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1.
Clin Genet ; 106(1): 114-115, 2024 Jul.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38715525

RESUMEN

FGF12 related epilepsy presents with variable phenotypes. We report another patient with a duplication involving the FGF12 gene who presented similar to other published cases having normal early development and responded to phenytoin.


Asunto(s)
Variaciones en el Número de Copia de ADN , Epilepsia , Factores de Crecimiento de Fibroblastos , Humanos , Variaciones en el Número de Copia de ADN/genética , Factores de Crecimiento de Fibroblastos/genética , Epilepsia/genética , Masculino , Femenino , Fenotipo
2.
Clin Genet ; 103(2): 167-178, 2023 02.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36250278

RESUMEN

ZC4H2 (MIM# 300897) is a nuclear factor involved in various cellular processes including proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells, ventral spinal patterning and osteogenic and myogenic processes. Pathogenic variants in ZC4H2 have been associated with Wieacker-Wolff syndrome (MIM# 314580), an X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by arthrogryposis, development delay, hypotonia, feeding difficulties, poor growth, skeletal abnormalities, and dysmorphic features. Zebrafish zc4h2 null mutants recapitulated the human phenotype, showed complete loss of vsx2 expression in brain, and exhibited abnormal swimming and balance problems. Here we report 7 new patients (four males and three females) with ZC4H2-related disorder from six unrelated families. Four of the 6 ZC4H2 variants are novel: three missense variants, designated as c.142T>A (p.Tyr48Asn), c.558G>A (p.Met186Ile) and c.602C>T (p.Pro201Leu), and a nonsense variant, c.618C>A (p.Cys206*). Two variants were previously reported : a nonsense variant c.199C>T (p.Arg67*) and a splice site variant (c.225+5G>A). Five patients were on the severe spectrum of clinical findings, two of whom had early death. The male patient harboring the p.Met186Ile variant and the female patient that carries the p.Pro201Leu variant have a relatively mild phenotype. Of note, 4/7 patients had a tethered cord that required a surgical repair. We also demonstrate and discuss previously under-recognized phenotypic features including sleep apnea, arrhythmia, hypoglycemia, and unexpected early death. To study the effect of the missense variants, we performed microinjection of human ZC4H2 wild-type or variant mRNAs into zc4h2 null mutant zebrafish embryos. The p.Met186Ile mRNA variant was able to partially rescue vsx2 expression while p.Tyr48Asn and p.Pro201Leu mRNA variants were not. However, swimming and balance problems could not be rescued by any of these variants. These results suggest that the p.Met186Ile is a hypomorphic allele. Our work expands the genotypes and phenotypes associated with ZC4H2-related disorder and demonstrates that the zebrafish system is a reliable method to determine the pathogenicity of ZC4H2 variants.


Asunto(s)
Enfermedades Genéticas Ligadas al Cromosoma X , Defectos del Tubo Neural , Pez Cebra , Animales , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Alelos , Enfermedades Genéticas Ligadas al Cromosoma X/genética , Péptidos y Proteínas de Señalización Intracelular/genética , Proteínas del Tejido Nervioso/genética , Defectos del Tubo Neural/genética , Proteínas Nucleares/genética , Fenotipo , Prevalencia , Pez Cebra/genética
3.
Am J Hum Genet ; 105(3): 509-525, 2019 09 05.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31422817

RESUMEN

The human RNA helicase DDX6 is an essential component of membrane-less organelles called processing bodies (PBs). PBs are involved in mRNA metabolic processes including translational repression via coordinated storage of mRNAs. Previous studies in human cell lines have implicated altered DDX6 in molecular and cellular dysfunction, but clinical consequences and pathogenesis in humans have yet to be described. Here, we report the identification of five rare de novo missense variants in DDX6 in probands presenting with intellectual disability, developmental delay, and similar dysmorphic features including telecanthus, epicanthus, arched eyebrows, and low-set ears. All five missense variants (p.His372Arg, p.Arg373Gln, p.Cys390Arg, p.Thr391Ile, and p.Thr391Pro) are located in two conserved motifs of the RecA-2 domain of DDX6 involved in RNA binding, helicase activity, and protein-partner binding. We use functional studies to demonstrate that the first variants identified (p.Arg373Gln and p.Cys390Arg) cause significant defects in PB assembly in primary fibroblast and model human cell lines. These variants' interactions with several protein partners were also disrupted in immunoprecipitation assays. Further investigation via complementation assays included the additional variants p.Thr391Ile and p.Thr391Pro, both of which, similarly to p.Arg373Gln and p.Cys390Arg, demonstrated significant defects in P-body assembly. Complementing these molecular findings, modeling of the variants on solved protein structures showed distinct spatial clustering near known protein binding regions. Collectively, our clinical and molecular data describe a neurodevelopmental syndrome associated with pathogenic missense variants in DDX6. Additionally, we suggest DDX6 join the DExD/H-box genes DDX3X and DHX30 in an emerging class of neurodevelopmental disorders involving RNA helicases.


