TSC1, KIAA0243, TSC, Hamartin, Tuberous sclerosis 1 protein

Implicated as a tumor suppressor. May have a function in vesicular transport. Interaction between TSC1 and TSC2 may facilitate vesicular docking. Defects in TSC1 are the cause of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). The molecular basis of TSC is a functional impairement of the hamartin-tuberin complex. TSC is an autosomal dominant multi-system disorder that affects especially the brain, kidneys, heart, and skin. TSC is characterized by hamartomas (benign overgrowths predominantly of a cell or tissue type that occurs normally in the organ) and hamartias (developmental abnormalities of tissue combination). Clinical symptoms can range from benign hypopigmented macules of the skin to profound mental retardation with intractable seizures to premature death from a variety of disease-associated causes. Defects in TSC1 may be a cause of focal cortical dysplasia of Taylor balloon cell type (FCDBC). FCDBC is a subtype of cortical displasias linked to chronic intractable epilepsy. Cortical dysplasias display a broad spectrum of structural changes, which appear to result from changes in proliferation, migration, differentiation, and apoptosis of neuronal precursors and neurons during cortical development.