The natural history of elevated tetradecenoyl-L-carnitine detected by newborn screening in New Zealand: implications for very long chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency screening and treatment.

Very long chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (VLCADD, OMIM #201475) has been increasingly diagnosed since the advent of expanded newborn screening (NBS). Elevated levels of tetradecenoyl-L-carnitine (C14:1) in newborn screening blood spot samples are particularly common in New Zealand, however this has not translated into increased VLCADD clinical presentations. A high proportion of screen-positive cases in NZ are of Maori or Pacific ethnicity and positive for the c.1226C > T (p.Thr409Met) ACADVL gene variant. We performed a retrospective, blinded, case-control study of 255 cases, born between 2006 and 2013, with elevated NBS C14:1 levels between 0.9 and 2.4 µmol/L, below the NZ C14:1 notification cut-off of 2.5 µmol/L. Coded healthcare records were audited for cases and age- and ethnicity- matched controls. The clinical records of those with possible VLCADD-related symptoms were reviewed. The follow-up period was 6 months to 7 years. Two of 247 cases (0.8 %) had possible VLCADD-like symptoms while four of 247 controls (2 %) had VLCADD-like symptoms (p = 0.81). Maori were overrepresented (68 % of the cohort vs 15 % of population). Targeted analysis of the c.1226 locus revealed the local increase in screening C14:1 levels is associated with the c.1226C > T variant (97/152 alleles tested), found predominantly in Maori and Pacific people. There was no increase in clinically significant childhood disease, irrespective of ethnicity. The study suggests that children with elevated C14:1, between 0.9-2.4 µmol/L, on NBS are at very low risk of clinically significant childhood disease. A minimally interventional approach to managing these patients is indicated, at least in the New Zealand population.

Two Novel GLDC Mutations in a Neonate with Nonketotic Hyperglycinemia.

Nonketotic hyperglycinemia, also known as glycine encephalopathy (OMIM #605899), is an autosomal recessive disorder of glycine metabolism resulting from a defect in the glycine cleavage system. We report two novel mutations of the glycine decarboxylase (GLDC) gene observed in a compound heterozygous state in a neonate of mixed Maori and Caucasian parentage: c.395C>T p.(Ser132Leu) in exon 3, and c.256-?_334+?del p.(Ser86Valfs*119), resulting in an out-of-frame deletion of exon 2. Additionally, we describe our experience of implementing the ketogenic diet, alongside standard pharmacological therapy, and highlight its potential therapeutic benefit in severe nonketotic hyperglycinemia, particularly in seizure management.

SNP Analysis and Whole Exome Sequencing: Their Application in the Analysis of a Consanguineous Pedigree Segregating Ataxia.

Autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia encompasses a large and heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative disorders. We employed single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis and whole exome sequencing to investigate a consanguineous Maori pedigree segregating ataxia. We identified a novel mutation in exon 10 of the SACS gene: c.7962T>G p.(Tyr2654*), establishing the diagnosis of autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS). Our findings expand both the genetic and phenotypic spectrum of this rare disorder, and highlight the value of high-density SNP analysis and whole exome sequencing as powerful and cost-effective tools in the diagnosis of genetically heterogeneous disorders such as the hereditary ataxias.

A novel glycine decarboxylase gene mutation in an Indian family with nonketotic hyperglycinemia.

Nonketotic hyperglycinemia is an inborn error of glycine metabolism. It manifests mostly as an acute encephalopathy in the neonatal period, although later, atypical presentations have also been reported. Mutations in 3 different genes have been implicated in nonketotic hyperglycinemia. Here we report a novel mutation, c.2296G>T (p.Gly766Cys), in exon 19 of the glycine decarboxylase (GLDC) gene (Refseq accession number NM_000170.2) in a consanguineous Indian couple with a history of 4 neonatal deaths.

Array comparative genomic hybridization identifies a heterozygous deletion of the entire KCNJ2 gene as a cause of sudden cardiac death.

