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PNPLA6 gene
URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/pnpla6/

PNPLA6 gene

patatin like phospholipase domain containing 6

Normal Function

The PNPLA6 gene provides instructions for making a protein called neuropathy target esterase (NTE). The NTE protein is involved in the breakdown of certain fats (lipids). Specifically, NTE breaks down a lipid called lysophosphatidylcholine, which is one of several compounds found in the outer membranes surrounding cells. The correct levels of these compounds are critical to the stability of the cell membranes.

The NTE protein is found most abundantly in the nervous system. It plays an important role in maintaining the stability of the membranes surrounding nerve cells (neurons) and of these cells' specialized extensions, called axons, that transmit nerve impulses. NTE may also play a role in the release of hormones from the pituitary gland, a process that requires particular changes in the cell membrane and appears to involve the lipids found there. The pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain and produces several hormones, including those that help direct sexual development and growth.

Health Conditions Related to Genetic Changes

Boucher-Neuhäuser syndrome

More than a dozen mutations in the PNPLA6 gene have been found to cause Boucher-Neuhäuser syndrome, a disorder characterized by coordination and balance problems (ataxia), vision impairment, and delayed puberty. The mutations are thought to impair the function of the NTE protein. Researchers are unsure how such a reduction in function leads to the signs and symptoms of the condition. They speculate that impairment of lysophosphatidylcholine metabolism alters the balance of compounds in the cell membrane. This imbalance may damage axons, leading to the movement and vision problems that characterize Boucher-Neuhäuser syndrome. The imbalance is also thought to impair the release of hormones involved in sexual development, accounting for the delayed puberty in affected individuals.

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Gordon Holmes syndrome

At least six mutations in the PNPLA6 gene cause Gordon Holmes syndrome, a rare condition characterized by ataxia and reduced production of hormones that direct sexual development (hypogonadotropic hypogonadism), which leads to delayed or absent puberty or other reproductive problems. As in Boucher-Neuhäuser syndrome (described above), the mutations that cause Gordon Holmes syndrome impair the function of the NTE protein, which researchers suspect disrupts the levels of lysophosphatidylcholine in cell membranes. The resulting imbalance of compounds in cell membranes is thought to damage neurons in the brain, causing ataxia, and impair the pituitary gland's release of hormones involved in sexual development, leading to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. It is unclear how mutations in the same gene cause different combinations of features.

More About This Health Condition

Other disorders

Mutations in the PNPLA6 gene cause a continuous spectrum of neurological conditions called PNPLA6-related disorders. Conditions in this group include Boucher-Neuhäuser syndrome (described above), Gordon Holmes syndrome (described above), Oliver-McFarlane syndrome, Laurence-Moon syndrome, and spastic paraplegia type 39. PNPLA6-related disorders feature combinations of overlapping signs and symptoms, including ataxia, muscle stiffness (spasticity), abnormally fast (brisk) reflexes, reduced sensation in the extremities (peripheral neuropathy), intellectual disability or other cognitive problems, eye abnormalities, impaired vision, hair abnormalities, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and reduced function of the pituitary gland (hypopituitarism). It is unknown how mutations in a single gene cause such a wide range of disorders.

Other Names for This Gene

  • BNHS
  • iPLA2delta
  • LNMS
  • NTE
  • NTEMND
  • OMCS
  • patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 6
  • SPG39
  • sws

Additional Information & Resources

Tests Listed in the Genetic Testing Registry

Scientific Articles on PubMed

Catalog of Genes and Diseases from OMIM

Gene and Variant Databases

References

  • Deik A, Johannes B, Rucker JC, Sanchez E, Brodie SE, Deegan E, Landy K, Kajiwara Y, Scelsa S, Saunders-Pullman R, Paisan-Ruiz C. Compound heterozygous PNPLA6 mutations cause Boucher-Neuhauser syndrome with late-onset ataxia. J Neurol. 2014 Dec;261(12):2411-23. doi: 10.1007/s00415-014-7516-3. Epub 2014 Sep 30. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Sogorb MA, Pamies D, Estevan C, Estevez J, Vilanova E. Roles of NTE protein and encoding gene in development and neurodevelopmental toxicity. Chem Biol Interact. 2016 Nov 25;259(Pt B):352-357. doi: 10.1016/j.cbi.2016.07.030. Epub 2016 Jul 28. Citation on PubMed
  • Synofzik M, Gonzalez MA, Lourenco CM, Coutelier M, Haack TB, Rebelo A, Hannequin D, Strom TM, Prokisch H, Kernstock C, Durr A, Schols L, Lima-Martinez MM, Farooq A, Schule R, Stevanin G, Marques W Jr, Zuchner S. PNPLA6 mutations cause Boucher-Neuhauser and Gordon Holmes syndromes as part of a broad neurodegenerative spectrum. Brain. 2014 Jan;137(Pt 1):69-77. doi: 10.1093/brain/awt326. Epub 2013 Dec 19. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Synofzik M, Hufnagel RB, Zuchner S. PNPLA6 Disorders. 2014 Oct 9 [updated 2021 Jun 10]. In: Adam MP, Feldman J, Mirzaa GM, Pagon RA, Wallace SE, Amemiya A, editors. GeneReviews(R) [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2024. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK247161/ Citation on PubMed
  • Tarnutzer AA, Gerth-Kahlert C, Timmann D, Chang DI, Harmuth F, Bauer P, Straumann D, Synofzik M. Boucher-Neuhauser syndrome: cerebellar degeneration, chorioretinal dystrophy and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism: two novel cases and a review of 40 cases from the literature. J Neurol. 2015 Jan;262(1):194-202. doi: 10.1007/s00415-014-7555-9. Epub 2014 Oct 31. Citation on PubMed
  • Topaloglu AK, Lomniczi A, Kretzschmar D, Dissen GA, Kotan LD, McArdle CA, Koc AF, Hamel BC, Guclu M, Papatya ED, Eren E, Mengen E, Gurbuz F, Cook M, Castellano JM, Kekil MB, Mungan NO, Yuksel B, Ojeda SR. Loss-of-function mutations in PNPLA6 encoding neuropathy target esterase underlie pubertal failure and neurological deficits in Gordon Holmes syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014 Oct;99(10):E2067-75. doi: 10.1210/jc.2014-1836. Epub 2014 Jul 17. Citation on PubMed
  • Vose SC, Fujioka K, Gulevich AG, Lin AY, Holland NT, Casida JE. Cellular function of neuropathy target esterase in lysophosphatidylcholine action. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2008 Nov 1;232(3):376-83. doi: 10.1016/j.taap.2008.07.015. Epub 2008 Jul 25. Citation on PubMed
  • Zaccheo O, Dinsdale D, Meacock PA, Glynn P. Neuropathy target esterase and its yeast homologue degrade phosphatidylcholine to glycerophosphocholine in living cells. J Biol Chem. 2004 Jun 4;279(23):24024-33. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M400830200. Epub 2004 Mar 25. Citation on PubMed

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