Language
English
Publication Date
8-27-2026
Journal
medRxiv
DOI
10.64898/2026.08.24.26360911
PMID
42798303
PMCID
PMC13592148
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
8-27-2026
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Pre-Print
Abstract
Congenital NAD deficiency disorder (CNDD) is a gene × environment disorder caused by disruptions of the kynurenine pathway. To date, CNDD has been associated with biallelic variants in three kynurenine pathway genes: KYNU, HAAO, and NADSYN1 . We identified two sisters with congenital anomalies overlapping with CNDD who have biallelic variants in a gene encoding a different kynurenine pathway enzyme, KMO . The surviving child also has elevated levels of metabolites upstream of KMO with low NAD + levels in plasma, suggesting that KMO deficiency is a novel CNDD. To explore the pathogenicity of KMO deficiency, we generated a global Kmo knockout mouse model ( Kmo -/- ) and utilized dietary interventions to better model human gene × environment interactions. Although Kmo -/- mice are viable and fertile on typical breeder chow, they exhibit elevated serum kynurenine and are functionally vitamin B3-dependent. Under conditions of limited maternal vitamin B3 intake, a greater proportion of Kmo -/- embryos develop congenital anomalies and have significantly lower NAD + levels than Kmo +/- littermates. Exploratory untargeted metabolomics performed in Kmo -/- embryos suggested that NAD + deficiency may perturb the pyrimidine, purine, and pentose phosphate pathways. These findings establish KMO deficiency as a new cause of CNDD and highlight a critical gene × environment interaction influencing NAD metabolism and congenital anomalies.
Published Open-Access
yes
Recommended Citation
Aceves-Ewing, Nathalie M; Li-Villarreal, Nanbing; Li, Xiaohui; et al., "Biallelic Variants in KMO Cause a Novel Form of Congenital NAD Deficiency" (2026). Faculty, Staff and Students Publications. 8240.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/baylor_docs/8240