Albinism encompasses a group of hereditary disorders characterized by reduced or absent ocular pigment and variable skin and/or hair involvement, with syndromic forms such as Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome and Chédiak-Higashi syndrome. Autosomal recessive oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is phenotypically and genetically heterogenous (associated with seven genes). X-linked ocular albinism (OA) is associated with only one gene, GPR143. We report the clinical and genetic outcomes of 44 patients, from 40 unrelated families of diverse ethnicities, with query albinism presenting to the ocular genetics service at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust between November 2017 and October 2019. Thirty-six were children (≤ 16 years) with a median age of 31 months (range 2-186), and eight adults with a median age of 33 years (range 17-39); 52.3% (n = 23) were male. Genetic testing using whole genome sequencing (WGS, n = 9) or a targeted gene panel (n = 31) gave an overall diagnostic rate of 42.5% (44.4% (4/9) with WGS and 41.9% (13/31) with panel testing). Seventeen families had confirmed mutations in TYR (n = 9), OCA2, (n = 4), HPS1 (n = 1), HPS3 (n = 1), HPS6 (n = 1), and GPR143 (n = 1). Molecular diagnosis of albinism remains challenging due to factors such as missing heritability. Differential diagnoses must include SLC38A8-associated foveal hypoplasia and syndromic forms of albinism.

Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is an autosomal recessive disease with hypopigmentation in skin, hair, and eyes, causing by the complete absence or reduction of melanin in melanocytes. Many types of OCA were observed based on the mutation in different causing genes relating to albinism. OCA can occur in non-syndromic and syndromic forms, where syndromic OCA coexists with additional systemic consequences beyond hypopigmentation and visual-associated symptoms.

Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by either complete lack of or a reduction of melanin biosynthesis in the melanocytes. The OCA1A is the most severe type with a complete lack of melanin production throughout life, while the milder forms OCA1B, OCA2, OCA3, and OCA4 show some pigment accumulation over time. Mutations in TYR, OCA2, TYRP1, and SLC45A2 are mainly responsible for causing oculocutaneous albinism. Recently, two new genes SLC24A5 and C10orf11 are identified that are responsible to cause OCA6 and OCA7, respectively. Also a locus has been mapped to the human chromosome 4q24 region which is responsible for genetic cause of OCA5. In this paper, we summarized the clinical and molecular features of OCA genes. Further, we reviewed the screening of pathological mutations of OCA genes and its molecular mechanism of the protein upon mutation by in silico approach. We also reviewed TYR (T373K, N371Y, M370T, and P313R), OCA2 (R305W), TYRP1 (R326H and R356Q) mutations and their structural consequences at molecular level. It is observed that the pathological genetic mutations and their structural and functional significance of OCA genes will aid in development of personalized medicine for albinism patients.

Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a complex genetic disease with great clinical heterogeneity. Four different types of OCA have been reported to date (OCA1, OCA2, OCA3, and OCA4). MATP was recently reported in a single Turkish OCA patient as the fourth pathological gene, but no other patients with OCA4 have been reported. Here, we report the mutational profile of OCA4, determined by genetic analysis of the MATP gene in a large Japanese population with OCA. Of 75 unrelated patients that were screened, 18 individuals (24%) were identified as having OCA4; they harbored seven novel mutations, including four missense mutations (P58S, D157N, G188V, and V507L) and three frameshift mutations (S90CGGCCA-->GC, V144insAAGT, and V469delG), showing that MATP is the most frequent locus for tyrosinase-positive OCA in Japanese patients. We discuss the functional melanogenic activity of each mutant allele, judging from the relationship between the phenotypes and genotypes of the patients. This is the first report on a large group of patients with OCA4.

