Concordance between whole-exome sequencing and clinical Sanger sequencing: implications for patient care

The clinical translation of next‐generation sequencing has created a paradigm shift in the diagnostic assessment of individuals with suspected rare genetic diseases. Whole‐exome sequencing (WES) simultaneously examines the majority of the coding portion of the genome and is rapidly becoming accepted as an efficient alternative to clinical Sanger sequencing for diagnosing genetically heterogeneous disorders. Among reports of the clinical and diagnostic utility of WES, few studies to date have directly compared its concordance to Sanger sequencing, which is considered the clinical “gold standard”. We performed a direct comparison of 391 coding and noncoding polymorphisms and variants of unknown significance identified by clinical Sanger sequencing to the WES results of 26 patients. Of the 150 well‐covered coding variants identified by Sanger sequencing, 146 (97.3%) were also reported by WES. Nine genes were excluded from the comparison due to consistently low coverage in WES, which might be attributed to the use of older exome capture kits. We performed confirmatory Sanger sequencing of discordant variants; including five variants with discordant bases and four with discordant zygosity. Confirmatory Sanger sequencing supported the original Sanger report for three of the five discordant bases, one was shown to be a false positive supporting the WES data, and one result differed from both the Sanger and WES data. Two of the discordant zygosity results supported Sanger and the other two supported WES data. We report high concordance for well‐covered coding variants, supporting the use of WES as a screening tool for heterogeneous disorders, and recommend the use of supplementary Sanger sequencing for poorly‐covered genes when the clinical suspicion is high. Importantly, despite remaining difficulties with achieving complete coverage of the whole exome, 10 (38.5%) of the 26 compared patients were diagnosed through WES.

Genotype-phenotype characterization in 13 individuals with chromosome Xp11.22 duplications

We report 13 new individuals with duplications in Xp11.22-p11.23. The index family has one male and two female members in three generations with mild-severe intellectual disability (ID), speech delay, dysmorphic features, early puberty, constipation, and/or hand and foot abnormalities. Affected individuals were found to have two small duplications in Xp11.22 at nucleotide position (hg19) 50,112,063-50,456,458 bp (distal) and 53,160,114-53,713,154 bp (proximal). Collectively, these two regions include 14 RefSeq genes, prompting collection of a larger cohort of patients, in an attempt to delineate critical genes associated with the observed phenotype. In total, we have collected data on nine individuals with duplications overlapping the distal duplication region containing SHROOM4 and DGKK and eight individuals overlapping the proximal region including HUWE1. Duplications of HUWE1 have been previously associated with non-syndromic ID. Our data, with previously published reports, suggest that duplications involving SHROOM4 and DGKK may represent a new syndromic X-linked ID critical region associated with mild to severe ID, speech delay +/- dysarthria, attention deficit disorder, precocious puberty, constipation, and motor delay. We frequently observed foot abnormalities, 5th finger clinodactyly, tapering fingers, constipation, and exercise intolerance in patients with duplications of these two genes. Regarding duplications including the proximal region, our observations agree with previous studies, which have found associations with intellectual disability. In addition, expressive language delay, failure to thrive, motor delay, and 5th finger clinodactyly were also frequently observed in patients with the proximal duplication.

Biotinidase deficiency: Spectrum of molecular, enzymatic and clinical information from newborn screening Ontario, Canada (2007-2014)

Untreated profound biotinidase deficiency results in a wide range of clinical features, including optic atrophy, cutaneous abnormalities, hearing loss and developmental delay. Ontario, Canada incorporated this treatable deficiency in newborn screening over the past 8years. This study elucidates the molecular, biochemical, and clinical findings from the pilot project. Information from initial screens, serum biotinidase activity level assays, molecular testing, and family history for 246 positive newborns screens were analyzed. A mutation spectrum was created for the province of Ontario, including common mutations such as D444H, D444H/A171T, Q456H, C33fs, and R157H. Individuals with partial deficiency were separated into 3 groups: D444H homozygotes (Group 1); compound heterozygotes for D444H with another profound allele (Group 2); compound heterozygotes with two non-D444H alleles (Group 3). Biochemical phenotype-genotype associations in partial deficiency showed a significant difference in serum biotinidase activity in between any given two groups. Three children with partial deficiency discontinued biotin for varied lengths of time. Two of whom became symptomatic with abnormal gait, alopecia, skin rashes and developmental delay. A need for more congruency in diagnostic, treatment and educational practices was highlighted across the province. Heterogeneity and variation in clinical presentations and management was observed in patients with the partial deficiency.