BACKGROUND: Large gene rearrangements, not detectable by standard molecular genetic sequencing techniques, are present in a minority of patients with long QT syndrome. We aimed to screen for large rearrangements in genes responsible for long QT syndrome as part of the molecular autopsy of a 36-year-old woman who died suddenly and had a negative autopsy. A retrospective analysis of an ECG identified a long QT interval, but sequencing of known LQT genes was uninformative. METHODS AND RESULTS: Array comparative genomic hybridization was used to screen for deletions and duplications in 101 genes implicated in cardiac disorders and sudden death using a postmortem blood sample. A 542 kb deletion encompassing the entire KCNJ2 gene was identified in the decedent. The mother had electrocardiographic U-wave changes consistent with Andersen-Tawil syndrome and exaggerated by exercise but none of the characteristic noncardiac features. Fluorescence in situ hybridization confirmed the deletion in the decedent and established its presence in the mother. CONCLUSIONS: A novel application of array comparative genomic hybridization and fluorescence in situ hybridization has identified that long QT syndrome and sudden cardiac death may occur as a result of a deletion of an entire gene. The case also supports recent research suggesting that noncardiac features of Andersen-Tawil syndrome occur only with missense or minor gene rearrangements in the KCNJ2 gene, resulting in a dominant negative effect on Kir2.x channels.

A Streamlined Protocol for Molecular Testing of the DMD Gene within a Diagnostic Laboratory: A Combination of Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization and Bidirectional Sequence Analysis.

Purpose. The aim of this study was to develop a streamlined mutation screening protocol for the DMD gene in order to confirm a clinical diagnosis of Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy in affected males and to clarify the carrier status of female family members. Methods. Sequence analysis and array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) were used to identify mutations in the dystrophin DMD gene. We analysed genomic DNA from six individuals with a range of previously characterised mutations and from eight individuals who had not previously undergone any form of molecular analysis. Results. We successfully identified the known mutations in all six patients. A molecular diagnosis was also made in three of the four patients with a clinical diagnosis who had not undergone prior genetic screening, and testing for familial mutations was successfully completed for the remaining four patients. Conclusion. The mutation screening protocol described here meets best practice guidelines for molecular testing of the DMD gene in a diagnostic laboratory. The aCGH method is a superior alternative to more conventional assays such as multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA). The combination of aCGH and sequence analysis will detect mutations in 98% of patients with the Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy.

Diagnostic genetics at a distance: von hippel-lindau disease and a novel mutation.

Genetic testing at a distance is commonplace where members of a family with a segregating germline mutation are geographically separated. For the most part, this challenge is addressed through the intervention of health professionals in taking and/or processing blood samples for subsequent couriering of DNA to a referral laboratory. In some circumstances, however, the collecting of pivotal clinical material may involve direct patient involvement. We describe such a situation where noninvasive saliva samples were provided by members of a family manifesting Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease. The analysis identified a novel mutation in the VHL gene that was used to exclude other family members as being at risk of VHL disease.

Simple Repeat-Primed PCR Analysis of the Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 Gene in a Clinical Diagnostics Environment.

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 is an autosomal dominant neuromuscular disorder that is caused by the expansion of a CTG trinucleotide repeat in the DMPK gene. The confirmation of a clinical diagnosis of DM-1 usually involves PCR amplification of the CTG repeat-containing region and subsequent sizing of the amplification products in order to deduce the number of CTG repeats. In the case of repeat hyperexpansions, Southern blotting is also used; however, the latter has largely been superseded by triplet repeat-primed PCR (TP-PCR), which does not yield a CTG repeat number but nevertheless provides a means of stratifying patients regarding their disease severity. We report here a combination of forward and reverse TP-PCR primers that allows for the simple and effective scoring of both the size of smaller alleles and the presence or absence of expanded repeat sequences. In addition, the CTG repeat-containing TP-PCR forward primer can target both the DM-1 and Huntington disease genes, thereby streamlining the work flow for confirmation of clinical diagnoses in a diagnostic laboratory.

Gene Dosage Analysis in a Clinical Environment: Gene-Targeted Microarrays as the Platform-of-Choice.

The role of gene deletion and duplication in the aetiology of disease has become increasingly evident over the last decade. In addition to the classical deletion/duplication disorders diagnosed using molecular techniques, such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Charcot-Marie-Tooth Neuropathy Type 1A, the significance of partial or whole gene deletions in the pathogenesis of a large number single-gene disorders is becoming more apparent. A variety of dosage analysis methods are available to the diagnostic laboratory but the widespread application of many of these techniques is limited by the expense of the kits/reagents and restrictive targeting to a particular gene or portion of a gene. These limitations are particularly important in the context of a small diagnostic laboratory with modest sample throughput. We have developed a gene-targeted, custom-designed comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH) array that allows twelve clinical samples to be interrogated simultaneously for exonic deletions/duplications within any gene (or panel of genes) on the array. We report here on the use of the array in the analysis of a series of clinical samples processed by our laboratory over a twelve-month period. The array has proven itself to be robust, flexible and highly suited to the diagnostic environment.

