CTNS

protein-coding

cystinosin, lysosomal cystine transporter, the group of Solute carrier family 66

Gene summary

This gene encodes a seven-transmembrane domain protein that functions to transport cystine out of lysosomes. Its activity is driven by the H+ electrochemical gradient of the lysosomal membrane. Mutations in this gene cause cystinosis, a lysosomal storage disorder. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2009]

MANE transcript

NM_004937.3

Inheritance

AR

ClinVar variants

P:193U:169B:202

Top phenotype

Cystinosis

gnomAD constraint

pLI —, LoF o/e 0.46

Max pathogenic AF

—

Genomic locus

chr17:3,636,459-3,663,103

External References & Databases

Transcript & Mutation Effects

hg38 • Region Span ~26.6 kb
Loading mutation effect viewer...

GenCC Phenotypes & Disease Associations

Curated gene-disease validity assertions and inheritance patterns

ocular cystinosisSUPPORTIVE

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0009064

Submitter: Orphanet

juvenile nephropathic cystinosisSTRONG

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0009066

Submitter: Genomics England PanelApp

nephropathic infantile cystinosisSUPPORTIVE

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0018467

Submitter: Orphanet

nephropathic cystinosisSTRONG

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0100151

Submitter: Genomics England PanelApp

juvenile nephropathic cystinosisSTRONG

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0009066

Submitter: Labcorp Genetics (formerly Invitae)

nephropathic cystinosisDEFINITIVE

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0100151

Submitter: Ambry Genetics

nephropathic cystinosisDEFINITIVE

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0100151

Submitter: G2P

cystinosisDEFINITIVE

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0016239

Submitter: Natera

cystinosisDEFINITIVE

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0016239

Submitter: ClinGen

The *CTNS* gene is located on chromosome 17 at p13.2 and encodes cystinosin, a seven-transmembrane domain protein expressed on lysosomal membranes. Cystinosin functions to transport cystine, a by-product of lysosomal protein hydrolysis, out of lysosomes and into the cytoplasm where it is reduced to cysteine. In the absence of a functional cystinosin protein, cystine accumulates and crystallizes in the lysosomal lumen. Multiple disease entities have been reported in association with this gene. Per criteria outlined by the ClinGen Lumping and Splitting Working Group, there was no evidence of differences in their molecular mechanisms, inheritance pattern or phenotypic spectrum. Therefore, the following disease entities have been lumped into one disease entity: Cystinosis, nephropathic (OMIM:219800); Cystinosis, late-onset juvenile or adolescent nephropathic (OMIM:219900); and Cystinosis, ocular non-nephropathic (OMIM:219750). The preferred disease name suggested for this grouping of disorders is ‘Cystinosis - *CTNS*’. *CTNS* was first reported in relation to autosomal recessive cystinosis in 1998 (Town et al., PMID: 9537412). In the most frequent form, infantile nephropathic cystinosis, individuals typically present during the second half of the first year of life, with short stature and failure to thrive, renal Fanconi syndrome, hypophosphatemic/calcipenic rickets, and corneal crystals that eventually cause photophobia. Left untreated, kidney function will continue to deteriorate, eventually progressing to kidney failure at 10-12 years of age. Adult-onset, ocular non-nephropathic cystinosis is characterized solely by corneal cystine crystal accumulation. The mechanism of pathogenicity for cystinosis is known to be loss of function, with milder phenotypes generally associated with mutant cystinosin that retains some residual function (PMID: 15128704). The exact mechanisms that cause clinical symptoms remain incompletely understood, but cystine crystal accumulation, macrophage activation, enhanced oxidative stress, and inflammasome pathway activation are all driving factors (PMID: 35053306). More than 150 pathogenic variants (missense, nonsense, splice altering variants, small indels, promoter variants, and large deletions), located throughout the gene, have been reported (summarized in PMID: 30554218). Of note, a 57kb deletion accounts for 50% of mutant alleles in patients of Northern European ancestry, with the following variants also recognised as founder/recurrent variants in certain populations: c.1015G>A, c.971–12G>A, c.681G>A, and c.414G>A. A total of 9 variants identified in 8 probands over 8 publications are included in this curation. More evidence is available in the literature, but the maximum score for genetic evidence (12 pts.) has been reached, considering case-level data. This gene-disease relationship is also supported by animal models that recapitulate the human phenotype. A FVB/N knockout mouse model showed accumulation of cystine in all organs tested, with mice also developing ocular changes and bone defects (PMID: 12370309). A C57BL/6 knockout mouse model showed accumulation of cystine in multiple organs, as well as proximal tubulopathy, focal tubular lesions, and progressively developed chronic renal failure (PMID: 19846395). A knock in zebrafish model of a homozygous nonsense mutation showed cystine accumulation, impaired glomerular permselectivity and defective tubular reabsorption, with podocytes showing partial foot process effacement and narrowed slit diaphragmatic space (PMID: 28198397). A total of 5/6 pts. for experimental evidence was reached. In summary, there is definitive evidence supporting the relationship between *CTNS* and autosomal recessive cystinosis. This has been repeatedly demonstrated in both the research and clinical diagnostic settings and has been upheld over time.

