NI, Cundall M, Rutland P, et al. (2007). "Frameshift mutation in GJA12 leading to nystagmus, spastic ataxia and CNS dys-/demyelination". Neurogenetics. 8 (1): 39–44. doi:10.1007/s10048-006-0062-0. PMID16969684.
Ishikawa T, Sato K, Shimazaki R, et al. (2010). "[A case of autosomal recessive hypomyelinating leukodystrophy without GJA12 mutation presenting a novel phenotype]". Rinsho Shinkeigaku. 50 (1): 7–11. doi:10.5692/clinicalneurol.50.7. PMID20120347.