CLN4 disease is a condition that primarily affects the nervous system, causing problems with movement and intellectual function that worsen over time. The signs and symptoms of CLN4 disease typically appear around age 30, but they can develop anytime between adolescence and late adulthood.

People with CLN4 disease often develop seizures and uncontrollable muscle jerks (myoclonic epilepsy), a decline in intellectual function (dementia), problems with coordination and balance (ataxia), tremors or other involuntary movements (motor tics), and speech difficulties (dysarthria). The signs and symptoms of CLN4 disease worsen over time, and affected individuals usually survive about 15 years after the disorder begins.

CLN4 disease is one of a group of disorders known as neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs), which may also be collectively referred to as Batten disease. (The adult forms of NCLs, which includes CLN4 disease, are sometimes known as Kufs disease.) All the NCLs affect the nervous system and typically cause worsening problems with vision, movement, and thinking ability. The different NCLs are distinguished by their genetic cause. Each disease type is given the designation "CLN," meaning ceroid lipofuscinosis, neuronal, and then a number to indicate its subtype.

Mutations in the DNAJC5 gene cause CLN4 disease. The DNAJC5 gene provides instructions for making a protein called cysteine string protein alpha (CSPα). This protein is found in the brain, where it plays a role in the transmission of nerve impulses, helping nerve cells communicate with each other. Specifically, CSPα is involved in recycling certain proteins that are involved in nerve impulse transmission by refolding misshapen proteins so that they can be used in additional transmissions.

DNAJC5 gene mutations lead to the production of an altered CSPα protein. The altered protein cannot perform its function, which reduces protein recycling, causing a shortage (deficiency) of functional proteins needed for impulse transmission. Without normal communication between nerve cells, neurological functions are impaired, contributing to the features of CLN4 disease.

CLN4 disease, like other NCLs, is characterized by the accumulation of proteins and other substances in lysosomes, which are compartments in the cell that digest and recycle materials. These accumulations occur in cells throughout the body; however, nerve cells seem to be particularly vulnerable to their effects. The accumulations can cause cell damage leading to cell death. The progressive death of nerve cells in the brain and other tissues contributes to the decline of neurological function in CLN4 disease. However, it is unclear how mutations in the DNAJC5 gene are involved in the buildup of substances in lysosomes.

Normal Function

The DNAJC5 gene provides instructions for making a protein called cysteine string protein alpha (CSPα). This protein is found near nerve cells in the brain, where it plays a role in the transmission of nerve impulses. Specifically, CSPα is part of a group (complex) of proteins that is found on the membrane of sac-like structures called synaptic vesicles. Synaptic vesicles are found close to the ends of nerve cells and contain chemical messengers that transmit signals from one nerve cell to another. CSPα is involved in recycling proteins that are involved in nerve impulse transmission by re-folding misshapen proteins so that they can be used in additional transmissions.

Health Conditions Related to Genetic Changes

CLN4 disease

At least two mutations in the DNAJC5 gene have been found to cause CLN4 disease. CLN4 disease is an inherited disorder that primarily affects the nervous system. This condition usually begins in adulthood with problems with movement and intellectual function that worsen over time.

One of the DNAJC5 gene mutations replaces the protein building block (amino acid) leucine with the amino acid arginine at position 115 in the CSPα protein (written as L115R). The other mutation deletes the amino acid leucine at position 116 in the protein (written as L116del). Affected individuals have one of these mutations in one copy of the DNAJC5 gene in each cell, which leads to the production of an altered protein that cannot associate with the membrane of synaptic vesicles. The resulting reduction in protein recycling leads to a shortage (deficiency) of functional proteins, which impairs the efficiency of nerve impulse transmission. The abnormal CSPα protein may also bind to the functional CSPα protein that is produced from the normal copy of the DNAJC5 gene and prevent it from associating with synaptic vesicles, further impairing impulse transmission. Without communication between nerve cells, neurological functions are impaired, contributing to the features of CLN4 disease.

CLN4 disease is characterized by the accumulation of proteins and other substances in lysosomes, which are compartments in the cell that digest and recycle materials. These accumulations occur in cells throughout the body; however, nerve cells seem to be particularly vulnerable to their effects. The accumulations can cause cell damage leading to cell death. The progressive death of nerve cells in the brain and other tissues contributes to the decline of neurological function in CLN4 disease. However, it is unclear how mutations in the DNAJC5 gene are involved in the buildup of substances in lysosomes.

Other Names for This Gene

• CLN4
• CLN4B
• CSP
• cysteine string protein alpha
• DnaJ (Hsp40) homolog, subfamily C, member 5
• dnaJ homolog subfamily C member 5
• DNAJC5A
• DNJC5_HUMAN
• FLJ00118
• FLJ13070

Genomic Location

This condition is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, which means one copy of the altered gene in each cell is sufficient to cause the disorder.

Some cases of this condition result from new (de novo) mutations in the gene that occur during the formation of reproductive cells (eggs or sperm) in an affected individual’s parent or in early embryonic development. These cases occur in people with no history of the disorder in their family.

CLN4 disease is a rare disorder, but its prevalence is unknown. Collectively, all forms of NCL affect an estimated 1 in 100,000 individuals worldwide.