juvenile nephropathic cystinosisSUPPORTIVE

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0009066

Submitter: Orphanet

ocular cystinosisSTRONG

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0009064

Submitter: Genomics England PanelApp

cystinosisDEFINITIVE

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0016239

Submitter: Myriad Women's Health

Clinical Genomic Database (CGD)

CystinosisAR

Manifestation: Biochemical; Endocrine; Musculoskeletal; Ophthalmologic; Renal

Intervention: Biochemical; Endocrine; Ophthalmologic; Renal

Rationale: Cystine-depleting agents (cysteamine) instituted at an early age can be beneficial related to manifestations affecting multiple organ systems, perhaps including cognitive development, as well as renal manifestations (renal tubular Fanconi syndrome and glomerular damage), though renal transplantation may be necessary; Surveillance for renal manifestations and related sequelae can allow early detection and management of disease with (in addition to cystine-depleting agents), replacement of renal losses; Dietary management (eg, ensuring sufficient caloric intake, and with vitamin D and phosphate supplementation) can be beneficial related to potential failure to thrive and hypophosphatemic rickets; Cysteamine eyedrops can be beneficial related to ophthalmologic sequelae; Surveillance for endocrine manifestations (eg, hypothyroidism, or hypogonadism in males) can allow early detection and medical management, including potential use of growth hormone in order to optimize height in some individuals

Refs: 6038997; 4914142; 5443335; 406375; 333912; 7112129; 3307383; 3335962; 3550461; 3674101; 3821824; 3335962; 3185663; 3292915; 381441; 2230837; 552398; 8455682; 8172256; 7593434; 9537412; 10556299; 10417278; 10444339; 10625078; 11001803; 10673275; 12110740; 12442267; 16603246; 17643777; 19863563; 20301574; 20803298; 20814825; 21305353; 21784456; 21868618; 21371554; 21900880; 22903658; 23001048; 23462307; 23538568; 25165189Source: CGD (NHGRI)

ClinVar Associated Diseases & Phenotypes

Reported disease conditions connected to CTNS variants in ClinVar

13 Conditions Cataloged
Ocular cystinosisTotal: 583
Juvenile nephropathic cystinosisTotal: 577
Inborn genetic diseasesTotal: 576
Nephropathic cystinosisTotal: 243
CystinosisTotal: 168
not providedTotal: 68
not specifiedTotal: 39
CTNS-related disorderTotal: 25

ClinVar Variants & Pathogenicity by Type

Statistics based on transcript NM_004937.3. Only rare variants are included.

We include only reliable ClinVar variants with their consequences to MANE Select, MANE Plus Clinical transcripts, or transcripts with TSL equal to 1. Click a count to filter the variants table below.

Slight differences between displayed counts and ClinVar may occur due to a different transcript/consequence chosen by our variant effect predictor, or because we classify Benign/Likely benign as Likely benign and Pathogenic/Likely pathogenic as Likely pathogenic.

EffectPLPVUSLBBSum
synonymous
1
clinvar
6
clinvar
178
clinvar
3
clinvar
188
missense
8
clinvar
26
clinvar
161
clinvar
20
clinvar
1
clinvar
216
nonsense
18
clinvar
19
clinvar
37
start loss
2
clinvar
2
frameshift
44
clinvar
28
clinvar
1
clinvar
73
splice donor/acceptor (+/-2bp)
13
clinvar
34
clinvar
1
clinvar
48
Total861071691984564

Highest pathogenic variant AF is 0.00011138631

Loading ClinVar variants...

