The sequence variant c.685C>T in exon 5 changes arginine in position 229 to tryptophan (p.Arg229Trp). Studies in transfected cells show that p.Trp229 is processed correctly, localized to the lysosomes and has retained some activity. p.Arg229 is located near the surface of the enzyme, and is conserved among species. Alpha-mannosidosis guinea-pigs are homozygous for the corresponding missense mutation (p.Arg227Trp), and in transfected cells, the guinea pig MAN2B1 p.227Arg is inactive.