Optic neuropathy

Gene: MT-TK

Amber List (moderate evidence)

MT-TK (mitochondrially encoded tRNA lysine)
EnsemblGeneIds (GRCh38): ENSG00000210156
EnsemblGeneIds (GRCh37): ENSG00000210156
OMIM: 590060, Gene2Phenotype
MT-TK is in 11 panels

3 reviews

Ida Ertmanska (Genomics England Curator)

After NHS Genomic Medicine Service consideration, the rating of this gene has not been changed and remains Amber. The GMS reviewers commented as follows: More appropriate for specialist mitochondrial lab to test for this - 1) Alternative panel test available for this gene (R42.2 - Leber hereditary optic neuropathy). 2). May not be technically feasible for all laboratories to include this gene on the panel.
Created: 11 Dec 2025, 4:54 p.m. | Last Modified: 11 Dec 2025, 4:54 p.m.
Panel Version: 5.28

Achchuthan Shanmugasundram (Genomics England Curator)

Green List (high evidence)

Comment on list classification: As reviewed by Katherine Schon, there is sufficient evidence available for the association of m.8344A>G variant in MT-TK gene with optic atrophy. Hence, this gene can be promoted to green rating in the next GMS update.
Created: 26 Jun 2025, 7:55 p.m. | Last Modified: 26 Jun 2025, 7:55 p.m.
Panel Version: 5.21
As per MitoPhen database (https://www.mitophen.org) there are >10 patients reported with m.8344A>G variant in MT-TK gene and with optic atrophy/ neuropathy as one of the phenotypes.

PMID:1463006 - Three unrelated patients were reported with myoclonus epilepsy and ragged-red fibers (MERRF) syndrome and with m.8344A>G variant. Two of these patients were reported with optic atrophy.

PMID:8228033 - Two siblings presented with MERRF. Both had myoclonus, intention tremor, slight muscle weakness, slight mental disturbance, hearing impairment, and optic atrophy. They were detected with the same m.8344A>G variant.

PMID:33766967 - A 23-year-old female patient was reported with MERRF and with m.8344A>G variant at high level of heteroplasmy (87%). She presented with optic neuropathy and a rare phenotype of lipomatosis.
Created: 26 Jun 2025, 7:52 p.m. | Last Modified: 26 Jun 2025, 7:52 p.m.
Panel Version: 5.18

Mode of inheritance
MITOCHONDRIAL

Phenotypes
MERRF syndrome, MONDO:0010790; optic atrophy, MONDO:0003608

Publications

Katherine Schon (University of Cambridge)

Green List (high evidence)

Optic atrophy is commonly found in patients with MERRF, m.8344A>G variant.
Created: 23 Jun 2025, 11:36 a.m. | Last Modified: 23 Jun 2025, 11:36 a.m.
Panel Version: 5.3

Mode of inheritance
MITOCHONDRIAL

Publications

Mode of pathogenicity
Other

Details

Mode of Inheritance
MITOCHONDRIAL
Sources
  • Expert Review Amber
  • Literature
Phenotypes
  • MERRF syndrome, MONDO:0010790
  • optic atrophy, MONDO:0003608
Tags
locus-type-rna-transfer technical-limitations
OMIM
590060
Clinvar variants
Variants in MT-TK
Penetrance
None
Publications
Mode of Pathogenicity
Other
Panels with this gene

History Filter Activity

11 Dec 2025, Gel status: 2

Removed Tag, Removed Tag, Removed Tag, Added Tag

Ida Ertmanska (Genomics England Curator)

Tag Q2_25_ promote_green was removed from gene: MT-TK. Tag Q2_25_expert_review was removed from gene: MT-TK. Tag Q2_25_ NHS_review was removed from gene: MT-TK. Tag technical-limitations tag was added to gene: MT-TK.

29 Jun 2025, Gel status: 2

Added Tag

Achchuthan Shanmugasundram (Genomics England Curator)

Tag locus-type-rna-transfer tag was added to gene: MT-TK.

26 Jun 2025, Gel status: 2

Entity classified by Genomics England curator

Achchuthan Shanmugasundram (Genomics England Curator)

Gene: mt-tk has been classified as Amber List (Moderate Evidence).

26 Jun 2025, Gel status: 1

Added Tag, Added Tag, Added Tag

Achchuthan Shanmugasundram (Genomics England Curator)

Tag Q2_25_ promote_green tag was added to gene: MT-TK. Tag Q2_25_expert_review tag was added to gene: MT-TK. Tag Q2_25_ NHS_review tag was added to gene: MT-TK.

26 Jun 2025, Gel status: 1

Set Phenotypes

Achchuthan Shanmugasundram (Genomics England Curator)

Phenotypes for gene: MT-TK were changed from to MERRF syndrome, MONDO:0010790; optic atrophy, MONDO:0003608

26 Jun 2025, Gel status: 1

Set publications

Achchuthan Shanmugasundram (Genomics England Curator)

Publications for gene: MT-TK were set to

23 Jun 2025, Gel status: 1

Created, Added New Source, Set mode of inheritance, Set mode of pathogenicity

Achchuthan Shanmugasundram (Genomics England Curator)

gene: MT-TK was added gene: MT-TK was added to Optic neuropathy. Sources: Literature Mode of inheritance for gene gene: MT-TK was set to MITOCHONDRIAL Mode of pathogenicity for gene: MT-TK was set to Other