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URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/ano5/

ANO5 gene

anoctamin 5

Normal Function

The ANO5 gene provides instructions for making a protein called anoctamin-5. While the specific function of this protein is not well understood, it belongs to a family of proteins, called anoctamins, that act as chloride channels. Chloride channels, which transport negatively charged chlorine atoms (chloride ions) in and out of cells, play a key role in a cell's ability to generate and transmit electrical signals. Studies suggest that most anoctamin proteins function as chloride channels that are turned on (activated) in the presence of positively charged calcium atoms (calcium ions); these channels are known as calcium-activated chloride channels. The mechanism for this calcium activation is unclear. Anoctamin proteins are also involved in maintaining the membrane that surrounds cells and repairing the membrane if it gets damaged.

The anoctamin-5 protein is most abundant in muscles used for movement (skeletal muscles). For the body to move normally, skeletal muscles must tense (contract) and relax in a coordinated way. The regulation of chloride flow within muscle cells plays a role in controlling muscle contraction and relaxation.

The anoctamin-5 protein is also found in other cells including heart (cardiac) muscle cells and bone cells. Studies have suggested that the anoctamin-5 protein may be important for the development of muscle and bone before birth.

Health Conditions Related to Genetic Changes

Gnathodiaphyseal dysplasia

At least three ANO5 gene mutations have been identified in people with a bone disorder called gnathodiaphyseal dysplasia, which leads to fragile bones, jaw problems, and other skeletal abnormalities. The ANO5 gene mutations that cause gnathodiaphyseal dysplasia change single protein building blocks (amino acids) in the anoctamin-5 protein. It is unclear how these mutations lead to the signs and symptoms of gnathodiaphyseal dysplasia, or why they primarily affect bones while other ANO5 gene mutations cause muscle disorders. Researchers suggest that the mutations may affect the way cells process calcium, an important mineral in bone development and growth.

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Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy

More than 40 mutations in the ANO5 gene have been identified in people with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2L. Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy is a group of related disorders characterized by muscle weakness and wasting (atrophy), particularly in the shoulders, hips, thighs, and upper arms.

The ANO5 gene mutations identified in people with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2L change single amino acids in the anoctamin-5 protein sequence, disrupt how genetic information is pieced together to make a blueprint for producing the protein, or result in a premature stop signal that leads to an abnormally short protein. One of the mutations adds an extra DNA building block (nucleotide) to the ANO5 gene (written as 191dupA) and is believed to be a relatively common cause of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy in people with northern European ancestry. This mutation alters the instructions used to make the anoctamin-5 protein, leading to a premature stop signal that would produce an abnormally short protein. Instead, a cellular error-catching mechanism called nonsense-mediated decay prevents the protein from being produced at all.

ANO5 gene mutations that eliminate or impair the role of the anoctamin-5 protein as a chloride channel likely lead to impaired muscle function, resulting in the signs and symptoms of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy.

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Miyoshi myopathy

At least 10 mutations in the ANO5 gene have been found to cause Miyoshi myopathy. When caused by mutations in this gene, the condition is also known as distal anoctaminopathy. Miyoshi myopathy is a muscle disorder that is characterized by progressive weakness and atrophy of muscles that are away from the center of the body (distal muscles), particularly those in the legs. The ANO5 gene mutations identified in people with Miyoshi myopathy change single amino acids in the anoctamin-5 protein or result in the production of an abnormally short protein that is quickly broken down.

These mutations result in the production of little or no anoctamin-5 protein. The effects of the loss of anoctamin-5 are unclear. While chloride is necessary for normal muscle function, it is unknown how a lack of this chloride channel causes the signs and symptoms of Miyoshi myopathy.

The 191dupA mutation that can cause limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (described above) is also a common cause of Miyoshi myopathy in individuals of northern European ancestry. It is not known why the 191dupA mutation can result in different patterns of signs and symptoms. Miyoshi myopathy caused by ANO5 gene mutations is likely a variation of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy because it is caused by mutations in the same gene, and in some cases even by the same mutation.

