RGD Reference Report - Neonatal hepatic steatosis by disruption of the adenosine kinase gene. - Rat Genome Database

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Neonatal hepatic steatosis by disruption of the adenosine kinase gene.

Authors: Boison, D  Scheurer, L  Zumsteg, V  Rulicke, T  Litynski, P  Fowler, B  Brandner, S  Mohler, H 
Citation: Boison D, etal., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2002 May 14;99(10):6985-90. Epub 2002 May 7.
RGD ID: 1300259
Pubmed: PMID:11997462   (View Abstract at PubMed)
PMCID: PMC124515   (View Article at PubMed Central)
DOI: DOI:10.1073/pnas.092642899   (Journal Full-text)

Neonatal hepatic steatosis (OMIM 228100) is a fatal condition of unknown etiology characterized by a pale and yellow liver and early postnatal mortality. In the present study, a deficit in adenosine-dependent metabolism is proposed as a causative factor. Physiologically, adenosine is efficiently metabolized to AMP by adenosine kinase (ADK), an enzyme highly expressed in liver. ADK not only ensures normal adenine nucleotide levels but also is essential for maintaining S-adenosylmethionine-dependent transmethylation processes, where adenosine, an obligatory product, has to be constantly removed. Homozygous Adk(-/-) mutants developed normally during embryogenesis. However, within 4 days after birth they displayed microvesicular hepatic steatosis and died within 14 days with fatty liver. Adenine nucleotides were decreased and S-adenosylhomocysteine, a potent inhibitor of transmethylation reactions, was increased in the mutant liver. Thus, a deficiency in adenosine metabolism is identified as a powerful contributor to the development of neonatal hepatic steatosis, providing a model for the rapid development of postnatally lethal fatty liver.

RGD Manual Disease Annotations    Click to see Annotation Detail View
TermQualifierEvidenceWithReferenceNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
Congenital Visceral Steatosis  ISOAdk (Mus musculus)1300259; 1300259 RGD 
Congenital Visceral Steatosis  IMP 1300259 RGD 

Objects Annotated

Genes (Rattus norvegicus)
Adk  (adenosine kinase)

Genes (Mus musculus)
Adk  (adenosine kinase)

Genes (Homo sapiens)
ADK  (adenosine kinase)


Additional Information