The human geneSPAST codes for the microtubule-severing protein of the same name, commonly known as spastin.[5]
This gene encodes a member of the AAA (ATPases associated with a variety of cellular activities) protein family. Members of this protein family share an ATPase domain and have roles in diverse cellular processes including membrane trafficking, intracellular motility, organelle biogenesis, protein folding, and proteolysis. The encoded ATPase may be involved in the assembly or function of nuclear protein complexes. Two transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been identified for this gene. Other alternative splice variants have been described but their full length sequences have not been determined. Mutations associated with this gene cause the most frequent form of autosomal dominant spastic paraplegia 4 (SPG4).[6]
Hazan J, Davoine CS, Mavel D, et al. (1999). "A fine integrated map of the SPG4 locus excludes an expanded CAG repeat in chromosome 2p-linked autosomal dominant spastic paraplegia". Genomics. 60 (3): 309–19. doi:10.1006/geno.1999.5932. PMID10493830.
Hazan J, Fonknechten N, Mavel D, et al. (1999). "Spastin, a new AAA protein, is altered in the most frequent form of autosomal dominant spastic paraplegia". Nat. Genet.23 (3): 296–303. doi:10.1038/15472. PMID10610178. S2CID23167276.
Meijer IA, Hand CK, Cossette P, et al. (2002). "Spectrum of SPG4 mutations in a large collection of North American families with hereditary spastic paraplegia". Arch. Neurol.59 (2): 281–6. doi:10.1001/archneur.59.2.281. PMID11843700.
Patrono C, Casali C, Tessa A, et al. (2002). "Missense and splice site mutations in SPG4 suggest loss-of-function in dominant spastic paraplegia". J. Neurol.249 (2): 200–5. doi:10.1007/PL00007865. PMID11985387. S2CID22503829.