Localization of the giant axonal neuropathy gene to chromosome 16q24

Giant axonal neuropathy (GAN) is a degenerative disorder of the peripheral nerves that is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait, presenting in early childhood and progressing to death, usually by late adolescence. Diagnosis is made by peripheral nerve biopsy, in which a striking pathological finding is seen--fibers distorted by giant axonal swellings filled with densely packed bundles of neurofilaments (the primary intermediate filament in neurons), with segregation of other axoplasmic organelles. In addition to disorganized neurofilaments in nerve, disorganization of other members of the intermediate filament family of proteins is seen in other tissues; this implies that the underlying…