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GeneE
10 sources retrieved Β· Most recent: April 2026 Β· Index updated 14 days ago
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GNAT2
G protein subunit alpha transducin 2
Chromosome 1 Β· 1p13.3
NCBI Gene: 2780Ensembl: ENSG00000134183.14HGNC: HGNC:4394UniProt: P19087
43PubMed Papers
21Diseases
0Drugs
34Pathogenic Variants
CLINICAL
OMIM Disease Gene
DATA QUALITY
βœ“ Experimental GO Evidenceβœ“ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
photoreceptor inner segmentphotoreceptor outer segmentdetection of light stimulus involved in visual perceptiondetection of chemical stimulus involved in sensory perception of bitter tasteachromatopsiaRetinal dystrophycone dystrophyProgressive cone dystrophy
✦AI Summary

GNAT2 encodes the guanine nucleotide-binding protein alpha subunit of cone transducin, a G protein that functions as a critical amplifier in cone phototransduction 1. In cone photoreceptors, GNAT2 couples activated rhodopsin to cGMP-phosphodiesterase, translating light stimulus into electrical signals necessary for color vision 2. The GNAT2 gene spans 9967 base pairs with eight exons and shows cone-specific expression patterns distinct from rod transducin 1. Pathogenic variants in GNAT2 cause achromatopsia (ACHM), a rare autosomal recessive cone dysfunction syndrome characterized by loss of color discrimination, nystagmus, photophobia, and reduced visual acuity 3. GNAT2 mutations account for approximately 1.7% of achromatopsia cases 3. The disease presents at birth or early infancy with highly variable phenotypes; notably, cone photoreceptor structure is relatively well-preserved in GNAT2-associated achromatopsia despite functional deficits, potentially providing a therapeutic window for intervention 4. While no FDA-approved treatment exists, multiple gene therapy approaches targeting GNAT2-achromatopsia are in preclinical development and clinical trial phases 5, offering promise for restoration of visual function in affected patients.

Sources cited
1
GNAT2 gene structure, cone-specific expression, and distinction from rod transducin
PMID: 8406495
2
GNAT2 role in cone phototransduction and coupling of visual signal
PMID: 40013354
3
GNAT2 mutations cause achromatopsia, representing 1.7% of ACHM cases with clinical features
PMID: 31058429
4
Cone photoreceptor preservation in GNAT2-associated achromatopsia and therapeutic potential
PMID: 32203983
5
Gene therapy development for achromatopsia including GNAT2-targeted approaches
PMID: 39273686
Disease Associationsβ“˜21
achromatopsiaOpen Targets
0.75Strong
Retinal dystrophyOpen Targets
0.49Moderate
cone dystrophyOpen Targets
0.43Moderate
Progressive cone dystrophyOpen Targets
0.38Weak
eye diseaseOpen Targets
0.37Weak
Abnormality of the eyeOpen Targets
0.26Weak
genetic disorderOpen Targets
0.19Weak
metabolic syndromeOpen Targets
0.11Weak
obesityOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
Familial exudative vitreoretinopathyOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
X-linked retinal dysplasiaOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
retinitis pigmentosaOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
cervical carcinomaOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
breast cancerOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
Stargardt diseaseOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
type 2 diabetes mellitusOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
HypercholesterolemiaOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
severe early-childhood-onset retinal dystrophyOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
Familial drusenOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
exudative vitreoretinopathy 2, X-linkedOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
Achromatopsia 4UniProt
Pathogenic Variants34
NM_001377295.2(GNAT2):c.937C>T (p.Arg313Ter)Pathogenic
Achromatopsia 4|not provided
β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†2025β†’ Residue 313
NM_001377295.2(GNAT2):c.481C>T (p.Arg161Ter)Pathogenic
Achromatopsia 4|not provided|Achromatopsia
β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†2024β†’ Residue 161
