There is sufficient evidence suggesting role of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2B (EIF2B) gene family encoding the five subunits of eIF2B complex-α, β, γ, δ and ε respectively, in causing vanishing white matter (VWM) disease of the brain.
We report in an affected man and his mother an adult-onset form of childhood ataxia with central nervous system hypomyelination/vanishing white matter disease-like disorder with no mutations in the EIF2B genes and normal guanine nucleotide exchange factor eIF2B activity, suggesting a new dominant inheritance of this syndrome that may involve other genes.
Vanishing white matter disease (VWM) is an inherited leukoencephalopathy in children attributed to mutations in EIF2B1-5, encoding five subunits of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2B (eIF2B).
In seven patients, we report for the first time mutations in three of the five EIF2B genes (EIF2B2, -4, and -5) that were recently shown to cause childhood ataxia with central nervous system hypomyelination/vanishing white-matter disease leukodystrophy.
Mutations in eIF2B have also recently been found to cause a fatal human disease called CACH (childhood ataxia with central nervous system hypomyelination) or VWM (vanishing white matter disease).
Vanishing white matter (VWM) disease is an autosomal genetic leukodystrophy caused by mutations in subunits of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2B (eIF2B).
Vanishing white matter (VWM) disease (OMIM#306896) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative leukodystrophy caused by hypomorphic mutations in any of the five genes encoding the subunits of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2B (eIF2B).