Transcript Catalog

Annotated transcript isoforms across RefSeq and Ensembl databases

Showing 4 of 41 transcripts
Transcript IDSourceProtein IDCoding ExonsMANE Status
NM_004937.3RefSeqNP_004928.210MANE Select
ENST00000046640.9EnsemblENSP00000046640.410MANE Select
NM_001031681.3RefSeqNP_001026851.211Standard
NM_001374492.1RefSeqNP_001361421.111Standard

Model Organisms & Knockout Phenotypes

Observed phenotypic effects in mouse and zebrafish models

Gene / ModelOrganismObserved Phenotype
ctnsDanio rerio

Structure: trunk

Quality: curved

abnormal

Gene Ontology (GO) Annotations & Pathways

Biological processes, molecular functions, cellular components and pathways

Pathways ConsensusPathDB

  • Lysosome - Homo sapiens (human)
  • Beta-mercaptolactate-cysteine disulfiduria
  • Cysteine Metabolism
  • Cystinosis, ocular nonnephropathic
  • Transport of inorganic cations/anions and amino acids/oligopeptides

Biological Process

  • lens development in camera-type eye
  • cellular amino acid metabolic process
  • glutathione metabolic process
  • ion transport
  • brain development

Molecular Function

  • L-cystine transmembrane transporter activity

Cellular Component

  • lysosome
  • lysosomal membrane
  • early endosome
  • late endosome
  • vacuolar membrane

gnomAD Constraint

Source: gnomAD

Gene type
protein_coding
Transcript type
protein_coding
Transcript
ENST00000381870
Coding exons
11
Length
25075
Individuals with no LoFs
125689
Homozygous LoFs
0
Heterozygous LoFs
59
Defined
125748
p
0.000235
Z-ScoreObservedExpectedObserved/ExpectedMutation RateTotal Possible
Missense-0.9182712321.170.00001622632
Missense (PolyPhen)8871.6371.2284895
Synonymous-1.7711895.91.230.00000786794
Loss of Function2.23919.70.4588.78e-7225

Population LoF Frequency

PopulationCAFp-valueStatus
African0.000250.00025rare
Latino/Admixed American0.0000580.000058rare
Ashkenazi Jewish00.0absent
East Asian0.0000540.000054rare
Finnish00.0absent
European (Non-Finnish)0.000390.00039rare
South Asian0.000200.00020rare
Other0.000330.00033rare

dbNSFP Gene Annotations

Source: dbNSFP

Function
FUNCTION: Cystine/H(+) symporter thought to transport cystine out of lysosomes. Plays an important role in melanin synthesis, possibly by preventing melanosome acidification and subsequent degradation of tyrosinase TYR. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:22649030}.;
Disease
DISEASE: Cystinosis, adult, non-nephropathic type (CTNSANN) [MIM:219750]: A form of cystinosis, a lysosomal storage disease due to defective transport of cystine across the lysosomal membrane. This results in cystine accumulation and crystallization in the cells causing widespread tissue damage. Cystinosis adult non-nephropathic type is characterized by ocular features and a benign course. Patients manifest mild photophobia due to conjunctival and corneal cystine crystals. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:10625078}. Note=The disease is caused by mutations affecting the gene represented in this entry.; DISEASE: Cystinosis, late-onset juvenile or adolescent nephropathic type (CTNSJAN) [MIM:219900]: A form of cystinosis, a lysosomal storage disease due to defective transport of cystine across the lysosomal membrane. This results in cystine accumulation and crystallization in the cells causing widespread tissue damage. Late-onset juvenile or adolescent nephropathic cystinosis is an intermediated form, manifesting first at age 10 to 12 years with proteinuria due to glomerular damage rather than with the manifestations of tubular damage that occur first in infantile cystinosis. There is no excess amino aciduria and stature is normal. Photophobia, late development of pigmentary retinopathy, and chronic headaches are features. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:10444339, ECO:0000269|PubMed:12442267, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9792862}. Note=The disease is caused by mutations affecting the gene represented in this entry.;

Recessive Scores

pRec
0.363

Intolerance Scores

LoFtool
0.0634
RVIS EVS
-0.18
RVIS percentile EVS
40.56

Essentials

Essential (CRISPR)
N
Essential (CRISPR2)
N
Essential (gene trap)
N
Indispensability pred.
E
Indispensability score
0.561

Gene Damage Prediction

AllRecessiveDominant
MendelianMediumMediumMedium
Primary ImmunodeficiencyMediumMediumMedium
CancerMediumMediumMedium
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