NM_001377295.2(GNAT2):c.172C>T (p.Gln58Ter)Pathogenic
not provided|Retinal dystrophy
β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†2024β†’ Residue 58
NM_001377295.2(GNAT2):c.526C>T (p.Arg176Ter)Pathogenic
not provided
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2025β†’ Residue 176
NM_001377295.2(GNAT2):c.826del (p.Glu276fs)Pathogenic
not provided
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2024β†’ Residue 276
NM_001377295.2(GNAT2):c.821_822del (p.Leu273_Phe274insTer)Pathogenic
not provided
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2024β†’ Residue 273
NM_001377295.2(GNAT2):c.591_597delinsCA (p.Arg197fs)Pathogenic
Achromatopsia
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2024β†’ Residue 197
NM_001377295.2(GNAT2):c.590+1delPathogenic
not provided
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2023
NM_001377295.2(GNAT2):c.162-2A>GLikely pathogenic
not provided
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2023
NM_001377295.2(GNAT2):c.421G>T (p.Glu141Ter)Pathogenic
not provided
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2022β†’ Residue 141
NM_001377295.2(GNAT2):c.304-1G>ALikely pathogenic
not provided
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2022
NM_001377295.2(GNAT2):c.5del (p.Gly2fs)Pathogenic
not provided
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2022β†’ Residue 2
NM_001377295.2(GNAT2):c.495_496insAG (p.Glu166fs)Pathogenic
not provided
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2022β†’ Residue 166
NM_001377295.2(GNAT2):c.496del (p.Glu166fs)Pathogenic
not provided
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2022β†’ Residue 166
NM_001377295.2(GNAT2):c.235C>T (p.Gln79Ter)Pathogenic
Achromatopsia 4|not provided
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2021β†’ Residue 79
NM_001377295.2(GNAT2):c.591-2A>CPathogenic
Achromatopsia 4|Achromatopsia
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2020
NM_001377295.2(GNAT2):c.620A>T (p.Glu207Val)Pathogenic
Achromatopsia 4|Cone dystrophy
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2020β†’ Residue 207
NM_001377295.2(GNAT2):c.605G>A (p.Gly202Glu)Pathogenic
Achromatopsia 4
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2019β†’ Residue 202
NM_001377295.2(GNAT2):c.720+2T>CLikely pathogenic
Achromatopsia 4|Retinal dystrophy
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2018
NM_001377295.2(GNAT2):c.175del (p.Asp59fs)Likely pathogenic
not provided
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2018β†’ Residue 59
View on ClinVar β†—
Related Genes
GNGT1Protein interaction100%GNG4Protein interaction100%GNGT2Protein interaction100%GNG2Protein interaction100%GNG3Protein interaction100%GNG11Protein interaction100%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Lung
0%
Ovary
0%
Bone Marrow
0%
Heart
0%
Liver
0%
Brain
0%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
GNAT2GNGT1GNG4GNGT2GNG2GNG3GNG11
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB6N84 Β· 1.75 Γ… Β· X-ray
View on RCSB β†—
Constraintβ“˜
LOEUFβ“˜
1.18LoF Tolerant
pLIβ“˜
0.00Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.79 [0.55–1.18]
RankingsWhere GNAT2 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #9,732of 20,598
    Most Researched43
  • #1,708of 5,498
    Most Pathogenic Variants34
  • #12,314of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)1.18
Genes detectedGNAT2
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response timeβ€”
πŸ“„ Sources
10β–Ό
1
Gene Therapy for Achromatopsia.
PMID: 39273686
Int J Mol Sci Β· 2024
1.00
2
Phenotyping and genotyping inherited retinal diseases: Molecular genetics, clinical and imaging features, and therapeutics of macular dystrophies, cone and cone-rod dystrophies, rod-cone dystrophies, Leber congenital amaurosis, and cone dysfunction syndromes.
PMID: 38278208
Prog Retin Eye Res Β· 2024
0.90
3
Achromatopsia: a review.
PMID: 26196097
Curr Opin Ophthalmol Β· 2015
0.80
4
Monogenic Retinal Diseases Associated With Genes Encoding Phototransduction Proteins: A Review.
PMID: 40013354
Clin Exp Ophthalmol Β· 2025
0.70
5
Characterization of the gene encoding human cone transducin alpha-subunit (GNAT2).
PMID: 8406495
Genomics Β· 1993
0.60