CTNS
protein-codingcystinosin, 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
Inheritance
ClinVar variants
Top phenotype
gnomAD constraint
Max pathogenic AF
Genomic locus
External References & Databases
Transcript & Mutation Effects
hg38 • Region Span ~26.6 kbGenCC Phenotypes & Disease Associations
Curated gene-disease validity assertions and inheritance patterns
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0009064
Submitter: Orphanet
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0009066
Submitter: Genomics England PanelApp
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0018467
Submitter: Orphanet
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0100151
Submitter: Genomics England PanelApp
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0009066
Submitter: Labcorp Genetics (formerly Invitae)
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0100151
Submitter: Ambry Genetics
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0100151
Submitter: G2P
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0016239
Submitter: Natera
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.
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0009066
Submitter: Orphanet
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0009064
Submitter: Genomics England PanelApp
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0016239
Submitter: Myriad Women's Health
Clinical Genomic Database (CGD)
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
ClinVar Associated Diseases & Phenotypes
Reported disease conditions connected to CTNS variants in ClinVar
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.
| Effect | PathogenicP | Likely pathogenicLP | VUS | Likely benignLB | BenignB | Sum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| synonymous | 1 | 6 | 178 | 3 | 188 | |
| missense | 8 | 26 | 161 | 20 | 1 | 216 |
| nonsense | 18 | 19 | 37 | |||
| start loss | 2 | 2 | ||||
| frameshift | 44 | 28 | 1 | 73 | ||
| splice donor/acceptor (+/-2bp) | 13 | 34 | 1 | 48 | ||
| Total | 86 | 107 | 169 | 198 | 4 | 564 |
Highest pathogenic variant AF is 0.00011138631
Transcript Catalog
Annotated transcript isoforms across RefSeq and Ensembl databases
| Transcript ID | Source | Protein ID | Coding Exons | MANE Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RefSeq | NP_004928.2 | 10 | MANE Select | |
| Ensembl | ENSP00000046640.4 | 10 | MANE Select | |
| RefSeq | NP_001026851.2 | 11 | Standard | |
| RefSeq | NP_001361421.1 | 11 | Standard |
Model Organisms & Knockout Phenotypes
Observed phenotypic effects in mouse and zebrafish models
| Gene / Model | Organism | Observed Phenotype |
|---|---|---|
| ctns | Danio 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:
- 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-Score | Observed | Expected | Observed/Expected | Mutation Rate | Total Possible | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missense | -0.918 | 271 | 232 | 1.17 | 0.0000162 | 2632 |
| Missense (PolyPhen) | 88 | 71.637 | 1.2284 | 895 | ||
| Synonymous | -1.77 | 118 | 95.9 | 1.23 | 0.00000786 | 794 |
| Loss of Function | 2.23 | 9 | 19.7 | 0.458 | 8.78e-7 | 225 |
Population LoF Frequency
| Population | CAF | p-value | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| African | 0.00025 | 0.00025 | rare |
| Latino/Admixed American | 0.000058 | 0.000058 | rare |
| Ashkenazi Jewish | 0 | 0.0 | absent |
| East Asian | 0.000054 | 0.000054 | rare |
| Finnish | 0 | 0.0 | absent |
| European (Non-Finnish) | 0.00039 | 0.00039 | rare |
| South Asian | 0.00020 | 0.00020 | rare |
| Other | 0.00033 | 0.00033 | rare |
dbNSFP Gene Annotations
Source:
- 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
| All | Recessive | Dominant | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mendelian | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Primary Immunodeficiency | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Cancer | Medium | Medium | Medium |