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URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/atp1a3/

ATP1A3 gene

ATPase Na+/K+ transporting subunit alpha 3

Normal Function

The ATP1A3 gene provides instructions for making one part (the alpha-3 subunit) of a protein known as Na+/K+ ATPase or the sodium pump. This protein uses energy from a molecule called adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to transport charged atoms (ions) into and out of cells. Specifically, it pumps sodium ions (Na+) out of cells and potassium ions (K+) into cells.

Na+/K+ ATPases that include the alpha-3 subunit are critical for normal function of nerve cells in the brain (neurons). The movement of sodium and potassium ions helps regulate the electrical activity of these cells and plays an important role in the signaling process that controls muscle movement. The activity of Na+/K+ ATPase also helps regulate cell size (volume).

Additionally, Na+/K+ ATPase helps regulate a process called neurotransmitter reuptake. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that transmit signals from one neuron to another. After a neurotransmitter has had its effect, it must be removed quickly from the space between the neurons. The reuptake of neurotransmitters is carefully controlled to ensure that signals are sent and received accurately throughout the nervous system.

Health Conditions Related to Genetic Changes

Alternating hemiplegia of childhood

Variants (also called mutations) in the ATP1A3 gene are the primary cause of a neurological condition called alternating hemiplegia of childhood. This condition is characterized by recurrent episodes of temporary paralysis that often affects only one side of the body (hemiplegia). During some episodes, the paralysis alternates from one side to the other or affects both sides of the body at the same time.

Most ATP1A3 gene variants associated with alternating hemiplegia of childhood change single protein building blocks (amino acids) in the alpha-3 subunit of Na+/K+ ATPase. These genetic changes appear to impair the pump's ability to transport ions, although it is unclear how the variants lead to the specific features of alternating hemiplegia of childhood.

More About This Health Condition

Rapid-onset dystonia parkinsonism

Multiple variants in the ATP1A3 gene have been found to cause a rare movement disorder called rapid-onset dystonia parkinsonism. This disorder is characterized by the abrupt appearance of signs and symptoms over a period of hours to days. Most of the ATP1A3 gene variants that cause this disorder change single amino acids in the alpha-3 subunit of Na+/K+ ATPase. Changes in the protein's structure can reduce its activity or make it unstable. Studies suggest that the defective Na+/K+ ATPase is unable to transport sodium ions normally, which disrupts the electrical activity of neurons in the brain. However, it is unclear how a malfunctioning Na+/K+ ATPase causes the movement abnormalities seen in people with rapid-onset dystonia parkinsonism.

More About This Health Condition

Other disorders

Variants in the ATP1A3 gene can cause a group of features: cerebellar ataxia, areflexia, pes cavus, optic atrophy, and sensorineural hearing loss. This specific presentation is known as CAPOS syndrome (the abbreviation comes from the first letter of each feature). Affected individuals usually develop signs and symptoms of CAPOS syndrome in infancy or early childhood during or following an illness that causes a fever.

To date, all instances of CAPOS syndrome have been caused by the same variant in the ATP1A3 gene. This change replaces the amino acid glutamic acid with the amino acid lysine at position 818 in the alpha-3 subunit of Na+/K+ ATPase (written as Glu818Lys or E818K). This genetic change appears to impair the pump's ability to transport ions, although it is unclear how the variant causes the specific features of CAPOS syndrome.

Other Names for This Gene

  • AT1A3_HUMAN
  • ATPase, Na+/K+ transporting, alpha 3 polypeptide
  • Na+/K+ -ATPase alpha 3 subunit
  • Na+/K+ ATPase 3
  • sodium pump 3
  • sodium-potassium-ATPase, alpha 3 polypeptide
  • sodium/potassium-transporting ATPase alpha-3 chain