Asunto(s)
ARN Helicasas DEAD-box/genética , Discapacidad Intelectual/genética , Mutación Missense , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas/genética , ARN/genética , Humanos
4.
Hum Mol Genet ; 27(4): 691-705, 2018 02 15.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29300972

RESUMEN

UBTF (upstream binding transcription factor) exists as two isoforms; UBTF1 regulates rRNA transcription by RNA polymerase 1, whereas UBTF2 regulates mRNA transcription by RNA polymerase 2. Herein, we describe 4 patients with very similar patterns of neuroregression due to recurrent de novo mutations in UBTF (GRCh37/hg19, NC_000017.10: g.42290219C > T, NM_014233.3: c.628G > A) resulting in the same amino acid change in both UBTF1 and UBTF2 (p.Glu210Lys [p.E210K]). Disease onset in our cohort was at 2.5 to 3 years and characterized by slow progression of global motor, cognitive and behavioral dysfunction. Notable early features included hypotonia with a floppy gait, high-pitched dysarthria and hyperactivity. Later features included aphasia, dystonia, and spasticity. Speech and ambulatory ability were lost by the early teens. Magnetic resonance imaging showed progressive generalized cerebral atrophy (supratentorial > infratentorial) with involvement of both gray and white matter. Patient fibroblasts showed normal levels of UBTF transcripts, increased expression of pre-rRNA and 18S rRNA, nucleolar abnormalities, markedly increased numbers of DNA breaks, defective cell-cycle progression, and apoptosis. Expression of mutant human UBTF1 in Drosophila neurons was lethal. Although no loss-of-function variants are reported in the Exome Aggregation Consortium (ExAC) database and Ubtf-/- is early embryonic lethal in mice, Ubtf+/- mice displayed only mild motor and behavioral dysfunction in adulthood. Our data underscore the importance of including UBTF E210K in the differential diagnosis of neuroregression and suggest that mainly gain-of-function mechanisms contribute to the pathogenesis of the UBTF E210K neuroregression syndrome.


Asunto(s)
Mutación Missense/genética , Proteínas del Complejo de Iniciación de Transcripción Pol1/genética , Preescolar , Disartria/genética , Femenino , Ataxia de la Marcha/genética , Humanos , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética , Masculino , Hipotonía Muscular/genética , Linaje , ARN Ribosómico 18S/genética
5.
Hum Genet ; 138(11-12): 1409-1417, 2019 Dec.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31748968

RESUMEN

Pelizaeus-Merzbacher-like disease (PMLD) is an autosomal recessive hypomyelinating leukodystrophy, which is clinically and radiologically similar to X-linked Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD). PMLD is characterized by early-onset nystagmus, delayed development (motor delay, speech delay and dysarthria), dystonia, hypotonia typically evolving into spasticity, ataxia, seizures, optic atrophy, and diffuse leukodystrophy on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We identified a 12-year-old Caucasian/Hispanic male with the classical clinical characteristics of PMLD with lack of myelination of the subcortical white matter, and absence of the splenium of corpus callosum. Exome sequencing in the trio revealed novel compound heterozygous pathogenic mutations in SNAP29 (p.Leu119AlafsX15, c.354DupG and p.0?, c.2T > C). Quantitative analysis of the patient's blood cells through RNA sequencing identified a significant decrease in SNAP29 mRNA expression, while western blot analysis on fibroblast cells revealed a lack of protein expression compared to parental and control cells. Mutations in SNAP29 have previously been associated with cerebral dysgenesis, neuropathy, ichthyosis, and keratoderma (CEDNIK) syndrome. Typical skin features described in CEDNIK syndrome, such as generalized ichthyosis and keratoderma, were absent in our patient. Moreover, the early onset nystagmus and leukodystrophy were consistent with a PMLD diagnosis. These findings suggest that loss of SNAP29 function, which was previously associated with CEDNIK syndrome, is also associated with PMLD. Overall, our study expands the genetic spectrum of PMLD.


