GBA1
protein-codingglucosylceramidase beta 1, the group of Glycoside hydrolases|Glucosylceramidases
Gene summary
This gene encodes a lysosomal membrane protein that cleaves the beta-glucosidic linkage of glycosylceramide, an intermediate in glycolipid metabolism. Mutations in this gene cause Gaucher disease, a lysosomal storage disease characterized by an accumulation of glucocerebrosides. A related pseudogene is approximately 12 kb downstream of this gene on chromosome 1. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Jan 2010]
- GLUC
- GBA
MANE transcript
Inheritance
ClinVar variants
Top phenotype
gnomAD constraint
Max pathogenic AF
Genomic locus
External References & Databases
Transcript & Mutation Effects
hg38 • Region Span ~10.2 kbGenCC Phenotypes & Disease Associations
Curated gene-disease validity assertions and inheritance patterns
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0009266
Submitter: Orphanet
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0018150
Submitter: Natera
Inheritance Pattern: AD
Disease ID:MONDO:0005180
Submitter: Natera
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0009266
Submitter: Genomics England PanelApp
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0018150
Submitter: ClinGen
The relationship between GBA and Gaucher disease, an autosomal recessive condition that is the most common lysosomal storage disorder, was evaluated using the ClinGen Clinical Validity Framework as of June 20, 2020 with additional information provided on the prenatal phenotype in April 2024. GBA encodes the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase (glucosylceramidase) which breaks down the glycosphingolipid, glucocerebroside (glucosylceramide). The presence of Gaucher cells (macrophages filled with glucocerebroside) in the spleen, liver, and bone marrow of affected individuals is a distinguishing histological feature of this disorder. Gaucher disease is multisystem disease characterized by hepatosplenomegaly, hematological abnormalities, bone disease, and neurological abnormalities. Historically, the disorder has been subclassified as type 1, the non-neuronopathic variant; type 2, the acute neuronopathic variant; type 3, the subacute neuronopathic variant and the collodion baby or neonatal variant (Sidransky 2004, PMID 15464415). Biallelic variants in GBA were first reported in patients with Gaucher disease in 1987 (Tsuji et al). Since then, over 200 variants have been reported. The mechanism of disease is loss of function. There is a clear genotype/phenotype correlation for some variants. For example, the mild p.Asn409Ser variant (formerly known as N370S) is found only in patients with type 1 disease, while p.Leu483Pro (formerly known as L444P) is associated with the neuronal subtypes. Molecular analysis of GBA is complicated by the presence of a highly homologous pseudogene, GBAP. In addition, the traditional variant nomenclature did not include the first 39 amino acids of the protein. These are now included based on the HGVS-recommended nomenclature. The four most common variants account for approximately 90% of the pathogenic variants in the Ashkenazi Jewish population and about 50-60% of pathogenic variants in non-Jewish populations (GeneReviews). These variants are c.84dupG (formerly known as 84GG), c.115+1G>A (formerly known as IVS2+1), p.Asn409Ser (formerly known as p.N370S), p.Leu483Pro (formerly known as p.L444P). Evidence supporting this gene-disease relationship includes case-level and experimental data. Ten unique variants (missense, nonsense, frameshift, splice site) from 13 probands in 9 publications were curated (Tsuji et al, 1987, PMID 2880291; Kolody et al, 1990, PMID 2117855; Beutler et al, 1991, PMID 1961718; He et al, 1992, PMID 1415223; Grace et al, 1997, PMID 9153297; Grace et al, 1999, PMID 10079102; Montfort et al, 2004, PMID 15146461; Haverkaemper et al, 2011, PMID 21455010; Beaujot et al, 2013, PMID 23749476). More information is available in the literature but the maximum score for genetic evidence (12 points) has been reached. This gene-disease relationship is also supported by the function of the gene product, glucocerebrosidase, which