Abstract

Galloway Mowat syndrome is a very rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder, consisting of a variety of features including hiatal hernia, microcephaly and nephrotic syndrome.

Genetics

Galloway Mowat syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder, which means the defective gene responsible for the disorder is located on an autosome, and two copies of the defective gene (one inherited from each parent) are required in order to be born with the disorder. The parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive disorder both carry one copy of the defective gene, but usually do not experience any signs or symptoms of the disorder.

Cause

The exact genetic defect in Galloway Mowat syndrome is yet to be discovered. However, mutations in podocyte proteins, such as nephrin, alpha-actinin 4, and podocin, are associated with proteinuria and nephrotic syndrome. There is reduced expression of synaptopodin, GLEPP1, and nephrin in Galloway-Mowat syndrome, but these are likely secondary to the proteinuria, likely not the proteins mutated in Galloway-Mowat syndrome.

The biochemical lesion appears to be in the Kinase, Endopeptidase and Other Proteins of small Size (KEOPS)/Endopeptidase-like and Kinase associated to transcribed Chromatin (EKC) (KEOPS/EKC) complex. Sequencing of genes in 37 cases of this condition revealed muations in the OSGEP, TP53RK, TPRKB and LAGE3 genes all of which encode subunits in the KEOPS complex. Members of this complex are found in bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes and are highly conserved. The function of this complex is still under investigation.