Asunto(s)
Enfermedades Desmielinizantes del Sistema Nervioso Central Hereditarias/genética , Enfermedades Desmielinizantes del Sistema Nervioso Central Hereditarias/patología , Heterocigoto , Mutación , Proteínas Qb-SNARE/genética , Proteínas Qc-SNARE/genética , Niño , Humanos , Masculino , Pronóstico , Secuenciación del Exoma
6.
Brain ; 141(6): 1703-1718, 2018 06 01.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29668857

RESUMEN

V-type proton (H+) ATPase (v-ATPase) is a multi-subunit proton pump that regulates pH homeostasis in all eukaryotic cells; in neurons, v-ATPase plays additional and unique roles in synapse function. Through whole exome sequencing, we identified de novo heterozygous mutations (p.Pro27Arg, p.Asp100Tyr, p.Asp349Asn, p.Asp371Gly) in ATP6V1A, encoding the A subunit of v-ATPase, in four patients with developmental encephalopathy with epilepsy. Early manifestations, observed in all patients, were developmental delay and febrile seizures, evolving to encephalopathy with profound delay, hypotonic/dyskinetic quadriparesis and intractable multiple seizure types in two patients (p.Pro27Arg, p.Asp100Tyr), and to moderate delay with milder epilepsy in the other two (p.Asp349Asn, p.Asp371Gly). Modelling performed on the available prokaryotic and eukaryotic structures of v-ATPase predicted p.Pro27Arg to perturb subunit interaction, p.Asp100Tyr to cause steric hindrance and destabilize protein folding, p.Asp349Asn to affect the catalytic function and p.Asp371Gly to impair the rotation process, necessary for proton transport. We addressed the impact of p.Asp349Asn and p.Asp100Tyr mutations on ATP6V1A expression and function by analysing ATP6V1A-overexpressing HEK293T cells and patients' lymphoblasts. The p.Asp100Tyr mutant was characterized by reduced expression due to increased degradation. Conversely, no decrease in expression and clearance was observed for p.Asp349Asn. In HEK293T cells overexpressing either pathogenic or control variants, p.Asp349Asn significantly increased LysoTracker® fluorescence with no effects on EEA1 and LAMP1 expression. Conversely, p.Asp100Tyr decreased both LysoTracker® fluorescence and LAMP1 levels, leaving EEA1 expression unaffected. Both mutations decreased v-ATPase recruitment to autophagosomes, with no major impact on autophagy. Experiments performed on patients' lymphoblasts using the LysoSensor™ probe revealed lower pH of endocytic organelles for p.Asp349Asn and a reduced expression of LAMP1 with no effect on the pH for p.Asp100Tyr. These data demonstrate gain of function for p.Asp349Asn characterized by an increased proton pumping in intracellular organelles, and loss of function for p.Asp100Tyr with decreased expression of ATP6V1A and reduced levels of lysosomal markers. We expressed p.Asp349Asn and p.Asp100Tyr in rat hippocampal neurons and confirmed significant and opposite effects in lysosomal labelling. However, both mutations caused a similar defect in neurite elongation accompanied by loss of excitatory inputs, revealing that altered lysosomal homeostasis markedly affects neurite development and synaptic connectivity. This study provides evidence that de novo heterozygous ATP6V1A mutations cause a developmental encephalopathy with a pathomechanism that involves perturbations of lysosomal homeostasis and neuronal connectivity, uncovering a novel role for v-ATPase in neuronal development.


Asunto(s)
Encefalopatías/genética , Epilepsia/genética , Mutación/genética , ATPasas de Translocación de Protón Vacuolares/genética , Adolescente , Animales , Encéfalo/diagnóstico por imagen , Encefalopatías/complicaciones , Encefalopatías/patología , Células Cultivadas , Niño , Estudios de Cohortes , Epilepsia/complicaciones , Epilepsia/patología , Femenino , Regulación de la Expresión Génica/genética , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Proteína 1 de la Membrana Asociada a los Lisosomas/metabolismo , Lisosomas/metabolismo , Lisosomas/patología , Masculino , Modelos Moleculares , Neuronas/metabolismo , Neuronas/patología , Neuronas/ultraestructura , Ratas , Sinapsis/metabolismo , Sinapsis/patología , ATPasas de Translocación de Protón Vacuolares/metabolismo , Proteínas de Transporte Vesicular/metabolismo , Secuenciación del Exoma
7.
Am J Med Genet A ; 176(12): 2623-2629, 2018 12.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30151950

