PMPCA

protein-coding

peptidase, mitochondrial processing subunit alpha, the group of M16 metallopeptidases

Gene summary

The protein encoded by this gene is found in the mitochondrion, where it represents the alpha subunit of a proteolytic heterodimer. This heterodimer is responsible for cleaving the transit peptide from nuclear-encoded mitochondrial proteins. Defects in this gene are a cause of spinocerebellar ataxia, autosomal recessive 2. [provided by RefSeq, Mar 2016]

Previous symbols:
  • INPP5E
  • SCAR2
  • CLA1

MANE transcript

NM_015160.3

Inheritance

AR

ClinVar variants

P:18U:149B:63

Top phenotype

Spinocerebellar ataxia, autosomal recessive 2

gnomAD constraint

pLI —, LoF o/e 0.74

Max pathogenic AF

—

Genomic locus

chr9:136,410,630-136,427,992

External References & Databases

Transcript & Mutation Effects

hg38 • Region Span ~17.4 kb
Loading mutation effect viewer...

GenCC Phenotypes & Disease Associations

Curated gene-disease validity assertions and inheritance patterns

mitochondrial diseaseDEFINITIVE

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0044970

Submitter: ClinGen

The relationship between *PMPCA* and primary mitochondrial disease was evaluated using the ClinGen Clinical Validity Framework as of December 18, 2023. This gene encodes mitochondrial peptidase processing subunit alpha, the alpha subunit of a proteolytic heterodimer that, together with PMPCB, is responsible for cleaving the transit peptide from nuclear-encoded mitochondrial proteins after import into the mitochondria. *PMPCA* was first reported in relation to autosomal recessive primary mitochondrial disease in 2015 (PMID: 25808372), in several individuals with cerebellar atrophy and ataxia. While various names have been given to the constellation of features seen in those with *PMPCA*-related disease, pathogenic variants in this gene cause a primary mitochondrial disease. Therefore, the *PMPCA* phenotype has been lumped into one disease entity according to the ClinGen Lumping and Splitting Framework. Evidence supporting this gene-disease relationship includes case-level data and experimental data. This curation included 10 unique variants [seven missense including c.1129G>A (p.Ala377Thr) that is a Lebanese founder variant, one frameshift, two splicing] identified in 26 affected individuals from 11 kindreds from seven publications (PMIDs: 25808372, 26657514, 27148589, 30617178, 33272776, 35803560, 37332652). Additional cases were reported in the medical literature but excluded from this curation as phasing was not performed (PMIDs: F4 in 25808372, 36233161). Additionally, there is a report of autosomal dominant inheritance of *PMPCA* variants (PMID: 35885985) that was also excluded from this curation as additional studies are needed to confirm this disease mechanism. Some affected individuals had developmental delay from early in life while others met their milestones on time with subsequent regression in the first couple years of life. The outcomes were variable, but all cases appeared to be living at the time of report except for one individual who died at 17 years of age (PMID: 35803560). Features in affected individuals include developmental delay, ataxia (both stable and progressive courses reported), dysarthria and tremor. Some affected individuals had intellectual disability and some had mood disorders. Other features seen include faltering growth, ophthalmoplegia, and optic atrophy; and one individual had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Muscle biopsy was not consistently performed and results were variable when this was completed. Brain imaging showed cerebellar atrophy and generalized brain atrophy. Metabolic screening labs were generally normal but some individuals had elevated lactate. This gene-disease association is also supported by its known biochemical function (PMID: 33340416), functional alteration in patient (PMID: 25808372) and non-patient cells (PMID: 26657514), and rescue in patient cells (PMID: 27148589). In summary, there is definitive evidence to support the relationship between *PMPCA* and primary mitochondrial disease. This has been repeatedly demonstrated and upheld over time, and no convincing evidence has emerged that contradicts this gene-disease relationship. This classification was approved by the NICHD/NINDS U24 ClinGen Mitochondrial Disease Gene Curation Expert Panel on December 18, 2023 (SOP Version 10).

autosomal recessive spinocerebellar ataxia 2STRONG

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0008943

Submitter: PanelApp Australia

autosomal recessive spinocerebellar ataxia 2STRONG

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0008943

Submitter: Labcorp Genetics (formerly Invitae)

autosomal recessive spinocerebellar ataxia 2SUPPORTIVE

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0008943

Submitter: Orphanet

autosomal recessive spinocerebellar ataxia 2MODERATE

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0008943

Submitter: Ambry Genetics

Clinical Genomic Database (CGD)

Spinocerebellar ataxia, autosomal recessive 2AR

Manifestation: Neurologic

Intervention: General

Rationale: Genetic knowledge may be beneficial related to issues such as selection of optimal supportive care, informed medical decision-making, prognostic considerations, and avoidance of unnecessary testing