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

  • Blanco-Arias P, Einholm AP, Mamsa H, Concheiro C, Gutierrez-de-Teran H, Romero J, Toustrup-Jensen MS, Carracedo A, Jen JC, Vilsen B, Sobrido MJ. A C-terminal mutation of ATP1A3 underscores the crucial role of sodium affinity in the pathophysiology of rapid-onset dystonia-parkinsonism. Hum Mol Genet. 2009 Jul 1;18(13):2370-7. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddp170. Epub 2009 Apr 7. Citation on PubMed
  • Brashear A, Dobyns WB, de Carvalho Aguiar P, Borg M, Frijns CJ, Gollamudi S, Green A, Guimaraes J, Haake BC, Klein C, Linazasoro G, Munchau A, Raymond D, Riley D, Saunders-Pullman R, Tijssen MA, Webb D, Zaremba J, Bressman SB, Ozelius LJ. The phenotypic spectrum of rapid-onset dystonia-parkinsonism (RDP) and mutations in the ATP1A3 gene. Brain. 2007 Mar;130(Pt 3):828-35. doi: 10.1093/brain/awl340. Epub 2007 Feb 4. Citation on PubMed
  • Brashear A, Sweadner KJ, Cook JF, Swoboda KJ, Ozelius L. ATP1A3-Related Neurologic Disorders. 2008 Feb 7 [updated 2018 Feb 22]. In: Adam MP, Feldman J, Mirzaa GM, Pagon RA, Wallace SE, Amemiya A, editors. GeneReviews(R) [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2024. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1115/ Citation on PubMed
  • de Carvalho Aguiar P, Sweadner KJ, Penniston JT, Zaremba J, Liu L, Caton M, Linazasoro G, Borg M, Tijssen MA, Bressman SB, Dobyns WB, Brashear A, Ozelius LJ. Mutations in the Na+/K+ -ATPase alpha3 gene ATP1A3 are associated with rapid-onset dystonia parkinsonism. Neuron. 2004 Jul 22;43(2):169-75. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2004.06.028. Citation on PubMed
  • Haq IU, Snively BM, Sweadner KJ, Suerken CK, Cook JF, Ozelius LJ, Miller C, McCall WV, Whitlow CT, Brashear A. Revising rapid-onset dystonia-parkinsonism: Broadening indications for ATP1A3 testing. Mov Disord. 2019 Oct;34(10):1528-1536. doi: 10.1002/mds.27801. Epub 2019 Jul 30. Citation on PubMed
  • Heinzen EL, Swoboda KJ, Hitomi Y, Gurrieri F, Nicole S, de Vries B, Tiziano FD, Fontaine B, Walley NM, Heavin S, Panagiotakaki E; European Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood (AHC) Genetics Consortium; Biobanca e Registro Clinico per l'Emiplegia Alternante (I.B.AHC) Consortium; European Network for Research on Alternating Hemiplegia (ENRAH) for Small and Medium-sized Enterpriese (SMEs) Consortium; Fiori S, Abiusi E, Di Pietro L, Sweney MT, Newcomb TM, Viollet L, Huff C, Jorde LB, Reyna SP, Murphy KJ, Shianna KV, Gumbs CE, Little L, Silver K, Ptacek LJ, Haan J, Ferrari MD, Bye AM, Herkes GK, Whitelaw CM, Webb D, Lynch BJ, Uldall P, King MD, Scheffer IE, Neri G, Arzimanoglou A, van den Maagdenberg AM, Sisodiya SM, Mikati MA, Goldstein DB. De novo mutations in ATP1A3 cause alternating hemiplegia of childhood. Nat Genet. 2012 Sep;44(9):1030-4. doi: 10.1038/ng.2358. Epub 2012 Jul 29. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Kamm C, Fogel W, Wachter T, Schweitzer K, Berg D, Kruger R, Freudenstein D, Gasser T. Novel ATP1A3 mutation in a sporadic RDP patient with minimal benefit from deep brain stimulation. Neurology. 2008 Apr 15;70(16 Pt 2):1501-3. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000310431.41036.e0. No abstract available. Citation on PubMed
  • Rodacker V, Toustrup-Jensen M, Vilsen B. Mutations Phe785Leu and Thr618Met in Na+,K+-ATPase, associated with familial rapid-onset dystonia parkinsonism, interfere with Na+ interaction by distinct mechanisms. J Biol Chem. 2006 Jul 7;281(27):18539-48. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M601780200. Epub 2006 Apr 21. Citation on PubMed
  • Rosewich H, Thiele H, Ohlenbusch A, Maschke U, Altmuller J, Frommolt P, Zirn B, Ebinger F, Siemes H, Nurnberg P, Brockmann K, Gartner J. Heterozygous de-novo mutations in ATP1A3 in patients with alternating hemiplegia of childhood: a whole-exome sequencing gene-identification study. Lancet Neurol. 2012 Sep;11(9):764-73. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(12)70182-5. Epub 2012 Jul 30. Citation on PubMed
  • Zanotti-Fregonara P, Vidailhet M, Kas A, Ozelius LJ, Clot F, Hindie E, Ravasi L, Devaux JY, Roze E. [123I]-FP-CIT and [99mTc]-HMPAO single photon emission computed tomography in a new sporadic case of rapid-onset dystonia-parkinsonism. J Neurol Sci. 2008 Oct 15;273(1-2):148-51. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2008.06.033. Epub 2008 Aug 3. Citation on PubMed

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