N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfatase
N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfatase (GALNS) is an enzyme that is encoded by the GALNS gene in humans. This enzyme is a member of the glycosaminoglycan metabolic pathway, and its deficiency is associated with a rare lysosomal storage disease known as Morquio A syndrome.
Function[edit | edit source]
N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfatase is a lysosomal enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of the 6-sulfate groups of the N-acetyl-D-galactosamine 6-sulfate units of chondroitin sulfate and keratan sulfate. Deficiency of this enzyme results in the accumulation of undegraded substrate and leads to severe pathological conditions.
Clinical significance[edit | edit source]
Deficiency of N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfatase leads to Morquio A syndrome, a lysosomal storage disease. This disease is characterized by a deficiency in the catabolic pathway of the glycosaminoglycans, keratan sulfate and chondroitin-6-sulfate.
Symptoms of Morquio A syndrome include abnormal development of bones, a distinctive "bell-shaped" chest with a protruding sternum, short stature, and joint abnormalities. Other symptoms may include hearing loss, clouded corneas, heart disease, and spinal cord compression.
Genetics[edit | edit source]
The GALNS gene is located on the long (q) arm of chromosome 16 at position 24.3. The gene spans about 50 kb and contains 14 exons.
Treatment[edit | edit source]
There is currently no cure for Morquio A syndrome. Treatment is symptomatic and supportive, and may include physical therapy, surgical correction of bone abnormalities, and enzyme replacement therapy with recombinant human N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfatase.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
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