RESUMEN

KIF26B is a member of the kinesin superfamily with evolutionarily conserved functions in controlling aspects of embryogenesis, including the development of the nervous system, though its function is incompletely understood. We describe an infant with progressive microcephaly, pontocerebellar hypoplasia, and arthrogryposis secondary to the involvement of anterior horn cells and ventral (motor) nerves. We performed whole exome sequencing on the trio and identified a de novo KIF26B missense variant, p.Gly546Ser, in the proband. This variant alters a highly conserved amino acid residue that is part of the phosphate-binding loop motif and motor-like domain and is deemed pathogenic by several in silico methods. Functional analysis of the variant protein in cultured cells revealed a reduction in the KIF26B protein's ability to promote cell adhesion, a defect that potentially contributes to its pathogenicity. Overall, KIF26B may play a critical role in the brain development and, when mutated, cause pontocerebellar hypoplasia with arthrogryposis.


Asunto(s)
Cinesinas/genética , Atrofias Olivopontocerebelosas/genética , Atrofias Musculares Espinales de la Infancia/diagnóstico , Atrofias Musculares Espinales de la Infancia/genética , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Animales , Encéfalo/anomalías , Encéfalo/diagnóstico por imagen , Adhesión Celular , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Expresión Génica , Humanos , Cinesinas/química , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética/métodos , Ratones , Modelos Moleculares , Conformación Proteica , Secuenciación del Exoma
8.
Am J Med Genet A ; 176(7): 1549-1558, 2018 07.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30160831

RESUMEN

Chromosome 1q41-q42 deletions have recently been associated with a recognizable neurodevelopmental syndrome of early childhood (OMIM 612530). Within this group, a predominant phenotype of developmental delay (DD), intellectual disability (ID), epilepsy, distinct dysmorphology, and brain anomalies on magnetic resonance imaging/computed tomography has emerged. Previous reports of patients with de novo deletions at 1q41-q42 have led to the identification of an evolving smallest region of overlap which has included several potentially causal genes including DISP1, TP53BP2, and FBXO28. In a recent report, a cohort of patients with de novo mutations in WDR26 was described that shared many of the clinical features originally described in the 1q41-q42 microdeletion syndrome (MDS). Here, we describe a novel germline FBXO28 frameshift mutation in a 3-year-old girl with intractable epilepsy, ID, DD, and other features which overlap those of the 1q41-q42 MDS. Through a familial whole-exome sequencing study, we identified a de novo FBXO28 c.972_973delACinsG (p.Arg325GlufsX3) frameshift mutation in the proband. The frameshift and resulting premature nonsense mutation have not been reported in any genomic database. This child does not have a large 1q41-q42 deletion, nor does she harbor a WDR26 mutation. Our case joins a previously reported patient also in whom FBXO28 was affected but WDR26 was not. These findings support the idea that FBXO28 is a monogenic disease gene and contributes to the complex neurodevelopmental phenotype of the 1q41-q42 gene deletion syndrome.


Asunto(s)
Trastorno Dismórfico Corporal/genética , Deleción Cromosómica , Cromosomas Humanos Par 1/genética , Discapacidades del Desarrollo/genética , Epilepsia Refractaria/genética , Mutación del Sistema de Lectura , Proteínas Ligasas SKP Cullina F-box/genética , Trastorno Dismórfico Corporal/patología , Preescolar , Discapacidades del Desarrollo/patología , Epilepsia Refractaria/patología , Exoma , Femenino , Humanos , Fenotipo , Pronóstico , Secuenciación del Exoma
11.
bioRxiv ; 2024 Jun 06.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38895459

RESUMEN

Biological sex is an important risk factor in cancer, but the underlying cell types and mechanisms remain obscure. Since tumor development is regulated by the immune system, we hypothesize that sex-biased immune interactions underpin sex differences in cancer. The male-biased glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive and treatment-refractory tumor in urgent need of more innovative approaches, such as considering sex differences, to improve outcomes. GBM arises in the specialized brain immune environment dominated by microglia, so we explored sex differences in this immune cell type. We isolated adult human TAM-MGs (tumor-associated macrophages enriched for microglia) and control microglia and found sex-biased inflammatory signatures in GBM and lower-grade tumors associated with pro-tumorigenic activity in males and anti-tumorigenic activity in females. We demonstrated that genes expressed or modulated by the inactive X chromosome facilitate this bias. Together, our results implicate TAM-MGs, specifically their sex chromosomes, as drivers of male bias in GBM.

