A novel splice-site mutation in the ASPM gene underlies autosomal recessive primary microcephaly.

BACKGROUND: Autosomal recessive primary microcephaly (MCPH) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorder. Patients with MCPH exhibit reduced occipito-frontal head circumference and non-progressive intellectual disability. To date, 17 genes have been known as an underlying cause of MCPH in humans. ASPM (abnormal spindle-like, microcephaly associated) is the most commonly mutated MCPH gene. OBJECTIVE: Identify the genetic defect underlying MCPH in a Saudi family. DESIGN: A cross-sectional clinical genetic study of a Saudi family. SETTING: Madinah Maternity and Children Hospital and Centre for Genetics and Inherited Diseases, Taibah University. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A molecular analysis was carried out on DNA samples from 10 individuals of a Saudi family segregating MCPH. DNA was isolated from the peripheral blood of 10 individuals, including 2 patients, and whole exome sequencing was performed using the Nextera Rapid Capture kit and NextSeq500 instrument. VariantStudio was used to filter and prioritize variants. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Detection of mutation in the ASPM gene in a family segregating autoso- mal recessive primary microcephaly. RESULTS: A novel homozygous splice-site variant (c.3742-1G > C) in the ASPM gene was identified. The variant is predicted to have an effect on splicing. Human Splice Finder, an in silico tool, predicted skipping of exon 16 due to this variant. CONCLUSION: Skipping of exon 16 may change the order and number of IQ motifs in the ASPM protein leading to typical MCPH phenotype. LIMITATIONS: Single family study.

Sequence analysis of four vitamin D family genes (VDR, CYP24A1, CYP27B1 and CYP2R1) in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) patients: identification of a potentially pathogenic variant in CYP2R1.

BACKGROUND: VKH is a rare autoimmune disease. Decreased level of vitamin D has recently been found to be involved in the pathogenesis of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease. This study was designed to screen the vitamin D pathway genes for pathogenic mutations, if any, in VKH patients. METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples collected from patients with VKH disease and healthy controls. Entire coding region, exon-intron junctions of four genes were sequenced in DNA from 39 Saudi VKH patients and 50 ethnically matched healthy individuals. All patients and controls were unrelated. RESULTS: Vitamin D levels in VKH patients were found either insufficient (21-29 ng/mL) or deficient (<20 ng/mL). Sequencing analysis of the VDR, CYP24A1, CYP27B1 and CYP2R1 detected twelve nucleotide changes in these genes in our cohort of 39 patients; 4 of which were non-coding, 6 were synonymous coding and 2 were non-synonymous coding sequence changes. All synonymous coding variants were benign polymorphisms with no apparent clinical significance. A non-synonymous coding sequence variant (c.2 T > C; p.1Met?) found in VDR is an initiation coding change and was detected in control individuals as well, while another variant (c.852G > A; p.284 M > I) found in CYP2R1 is predicted to be disease causing by mutationtaster software. This potentially pathogenic variant was found in 17 out of 39 VKH patients. CONCLUSIONS: Screening of four Vitamin D pathway genes in 39 VKH patients shows that a potentially pathogenic sequence variant in CYP2R1 may cause VKH in a subset of patients. These findings support the previous observation that low vitamin D levels might play a role in VKH pathogenesis and mutations in genes involved in vitamin D anabolism and catabolism might be of importance in VKH pathobiology.

CIT, a gene involved in neurogenic cytokinesis, is mutated in human primary microcephaly.

Autosomal recessive primary microcephaly (MCPH) is a static neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by congenital small head circumference and non-progressive intellectual disability without additional severe brain malformations. MCPH is a genetically heterogeneous disorder. Sixteen genes (MCPH1-MCPH16) have been discovered so far, mutations thereof lead to autosomal recessive primary microcephaly. In a family, segregating MCPH in an autosomal recessive manner, genome-wide homozygosity mapping mapped a disease locus to 16.9-Mb region on chromosome 12q24.11-q24.32. Following this, exome sequencing in three affected individuals of the family discovered a splice site variant (c.753+3A>T) in citron kinase (CIT) gene, segregating with the disorder in the family. CIT co-localizes to the midbody ring during cytokinesis, and its loss of expression results in defects in neurogenic cytokinesis in both humans and mice. Splice site variant in CIT, identified in this study, is predicted to abolish splice donor site. cDNA sequence of an affected individual showed retention of an intron next to the splice donor site. The study, presented here, revealed the first variant in the CIT causing MCPH in the family.