Melanin pigment helps protect our body from broad wavelength solar radiation and skin cancer. Among other pigmentation disorders in humans, albinism is reported to manifest in both syndromic and nonsyndromic forms as well as with varying inheritance patterns. Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA), an autosomal recessive nonsyndromic form of albinism, presents as partial to complete loss of melanin in the skin, hair, and iris. OCA has been known to be caused by pathogenic variants in seven different genes, so far, according to all the currently published population studies. However, the detection rate of alleles causing OCA varies from 50% to 90%. One of the significant challenges of uncovering the pathological variant underlying disease etiology is inter- and intra-familial locus heterogeneity. This problem is especially pertinent in highly inbred populations. As examples of such familial locus heterogeneity, we present nine consanguineous Pakistani families with segregating OCA due to variants in one or two different known albinism-associated genes. All of the identified variants are predicted to be pathogenic, which was corroborated by several in silico algorithms and association with diverse clinical phenotypes. We report an individual affected with OCA carries heterozygous, likely pathogenic variants in TYR and OCA2, raising the question of a possible digenic inheritance. Altogether, our study highlights the significance of exome sequencing for the complete genetic diagnosis of inbred families and provides the ramifications of potential genetic interaction and digenic inheritance of variants in the TYR and OCA2 genes.

Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by either complete lack of or a reduction in melanin biosynthesis in the skin, hair, and eyes. OCA1, the most common and severe type, is caused by mutations in the tyrosinase (TYR) gene. In this study, we report a Chinese family with two members affected by OCA. Blood samples were collected from all family members. Genomic DNA was isolated from blood leukocytes, and all coding exons and adjacent intronic sequences of the TYR gene were examined for mutation analysis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based sequencing. A pedigree chart was drawn, and clinical examinations and paraclinical tests were performed. Compound heterozygous mutations in TYR (c.832C>T and c.929_930insC, which resulted in p.Arg278* and p.Arg311Lysfs*7, respectively) were identified in the two patients with milky skin, white hair, photophobia, and reduced visual acuity, while other family members only carried one of two heterozygous mutations. In addition, a homozygous missense mutation c.814G>A (p.Glu272Lys) in the solute carrier family 45 member 2 (SLC45A2) gene was found in both patients and unaffected family members, suggesting that this may not be a causative mutation. The findings of this study expand the mutational spectrum of OCA. Compound heterozygous mutations (c.832C>T and c.929_930insC) in the TYR gene may be responsible for partial clinical manifestations of OCA, while the homozygous missense mutation c.814G>A (p.Glu272Lys) in the SLC45A2 gene may not be associated with OCA.

The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the available data on the epidemiology of oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) around the world, and to determine whether a generalizable, worldwide prevalence figure could be proposed.

Oculocutaneous albinism type1 (OCA1) is characterized by the absence of melanin pigmentation. The mutation on TYR gene makes OCA1 as an autosomal recessive genetic disorder. In this study, we delineated the genetic analysis of an Iranian family with four members affected with OCA1.

Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a human autosomal-recessive hypopigmentation disorder with hypopigmentation in the skin, hair, and eyes. OCA1 and OCA2 are caused by mutations of the TYR and OCA2 genes, respectively, which are responsible for most oculocutaneous albinism. However, the incidence of oculocutaneous albinism patients in Guangxi remains unclear.

We investigated a German Spitz family where the mating of a black male to a white female had yielded three puppies with an unexpected light brown coat color, lightly pigmented lips and noses, and blue eyes. Combined linkage and homozygosity analysis based on a fully penetrant monogenic autosomal recessive mode of inheritance identified a critical interval of 15 Mb on chromosome 3. We obtained whole genome sequence data from one affected dog, three wolves, and 188 control dogs. Filtering for private variants revealed a single variant with predicted high impact in the critical interval in LOC100855460 (XM_005618224.1:c.377+2T>G LT844587.1:c.-45+2T>G). The variant perfectly co-segregated with the phenotype in the family. We genotyped 181 control dogs with normal pigmentation from diverse breeds including 22 unrelated German Spitz dogs, which were all homozygous wildtype. Comparative sequence analyses revealed that LOC100855460 actually represents the 5'-end of the canine OCA2 gene. The CanFam 3.1 reference genome assembly is incorrect and separates the first two exons from the remaining exons of the OCA2 gene. We amplified a canine OCA2 cDNA fragment by RT-PCR and determined the correct full-length mRNA sequence (LT844587.1). Variants in the OCA2 gene cause oculocutaneous albinism type 2 (OCA2) in humans, pink-eyed dilution in mice, and similar phenotypes in corn snakes, medaka and Mexican cave tetra fish. We therefore conclude that the observed oculocutaneous albinism in German Spitz is most likely caused by the identified variant in the 5'-splice site of the first intron of the canine OCA2 gene.

Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a group of rare genetically heterogeneous disorders, characterized by hypopigmentation of the eyes, skin, and hair, which result in ocular abnormalities and a risk of developing skin cancer. Currently, there is no ophthalmologic procedure or drug that prevents the clinical features of OCA. Here, we report a new type of OCA in two, unrelated Korean families with the same OCA2 mutation. Affected individuals in this study are different from those of previous reports in two aspects: an inheritance pattern and clinical presentation. All reported patients with OCA have shown an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern, while our patients showed an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. Small amounts of pigment can be acquired with age in OCA, but there is no substantial variation from adolescence to adulthood in this regard. A case where the patient attained normal pigmentation levels has never been reported. However, our patients displayed completely normal pigmentation in their late twenties. Whole exome sequencing and in-silico analysis revealed a novel mutation, OCA2 c.2338G>A p.(G780S) (NM_000275) with a high likelihood of pathogenicity. Sanger sequencing of p.G780S identified the same mutation in the affected individuals, which was not found in the family members with normal phenotype. We hypothesize that OCA2 G780S not only acts as a pathogenic variant of OCA but also induces pigmentation by enhancing the melanogenesis gene expression of other modifier genes, such as SLC45A2 and TPC2. These findings may provide further understanding of melanin biosynthesis and new treatment methods for OCA.

Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by hypopigmentation of the skin, hair, and eyes accompanied with ophthalmologic abnormalities. Molecular genetic test can confirm the diagnosis of the four subtypes of OCA (OCA1-4). Herein, we report a Chinese family with two patients affected by OCA. Mutations of TYR, OCA2, TYRP1, and SLC45A2 were examined by using PCR-sequencing. Large deletions or duplications of TYR and OCA2 were examined by Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) assay. Compound heterozygous mutations of OCA2, (c.808-3C>G and c.2080-2A>G), were identified in both patients characterized with yellow hair and milky skin, heterochromia iridis, and nystagmus. Several computer-assisted approaches predicted that c.808-3C>G and c.2080-2A>G in OCA2 might potentially be pathogenic splicing mutations. No exon rearrangement (deletion/duplication) of TYR and OCA2 was observed in the patients by MLPA analysis. This study suggests that compound heterozygous mutations, (c.808-3C>G and c.2080-2A>G), in OCA2 may be responsible for partial clinical manifestations of OCA.

Human visual acuity is anatomically determined by the retinal fovea. The ontogenetic development of the fovea can be seriously hindered by oculocutaneous albinism (OCA), which is characterized by a disorder of melanin synthesis. Although people of all ethnic backgrounds can be affected, no efficient treatments for OCA have been developed thus far, due partly to the lack of effective animal models. Rhesus macaques are genetically homologous to humans and, most importantly, exhibit structures of the macula and fovea that are similar to those of humans; thus, rhesus macaques present special advantages in the modeling and study of human macular and foveal diseases. In this study, we identified rhesus macaque models with clinical characteristics consistent with those of OCA patients according to observations of ocular behavior, fundus examination, and optical coherence tomography. Genomic sequencing revealed a biallelic p.L312I mutation in TYR and a homozygous p.S788L mutation in OCA2, both of which were further confirmed to affect melanin biosynthesis via in vitro assays. These rhesus macaque models of OCA will be useful animal resources for studying foveal development and for preclinical trials of new therapies for OCA.

Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a group of heterogeneous genetic disorders characterized by abnormal melanin synthesis in the hair, skin, and eyes. OCA exhibits obvious genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity. Molecular diagnosis of causal genes can be of help in the classification of OCA subtypes and the study of OCA pathogenesis． METHODS: In this study, Sanger sequencing and whole exome sequencing were used to genetically diagnose 20 nonconsanguineous Chinese OCA patients. In addition, prenatal diagnosis was provided to six OCA families.

Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is caused by a group of genetically heterogeneous inherited defects that result in the loss of pigmentation in the eyes, skin and hair. Mutations in the TYR, OCA2, TYRP1 and SLC45A2 genes have been shown to cause isolated OCA. No comprehensive analysis has been conducted to study the spectrum of OCA alleles prevailing in Pakistani albino populations.