12.
Cells ; 12(10)2023 05 21.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37408271

RESUMEN

Mutations of the X-linked gene encoding methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) cause classical forms of Rett syndrome (RTT) in girls. A subset of patients who are recognized to have an overlapping neurological phenotype with RTT but are lacking a mutation in a gene that causes classical or atypical RTT can be described as having a 'Rett-syndrome-like phenotype (RTT-L). Here, we report eight patients from our cohort diagnosed as having RTT-L who carry mutations in genes unrelated to RTT. We annotated the list of genes associated with RTT-L from our patient cohort, considered them in the light of peer-reviewed articles on the genetics of RTT-L, and constructed an integrated protein-protein interaction network (PPIN) consisting of 2871 interactions connecting 2192 neighboring proteins among RTT- and RTT-L-associated genes. Functional enrichment analysis of RTT and RTT-L genes identified a number of intuitive biological processes. We also identified transcription factors (TFs) whose binding sites are common across the set of RTT and RTT-L genes and appear as important regulatory motifs for them. Investigation of the most significant over-represented pathway analysis suggests that HDAC1 and CHD4 likely play a central role in the interactome between RTT and RTT-L genes.


Asunto(s)
Trastornos del Neurodesarrollo , Síndrome de Rett , Humanos , Síndrome de Rett/genética , Proteína 2 de Unión a Metil-CpG/genética , Mutación/genética , Fenotipo , Factores de Transcripción/genética
13.
J AAPOS ; 25(6): 370-373, 2021 12.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34628026

RESUMEN

Cerebellar-facial-dental syndrome (CFDS) is a newly described autosomal recessive genetic disorder characterized by mutations in the BRF1 gene. CFDS is clinically associated with dysmorphic facial features and cerebellar hypoplasia. We report visually significant progressive bilateral nuclear cataracts in a child with CFDS and identify a new causative genetic variant.


Asunto(s)
Catarata , Factores Asociados con la Proteína de Unión a TATA , Catarata/genética , Cerebelo/anomalías , Cerebelo/diagnóstico por imagen , Niño , Discapacidades del Desarrollo , Humanos , Mutación
14.
Sci Data ; 8(1): 276, 2021 10 28.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34711851

RESUMEN

Circular RNA (circRNA) are a recently discovered class of RNA characterized by a covalently-bonded back-splice junction. As circRNAs are inherently more stable than other RNA species, they may be detected extracellularly in peripheral biofluids and provide novel biomarkers. While circRNA have been identified previously in peripheral biofluids, there are few datasets for circRNA junctions from healthy controls. We collected 134 plasma and 114 urine samples from 54 healthy, male college athlete volunteers, and used RNASeq to determine circRNA content. The intersection of six bioinformatic tools identified 965 high-confidence, characteristic circRNA junctions in plasma and 72 in urine. Highly-expressed circRNA junctions were validated by qRT-PCR. Longitudinal samples were collected from a subset, demonstrating circRNA expression was stable over time. Lastly, the ratio of circular to linear transcripts was higher in plasma than urine. This study provides a valuable resource for characterization of circRNA in plasma and urine from healthy volunteers, one that can be developed and reassessed as researchers probe the circRNA contents of biofluids across physiological changes and disease states.


Asunto(s)
Atletas , ARN Circular/sangre , ARN Circular/orina , Adolescente , Voluntarios Sanos , Humanos , Masculino , RNA-Seq , Adulto Joven
15.
Neurol Genet ; 6(4): e468, 2020 Aug.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32754643

