Occurrence of two missense mutations in Cu-ATPase of the macular mouse, a Menkes disease model.

We have investigated the genetic defect of the Cu-ATPase gene (Atp7a) in the macular mouse, a genetic model of classical Menkes disease. Northern blot analysis showed that its placenta and kidney possess a normal amount of the Cu-ATPase mRNA of the normal size; sequencing analysis revealed two missense mutations, His674Arg and Ser1381 Pro, in a PCR-amplified cDNA for mutant Cu-ATPase. The latter mutation was suspected to affect the function of the ATPase, because it lies in the transmembrane segment that is thought to form a channel for the transportation of copper ions.