Heterozygous Seryl-tRNA Synthetase 1 Variants Cause Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease.

OBJECTIVE: Despite the increasing number of genes associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, many patients currently still lack appropriate genetic diagnosis for this disease. Autosomal dominant mutations in aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) have been implicated in CMT. Here, we describe causal missense mutations in the gene encoding seryl-tRNA synthetase 1 (SerRS) for 3 families affected with CMT. METHODS: Whole-exome sequencing was performed in 16 patients and 14 unaffected members of 3 unrelated families. The functional impact of the genetic variants identified was investigated using bioinformatic prediction tools and confirmed using cellular and biochemical assays. RESULTS: Combined linkage analysis for the 3 families revealed significant linkage (Zmax LOD = 6.9) between the genomic co-ordinates on chromosome 1: 108681600-110300504. Within the linkage region, heterozygous SerRS missense variants segregated with the clinical phenotype in the 3 families. The mutant SerRS proteins exhibited reduced aminoacylation activity and abnormal SerRS dimerization, which suggests the impairment of total protein synthesis and induction of eIF2α phosphorylation. INTERPRETATION: Our findings suggest the heterozygous SerRS variants identified represent a novel cause for autosomal dominant CMT. Mutant SerRS proteins are known to impact various molecular and cellular functions. Our findings provide significant advances on the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms associated with ARS-related CMT. ANN NEUROL 2023;93:244-256.

Whole exome sequencing reveals a broader variant spectrum of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2 (CMT2) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous inherited neuropathy. Although new causative and disease-associated genes have been identified for CMT2 in recent years, molecular diagnoses are still lacking for a majority of patients. We here studied a cohort of 35 CMT2 patients of Chinese descent, using whole exome sequencing to investigate gene mutations and then explored relationships among genotypes, clinical features, and mitochondrial DNA levels in blood as assessed by droplet digital PCR. We identified pathogenic variants in 57% of CMT2 patients. The most common genetic causes in the cohort were MFN2 mutations. Two patients with typical CMT phenotype and neuromyotonia were detected to harbor compound heterozygous variations in the HINT1 gene. In conclusion, our work supports that the molecular diagnostic rate of CMT2 patients can be increased via whole exome sequencing, and our data suggest that assessment of possible HINT1 mutations should be undertaken for CMT2 patients with neuromyotonia.

Clinical and genetic spectra in a series of Chinese patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

The aim of this study was to determine the clinical features and frequencies of genetic subtypes in a series of patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease from Eastern China. Patients were divided into three subtypes, CMT1, CMT2 and hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsy (HNPP), according to their electrophysiological manifestations. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe analysis (MLPA) was performed to detect duplications/deletions in the PMP22 gene. The coding regions and splice sites of the GJB1, MPZ, MFN2 and GDAP-1 genes were determined by direct sequencing. Among the 148 patients in the study, 37.2% of the cases had mutations in genes assessed. The mutation detection rate was higher in patients with family histories than in spontaneous cases. PMP22 duplication (13.5%) was predominant in this group of patients, followed by PMP22 deletion (11.5%), and point mutations in GJB1 (8.8%), MPZ (2.0%) and MFN2 (0.7%). Three novel mutations (c.151T>C and c.310 A>G in GJB1 and c.1516 C>G in MFN2) were detected. A small deletion in PMP22 exon 4 was detected in a patient with severe CMT1. Genetic tests have great value in CMT patients with family histories. The frequency of PMP22 duplications was lower in Asian patients than in others. We suggest that genetic testing strategies in CMT patients should be primarily based on electromyography data.