RESUMEN

OBJECTIVE: Description of a new variant of the glutamine-fructose-6-phosphate transaminase 1 (GFPT1) gene causing congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) in 3 children from 2 unrelated families. METHODS: Muscle biopsies, EMG, and whole-exome sequencing were performed. RESULTS: All 3 patients presented with congenital hypotonia, muscle weakness, respiratory insufficiency, head lag, areflexia, and gastrointestinal dysfunction. Genetic analysis identified a homozygous frameshift insertion in the GFPT1 gene (NM_001244710.1: c.686dupC; p.Arg230Ter) that was shared by all 3 patients. In one of the patients, inheritance of the variant was through uniparental disomy (UPD) with maternal origin. Repetitive nerve stimulation and single-fiber EMG was consistent with the clinical diagnosis of CMS with a postjunctional defect. Ultrastructural evaluation of the muscle biopsy from one of the patients showed extremely attenuated postsynaptic folds at neuromuscular junctions and extensive autophagic vacuolar pathology. CONCLUSIONS: These results expand on the spectrum of known loss-of-function GFPT1 mutations in CMS12 and in one family demonstrate a novel mode of inheritance due to UPD.

16.
Front Aging Neurosci ; 10: 155, 2018.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29896098

RESUMEN

Introduction: SuperAgers are adults age 80+ with episodic memory performance that is at least as good as that of average middle-aged adults. Understanding the biological determinants of SuperAging may have relevance to preventing age-related cognitive decline and dementia. This study aimed to identify associations between genetic variations and the SuperAging phenotype using Whole Exome Sequencing (WES). Methods: Sequence Kernel Association Combined (SKAT-C) test was conducted at the gene level including both rare and common variants in 56 SuperAgers and 22 cognitively-average controls from the Alzheimer's disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). Results: The SuperAging phenotype was associated with variants in the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase 3 (MAP2K3) gene. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) contributed to the significance (rs2363221 [intron 1], rs2230435 [exon 5], rs736103 [intron 7]). Conclusions: MAP2K3 resides in a biological pathway linked to memory. It is in a signaling cascade associated with beta-amyloid mediated apoptosis and has enriched expression in microglia. This preliminary work suggests MAP2K3 may represent a novel therapeutic target for age-related memory decline and perhaps Alzheimer's disease (AD).

17.
Semin Pediatr Neurol ; 26: 28-32, 2018 07.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29961512

RESUMEN

Epileptic encephalopathies are childhood brain disorders characterized by a variety of severe epilepsy syndromes that differ by the age of onset and seizure type. Until recently, the cause of many epileptic encephalopathies was unknown. Whole exome or whole genome sequencing has led to the identification of several causal genes in individuals with epileptic encephalopathy, and the list of genes has now expanded greatly. Genetic testing with epilepsy gene panels is now done quite early in the evaluation of children with epilepsy, following brain imaging, electroencephalogram, and metabolic profile. Early infantile epileptic encephalopathy (EIEE1; OMIM #308350) is the earliest of these age-dependent encephalopathies, manifesting as tonic spasms, myoclonic seizures, or partial seizures, with severely abnormal electroencephalogram, often showing a suppression-burst pattern. In this case study, we describe a 33-month-old female child with severe, neonatal onset epileptic encephalopathy. An infantile epilepsy gene panel test revealed 2 novel heterozygous variants in the MECP2 gene; a 70-bp deletion resulting in a frameshift and truncation (p.Lys377ProfsX9) thought to be pathogenic, and a 6-bp in-frame deletion (p.His371_372del), designated as a variant of unknown significance. Based on this test result, the diagnosis of atypical Rett syndrome (RTT) was made. Family-based targeted testing and segregation analysis, however, raised questions about the pathogenicity of these specific MECP2 variants. Whole exome sequencing was performed in this family trio, leading to the discovery of a rare, de novo, missense mutation in GNAO1 (p. Leu284Ser). De novo, heterozygous mutations in GNAO1 have been reported to cause early infantile epileptic encephalopathy-17 (EIEE17; OMIM 615473). The child's severe phenotype, the family history and segregation analysis of variants and prior reports of GNAO1-linked disease allowed us to conclude that the GNAO1 mutation, and not the MECP2 variants, was the cause of this child's neurological disease. With the increased use of genetic panels and whole exome sequencing, we will be confronted with lists of gene variants suspected to be pathogenic or of unknown significance. It is important to integrate clinical information, genetic testing that includes family members and correlates this with the published clinical and scientific literature, to help one arrive at the correct genetic diagnosis.


