Scnm1 - sodium channel modifier 1 Gene

Mutations in the voltage-gated Sodium Channel gene Scn8a lead to neurological problems in mice. For one particular mutation, Scn8amedJ, mice live to adulthood but have tremors and muscle weakness, among Other problems, in all strains except those derived from C57BL6 mice. In these strains, the product of the Scnm1 gene (229 aa) partially overcomes the effects of the Scn8amedJ mutation. However, in C57BL6-derived mice, a one nt change in the penultimate exon creates a premature stop codon, truncating the Scnm1 protein at 186 aa. This truncated protein lacks the ability to overcome the effects of the Scn8amedJ mutation, and these mice suffer paralysis and juvenile death. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2009]