Array-based Identification of Copy Number Changes in a Diagnostic Setting: Simultaneous gene-focused and low resolution whole human genome analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to develop and validate a comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH) array that would allow simultaneous targeted analysis of a panel of disease genes and low resolution whole genome analysis. METHODS: A bespoke Roche NimbleGen 12x135K CGH array (Roche NimbleGen Inc., Madison, Wisconsin, USA) was designed to interrogate the coding regions of 66 genes of interest, with additional widely-spaced backbone probes providing coverage across the whole genome. We analysed genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from 20 patients with a range of previously characterised copy number changes and from 8 patients who had not previously undergone any form of dosage analysis. RESULTS: The custom-designed Roche NimbleGen CGH array was able to detect known copy number changes in all 20 patients. A molecular diagnosis was also made for one of the additional 4 patients with a clinical diagnosis that had not been confirmed by sequence analysis, and carrier testing for familial copy number variants was successfully completed for the remaining four patients. CONCLUSION: The custom-designed CGH array described here is ideally suited for use in a small diagnostic laboratory. The method is robust, accurate, and cost-effective, and offers an ideal alternative to more conventional targeted assays such as multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification.

Developmental delay referrals and the roles of Fragile X testing and molecular karyotyping: a New Zealand perspective.

Global developmental delay (GDD) affects ~1-3% of children, many of whom will also have intellectual disability (ID). Fragile X is the major genetic cause of GDD with mental retardation (MR) in males, accounting for ~20% of all X-linked MR. As Fragile X has serious genetic implications, the overwhelming majority of developmental delay (DD) cases referred to our laboratory are concerned with the exclusion of a diagnosis of Fragile X, along with simultaneous karyotype analysis to confirm chromosome aberrations. Critically, molecular laboratories have generally experienced a falling positive detection frequency of Fragile X. In this context, the recent implementation of array­based techno-logy has significantly increased the likelihood of detecting chromosome aberrations that underpin DD. In the current study, we report a Fragile X mutation detection frequency for DD referrals that is comparable with the falling UK detection frequencies. In addition, we find that there is a 9­fold greater likelihood of detecting clinically significant chromosomal aberrations than of detecting a full Fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene CGG repeat expansion in cases referred on the basis of DD. We propose a more efficent sequential testing algorithm that involves an initial molecular karyotype, cascading to FMR1 gene analysis in the event of a negative result.

A novel 2.3 mb microduplication of 9q34.3 inserted into 19q13.4 in a patient with learning disabilities.

Insertional translocations in which a duplicated region of one chromosome is inserted into another chromosome are very rare. We report a 16.5-year-old girl with a terminal duplication at 9q34.3 of paternal origin inserted into 19q13.4. Chromosomal analysis revealed the karyotype 46,XX,der(19)ins(19;9)(q13.4;q34.3q34.3)pat. Cytogenetic microarray analysis (CMA) identified a ~2.3Mb duplication of 9q34.3 → qter, which was confirmed by Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH). The duplication at 9q34.3 is the smallest among the cases reported so far. The proband exhibits similar clinical features to those previously reported cases with larger duplication events.

Pseudotrisomy 13 syndrome: use of homozygosity mapping to target candidate genes.

Pseudotrisomy 13 syndrome is characterised by holoprosencephaly with or without polydactyly, but with a normal karyotype. The genetic cause of this syndrome remains unclear, but it is thought to be autosomal recessive. In order to identify possible candidate genes, we identified regions of homozygosity in the DNA of an affected foetus, which was the seventh pregnancy of a healthy non-consanguineous Cook Island Maori couple; this ethnic group derives from a small founder population. Several large regions of homozygosity were identified using a high density array. We excluded two candidate genes that lay within these regions, and suggest that Pseudotrisomy 13 syndrome might not be monogenic and that a larger cohort of patients should be analysed using high density dosage/SNP arrays as well as whole exome sequencing in order to clarify the genetic underpinning of this rare syndrome.