is consistent with the clinical features observed in patients with Gaucher disease (Pentchev et al, 1973, PMID 4768898; Boer et al, 2020, PMID 32182893), studies of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from patients with Gaucher disease and differentiated into macrophages and neurons (Panicker et al, 2012, PMID 23071332), mouse models with variants corresponding to those found in human patients (Liu et al, 1999, PMID 9482915), the impact of culturing iPSCs from patients with Gaucher disease with recombinant glucocerebrosidase (Panicker et al, 2012, PMID 23071332), and the improvement in clinical symptoms in patients treated with enzyme replacement therapy (Barton et al, 1991; PMID 2023606). More information is available in the literature but the maximum score for experimental evidence (6 points) has been reached. In summary, GBA is definitively associated with Gaucher disease. This has been repeatedly demonstrated in both the research and clinical diagnostic settings, and has been upheld over time. This clinical validity classification was approved by the General GCEP on June 24, 2020. This clinical validity assessment includes data curated by Myriad Women’s Health. LUMPING AND SPLITTING: Per criteria outlined by the ClinGen Lumping and Splitting Working Group, we found no difference in molecular mechanism AND inheritance pattern for Gaucher disease type I (MIM# 230800), type 2 (MIM# 230900), type 3 (MIM# 231000), type IIIc (231005), or perinatal lethal Gaucher disease (MIM# 608013). While these disease entities represent a wide range of clinical severity, the molecular mechanism is loss of function and the inheritance pattern is autosomal recessive for them all. Therefore, these disease entities have been lumped into one disease entity, Gaucher disease. We found differences in the inheritance pattern and phenotypic variability for risk of isolated late-onset Parkinson disease (MIM# 168600) and Lewy body dementia (MIM# 127750). While Parkinson disease and Lewy body dementia may occur at higher rates in individuals with Gaucher disease, Gaucher disease is associated with multi-system disease, as opposed to the increased risk of these isolated conditions occurring in individuals who are heterozygous for variants in GBA. Therefore, these disease entities are not included in this curation and may be curated for GBA at a later date. Additional curation information on prenatal presentation GBA has been previously curated by the General Gene Curation Gene Curation Expert Panel as Definitive for Gaucher Disease, and this GCEP provided evidence for Lumping multiple GBA associated disorders Gaucher disease, including the perinatal lethal (AR; MIM#608013). The Prenatal Gene Curation Expert Panel agrees with lumping them into one disease entity with variable severity, and provided additional curated evidence that perinatal lethal Gaucher disease and Gaucher disease type II may result in observable prenatal phenotypes. Evidence for prenatal presentation in Gaucher disease was observed in more than 10 unrelated individuals from the literature [PMID:7857677,10649495, 20946052, 21823541, 29854527, 36720536, 29656334, 31192173, 9267901]. Prenatal phenotypes observed in severe forms of Gaucher disease include generalized edema, contractures, dysmorphic features, hepatosplenomegaly, variable MRI findings, contractures, oligo- or polyhydramnios, severe fetal anemia and thrombocytopenia, hydrops and intrauterine fetal demise. There was no consistent genotype-phenotype correlation observed in severe Gaucher disease with prenatal presentations and fetuses with these phenotypes were identified with homozygous or compound heterozygous missense variants as well as frameshift, nonsense, and recombinant allele variants, although recombinant allele variants in homozygosity or compound heterozygosity were commonly observed. In summary, the Prenatal Gene Curation Expert Panel has identified significant evidence that severe forms of Gaucher disease including perinatal lethal Gaucher disease and Gaucher disease type II are associated with phenotypes that may be observable in the prenatal period (added April 2024).
