@article {816, title = {Spectrum of genetic variants in moderate to severe sporadic hearing loss in Pakistan.}, journal = {Sci Rep}, volume = {10}, year = {2020}, month = {2020 07 17}, pages = {11902}, abstract = {

Hearing loss affects 380 million people worldwide due to environmental or genetic causes. Determining the cause of deafness in individuals without previous family history of hearing loss is challenging and has been relatively unexplored in Pakistan. We investigated the spectrum of genetic variants in hearing loss in a cohort of singleton affected individuals born to consanguineous parents. Twenty-one individuals with moderate to severe hearing loss were recruited. We performed whole-exome sequencing on DNA samples from the participants, which identified seventeen variants in ten known deafness genes and one novel candidate gene. All identified variants were homozygous except for two. Eleven of the variants were novel, including one multi-exonic homozygous deletion in OTOA. A missense variant in ESRRB was implicated for recessively inherited moderate to severe hearing loss. Two individuals were heterozygous for variants in MYO7A and CHD7, respectively, consistent with de novo variants or dominant inheritance with incomplete penetrance as the reason for their hearing loss. Our results indicate that similar to familial cases of deafness, variants in a large number of genes are responsible for moderate to severe hearing loss in sporadic individuals born to consanguineous couples.

}, keywords = {Adolescent, Amino Acid Sequence, Audiometry, Pure-Tone, Child, Child, Preschool, Deafness, Genetic Association Studies, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genetic Variation, Hearing Loss, Heterozygote, Homozygote, Humans, Mutation, Missense, Pakistan, Phenotype, Whole Exome Sequencing, Young Adult}, issn = {2045-2322}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-020-68779-5}, author = {Ramzan, Memoona and Bashir, Rasheeda and Salman, Midhat and Mujtaba, Ghulam and Sobreira, Nara and Witmer, P Dane and Naz, Sadaf} } @article {629, title = {A novel pathogenic variant in a family with paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia and benign familial infantile seizures.}, journal = {Cold Spring Harb Mol Case Stud}, volume = {4}, year = {2018}, month = {2018 02}, abstract = {

Paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD) is a rare neurological disorder characterized by recurrent attacks of dyskinetic movements without alteration of consciousness that are often triggered by the initiation of voluntary movements. Whole-exome sequencing has revealed a cluster of pathogenic variants in (proline-rich transmembrane protein), a gene with a function in synaptic regulation that remains poorly understood. Here, we report the discovery of a novel pathogenic variant inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern in a family with PKD and benign familial infantile seizures (BFIS). After targeted Sanger sequencing did not identify the presence of previously described pathogenic variants, we carried out whole-exome sequencing in the proband and her affected paternal grandfather. This led to the discovery of a novel variant, NM_001256442:exon3:c.C959T/NP_660282.2:p.A320V, altering an evolutionarily conserved alanine at the amino acid position 320 located in the M2 transmembrane region. Sanger sequencing further confirmed the presence of this variant in four affected family members (paternal grandfather, father, brother, and proband) and its absence in two unaffected ones (paternal grandmother and mother). This newly found variant further reinforces the importance of in PKD, BFIS, and possibly other movement disorders. Future functional studies using animal models and human pluripotent stem cell models will provide new insights into the role of and the significance of this variant in regulating neural development and/or function.

}, keywords = {Amino Acid Sequence, Base Sequence, Child, Chromosome Segregation, Conserved Sequence, Dystonia, Epilepsy, Benign Neonatal, Evolution, Molecular, Family, Female, Humans, Infant, Inheritance Patterns, Male, Membrane Proteins, Mutation, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Pedigree}, issn = {2373-2873}, doi = {10.1101/mcs.a002287}, author = {Lu, Jacqueline G and Bishop, Juliet and Cheyette, Sarah and Zhulin, Igor B and Guo, Su and Sobreira, Nara and Brenner, Steven E} } @article {422, title = {Mutations in Fibronectin Cause a Subtype of Spondylometaphyseal Dysplasia with "Corner Fractures".}, journal = {Am J Hum Genet}, volume = {101}, year = {2017}, month = {2017 Nov 02}, pages = {815-823}, abstract = {

