Synemin-related skeletal and cardiac myopathies: an overview of pathogenic variants.

This review analyzes data concerning patients with cardiomyopathies or skeletal myopathies associated with a variation in the intermediate filament (IF) synemin gene (SYNM), also referred to as desmuslin (DMN). Molecular studies demonstrate that synemin copolymerizes with desmin and vimentin IF and interacts with vinculin, α-actinin, α-dystrobrevin, dystrophin, talin, and zyxin. It has been found that synemin is an A-kinase-anchoring protein (AKAP) that anchors protein kinase A (PKA) and modulates the PKA-dependent phosphorylation of several cytoskeletal substrates such as desmin. Because several IF proteins, including desmin, have been implicated in human genetic disorders such as dominant or recessive congenital and adult-onset myopathy, synemin becomes a significant candidate for cardiac and skeletal myopathies of unknown etiology. Because SYNM is a new candidate gene that displays numerous sequence polymorphisms, in this review, we summarize the genetic and clinical literature about SYNM mutations. Protein-changing variants (missense, frameshifts, nonsense) were further evaluated based on structural modifications and amino acid interactions. We present in silico modeling of helical salt-bridges between residues to evaluate the impact of the synemin networks crucial to interactions with cytoskeletal proteins. Finally, a discussion is featured regarding certain variants that may contribute to the disease state.

AUTS2 Syndrome in a 68-year-old female: Natural history and further delineation of the phenotype.

Here we summarize the clinical and molecular findings in a 68-year-old female with dysmorphic features, mild-to-moderate intellectual disability, and behavioral findings suggesting autism spectrum disorder. SNP array analysis demonstrated a 257 kb deletion comprising exon 6 of AUTS2. This clinical report provides the natural history in the eldest patient yet to be reported, and complements the existing evidence suggesting that disruption of the AUTS2 leads to a recently delineated neurodevelopmental phenotype with a wide spectrum, namely "AUTS2 Syndrome." © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

De novo complex intra chromosomal rearrangement after ICSI: characterisation by BACs micro array-CGH.

BACKGROUND: In routine Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) men with severe oligozoospermia or azoospermia should be informed about the risk of de novo congenital or chromosomal abnormalities in ICSI program. Also the benefits of preimplantation or prenatal genetic diagnosis practice need to be explained to the couple. METHODS: From a routine ICSI attempt, using ejaculated sperm from male with severe oligozoospermia and having normal karyotype, a 30 years old pregnant woman was referred to prenatal diagnosis in the 17th week for bichorionic biamniotic twin gestation. Amniocentesis was performed because of the detection of an increased foetal nuchal translucency for one of the fetus by the sonographic examination during the 12th week of gestation (WG). Chromosome and DNA studies of the fetus were realized on cultured amniocytes RESULTS: Conventional, molecular cytogenetic and microarray CGH experiments allowed us to conclude that the fetus had a de novo pericentromeric inversion associated with a duplication of the 9p22.1-p24 chromosomal region, 46,XY,invdup(9)(p22.1p24) [arrCGH 9p22.1p24 (RP11-130C19 --> RP11-87O1)x3]. As containing the critical 9p22 region, our case is in coincidence with the general phenotype features of the partial trisomy 9p syndrome with major growth retardation, microcephaly and microretrognathia. CONCLUSION: This de novo complex chromosome rearrangement illustrates the possible risk of chromosome or gene defects in ICSI program and the contribution of array-CGH for mapping rapidly de novo chromosomal imbalance.

De novo monosomy 9p24.3-pter and trisomy 17q24.3-qter characterised by microarray comparative genomic hybridisation in a fetus with an increased nuchal translucency.

OBJECTIVES: Increased nuchal translucency (NT) during the first trimester of pregnancy is a useful marker to detect chromosomal abnormalities. Here, we report a prenatal case with molecular cytogenetic characterisation of an abnormal derivative chromosome 9 identified through NT. METHODS: Amniocentesis was performed because of an increased NT (4.4 mm) and showed an abnormal de novo 46,XX,add(9)(p24.3) karyotype. To characterise the origin of the small additional material on 9p, we performed a microarray comparative genomic hybridisation (microarray CGH) using a genomic DNA array providing an average of 1 Mb resolution. RESULTS: Microarray CGH showed a deletion of distal 9p and a trisomy of distal 17q. These results were confirmed by FISH analyses. Microarray CGH provided accurate information on the breakpoint regions and the size of both distal 9p deletion and distal 17q trisomy. The fetus was therefore a carrier of a de novo derivative chromosome 9 arising from a t(9;17)(p24.3;q24.3) translocation and generating a monosomy 9p24.3-pter and a trisomy 17q24.3-qter. CONCLUSION: This case illustrates that microarray CGH is a rapid, powerful and sensitive technology to identify small de novo unbalanced chromosomal abnormalities and can be applied in prenatal diagnosis.

Retrospective diagnosis of Pallister-Killian syndrome by CGH array.

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: We report a girl presenting with a polymalformation syndrome. Despite a normal karyotype on peripheral lymphocytes and the unavailability of cultured fibroblasts, a tetrasomy 12p was identified on pulmonary DNA extracted from a postmortem biopsy, by use of comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and confirmed by CGH array. The clinical picture of our patient was consistent, but not specific of the diagnosis of Pallister-Killian syndrome. She presented with the association of antenatal polyhydramnios, craniofacial dysmorphic features, skeletal abnormalities, and a congenital cardiopathy. CONCLUSION: We discuss the usefulness of CGH and CGH array in prenatal and constitutional cytogenetics.