Asunto(s)
Subunidades alfa de la Proteína de Unión al GTP Gi-Go/genética , Síndrome de Rett/diagnóstico , Síndrome de Rett/genética , Espasmos Infantiles/diagnóstico , Espasmos Infantiles/genética , Preescolar , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Errores Diagnósticos , Femenino , Humanos , Proteína 2 de Unión a Metil-CpG/genética , Fenotipo
18.
F1000Res ; 6: 1636, 2017.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29034082

RESUMEN

Background: X-linked spinal muscular atrophy (XL-SMA) results from mutations in the Ubiquitin-Like Modifier Activating Enzyme 1 ( UBA1). Previously, four novel closely clustered mutations have been shown to cause this fatal infantile disorder affecting only males. These mutations, three missense and one synonymous, all lie within Exon15 of the UBA1 gene, which contains the active adenylation domain (AAD). Methods: In this study, our group characterized the three known missense variants in vitro. Using a novel Uba1 assay and other methods, we investigated Uba1 adenylation, thioester, and transthioesterification reactions in vitro to determine possible biochemical effects of the missense variants. Results: Our data revealed that only one of the three XL-SMA missense variants impairs the Ubiquitin-adenylating ability of Uba1. Additionally, these missense variants retained Ubiquitin thioester bond formation and transthioesterification rates equal to that found in the wild type. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate a surprising shift from the likelihood of these XL-SMA mutations playing a damaging role in Uba1's enzymatic activity with Ubiquitin, to other roles such as altering UBA1 mRNA splicing via the disruption of splicing factor binding sites, similar to a mechanism in traditional SMA, or disrupting binding to other important in vivo binding partners.  These findings help to narrow the search for the areas of possible dysfunction in the Ubiquitin-proteasome pathway that ultimately result in XL-SMA. Moreover, this investigation provides additional critical understanding of the mutations' biochemical mechanisms, vital for the development of future effective diagnostic assays and therapeutics.

19.
F1000Res ; 6: 553, 2017.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28663785

RESUMEN

Mutations disrupting presynaptic protein TBC1D24 are associated with a variable neurological phenotype, including DOORS syndrome, myoclonic epilepsy, early-infantile epileptic encephalopathy, and non-syndromic hearing loss. In this report, we describe a family segregating autosomal dominant epilepsy, and a 37-year-old Caucasian female with a severe neurological phenotype including epilepsy, Parkinsonism, psychosis, visual and auditory hallucinations, gait ataxia and intellectual disability. Whole exome sequencing revealed two missense mutations in the TBC1D24 gene segregating within this family (c.1078C>T; p.Arg360Cys and c.404C>T; p.Pro135Leu). The female proband who presents with a severe neurological phenotype carries both of these mutations in a compound heterozygous state. The p.Pro135Leu variant, however, is present in the proband's mother and sibling as well, and is consistent with an autosomal dominant pattern linked to tonic-clonic and myoclonic epilepsy. In conclusion, we describe a single family in which TBC1D24 mutations cause expanded dominant and recessive phenotypes. In addition, we discuss and highlight that some variants in TBC1D24 might cause a dominant susceptibility to epilepsy.

20.
Sci Rep ; 7: 44061, 2017 03 17.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28303895

RESUMEN

Interest in circulating RNAs for monitoring and diagnosing human health has grown significantly. There are few datasets describing baseline expression levels for total cell-free circulating RNA from healthy control subjects. In this study, total extracellular RNA (exRNA) was isolated and sequenced from 183 plasma samples, 204 urine samples and 46 saliva samples from 55 male college athletes ages 18-25 years. Many participants provided more than one sample, allowing us to investigate variability in an individual's exRNA expression levels over time. Here we provide a systematic analysis of small exRNAs present in each biofluid, as well as an analysis of exogenous RNAs. The small RNA profile of each biofluid is distinct. We find that a large number of RNA fragments in plasma (63%) and urine (54%) have sequences that are assigned to YRNA and tRNA fragments respectively. Surprisingly, while many miRNAs can be detected, there are few miRNAs that are consistently detected in all samples from a single biofluid, and profiles of miRNA are different for each biofluid. Not unexpectedly, saliva samples have high levels of exogenous sequence that can be traced to bacteria. These data significantly contribute to the current number of sequenced exRNA samples from normal healthy individuals.


Asunto(s)
Ácidos Nucleicos Libres de Células/análisis , ARN/análisis , Adolescente , Adulto , Ácidos Nucleicos Libres de Células/aislamiento & purificación , Humanos , Masculino , ARN/sangre , ARN/aislamiento & purificación , ARN/orina , Saliva/química , Adulto Joven
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