Fibronectin is a master organizer of extracellular matrices (ECMs) and promotes the assembly of collagens, fibrillin-1, and other proteins. It is also known to play roles in skeletal tissues through its secretion by osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and mesenchymal cells. Spondylometaphyseal dysplasias (SMDs) comprise a diverse group of skeletal dysplasias and often manifest as short stature, growth-plate irregularities, and vertebral anomalies, such as scoliosis. By comparing the exomes of individuals with SMD with the radiographic appearance of "corner fractures" at metaphyses, we identified three individuals with fibronectin (FN1) variants affecting highly conserved residues. Furthermore, using matching tools and the SkelDys emailing list, we identified other individuals with de novo~FN1 variants and a similar phenotype. The severe scoliosis in most individuals and rare developmental coxa vara distinguish individuals with FN1 mutations from those with classical Sutcliffe-type SMD. To study functional consequences of these FN1 mutations on the protein level, we introduced three disease-associated missense variants (p.Cys87Phe [c.260G>T], p.Tyr240Asp [c.718T>G], and p.Cys260Gly [c.778T>G]) into a recombinant secreted N-terminal 70~kDa fragment (rF70K) and the full-length fibronectin (rFN). The wild-type rF70K and rFN were secreted into the culture medium, whereas all mutant proteins were either not secreted or secreted at significantly lower amounts. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated increased intracellular retention of the mutant proteins. In summary, FN1 mutations that cause defective fibronectin secretion are found in SMD, and we thus provide additional evidence for a critical function of fibronectin in cartilage and bone.

}, keywords = {Adolescent, Adult, Bone and Bones, Bone Diseases, Developmental, Cartilage, Child, Child, Preschool, Exome, Female, Fibronectins, Fractures, Bone, Humans, Male, Mutation, Osteochondrodysplasias, Phenotype, Scoliosis}, issn = {1537-6605}, doi = {10.1016/j.ajhg.2017.09.019}, author = {Lee, Chae Syng and Fu, He and Baratang, Nissan and Rousseau, Justine and Kumra, Heena and Sutton, V Reid and Niceta, Marcello and Ciolfi, Andrea and Yamamoto, Guilherme and Bertola, D{\'e}bora and Marcelis, Carlo L and Lugtenberg, Dorien and Bartuli, Andrea and Kim, Choel and Hoover-Fong, Julie and Sobreira, Nara and Pauli, Richard and Bacino, Carlos and Krakow, Deborah and Parboosingh, Jillian and Yap, Patrick and Kariminejad, Ariana and McDonald, Marie T and Aracena, Mariana I and Lausch, Ekkehart and Unger, Sheila and Superti-Furga, Andrea and Lu, James T and Cohn, Dan H and Tartaglia, Marco and Lee, Brendan H and Reinhardt, Dieter P and Campeau, Philippe M} } @article {396, title = {A novel mutation in GMPPA in siblings with apparent intellectual disability, epilepsy, dysmorphism, and autonomic dysfunction.}, journal = {Am J Med Genet A}, volume = {173}, year = {2017}, month = {2017 Aug}, pages = {2246-2250}, abstract = {

GMPPA encodes the GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase A protein (GMPPA). The function of GMPPA is not well defined, however it is a homolog of GMPPB which catalyzes the reaction that converts mannose-1-phosphate and guanosine-5{\textquoteright}-triphosphate to GDP-mannose. Previously, biallelic mutations in GMPPA were reported to cause a disorder characterized by achalasia, alacrima, neurological deficits, and intellectual disability. In this study, we report a female proband with achalasia, alacrima, hypohydrosis, apparent intellectual disability, seizures, microcephaly, esotropia, and craniofacial dysmorphism. Exome sequencing identified a previously unreported homozygous c.853+1G>A variant in GMPPA in the proband and her affected sister. Their unaffected parents were heterozygous, and unaffected brother homozygous wild type for this variant. Lymphoblast cells from the affected sisters showed complete loss of the GMPPA protein by Western blotting, and increased levels of GDP-mannose in lymphoblasts on high performance liquid chromatography. Based on our findings and the previous report describing patients with an overlapping phenotype, we conclude that this novel variant in GMPPA, identified by exome sequencing in the proband and her affected sister, is the genetic cause of their phenotype and may expand the known phenotype of this recently described glycosylation disorder.