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Other Names for This Gene

  • ANO5_HUMAN
  • anoctamin-5
  • GDD1
  • gnathodiaphyseal dysplasia 1 protein
  • integral membrane protein GDD1
  • LGMD2L
  • TMEM16E
  • transmembrane protein 16E

Additional Information & Resources

Tests Listed in the Genetic Testing Registry

Scientific Articles on PubMed

Catalog of Genes and Diseases from OMIM

Gene and Variant Databases

References

  • Bolduc V, Marlow G, Boycott KM, Saleki K, Inoue H, Kroon J, Itakura M, Robitaille Y, Parent L, Baas F, Mizuta K, Kamata N, Richard I, Linssen WH, Mahjneh I, de Visser M, Bashir R, Brais B. Recessive mutations in the putative calcium-activated chloride channel Anoctamin 5 cause proximal LGMD2L and distal MMD3 muscular dystrophies. Am J Hum Genet. 2010 Feb 12;86(2):213-21. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2009.12.013. Epub 2010 Jan 21. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Bouquet F, Cossee M, Behin A, Deburgrave N, Romero N, Leturcq F, Eymard B. Miyoshi-like distal myopathy with mutations in anoctamin 5 gene. Rev Neurol (Paris). 2012 Feb;168(2):135-41. doi: 10.1016/j.neurol.2011.10.005. Epub 2012 Feb 13. Citation on PubMed
  • Hartzell HC, Yu K, Xiao Q, Chien LT, Qu Z. Anoctamin/TMEM16 family members are Ca2+-activated Cl- channels. J Physiol. 2009 May 15;587(Pt 10):2127-39. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2008.163709. Epub 2008 Nov 17. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Hicks D, Sarkozy A, Muelas N, Koehler K, Huebner A, Hudson G, Chinnery PF, Barresi R, Eagle M, Polvikoski T, Bailey G, Miller J, Radunovic A, Hughes PJ, Roberts R, Krause S, Walter MC, Laval SH, Straub V, Lochmuller H, Bushby K. A founder mutation in Anoctamin 5 is a major cause of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. Brain. 2011 Jan;134(Pt 1):171-182. doi: 10.1093/brain/awq294. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Liewluck T, Winder TL, Dimberg EL, Crum BA, Heppelmann CJ, Wang Y, Bergen HR 3rd, Milone M. ANO5-muscular dystrophy: clinical, pathological and molecular findings. Eur J Neurol. 2013 Oct;20(10):1383-9. doi: 10.1111/ene.12191. Epub 2013 May 12. Citation on PubMed
  • Mahjneh I, Jaiswal J, Lamminen A, Somer M, Marlow G, Kiuru-Enari S, Bashir R. A new distal myopathy with mutation in anoctamin 5. Neuromuscul Disord. 2010 Dec;20(12):791-5. doi: 10.1016/j.nmd.2010.07.270. Epub 2010 Aug 7. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Penttila S, Palmio J, Suominen T, Raheem O, Evila A, Muelas Gomez N, Tasca G, Waddell LB, Clarke NF, Barboi A, Hackman P, Udd B. Eight new mutations and the expanding phenotype variability in muscular dystrophy caused by ANO5. Neurology. 2012 Mar 20;78(12):897-903. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e31824c4682. Epub 2012 Mar 7. Erratum In: Neurology. 2013 Jan 8;80(2):226. Citation on PubMed
  • Sarkozy A, Hicks D, Hudson J, Laval SH, Barresi R, Hilton-Jones D, Deschauer M, Harris E, Rufibach L, Hwang E, Bashir R, Walter MC, Krause S, van den Bergh P, Illa I, Penisson-Besnier I, De Waele L, Turnbull D, Guglieri M, Schrank B, Schoser B, Seeger J, Schreiber H, Glaser D, Eagle M, Bailey G, Walters R, Longman C, Norwood F, Winer J, Muntoni F, Hanna M, Roberts M, Bindoff LA, Brierley C, Cooper RG, Cottrell DA, Davies NP, Gibson A, Gorman GS, Hammans S, Jackson AP, Khan A, Lane R, McConville J, McEntagart M, Al-Memar A, Nixon J, Panicker J, Parton M, Petty R, Price CJ, Rakowicz W, Ray P, Schapira AH, Swingler R, Turner C, Wagner KR, Maddison P, Shaw PJ, Straub V, Bushby K, Lochmuller H. ANO5 gene analysis in a large cohort of patients with anoctaminopathy: confirmation of male prevalence and high occurrence of the common exon 5 gene mutation. Hum Mutat. 2013 Aug;34(8):1111-8. doi: 10.1002/humu.22342. Epub 2013 Jun 12. Citation on PubMed
  • Tsutsumi S, Kamata N, Vokes TJ, Maruoka Y, Nakakuki K, Enomoto S, Omura K, Amagasa T, Nagayama M, Saito-Ohara F, Inazawa J, Moritani M, Yamaoka T, Inoue H, Itakura M. The novel gene encoding a putative transmembrane protein is mutated in gnathodiaphyseal dysplasia (GDD). Am J Hum Genet. 2004 Jun;74(6):1255-61. doi: 10.1086/421527. Epub 2004 Apr 29. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.