Dominant Stargardt Macular Dystrophy (STGD3) and ELOVL4

Abstract

Autosomal dominant Stargardt3 Macular Dystrophy (STGD3) results from mutations in the ELOVL4 gene. ELOVL4 protein localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), where it mediates the rate-limiting condensation reaction during very long-chain (VLC, ≥ C28) fatty acid biosynthesis. The defective gene product is truncated at the C-terminus, leading to mislocalization and aggregation in other organelles. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the disease-causing mutation and its potential role in STGD3 pathogenesis.