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0011945
Submitter: G2P
Inheritance Pattern: AD
Disease ID:MONDO:0005180
Submitter: ClinGen
In 1987, biallelic *GBA* pathogenic variants were first linked to Gaucher's disease (Tsuji et al. 1987, PMID: 2880291), which is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder. However, it was noted that several of these probands with Gaucher's disease also had parkinsonian features and an unexpectedly high number of obligate (heterozygous) carrier relatives had Parkinson's disease. *GBA* was first systematically reported in relation to Parkinson's disease in 2004 (Aharon-Peretz et al. 2004, PMID: 15525722; Goker-Alpan et al. 2004, PMID: 15591280). Parkinson's disease is a progressive degenerative disorder of the central nervous system characterized by loss of dopamine producing neurons in the substantia nigra, and the presence of Lewy bodies in the substantia nigra and locus coeruleus in most cases. Signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include tremor which is most pronounced during rest, muscle rigidity, slowing of the voluntary movements (bradykinesia), a tendency to fall back (postural instability). Different pathogenic *GBA* variants occur in 7–15% of PD patients (Blandini et al. 2019, PMID: 30589955; Sidranski et al. 2009, PMID: 19846850) and the PD risk increase is between 2- to 15-fold for carriers of *GBA* variants depending on the severity of the respective change (Gan-Or et al. 2015, PMID: 25653295). Thus, *GBA*-linked Parkinson's disease shows either a highly reduced penetrance or can be considered as a strong genetic risk factor. Several variants have been linked to Parkinson's disease, including those variants that in the biallelic stage have been shown to cause different forms of Gaucher's disease, seven of these variants (missense, frameshift, splice site, complex rearrangements) are included in this curation. The evidence for additional variants from the literature was not included in this curation because the maximum score for genetic evidence (12 pts.) has been reached. The *GBA* gene encodes the lysosomal enzyme beta-glucocerebrosidase (GCase) which catalyzes the hydrolysis of glucosylceramide (Glc-Cer) to ceramide and glucose. Reduced GCase activity has repeatedly been shown in mutant patient-derived and non-patient cells suggesting a loss-of-function mechanism (Alcalay et al. 2015, PMID: 26117366; Li et al. 2019, PMID: 30160596; Kim et al. 2021, PMID: 33753743). On the other hand, specific effects of mutant GBA protein on mitochondrial priming and autophagy induction indicate a gain-of-toxic-function (Li et al. 2019, PMID: 30160596). This effect may be attributed to the ER retention of mutant GBA, resulting in an unfolded protein response (Bendikov-Bar et al. 2011, PMID: 21106416). Furthermore, it has been repeatedly shown that mutant GBA promotes the accumulation of alpha-synuclein which is a pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease (Schöndorf et al. 2014, PMID: 24905578). Following gene correction of the *GBA* mutations, the alpha-synuclein levels/accumulation were reduced to normal values (Schöndorf et al. 2014, PMID: 24905578). Notably, genomic multiplication (i.e. over-expression) of the alpha-synuclein gene (*SNCA*) is another well-established cause of Parkinson's disease. In summary, mutations in *GBA* are definitively causing autosomal-dominant Parkinson´s disease but with highly reduced penetrance. This has been repeatedly demonstrated in both the research and clinical diagnostic settings, and has been upheld over time. This classification was approved by the ClinGen Parkinson’s Disease Gene Curation Expert Panel on April 19th, 2022.
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0009267
Submitter: Genomics England PanelApp
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0009265
Submitter: Genomics England PanelApp
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0009268
Submitter: Genomics England PanelApp
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0011945
Submitter: Laboratory for Molecular Medicine
This gene-disease relationship has undergone rapid assessment. Classifications are based on preliminary review of gene-disease validity during analysis of genomic sequencing results.
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0009265
Submitter: Labcorp Genetics (formerly Invitae)
Inheritance Pattern: AD
Disease ID:MONDO:0008199
Submitter: Genomics England PanelApp
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0011945
Submitter: Genomics England PanelApp
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0009265
Submitter: Orphanet
Inheritance Pattern: AD
Disease ID:MONDO:0008199
Submitter: Ambry Genetics
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0009267
Submitter: Orphanet
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0009268
Submitter: Orphanet
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0018150
Submitter: Myriad Women's Health
Inheritance Pattern: AD
Disease ID:MONDO:0008199
Submitter: Labcorp Genetics (formerly Invitae)
Clinical Genomic Database (CGD)
Manifestation: Biochemical; Cardiovascular; Gastrointestinal; Hematologic; Musculoskeletal; Neurologic; Ophthalmologic
