What type of muscular dystrophy involves mutations in the dystrophin gene?

Becker's Muscular Dystrophy is caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene, which is crucial for maintaining the structural integrity of muscle fibers. Dystrophin is a protein that connects the cytoskeleton of muscle cells to the extracellular matrix, thereby providing strength and stability during muscle contraction. Mutations in this gene lead to a reduced amount of dystrophin being produced or a dystrophin that is partially functional.

This results in muscle degeneration and progressive weakness, though the symptoms are generally milder and onset is later compared to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, which is caused by more severe mutations in the same gene. Understanding the genetic basis of Becker's Muscular Dystrophy helps inform diagnosis, prognosis, and potential therapeutic strategies for affected individuals.

In contrast to Becker's, the other types of muscular dystrophies mentioned—Congenital, Limb-Girdle, and Facioscapulohumeral—are associated with different genetic mutations and mechanisms, not involving the dystrophin gene directly. This distinction highlights why Becker's Muscular Dystrophy is specifically connected to mutations in the dystrophin gene.