A novel variant of GALC in a familial case of Krabbe disease:Insights from structural bioinformatics and molecular dynamics simulation

Krabbe disease or globoid cell leukodystrophy(GLD;MIM#245200)is a rare and fatal lysosomal storage disease with an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance that results from the deficiency of galactocerebrosidase(GALC;E.C.3.2.1.46),a lysosomal enzyme encoded by the GALC gene.1 GALC breaks down galactosylceramide,a cerebroside located mainly in the myelin sheath.Defects in GALC cause the accumulation of a cytotoxic metabolite,galactosylsphingosine or psychosine,which can be toxic to oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells.2 The failure to digest galactosylceramide triggers the formation of multi-nucleated globoid cells,causing severe demyelination,axonopathy,and neuronal death.3 The reported frequency of Krabbe disease is 1 in 100,000 live births with symptoms including irritability,loss of motor ability,spasticity,ataxia,visual dysfunction,seizures,andcognitive impairment.