Refs: 10528257; 25808372; 26657514Source: CGD (NHGRI)

ClinVar Associated Diseases & Phenotypes

Reported disease conditions connected to PMPCA variants in ClinVar

19 Conditions Cataloged
not providedTotal: 167
Inborn genetic diseasesTotal: 103
Autosomal recessive spinocerebellar ataxia 2Total: 25
not specifiedTotal: 11
PMPCA-related disorderTotal: 10
Chronic lactic acidosisTotal: 2
Normal pressure hydrocephalusTotal: 2
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathyTotal: 2

ClinVar Variants & Pathogenicity by Type

Statistics based on transcript NM_015160.3. 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
55
clinvar
1
clinvar
57
missense
6
clinvar
2
clinvar
146
clinvar
6
clinvar
1
clinvar
161
nonsense
1
clinvar
3
clinvar
4
start loss
0
frameshift
2
clinvar
1
clinvar
3
splice donor/acceptor (+/-2bp)
1
clinvar
2
clinvar
2
clinvar
5
Total108149612230

Highest pathogenic variant AF is 0.00008861469

Loading ClinVar variants...

Transcript Catalog

Annotated transcript isoforms across RefSeq and Ensembl databases

Showing 4 of 60 transcripts
Transcript IDSourceProtein IDCoding ExonsMANE Status
NM_015160.3RefSeqNP_055975.113MANE Select
ENST00000371717.8EnsemblENSP00000360782.313MANE Select
NM_001282944.2RefSeqNP_001269873.110Standard
NM_001282946.2RefSeqNP_001269875.111Standard

Gene Ontology (GO) Annotations & Pathways

Biological processes, molecular functions, cellular components and pathways

Pathways ConsensusPathDB

  • Metabolism of proteins
  • 3-phosphoinositide degradation
  • Transport of small molecules
  • Mitochondrial protein import
  • Mitochondrial calcium ion transport

Biological Process

  • proteolysis
  • protein processing involved in protein targeting to mitochondrion
  • mitochondrial calcium ion transmembrane transport

Molecular Function

  • endopeptidase activity
  • metalloendopeptidase activity
  • metal ion binding

Cellular Component

  • extracellular space
  • mitochondrion
  • mitochondrial inner membrane
  • mitochondrial matrix
  • mitochondrial processing peptidase complex

gnomAD Constraint

Source: gnomAD

Gene type
protein_coding
Transcript type
protein_coding
Transcript
ENST00000371717
Coding exons
13
Length
13104
Individuals with no LoFs
125701
Homozygous LoFs
0
Heterozygous LoFs
47
Defined
125748
p
0.000187
Z-ScoreObservedExpectedObserved/ExpectedMutation RateTotal Possible
Missense0.1623243320.9750.00002113383
Missense (PolyPhen)83103.240.803921070
Synonymous-1.311641441.140.00001041070
Loss of Function1.272027.20.7360.00000157297

Population LoF Frequency

PopulationCAFp-valueStatus
African0.000120.00012rare
Latino/Admixed American0.000200.00020rare
Ashkenazi Jewish0.00120.0012notable
East Asian0.000270.00027rare
Finnish0.000140.00014rare
European (Non-Finnish)0.000110.00011rare
South Asian0.000170.00016rare
Other0.000160.00016rare

dbNSFP Gene Annotations

Source: dbNSFP

Function
FUNCTION: Substrate recognition and binding subunit of the essential mitochondrial processing protease (MPP), which is required for maturation of the majority of mitochondrial precursor proteins (PubMed:25808372). Most MPP cleavage sites follow an arginine at position -2 (By similarity). {ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:P20069, ECO:0000269|PubMed:25808372}.;
Disease
DISEASE: Spinocerebellar ataxia, autosomal recessive, 2 (SCAR2) [MIM:213200]: A form of spinocerebellar ataxia, a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of cerebellar disorders due to degeneration of the cerebellum with variable involvement of the brainstem and spinal cord. SCAR2 is characterized by onset of impaired motor development and ataxic gait in early childhood. Additional features often include loss of fine motor skills, dysarthria, nystagmus, cerebellar signs, and delayed cognitive development with intellectual disability. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:25808372, ECO:0000269|PubMed:26657514}. Note=The disease is caused by mutations affecting the gene represented in this entry.;

Recessive Scores

pRec
0.107

Intolerance Scores

LoFtool
0.692
RVIS EVS
-1.18
RVIS percentile EVS
5.97

Essentials

Essential (CRISPR)
E
Essential (CRISPR2)
E
Essential (gene trap)
E
Indispensability pred.
E
Indispensability score
0.733

Gene Damage Prediction

AllRecessiveDominant
MendelianMediumMediumMedium
Primary ImmunodeficiencyMediumMediumMedium
CancerMediumMediumMedium
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