Genes for familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM) and episodic ataxia type-2 (EA-2) have been mapped to chromosome 19p13. We characterized a brain- specific P/Q-type Ca2+ channel α1-subunit gene, CACNLIA4, covering 300 kb with 47 exons. Sequencing of all exons and their surroundings revealed polymorphic variations, including a (CA)(n)-repeat (D19S1150), a (CAG)(n)- repeat in the 3'-UTR, and different types of deleterious mutations in FHM and EA-2. In FHM, we found four different missense mutations in conserved functional domains. One mutation has occurred on two different haplotypes in unrelated FHM families. In EA-2, we found two mutations disrupting the reading frame. Thus, FHM and EA-2 can be considered as allelic channelopathies. A similar etiology may be involved in common types of migraine.

doi.org/10.1016/S0092-8674(00)81373-2, hdl.handle.net/1765/57576
Cell
Department of Virology

Ophoff, R., Terwindt, G., Vergouwe, Y., van Eijk, R., Oefner, P., Hoffman, S. M., Lamerdin, J., Mohrenweiser, H., Bulman, B., Ferrari, M., Haan, J., Lindhout, D., van Ommen, G., Hofker, M., Ferrari, M.& Frants, R. (1996). Familial hemiplegic migraine and episodic ataxia type-2 are caused by mutations in the Ca2+ channel gene CACNL1A4. Cell, 87(3), 543–552.https://doi.org/10.1016/S0092-8674(00)81373-2