New variants expand the neurological phenotype of COQ7 deficiency.

The protein encoded by COQ7 is required for CoQ10 synthesis in humans, hydroxylating 3-demethoxyubiquinol (DMQ10) in the second to last steps of the pathway. COQ7 mutations lead to a primary CoQ10 deficiency syndrome associated with a pleiotropic neurological disorder. This study shows the clinical, physiological, and molecular characterization of four new cases of CoQ10 primary deficiency caused by five mutations in COQ7, three of which have not yet been described, inducing mitochondrial dysfunction in all patients. However, the specific combination of the identified variants in each patient generated precise pathophysiological and molecular alterations in fibroblasts, which would explain the differential in vitro response to supplementation therapy. Our results suggest that COQ7 dysfunction could be caused by specific structural changes that affect the interaction with COQ9 required for the DMQ10 presentation to COQ7, the substrate access to the active site, and the maintenance of the active site structure. Remarkably, patients' fibroblasts share transcriptional remodeling, supporting a modification of energy metabolism towards glycolysis, which could be an adaptive mechanism against CoQ10 deficiency. However, transcriptional analysis of mitochondria-associated pathways showed distinct and dramatic differences between patient fibroblasts, which correlated with the extent of pathophysiological and neurological alterations observed in the probands. Overall, this study suggests that the combination of precise genetic diagnostics and the availability of new structural models of human proteins could help explain the origin of phenotypic pleiotropy observed in some genetic diseases and the different responses to available therapies.

Further evidence of the role of microRNA in schizophrenia: a case report.

According to the neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia, genetic predisposing factors cause abnormalities in neural functions, leading to the disease. A 2-year follow-up of a young woman with schizophrenia is presented. Karyotype, Affymetrix CytoScanTM 750K SNP array, and optical genome mapping ultra-high molecular weight were carried out. The case presented a severe and resistant to treatment schizophrenia. A 404 kbp microduplication in 2q13 (chr2 : 112088944-112492811; Hg19) was revealed, which includes an only gene (MIR4435-2HG, OMIM 617144). The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale of Schizophrenia questionnaire showed a moderate improvement after 2 years, but functioning was still poor. The presented case had a microduplication of copy number variants at 2q13, previously linked to schizophrenia, but it only involved one gene, encoding a microRNA, which regulates the expression of candidate genes associated to neurodevelopment. This case provides further evidence of the importance of microRNA in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.

Multiple Congenital Anomalies-Hypotonia-Seizures Syndrome 2 Caused by a Novel PIGA Variant Not Associated with a Skewed X-Inactivation Pattern.

Germline variants in the phosphatidylinositol glycan class A (PIGA) gene, which is involved in glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) biosynthesis, cause multiple congenital anomalies-hypotonia-seizures syndrome 2 (MCAHS2) with X-linked recessive inheritance. The available literature has described a pattern of almost 100% X-chromosome inactivation in mothers carrying PIGA variants. Here, we report a male infant with MCAHS2 caused by a novel PIGA variant inherited from his mother, who has a non-skewed pattern of X inactivation. Phenotypic evidence supporting the pathogenicity of the variant was obtained by flow-cytometry tests. We propose that the assessment in neutrophils of the expression of GPI-anchored proteins (GPI-APs), especially CD16, should be considered in cases with variants of unknown significance with random X-inactivation in carrier mothers in order to clarify the pathogenic role of PIGA or other gene variants linked to the synthesis of GPI-APs.

Superconducting spintronic heat engine.

Heat engines are key devices that convert thermal energy into usable energy. Strong thermoelectricity, at the basis of electrical heat engines, is present in superconducting spin tunnel barriers at cryogenic temperatures where conventional semiconducting or metallic technologies cease to work. Here we realize a superconducting spintronic heat engine consisting of a ferromagnetic insulator/superconductor/insulator/ferromagnet tunnel junction (EuS/Al/AlOx/Co). The efficiency of the engine is quantified for bath temperatures ranging from 25 mK up to 800 mK, and at different load resistances. Moreover, we show that the sign of the generated thermoelectric voltage can be inverted according to the parallel or anti-parallel orientation of the two ferromagnetic layers, EuS and Co. This realizes a thermoelectric spin valve controlling the sign and strength of the Seebeck coefficient, thereby implementing a thermoelectric memory cell. We propose a theoretical model that allows describing the experimental data and predicts the engine efficiency for different device parameters.

Ferromagnetic Order in 2D Layers of Transition Metal Dichlorides.

Magnetism in two dimensions is traditionally considered an exotic phase mediated by spin fluctuations, but far from collinearly ordered in the ground state. Recently, 2D magnetic states have been discovered in layered van der Waals compounds. Their robust and tunable magnetic state by material composition, combined with reduced dimensionality, foresee a strong potential as a key element in magnetic devices. Here, a class of 2D magnets based on metallic chlorides is presented. The magnetic order survives on top of a metallic substrate, even down to the monolayer limit, and can be switched from perpendicular to in-plane by substituting the metal ion from iron to nickel. Using functionalized STM tips as magnetic sensors, local exchange fields are identified, even in the absence of an external magnetic field. Since the compounds are processable by molecular beam epitaxy techniques, they provide a platform with large potential for incorporation into current device technologies.