Intervention: Biochemical; Cardiovascular
Rationale: Enzyme replacement (ERT) and substrate reduction therapy (SRT) is available, and can be effective in terms of hematologic, visceral, and skeletal manifestations; In addition to supportive care (which can include, for example, the need for RBC transfusions), splenectomy may be beneficial related to splenomegaly and thrombocytopenia in individuals for whom ERT/SRT is not available; BMT/HSCT has been reported in certain severe forms of disease (eg, type 3, which include neurological involvement); D409H homozygosity results in a phenotype involving specific cardiovascular manifestations, and early diagnosis and care of these manifestations may reduce morbidity and mortality
Comments: Variants may also contribute to neurologic conditions such as Parkinson disease
ClinVar Associated Diseases & Phenotypes
Reported disease conditions connected to GBA1 variants in ClinVar
ClinVar Variants & Pathogenicity by Type
Statistics based on transcript NM_000157.4. 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 | 32 | 53 | 85 | |||
| missense | 39 | 200 | 221 | 5 | 1 | 466 |
| nonsense | 13 | 47 | 4 | 64 | ||
| start loss | 0 | |||||
| frameshift | 20 | 42 | 1 | 63 | ||
| splice donor/acceptor (+/-2bp) | 15 | 30 | 5 | 50 | ||
| Total | 87 | 319 | 263 | 58 | 1 | 728 |
Highest pathogenic variant AF is 0.002229254
Transcript Catalog
Annotated transcript isoforms across RefSeq and Ensembl databases
| Transcript ID | Source | Protein ID | Coding Exons | MANE Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RefSeq | NP_000148.2 | 11 | MANE Select | |
| Ensembl | ENSP00000357357.3 | 11 | MANE Select | |
| RefSeq | NP_001005741.1 | 11 | Standard | |
| RefSeq | NP_001005742.1 | 11 | Standard |
Model Organisms & Knockout Phenotypes
Observed phenotypic effects in mouse and zebrafish models
| Gene / Model | Organism | Observed Phenotype |
|---|---|---|
| gba | Danio rerio | Structure: macrophage Quality: morphology abnormal |
Gene Ontology (GO) Annotations & Pathways
Biological processes, molecular functions, cellular components and pathways
Pathways ConsensusPathDB
- Lysosome - Homo sapiens (human)
- Other glycan degradation - Homo sapiens (human)
- Sphingolipid metabolism - Homo sapiens (human)
- Sphingolipid Metabolism
- Gaucher Disease
Biological Process
- glucosylceramide catabolic process
- mitochondrion organization
- cellular response to starvation
- response to pH
- regulation of macroautophagy
Molecular Function
- glucosylceramidase activity
- signaling receptor binding
- scavenger receptor binding
- protein binding
- hydrolase activity
Cellular Component
- lysosome
- lysosomal membrane
- extrinsic component of membrane
- lysosomal lumen
- extracellular exosome
gnomAD Constraint
Source:
- Gene type
- protein_coding
- Transcript type
- protein_coding
- Transcript
- ENST00000327247
- Coding exons
- 11
- Length
- 10248
- Individuals with no LoFs
- 125706
- Homozygous LoFs
- 0
- Heterozygous LoFs
- 42
- Defined
- 125748
- p
- 0.000167
| Z-Score | Observed | Expected | Observed/Expected | Mutation Rate | Total Possible | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missense | 1.17 | 248 | 306 | 0.811 | 0.0000184 | 3487 |
| Missense (PolyPhen) | 47 | 89.407 | 0.52568 | 1117 | ||
| Synonymous | -0.397 | 125 | 119 | 1.05 | 0.00000707 | 1082 |
| Loss of Function | 2.36 | 14 | 27.3 | 0.512 | 0.00000152 | 288 |
Population LoF Frequency
| Population | CAF | p-value | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| African | 0 | 0.0 | absent |
| Latino/Admixed American | 0.000058 | 0.000058 | rare |
| Ashkenazi Jewish | 0.00020 | 0.00020 | rare |
| East Asian | 0.00022 | 0.00022 | rare |
| Finnish | 0.00014 | 0.00014 | rare |
| European (Non-Finnish) | 0.00022 | 0.00021 | rare |
| South Asian | 0.00020 | 0.00020 | rare |
| Other | 0.00016 | 0.00016 | rare |
dbNSFP Gene Annotations
Source:
- Disease
- DISEASE: Gaucher disease (GD) [MIM:230800]: A lysosomal storage disease due to deficient activity of beta-glucocerebrosidase and characterized by accumulation of glucosylceramide in the reticulo- endothelial system. Different clinical forms are recognized depending on the presence (neuronopathic forms) or absence of central nervous system involvement, severity and age of onset. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:10352942, ECO:0000269|PubMed:10360404, ECO:0000269|PubMed:10447266, ECO:0000269|PubMed:10744424, ECO:0000269|PubMed:10796875, ECO:0000269|PubMed:11933202, ECO:0000269|PubMed:11992489, ECO:0000269|PubMed:12204005, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15292921, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15826241, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16293621, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17620502, ECO:0000269|PubMed:18332251, ECO:0000269|PubMed:1972019, ECO:0000269|PubMed:1974409, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19846850, ECO:0000269|PubMed:7627184, ECO:0000269|PubMed:7627192, ECO:0000269|PubMed:7916532, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8076951, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8112750, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8294033, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8432537, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8790604, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8829654, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8829663, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8937765, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9061570, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9153297, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9182788, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9217217, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9279145, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9516376, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9554454, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9554746, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9650766, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9683600}. Note=The disease is caused by mutations affecting the gene represented in this entry.; DISEASE: Gaucher disease 1 (GD1) [MIM:230800]: A form of Gaucher disease characterized by hepatosplenomegaly with consequent anemia and thrombopenia, and bone involvement. The central nervous system is not involved. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:10206680, ECO:0000269|PubMed:10340647, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15605411, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8889591, ECO:0000269|Ref.14}. Note=The disease is caused by mutations affecting the gene represented in this entry.; DISEASE: Gaucher disease 2 (GD2) [MIM:230900]: The most severe form of Gaucher disease. It manifests soon after birth, with death generally occurring before patients reach two years of age. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:9637431, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9851895}. Note=The disease is caused by mutations affecting the gene represented in this entry.; DISEASE: Gaucher disease 3 (GD3) [MIM:231000]: A subacute form of neuronopathic Gaucher disease. It has later onset and slower progression compared to the acute form of neuronopathic Gaucher disease 2. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:8780099}. Note=The disease is caused by mutations affecting the gene represented in this entry.; DISEASE: Gaucher disease 3C (GD3C) [MIM:231005]: A variant of subacute neuronopathic Gaucher disease 3 associated with cardiovascular calcifications. Note=The disease is caused by mutations affecting the gene represented in this entry.; DISEASE: Gaucher disease perinatal lethal (GDPL) [MIM:608013]: Distinct form of Gaucher disease type 2, characterized by fetal onset. Hydrops fetalis, in utero fetal death and neonatal distress are prominent features. When hydrops is absent, neurologic involvement begins in the first week and leads to death within 3 months. Hepatosplenomegaly is a major sign, and is associated with ichthyosis, arthrogryposis, and facial dysmorphism. Note=The disease is caused by mutations affecting the gene represented in this entry.; DISEASE: Note=Perinatal lethal Gaucher disease is associated with non-immune hydrops fetalis, a generalized edema of the fetus with fluid accumulation in the body cavities due to non-immune causes. Non-immune hydrops fetalis is not a diagnosis in itself but a symptom, a feature of many genetic disorders, and the end-stage of a wide variety of disorders.; DISEASE: Parkinson disease (PARK) [MIM:168600]: A complex neurodegenerative disorder characterized by bradykinesia, resting tremor, muscular rigidity and postural instability. Additional features are characteristic postural abnormalities, dysautonomia, dystonic cramps, and dementia. The pathology of Parkinson disease involves the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and the presence of Lewy bodies (intraneuronal accumulations of aggregated proteins), in surviving neurons in various areas of the brain. The disease is progressive and usually manifests after the age of 50 years, although early-onset cases (before 50 years) are known. The majority of the cases are sporadic suggesting a multifactorial etiology based on environmental and genetic factors. However, some patients present with a positive family history for the disease. Familial forms of the disease usually begin at earlier ages and are associated with atypical clinical features. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:12847165, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16148263, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19286695}. Note=Disease susceptibility may be associated with variations affecting the gene represented in this entry.;
Recessive Scores
- pRec
- 0.636
Intolerance Scores
- LoFtool
- 0.00827
- RVIS EVS
- 0.18
- RVIS percentile EVS
- 66.13
Essentials
- Essential (CRISPR)
- N
- Essential (CRISPR2)
- N
- Essential (gene trap)
- N
- Indispensability pred.
- E
- Indispensability score
- 0.973
Gene Damage Prediction
| All | Recessive | Dominant | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mendelian | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Primary Immunodeficiency | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Cancer | Medium | Medium | Medium |