Human tyrosinase (Tyr) is a glycoenzyme that catalyzes the first and rate-limiting step in melanin production, and its gene (TYR) is mutated in many cases of oculocutaneous albinism type 1 (OCA1). The mechanisms by which individual mutations contribute to the diverse pigmentation phenotype in patients with OCA1 have only began to be examined and remain to be delineated. Here, we analyze the temperature-dependent kinetics of wild-type Tyr (WT) and two OCA1B mutant variants (R422Q and P406L) using Michaelis-Menten and Van't Hoff analyses. Recombinant truncated human Tyr proteins (residues 19-469) were produced in the whole insect Trichoplusia Ni larvae. Proteins were purified by a combination of affinity and size-exclusion chromatography. The temperature dependence of diphenol oxidase protein activities and kinetic parameters were measured by dopachrome absorption. Using the same experimental conditions, computational simulations were performed to assess the temperature-dependent association of L-DOPA and Tyr. Our results revealed, for the first time, that the association of L-DOPA with R422Q and P406L followed by dopachrome formation is a complex reaction supported by enthalpy and entropy forces. We show that the WT has a higher turnover number as compared with both R422Q and P406L. Elucidating the kinetics and thermodynamics of mutant variants of Tyr in OCA1B helps to understand the mechanisms by which they lower Tyr catalytic activity and to discover novel therapies for patients.

Oculocutaneous Albinism (OCA) is a heterogeneous group of inherited diseases involving hair, skin and eyes. To date, six forms are recognized on the effects of different melanogenesis genes. OCA4 is caused by mutations in SLC45A2 showing a heterogeneous phenotype ranging from white hair, blue irides and nystagmus to brown/black hair, brown irides and no nystagmus. The high clinic variety often leads to misdiagnosis. Our aim is to contribute to OCA4 diagnosis defining SLC45A2 genetic variants in Italian patients with OCA without any TYR, OCA2 and TYRP1 gene defects.

Albinism is a group of genetic disorders, showing a broad spectrum of different phenotypes. The purpose of this study was to screen known candidate genes for oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) and ocular albinism (OA) mutations in Indian patients.

Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a group of inherited disorders characterized by defective melanin biosynthesis. OCA1, the most common and severe form, is caused by mutations in the tyrosinase (TYR) gene. OCA4, caused by mutations in the SLC45A2 gene, has frequently been reported in the Japanese population. To determine the mutational spectrum in Korean OCA patients, 12 patients were recruited. The samples were first screened for TYR mutations, and negative samples were screened for SLC45A2 mutations. OCA1 was confirmed in 8 of 12 (66.7%) patients, and OCA4 was diagnosed in 1 (8.3%) patient. In the OCA1 patients, a total of 6 distinct TYR mutations were found in 15 of 16 (93.8%) alleles, all of which had been previously reported. Out of the 6 alleles, c.929insC was the most frequently detected (31.3%), and was mainly associated with OCA1A phenotypes. Other TYR mutations identified included c.1037-7T>A/c.1037-10delTT, p.D383N, p.R77Q and p.R299H. These largely overlapped with mutations found in Japanese and Chinese patients. The SLC45A2 gene analysis identified 1 novel mutation, p.D93N, in 1 patient. This study has provided information on the mutation spectrum in Korean OCA patients, and allows us to estimate the relative frequencies of OCA1 and OCA4 in Korea.

Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders involving deficiencies in melanin biosynthesis, with consequent skin, hair, and eye hypopigmentation. The world prevalence is estimated at 1/17,000, but there is high variability among populations. The affected individuals, besides clinical complications, can suffer from discrimination. The Brazilian population is highly admixed, with isolated and inbred communities. Previous reports indicated the presence of diverse isolated communities with a high prevalence of OCA in Brazil. The present work sought to review and characterize clusters of albinism in this country based on scientific literature search, newspapers, and websites. We identified and characterized 18 clusters, 13 confirmed by scientific studies. Seven clusters are in the Northeast region, with predominant African ancestry, and seven others in indigenous communities, particularly among the Kaingaing in South Brazil. Isolation and inbreeding associated with founder effects seem to be the most plausible explanation. Molecular studies and clinical classification are still limited. Their localization in deprived regions with poor infrastructure makes them particularly vulnerable to the social and clinical consequences of lacking melanin. We reinforce the need for a tailored approach to these communities, including appropriate medical care, social support, and genetic counselling.