Localización cromosómica de duplicaciones submicroscópicas en pacientes con trastornos del neurodesarrollo para identificar casos con alto riesgo de recurrencia familiar / Chromosomal location of submicroscopic duplications in patients with neurodevelopmental disorders to identify cases with high risk of familial recurrence

Fundamento y objetivo: Las alteraciones genómicas desequilibradas (duplicaciones o deleciones) causantes de trastornos del neurodesarrollo (TND) son en su mayoría episodios de novo. Sin embargo, también pueden surgir como consecuencia de reordenamientos equilibrados no detectados en uno de los progenitores, cambiando radicalmente el riesgo de recurrencia y el consejo genético de estos casos. La técnica de fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH, «hibridación in situ fluorescente») permite la identificación y localización de reordenamientos cromosómicos tanto equilibrados como desequilibrados, identificando la ubicación de los segmentos duplicados. En este trabajo se pretende localizar en el genoma los segmentos duplicados detectados en pacientes con TND, e identificar aquellos casos debidos a reordenamientos heredados. Pacientes y método: El estudio se llevó a cabo en 13 pacientes con TND y portadores de duplicaciones génicas detectadas por compared genomic hybridization-array (CGH-array, «hibridación genómica comparada sobre arrays»). Se utilizaron 2 aproximaciones de la técnica FISH: hibridación con sondas de pintado cromosómico y con sondas específicas de cada duplicación. Resultados: En la serie de 13 pacientes con duplicación estudiados, se han encontrado 11 con duplicaciones en tándem, un caso con una traslocación insercional intracromosómica, y otro con una traslocación insercional intercromosómica. Por tanto, 2 de las duplicaciones que se habían considerado de novo habían sido, en realidad, heredadas de forma desequilibrada de un progenitor que era portador equilibrado del reordenamiento. Conclusión: Los resultados ponen de manifiesto la necesidad de caracterizar, mediante la técnica de FISH, los reordenamientos que se detectan por CGH-array, para identificar los casos con un elevado riesgo de recurrencia y realizar un correcto asesoramiento genético (AU)

Background and objective: An important proportion of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) results from unbalanced genomic alterations (duplication or deletion). These chromosomal rearrangements may be considered as de novo, despite they arise as a result of a balanced rearrangement not detected in a phenotypically normal parent. Therefore, if the rearrangements are inherited, the recurrence risk and the genetic counseling of these cases change radically. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a technique that allows detecting both balanced and unbalanced rearrangements, identifying also the location of duplicated segments. We tried to locate in the genome the duplicated segments detected in patients with NDDs in order to identify those cases due to inherited rearrangements. Patients and method: The study was conducted in 13 patients with NDDs and genomic duplications detected by compared genomic hybridization-array (CGH-array). Two approaches of FISH technique were taken: hybridization with painting chromosome probes and with specific probes for each duplication. Results: In the studied series of 13 patients with duplication, 11 patients were found to carry tandemduplications, one with an intrachromosomal insertional translocation, and another with an interchromosomal insertional translocation. Therefore, 2 of the duplications considered de novo were actually an unbalanced rearrangement inherited from a parent who is a balanced carrier. Conclusion: The results illustrate the need to characterize by FISH technique the rearrangements that are detected by CGH-array to identify those cases with a high risk of recurrence (AU)

Deleción subtelomérica 9qter: definición del síndrome y origen parental en 2 pacientes / Subtelomeric deletion 9qter: definition of the syndrome and parental origin in 2 patients

Fundamento y objetivo: Empiezan a emerger fenotipos clínicamente reconocibles que se asocian a alteraciones en las regiones subteloméricas. Un ejemplo de ellos es el síndrome de deleción 9q terminal. Se pretende definir las principales características clínicas de este síndrome, así como analizar el origen parental de la deleción. Pacientes y método: Presentamos 2 pacientes con retraso mental, dismorfia facial y anomalías congénitas, en quienes, mediante la técnica de MLPA (multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification), se detectó una deleción subtelomérica y submicroscópica en el brazo largo del cromosoma 9. Estas alteraciones se confirmaron mediante la técnica de hibridación in situ fluorescente. Se realizó análisis de segregación con marcadores microsatélites para delimitar el tamaño y determinar el origen parental de la deleción. Resultados: En los 2 pacientes se observó una deleción en la zona terminal de los brazos largos del cromosoma 9, concretamente en 9q34. Esta deleción no estaba presente en los padres de ambos pacientes. La región delecionada tenía un tamaño menor de 0,8 y 1,5 Mb, respectivamente, y afectaba en ambos casos al cromosoma de origen paterno. Conclusiones: El síndrome de deleción 9q34 parece ser una entidad clínicamente reconocible. Los pacientes presentan rasgos dismórficos comunes (facies plana con hipertelorismo, sinofridia, nariz pequeña con narinas antevertidas y boca en carpa con protusión lingual), junto con hipotonía, retraso mental y anomalías congénitas, sobre todo defectos cardíacos conotruncales. La mayoría de los casos corresponden a deleciones puras de origen paterno

Background and objective: Subtelomeric chromosome imbalances are increasingly known as a cause for mental retardation. New phenotypes associated with specific rearrangements are also being delineated, such as 9q microdeletion syndrome. Here we define the major phenotypic features and the parental origin of 9q deletion. Patients and method: We present 2 children with a phenotype that is characterized by mental retardation, distinctive facial features and congenital anomalies. Both patients showed a chromosome 9q subtelomeric deletion detected by MLPA (multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification), and confirmed by FISH (fluorescent in situ hybridization). In order to delimite the size and the parental origin of 9q deletion, we performed microsatellite segregation analyses. Results: We identified 2 patients with a de novo terminal deletion of the chromosome region 9q34. The deleted region spanned less than 0.8 and 1.5 Mb, respectively, affecting in both cases the paternal chromosome. Conclusions: 9q34 deletion syndrome appears as a clinically recognizable phenotype characterised by moderate-severe mental retardation, hypotonia, flat face with hyperthelorism, synophrys, anteverted nares, carp-shaped mouth with protruding tongue and conotruncal heart defects. Most de novo deletions arise in the chromosomes of paternal origin