}, keywords = {Abnormalities, Multiple, Child, Child, Preschool, Craniofacial Abnormalities, Epilepsy, Exome, Facies, Female, Heterozygote, Humans, Intellectual Disability, Microcephaly, Muscular Atrophy, Mutation, Missense, Nucleotidyltransferases, Pedigree, Phenotype, Seizures}, issn = {1552-4833}, doi = {10.1002/ajmg.a.38292}, author = {Gold, Wendy A and Sobreira, Nara and Wiame, Elsa and Marbaix, Alexandre and Van Schaftingen, Emile and Franzka, Patricia and Riley, Lisa G and Worgan, Lisa and H{\"u}bner, Christian A and Christodoulou, John and Ad{\`e}s, Lesley C} } @article {433, title = {Patients with a Kabuki syndrome phenotype demonstrate DNA methylation abnormalities.}, journal = {Eur J Hum Genet}, volume = {25}, year = {2017}, month = {2017 12}, pages = {1335-1344}, abstract = {

Kabuki syndrome is a monogenic disorder caused by loss of function variants in either of two genes encoding histone-modifying enzymes. We performed targeted sequencing in a cohort of 27 probands with a clinical diagnosis of Kabuki syndrome. Of these, 12 had causative variants in the two known Kabuki syndrome genes. In 2, we identified presumptive loss of function de novo variants in KMT2A (missense and splice site variants), a gene that encodes another histone modifying enzyme previously exclusively associated with Wiedermann-Steiner syndrome. Although Kabuki syndrome is a disorder of histone modification, we also find alterations in DNA methylation among individuals with a Kabuki syndrome diagnosis relative to matched normal controls, regardless of whether they carry a variant in KMT2A or KMT2D or not. Furthermore, we observed characteristic global abnormalities of DNA methylation that distinguished patients with a loss of function variant in KMT2D or missense or splice site variants in either KMT2D or KMT2A from normal controls. Our results provide new insights into the relationship of genotype to epigenotype and phenotype and indicate cross-talk between histone and DNA methylation machineries exposed by inborn errors of the epigenetic apparatus.

}, keywords = {Abnormalities, Multiple, Case-Control Studies, Child, DNA Methylation, Face, Female, Hematologic Diseases, Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase, Humans, Loss of Function Mutation, Male, Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein, Phenotype, Vestibular Diseases}, issn = {1476-5438}, doi = {10.1038/s41431-017-0023-0}, author = {Sobreira, Nara and Brucato, Martha and Zhang, Li and Ladd-Acosta, Christine and Ongaco, Chrissie and Romm, Jane and Doheny, Kimberly F and Mingroni-Netto, Regina C and Bertola, D{\'e}bora and Kim, Chong A and Perez, Ana Ba and Melaragno, Maria I and Valle, David and Meloni, Vera A and Bjornsson, Hans T} } @article {126, title = {Gonadal mosaicism in ARID1B gene causes intellectual disability and dysmorphic features in three siblings.}, journal = {Am J Med Genet A}, volume = {170A}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 Jan}, pages = {156-61}, abstract = {

The gene encoding the AT-rich interaction domain-containing protein 1B (ARID1B) has recently been shown to be one of the most frequently mutated genes in patients with intellectual disability (ID). The phenotypic spectrums associated with variants in this gene vary widely ranging for mild to severe non-specific ID to Coffin-Siris syndrome. In this study, we evaluated three children from a consanguineous Emirati family affected with ID and dysmorphic features. Genomic DNA from all affected siblings was analyzed using CGH array and whole-exome sequencing (WES). Based on a recessive mode of inheritance, homozygous or compound heterozygous variants shared among all three affected children could not be identified. However, further analysis revealed a heterozygous variant (c.4318C>T; p.Q1440*) in the three affected children in an autosomal dominant ID causing gene, ARID1B. This variant was absent in peripheral blood samples obtained from both parents and unaffected siblings. Therefore, we propose that the most likely explanation for this situation is that one of the parents is a gonadal mosaic for the variant. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a gonadal mosaicism inheritance of an ARID1B variant leading to familial ID recurrence.

}, keywords = {Abnormalities, Multiple, Adolescent, Child, DNA-Binding Proteins, Exome, Face, Female, Hand Deformities, Congenital, Heterozygote, Humans, Intellectual Disability, Male, Micrognathism, Mosaicism, Mutation, Neck, Pedigree, Siblings, Transcription Factors}, issn = {1552-4833}, doi = {10.1002/ajmg.a.37405}, author = {Ben-Salem, Salma and Sobreira, Nara and Akawi, Nadia A and Al-Shamsi, Aisha M and John, Anne and Pramathan, Thachillath and Valle, David and Ali, Bassam R and Al-Gazali, Lihadh} } @article {641, title = {An anadysplasia-like, spontaneously remitting spondylometaphyseal dysplasia secondary to lamin B receptor (LBR) gene mutations: further definition of the phenotypic heterogeneity of LBR-bone dysplasias.}, journal = {Am J Med Genet A}, volume = {167A}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Jan}, pages = {159-63}, abstract = {

We describe a boy who has an anadysplasia-like spondylometaphyseal dysplasia. By whole exome sequencing he was shown to have compound heterozygous mutations of LBR that codes for the lamin B receptor. He shares many similarities with a case previously described, but in whom the early natural history could not be established [Borovik et al., 2013]. Thus, in addition to Greenberg dysplasia (a perinatal lethal disorder), homozygosity or compound heterozygosity of mutations in LBR can result in a mild, spontaneously regressing bone dysplasia.

