Galactose epimerase deficiency

Symptoms of congenital Type III Galactosemia are apparent from birth, but vary in severity depending on whether the peripheral or generalized disease form is present. Symptoms may include:[3][4]

• Infantile jaundice
• Infantile hypotonia
• Dysmorphic features
• Sensorineural hearing loss
• Impaired growth
• Cognitive deficiencies
• Depletion of cerebellar Purkinje cells
• Ovarian failure (POI) and hypertrophic hypergonadism
• Liver failure
• Renal failure
• Splenomegaly
• Cataracts

Studies of Type III galactosemia symptoms are mostly descriptive, and precise pathogenic mechanisms remain unknown. This is largely due to a lack of functional animal models of classic galactosemia. The recent development of a Drosophila melanogaster GALE mutant exhibiting galactosemic symptoms may yield a promising future animal model.[3]

Galactose epimerase deficiency has an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance.

Galactose epimerase deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder,[5] which means the defective gene is located on an autosome, and two copies of the defective gene - one from each parent - are required to inherit the disorder. The parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive disorder both carry one copy of the defective gene, but usually do not experience any signs or symptoms of the disorder.

Biochemical basis

Pathways, intermediates, and enzymes involved in galactose metabolism.[3]

GALE deficiency inhibits UDP-glucose regeneration, preventing the formation of glucose-1-phosphate and leading to the accumulation of galactose and galactose-1-phosphate. High galactose-1-phosphate levels have been shown to interfere with phosphoglucomutase,[7] glycogen phosphorylase,[8] UDP-glycopyrophosphorylase,[9] activity in bacterial models and in vitro, yet in vivo mechanisms toxicity have yet to be confirmed.[3] Regardless, median galactose-1-phosphate levels act as the most accurate predictors of the severity of symptoms associated with Type III galactosemia.[10]

Blockage of the Leloir pathway by GALE deficiency or dysfunction activates alternate pathways of glucose metabolism and leads to galactitol and galactonate formation. Galactonate is metabolized by the pentose phosphate pathway, and is not considered toxic.[11] Galactitol, however, may accumulate in lens fibers, perturbing lens epithelial cell permeability and leading to cell death and cataract formation.[12] GALE deficiency also perturbs glycolipid and glycoprotein biosynthesis due to decreased production of UDP-GalNAc from UDP-GlcNAc.[3]

Screening for elevated galactose levels may detect GALE deficiency or dysfunction in infants, and mutation studies for GALE are clinically available.[13]

Individuals presenting with Type III galactosemia must consume a lactose- and galactose-restricted diet devoid of dairy products and mucilaginous plants.[4] Dietary restriction is the only current treatment available for GALE deficiency. As glycoprotein and glycolipid metabolism generate endogenous galactose, however, Type III galactosemia may not be resolved solely through dietary restriction.[3]