ARSA Active Protein

The protein encoded by this gene hydrolyzes cerebroside sulfate to cerebroside and sulfate. Defects in this gene lead to metachromatic leucodystrophy (MLD), a progressive demyelination disease which results in a variety of neurological symptoms and ultimately death. Alternatively spliced transcript variants have been described for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Dec 2010]

ARSA: Hydrolyzes cerebroside sulfate. Defects in ARSA are a cause of leukodystrophy metachromatic (MLD). MLD is a disease due to a lysosomal storage defect. It is characterized by intralysosomal storage of cerebroside-3-sulfate in neural and non-neural tissues, with a diffuse loss of myelin in the central nervous system. Progressive demyelination causes a variety of neurological symptoms, including gait disturbances, ataxias, optical atrophy, dementia, seizures, and spastic tetraparesis. Three forms of the disease can be distinguished according to the age at onset: late- infantile, juvenile and adult. Arylsulfatase A activity is defective in multiple sulfatase deficiency (MSD). A clinically and biochemically heterogeneous disorder caused by the simultaneous impairment of all sulfatases, due to defective post-translational modification and activation. It combines features of individual sulfatase deficiencies such as metachromatic leukodystrophy, mucopolysaccharidosis, chondrodysplasia punctata, hydrocephalus, ichthyosis, neurologic deterioration and developmental delay. Arylsulfatase A activity is impaired in multiple sulfatase deficiency due to mutations in SUMF1. SUMF1 mutations result in defective post-translational modification of ARSA at residue Cys- 69 that is not converted to 3-oxoalanine. Belongs to the sulfatase family.

Protein type: Hydrolase; EC 3.1.6.8; Lipid Metabolism - sphingolipid

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 22q13.33

Cellular Component: extracellular space; lysosomal lumen; extrinsic to external side of plasma membrane; endoplasmic reticulum lumen; lysosome; integral to membrane; acrosome; endosome

Molecular Function: arylsulfatase activity; sulfuric ester hydrolase activity; calcium ion binding; cerebroside-sulfatase activity

Biological Process: response to ethanol; central nervous system development; sphingolipid metabolic process; cellular protein metabolic process; binding of sperm to zona pellucida; response to estrogen stimulus; response to methylmercury; autophagy; glycosphingolipid metabolic process; post-translational protein modification; response to nutrient; response to pH

Disease: Metachromatic Leukodystrophy