GAA gene

Transplanting blood stem cells modified to carry the GAA gene raised glycogen levels almost to normal across a range of organs, including the brain, and improved locomotion in a mouse model of Pompe disease, a study reported. These findings suggest that blood stem cell gene therapy, in which a patient’s…

If you are at risk of transmitting Pompe disease to your children, you may be thinking about your reproductive options and interested in prenatal diagnostic testing. What is prenatal diagnosis? Prenatal diagnosis involves performing a genetic test on your baby before birth. Getting genetic material from…

Genetic testing looks for changes in genes and chromosomes that might indicate you have a genetic disease such as Pompe disease. Genetics of Pompe disease Pompe disease is caused by mutations in the GAA gene. These mutations lead to your cells not being able to properly make…

If you, your partner, or anyone else in the family has Pompe disease, you may wonder whether the disorder also will affect your future children. Genetic counseling can help you calculate the risk and help you with genetic testing and family planning. What do genetic counselors do? Genetic…

Two novel mutations in the GAA gene were linked with cerebral stroke in two siblings with late-onset Pompe disease (PD), a study from China reports. The study, “GAA compound heterozygous mutations associated with autophagic impairment cause cerebral infarction in Pompe disease,” was published in the journal…

Pompe disease is a rare inherited disorder in which mutations in the GAA gene lead to a deficiency in the enzyme alpha-glucosidase. This causes an abnormal buildup of a type of sugar called glycogen in the cells and tissues of the body. A personal health record…

A glance around the walls of Barry J. Byrne’s office reveals a lot about the pediatric cardiologist who runs the Powell Gene Therapy Center at University of Florida (UF). In one corner is an unusual painting by 9-year-old Will Barkowsky of Jacksonville, Fla. Will, the first boy with…

A molecular “tag” to improve distribution of the acid-alpha glucosidase (GAA) protein within cells enhanced the efficacy of gene therapy in a mouse model of Pompe disease, a recent study suggests. The study, titled “AAV Gene Therapy Utilizing Glycosylation-Independent Lysosomal Targeting Tagged GAA in the…

Pompe is a type of glycogen storage disease in which a complex sugar molecule known as glycogen builds up within cells, especially in the muscle cells. A defect in the GAA gene causes low production of the acid alpha-glucosidase enzyme that is needed to break down glycogen into…

Pompe disease is a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the GAA gene. It is characterized by the buildup of glycogen, a complex sugar molecule, in cells and tissues due to the absence or improper functioning of an enzyme called acid alpha-glucosidase. Changes to diet and…