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

DYSF gene

dysferlin

Normal Function

The DYSF gene provides instructions for making a protein called dysferlin. This protein is found in the thin membrane called the sarcolemma that surrounds muscle fibers. Dysferlin is thought to aid in repairing the sarcolemma when it becomes damaged or torn due to muscle strain. Researchers suggest that dysferlin may also be involved in the formation of new muscle fibers (regeneration) and in inflammation, but little is known about these functions.

Health Conditions Related to Genetic Changes

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy

More than 140 mutations in the DYSF gene that can cause limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2B have been identified. 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. Muscle problems caused by DYSF gene mutations, such as limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2B and others (see below), are called dysferlinopathies.

DYSF gene mutations may disrupt the function of the dysferlin protein and interfere with the muscle repair process. Studies suggest that inefficient repair of damaged muscle fibers may lead to inflammation and degeneration of muscles, resulting in muscle weakness.

More About This Health Condition

Miyoshi myopathy

More than 100 mutations in the DYSF gene have been found to cause Miyoshi myopathy. This condition 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 DYSF gene mutations identified in people with Miyoshi myopathy change single amino acids in the dysferlin protein, which impairs the protein's function or results in the production of a nonfunctional protein. A common cause of the condition in people of Japanese ancestry is a mutation that replaces the amino acid tryptophan with the amino acid cysteine at position 999 in dysferlin (written Trp999Cys or W999C).

A lack of normal dysferlin leads to a reduced ability to repair damage done to the sarcolemma of muscle fibers. As a result, damage accumulates and leads to atrophy of the muscle fiber. It is unclear why the DYSF gene mutations that cause Miyoshi myopathy lead to the specific pattern of weakness and atrophy that is characteristic of this disorder.

Some researchers consider Miyoshi myopathy to be a variant of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (see above) rather than a separate disorder because they are caused by mutations in the same gene and have overlapping signs and symptoms.

More About This Health Condition

Other disorders

DYSF gene mutations also cause another dysferlinopathy called distal myopathy with anterior tibial onset. In this condition, the muscle weakness is most apparent in the muscles of the lower legs. This condition first becomes apparent in a muscle called tibialis anterior, which is located at the front of the lower leg and helps to flex the foot. Distal myopathy with anterior tibial onset later affects the muscles of the upper leg, and affected individuals eventually require wheelchair assistance.

Other Names for This Gene

  • DYSF_HUMAN
  • dysferlin, limb girdle muscular dystrophy 2B (autosomal recessive)
  • dystrophy-associated fer-1-like 1
  • fer-1-like protein 1
  • FER1L1
  • FLJ00175
  • FLJ90168
  • LGMD2B

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

  • Bansal D, Campbell KP. Dysferlin and the plasma membrane repair in muscular dystrophy. Trends Cell Biol. 2004 Apr;14(4):206-13. doi: 10.1016/j.tcb.2004.03.001. Citation on PubMed
  • Broglio L, Tentorio M, Cotelli MS, Mancuso M, Vielmi V, Gregorelli V, Padovani A, Filosto M. Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy-associated protein diseases. Neurologist. 2010 Nov;16(6):340-52. doi: 10.1097/NRL.0b013e3181d35b39. Citation on PubMed
  • Chiu YH, Hornsey MA, Klinge L, Jorgensen LH, Laval SH, Charlton R, Barresi R, Straub V, Lochmuller H, Bushby K. Attenuated muscle regeneration is a key factor in dysferlin-deficient muscular dystrophy. Hum Mol Genet. 2009 Jun 1;18(11):1976-89. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddp121. Epub 2009 Mar 13. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Glover L, Brown RH Jr. Dysferlin in membrane trafficking and patch repair. Traffic. 2007 Jul;8(7):785-94. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0854.2007.00573.x. Epub 2007 Jun 5. Citation on PubMed
  • Han R, Campbell KP. Dysferlin and muscle membrane repair. Curr Opin Cell Biol. 2007 Aug;19(4):409-16. doi: 10.1016/j.ceb.2007.07.001. Epub 2007 Jul 26. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Klinge L, Aboumousa A, Eagle M, Hudson J, Sarkozy A, Vita G, Charlton R, Roberts M, Straub V, Barresi R, Lochmuller H, Bushby K. New aspects on patients affected by dysferlin deficient muscular dystrophy. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2010 Sep;81(9):946-53. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.2009.178038. Epub 2009 Jun 14. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Krahn M, Beroud C, Labelle V, Nguyen K, Bernard R, Bassez G, Figarella-Branger D, Fernandez C, Bouvenot J, Richard I, Ollagnon-Roman E, Bevilacqua JA, Salvo E, Attarian S, Chapon F, Pellissier JF, Pouget J, Hammouda el H, Laforet P, Urtizberea JA, Eymard B, Leturcq F, Levy N. Analysis of the DYSF mutational spectrum in a large cohort of patients. Hum Mutat. 2009 Feb;30(2):E345-75. doi: 10.1002/humu.20910. Citation on PubMed
  • Nguyen K, Bassez G, Krahn M, Bernard R, Laforet P, Labelle V, Urtizberea JA, Figarella-Branger D, Romero N, Attarian S, Leturcq F, Pouget J, Levy N, Eymard B. Phenotypic study in 40 patients with dysferlin gene mutations: high frequency of atypical phenotypes. Arch Neurol. 2007 Aug;64(8):1176-82. doi: 10.1001/archneur.64.8.1176. Citation on PubMed
  • Paradas C, Llauger J, Diaz-Manera J, Rojas-Garcia R, De Luna N, Iturriaga C, Marquez C, Uson M, Hankiewicz K, Gallardo E, Illa I. Redefining dysferlinopathy phenotypes based on clinical findings and muscle imaging studies. Neurology. 2010 Jul 27;75(4):316-23. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181ea1564. Epub 2010 Jun 23. Citation on PubMed
  • Straub V, Bushby K. The childhood limb-girdle muscular dystrophies. Semin Pediatr Neurol. 2006 Jun;13(2):104-14. doi: 10.1016/j.spen.2006.06.006. Citation on PubMed
  • Takahashi T, Aoki M, Tateyama M, Kondo E, Mizuno T, Onodera Y, Takano R, Kawai H, Kamakura K, Mochizuki H, Shizuka-Ikeda M, Nakagawa M, Yoshida Y, Akanuma J, Hoshino K, Saito H, Nishizawa M, Kato S, Saito K, Miyachi T, Yamashita H, Kawai M, Matsumura T, Kuzuhara S, Ibi T, Sahashi K, Nakai H, Kohnosu T, Nonaka I, Arahata K, Brown RH Jr, Saito H, Itoyama Y. Dysferlin mutations in Japanese Miyoshi myopathy: relationship to phenotype. Neurology. 2003 Jun 10;60(11):1799-804. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000068333.43005.12. Citation on PubMed
  • Urtizberea JA, Bassez G, Leturcq F, Nguyen K, Krahn M, Levy N. Dysferlinopathies. Neurol India. 2008 Jul-Sep;56(3):289-97. doi: 10.4103/0028-3886.43447. Citation on PubMed

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.