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URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/slc25a15/

SLC25A15 gene

solute carrier family 25 member 15

Normal Function

The SLC25A15 gene provides instructions for making a protein called mitochondrial ornithine transporter 1. This protein participates in the urea cycle, which is a sequence of biochemical reactions that occurs in liver cells. The urea cycle breaks down excess nitrogen, made when protein is broken down by the body, to make a compound called urea that is excreted by the kidneys in urine. Excreting the excess nitrogen prevents it from accumulating in the form of ammonia, which is toxic, especially to the nervous system.

Mitochondrial ornithine transporter 1 is needed to move a molecule called ornithine within the mitochondria (the energy-producing centers in cells). Specifically, this protein transports ornithine across the inner membrane of mitochondria to the region called the mitochondrial matrix, where it participates in the urea cycle.

Health Conditions Related to Genetic Changes

Ornithine translocase deficiency

At least 35 mutations in the SLC25A15 gene have been identified in individuals affected by ornithine translocase deficiency, which is characterized by abnormally high levels of ammonia in the blood. This condition can cause extreme tiredness (lethargy), difficulty feeding, problems controlling breathing or body temperature, and seizures in infancy. Affected adults can have episodes of vomiting, difficulty with movements, liver problems, or neurological problems.

The most common mutation found in people with ornithine translocase deficiency deletes the protein building block (amino acid) phenylalanine at position 188 (written as Phe188del or F188del). This mutation is seen in 30 to 50 percent of affected individuals and most commonly occurs in the French-Canadian population. Another common mutation replaces the amino acid arginine with a premature stop signal in the instructions for making the protein (written as Arg179Ter or R179X). This mutation is found in about 15 percent of affected individuals and most commonly occurs in Japanese and Middle Eastern populations.

Mutations in the SLC25A15 gene cause the production of a mitochondrial ornithine transporter 1 with reduced or absent function. As a result, ornithine transport is impaired and the urea cycle cannot proceed normally. Without a normally functioning urea cycle, nitrogen accumulates in the bloodstream in the form of toxic ammonia instead of being converted to less toxic urea and being excreted. Ammonia is especially damaging to the brain, and excess ammonia causes neurological problems and other signs and symptoms of ornithine translocase deficiency.

More About This Health Condition

Other Names for This Gene

  • D13S327
  • HHH
  • ORC1
  • ornithine transporter 1
  • ORNT1
  • ORNT1_HUMAN
  • OTTHUMP00000042249
  • solute carrier family 25 (mitochondrial carrier; ornithine transporter) member 15

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

  • Camacho JA, Mardach R, Rioseco-Camacho N, Ruiz-Pesini E, Derbeneva O, Andrade D, Zaldivar F, Qu Y, Cederbaum SD. Clinical and functional characterization of a human ORNT1 mutation (T32R) in the hyperornithinemia-hyperammonemia-homocitrullinuria (HHH) syndrome. Pediatr Res. 2006 Oct;60(4):423-9. doi: 10.1203/01.pdr.0000238301.25938.f5. Epub 2006 Aug 28. Citation on PubMed
  • Camacho JA, Obie C, Biery B, Goodman BK, Hu CA, Almashanu S, Steel G, Casey R, Lambert M, Mitchell GA, Valle D. Hyperornithinaemia-hyperammonaemia-homocitrullinuria syndrome is caused by mutations in a gene encoding a mitochondrial ornithine transporter. Nat Genet. 1999 Jun;22(2):151-8. doi: 10.1038/9658. Citation on PubMed
  • Camacho JA, Rioseco-Camacho N, Andrade D, Porter J, Kong J. Cloning and characterization of human ORNT2: a second mitochondrial ornithine transporter that can rescue a defective ORNT1 in patients with the hyperornithinemia-hyperammonemia-homocitrullinuria syndrome, a urea cycle disorder. Mol Genet Metab. 2003 Aug;79(4):257-71. doi: 10.1016/s1096-7192(03)00105-7. Citation on PubMed
  • Martinelli D, Diodato D, Ponzi E, Monne M, Boenzi S, Bertini E, Fiermonte G, Dionisi-Vici C. The hyperornithinemia-hyperammonemia-homocitrullinuria syndrome. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2015 Mar 11;10:29. doi: 10.1186/s13023-015-0242-9. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Miyamoto T, Kanazawa N, Kato S, Kawakami M, Inoue Y, Kuhara T, Inoue T, Takeshita K, Tsujino S. Diagnosis of Japanese patients with HHH syndrome by molecular genetic analysis: a common mutation, R179X. J Hum Genet. 2001;46(5):260-2. doi: 10.1007/s100380170075. Citation on PubMed
  • Palmieri F. The mitochondrial transporter family (SLC25): physiological and pathological implications. Pflugers Arch. 2004 Feb;447(5):689-709. doi: 10.1007/s00424-003-1099-7. Epub 2003 Nov 4. Citation on PubMed
  • Waisbren SE, Gropman AL; Members of the Urea Cycle Disorders Consortium (UCDC); Batshaw ML. Improving long term outcomes in urea cycle disorders-report from the Urea Cycle Disorders Consortium. J Inherit Metab Dis. 2016 Jul;39(4):573-84. doi: 10.1007/s10545-016-9942-0. Epub 2016 May 23. 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.