Health Topics
Normal Function
The GNPTG gene provides instructions for making one part, the gamma subunit, of an enzyme called GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase. This enzyme is made up of two alpha (α), two beta (β), and two gamma (γ) subunits. The alpha and beta subunits are produced from a different gene, called GNPTAB. GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase helps prepare certain newly made enzymes for transport to lysosomes. Lysosomes are compartments within the cell that use digestive enzymes called hydrolases to break down large molecules into smaller ones that can be reused by cells.
GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase is involved in the first step of making a molecule called mannose-6-phosphate (M6P). M6P acts as a tag that indicates a hydrolase should be transported to the lysosome. Specifically, GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase transfers a molecule called GlcNac-1-phosphate to a newly produced hydrolase. In the next step, a molecule is removed to reveal an M6P attached to the hydrolase. Once a hydrolase has an M6P tag, it can be transported to a lysosome.
Health Conditions Related to Genetic Changes
Mucolipidosis III gamma
At least 8 mutations in the GNPTG gene have been found to cause mucolipidosis III gamma. These mutations result in reduced the activity of GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase, which disrupts tagging of hydrolases with M6P. Digestive enzymes that do not receive the M6P tag end up outside the cell, where they have increased activity. The shortage of these digestive enzymes within lysosomes causes large molecules to accumulate there. Conditions that cause molecules to build up inside lysosomes, including mucolipidosis III gamma, are called lysosomal storage disorders. The signs and symptoms of mucolipidosis III gamma are most likely due to the shortage of hydrolases inside lysosomes and the effects these enzymes have outside the cell.
More About This Health ConditionOther Names for This Gene
- C16orf27
- c316G12.3
- CAB56184
- GlcNAc-phosphotransferase gamma-subunit
- GNPTAG
- GNPTG_HUMAN
- LP2537
- N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate transferase gamma subunit
- N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate transferase, gamma subunit
- N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase, gamma subunit
- RJD9
Additional Information & Resources
Tests Listed in the Genetic Testing Registry
Scientific Articles on PubMed
Catalog of Genes and Diseases from OMIM
References
- Persichetti E, Chuzhanova NA, Dardis A, Tappino B, Pohl S, Thomas NS, Rosano C, Balducci C, Paciotti S, Dominissini S, Montalvo AL, Sibilio M, Parini R, Rigoldi M, Di Rocco M, Parenti G, Orlacchio A, Bembi B, Cooper DN, Filocamo M, Beccari T. Identification and molecular characterization of six novel mutations in the UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase gamma subunit (GNPTG) gene in patients with mucolipidosis III gamma. Hum Mutat. 2009 Jun;30(6):978-84. doi: 10.1002/humu.20959. Citation on PubMed
- Pohl S, Tiede S, Castrichini M, Cantz M, Gieselmann V, Braulke T. Compensatory expression of human N-acetylglucosaminyl-1-phosphotransferase subunits in mucolipidosis type III gamma. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2009 Mar;1792(3):221-5. doi: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2009.01.009. Citation on PubMed
- Raas-Rothschild A, Bargal R, Goldman O, Ben-Asher E, Groener JE, Toutain A, Stemmer E, Ben-Neriah Z, Flusser H, Beemer FA, Penttinen M, Olender T, Rein AJ, Bach G, Zeigler M. Genomic organisation of the UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase gamma subunit (GNPTAG) and its mutations in mucolipidosis III. J Med Genet. 2004 Apr;41(4):e52. doi: 10.1136/jmg.2003.015222. No abstract available. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
- Raas-Rothschild A, Cormier-Daire V, Bao M, Genin E, Salomon R, Brewer K, Zeigler M, Mandel H, Toth S, Roe B, Munnich A, Canfield WM. Molecular basis of variant pseudo-hurler polydystrophy (mucolipidosis IIIC). J Clin Invest. 2000 Mar;105(5):673-81. doi: 10.1172/JCI5826. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
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