}, keywords = {Adolescent, Adult, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Male, Mutation, Osteochondrodysplasias, Phenotype, Pregnancy, Radiography, Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear, Spine}, issn = {1552-4833}, doi = {10.1002/ajmg.a.36808}, author = {Sobreira, Nara and Modaff, Peggy and Steel, Gary and You, Jing and Nanda, Sonia and Hoover-Fong, Julie and Valle, David and Pauli, Richard M} } @article {146, title = {GeneMatcher aids in the identification of a new malformation syndrome with intellectual disability, unique facial dysmorphisms, and skeletal and connective tissue abnormalities caused by de novo variants in HNRNPK.}, journal = {Hum Mutat}, volume = {36}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Oct}, pages = {1009-1014}, abstract = {

We report a new syndrome due to loss-of-function variants in the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K gene (HNRNPK). We describe two probands: one with a de novo frameshift (NM_002140.3: c.953+1dup), and the other with a de novo splice donor site variant (NM_002140.3: c.257G>A). Both probands have intellectual disability, a shared unique craniofacial phenotype, and connective tissue and skeletal abnormalities. The identification of this syndrome was made possible by a new online tool, GeneMatcher, which facilitates connections between clinicians and researchers based on shared interest in candidate genes. This report demonstrates that new Web-based approaches can be effective in helping investigators solve exome sequencing projects, and also highlights the newer paradigm of "reverse phenotyping," where characterization of syndromic features follows the identification of genetic variants.

}, keywords = {Abnormalities, Multiple, Adolescent, Child, Craniofacial Abnormalities, Databases, Genetic, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein K, Humans, Information Dissemination, Intellectual Disability, Male, Muscular Atrophy, Phenotype, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Ribonucleoproteins, Software, Web Browser}, issn = {1098-1004}, doi = {10.1002/humu.22837}, author = {Au, P Y Billie and You, Jing and Caluseriu, Oana and Schwartzentruber, Jeremy and Majewski, Jacek and Bernier, Francois P and Ferguson, Marcia and Valle, David and Parboosingh, Jillian S and Sobreira, Nara and Innes, A Micheil and Kline, Antonie D} } @article {144, title = {Novel COL2A1 variant (c.619G>A, p.Gly207Arg) manifesting as a phenotype similar to progressive pseudorheumatoid dysplasia and spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, Stanescu type.}, journal = {Hum Mutat}, volume = {36}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Oct}, pages = {1004-8}, abstract = {

Progressive pseudorheumatoid dysplasia (PPRD) is a rare, autosomal-recessive condition characterized by mild spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia (SED) and severe, progressive, early-onset arthritis due to WISP3 mutations. SED, Stanescu type, is a vaguely delineated autosomal-dominant dysplasia of unknown genetic etiology. Here, we report three individuals from two unrelated families with radiological features similar to PPRD and SED, Stanescu type who share the same novel COL2A1 variant and were matched following discussion at an academic conference. In the first family, we performed whole-exome sequencing on three family members, two of whom have a PPRD-like phenotype, and identified a heterozygous variant (c.619G>A, p.Gly207Arg) in both affected individuals. Independently, targeted sequencing of the COL2A1 gene in an unrelated proband with a similar phenotype identified the same heterozygous variant. We suggest that the p.Gly207Arg variant causes a distinct type II collagenopathy with features of PPRD and SED, Stanescu type.

}, keywords = {Adolescent, Adult, Child, Collagen Type II, Exome, Female, Humans, Joint Diseases, Male, Osteochondrodysplasias, Pedigree, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Radiography, Sequence Analysis, DNA}, issn = {1098-1004}, doi = {10.1002/humu.22839}, author = {Jurgens, Julie and Sobreira, Nara and Modaff, Peggy and Reiser, Catherine A and Seo, Soo Hyun and Seong, Moon-Woo and Park, Sung Sup and Kim, Ok Hwa and Cho, Tae-Joon and Pauli, Richard M} }