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Normal Function
The GALC gene provides instructions for making an enzyme called galactosylceramidase. Through a process called hydrolysis, this enzyme uses water molecules to break down certain fats called galactolipids, which are found primarily in the nervous system and kidneys.
Within cells, galactosylceramidase is found in enzyme-filled sacs called lysosomes where it hydrolyzes specific galactolipids, including galactosylceramide and psychosine. Galactosylceramide is an important component of myelin, the protective covering around certain nerve cells that ensures the rapid transmission of nerve impulses. Its breakdown by galactosylceramidase is part of the normal turnover of myelin that occurs throughout life. Psychosine, which is toxic to cells, forms during the production of myelin and is quickly broken down by galactosylceramidase. Under normal conditions, tissues contain very little psychosine.
Health Conditions Related to Genetic Changes
Krabbe disease
More than 200 GALC gene mutations that cause Krabbe disease have been identified. Krabbe disease is a brain disorder that usually begins in infancy (infantile Krabbe disease) and causes movement and eating problems, impaired development, and seizures. The most common mutation in affected individuals of European ancestry (often called 30-kb del) deletes a large segment of the GALC gene. Other mutations insert additional DNA building blocks (nucleotides) into the GALC gene, delete a small number of nucleotides from the gene, or replace single nucleotides with incorrect nucleotides.
These GALC gene mutations severely reduce or eliminate the activity of the galactosylceramidase enzyme. As a result, galactosylceramide and psychosine cannot be broken down. The accumulation of these galactolipids causes damage to myelin-forming cells, which impairs the formation of myelin and leads to the loss of myelin (demyelination) in the nervous system. Without myelin, nerves in the brain and other parts of the body cannot transmit signals properly, leading to the signs and symptoms of Krabbe disease.
Some individuals develop symptoms of Krabbe disease in childhood, adolescence, or adulthood (late-onset Krabbe disease). It is thought that these individuals have a mutation that allows some activity of the galactosylceramidase enzyme, which delays onset of the condition. The severity of the condition may also be affected by the presence of additional common variations (polymorphisms) in the GALC gene that affect the activity of the galactosylceramidase enzyme.
More About This Health ConditionOther Names for This Gene
- galactocerebrosidase
- galactosylceramide beta-galactosidase
- GALC_HUMAN
- GALCERase
Additional Information & Resources
Tests Listed in the Genetic Testing Registry
Scientific Articles on PubMed
Catalog of Genes and Diseases from OMIM
References
- Giri S, Khan M, Rattan R, Singh I, Singh AK. Krabbe disease: psychosine-mediated activation of phospholipase A2 in oligodendrocyte cell death. J Lipid Res. 2006 Jul;47(7):1478-92. doi: 10.1194/jlr.M600084-JLR200. Epub 2006 Apr 27. Citation on PubMed
- Shin D, Feltri ML, Wrabetz L. Altered Trafficking and Processing of GALC Mutants Correlates with Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy Severity. J Neurosci. 2016 Feb 10;36(6):1858-70. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3095-15.2016. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
- Spratley SJ, Hill CH, Viuff AH, Edgar JR, Skjodt K, Deane JE. Molecular Mechanisms of Disease Pathogenesis Differ in Krabbe Disease Variants. Traffic. 2016 Aug;17(8):908-22. doi: 10.1111/tra.12404. Epub 2016 May 30. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
- Wenger DA, Rafi MA, Luzi P. Krabbe disease: One Hundred years from the bedside to the bench to the bedside. J Neurosci Res. 2016 Nov;94(11):982-9. doi: 10.1002/jnr.23743. Citation on PubMed
- Zaka M, Wenger DA. Psychosine-induced apoptosis in a mouse oligodendrocyte progenitor cell line is mediated by caspase activation. Neurosci Lett. 2004 Apr 1;358(3):205-9. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2003.12.126. Citation on PubMed
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