Identification of a new Arylsulfatase A (ARSA) gene mutation in Tunisian patients with metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD).

Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is an autosomal recessive, lysosomal storage disease caused by a deficiency of the enzyme arylsulfatase A (ARSA). The aim of the present study was to identify the molecular basis of MLD in Tunisian population. Two Tunisian patients with late infantile MLD were studied. Both patients were homozygous for a new missense mutation that causes a substitution of Trp in Gly p.W124G. This is the first mutation of ARSA gene described in Tunisian population.