Utility of whole-exome sequencing for those near the end of the diagnostic odyssey: time to address gaps in care

An accurate diagnosis is an integral component of patient care for children with rare genetic disease. Recent advances in sequencing, in particular whole‐exome sequencing (WES), are identifying the genetic basis of disease for 25–40% of patients. The diagnostic rate is probably influenced by when in the diagnostic process WES is used. The Finding Of Rare Disease GEnes (FORGE) Canada project was a nation‐wide effort to identify mutations for childhood‐onset disorders using WES. Most children enrolled in the FORGE project were toward the end of the diagnostic odyssey. The two primary outcomes of FORGE were novel gene discovery and the identification of mutations in genes known to cause disease. In the latter instance, WES identified mutations in known disease genes for 105 of 362 families studied (29%), thereby informing the impact of WES in the setting of the diagnostic odyssey. Our analysis of this dataset showed that these known disease genes were not identified prior to WES enrollment for two key reasons: genetic heterogeneity associated with a clinical diagnosis and atypical presentation of known, clinically recognized diseases. What is becoming increasingly clear is that WES will be paradigm altering for patients and families with rare genetic diseases.

Novel WDR45 Mutation and Pathognomonic BPAN Imaging in a Young Female With Mild Cognitive Delay

β-propeller protein-associated neurodegeneration (BPAN) is a recently identified X-linked dominant form of neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation caused by mutations in the WDR45 gene. BPAN commonly presents as global developmental delay in childhood with rapid onset of parkinsonism and dementia in early adulthood and associated pathognomonic changes seen on brain MRI. In this case report, we present a pediatric patient with mild cognitive delay and pathognomonic MRI changes indicative of BPAN preceding neurologic deterioration who is found to have a novel de novo mutation in the WDR45 gene.

Homozygous mutation in the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2alpha phosphatase gene, PPP1R15B, is associated with severe microcephaly, short stature and intellectual disability

Protein translation is an essential cellular process initiated by the association of a methionyl-tRNA with the translation initiation factor eIF2. The Met-tRNA/eIF2 complex then associates with the small ribosomal subunit, other translation factors and mRNA, which together comprise the translational initiation complex. This process is regulated by the phosphorylation status of the α subunit of eIF2 (eIF2α); phosphorylated eIF2α attenuates protein translation. Here, we report a consanguineous family with severe microcephaly, short stature, hypoplastic brainstem and cord, delayed myelination and intellectual disability in two siblings. Whole-exome sequencing identified a homozygous missense mutation, c.1972G>A; p.Arg658Cys, in protein phosphatase 1, regulatory subunit 15b (PPP1R15B), a protein which functions with the PPP1C phosphatase to maintain dephosphorylated eIF2α in unstressed cells. The p.R658C PPP1R15B mutation is located within the PPP1C binding site. We show that patient cells have greatly diminished levels of PPP1R15B-PPP1C interaction, which results in increased eIF2α phosphorylation and resistance to cellular stress. Finally, we find that patient cells have elevated levels of PPP1R15B mRNA and protein, suggesting activation of a compensatory program aimed at restoring cellular homeostasis which is ineffective due to PPP1R15B alteration. PPP1R15B now joins the expanding list of translation-associated proteins which when mutated cause rare genetic diseases.

Congenital Visual Impairment and Progressive Microcephaly Due to Lysyl-Transfer Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) Synthetase (KARS) Mutations: The Expanding Phenotype of Aminoacyl-Transfer RNA Synthetase Mutations in Human Disease

Aminoacyl-transfer ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthetases (ARSs) are a group of enzymes required for the first step of protein translation. Each aminoacyl-transfer RNA synthetase links a specific amino acid to its corresponding transfer RNA component within the cytoplasm, mitochondria, or both. Mutations in ARSs have been linked to a growing number of diseases. Lysyl-transfer RNA synthetase (KARS) links the amino acid lysine to its cognate transfer RNA. We report 2 siblings with severe infantile visual loss, progressive microcephaly, developmental delay, seizures, and abnormal subcortical white matter. Exome sequencing identified mutations within the KARS gene (NM_005548.2):c.1312C>T; p.Arg438Trp and c.1573G>A; p.Glu525Lys occurring within a highly conserved region of the catalytic domain. Our patients' phenotype is remarkably similar to a phenotype recently reported in glutaminyl-transfer RNA synthetase (QARS), another bifunctional ARS gene. This finding expands the phenotypic spectrum associated with mutations in KARS and draws attention to aminoacyl-transfer RNA synthetase as a group of enzymes that are increasingly being implicated in human disease.

Whole-exome sequencing identifies novel ECHS1 mutations in Leigh syndrome

Leigh syndrome (LS) is a rare heterogeneous progressive neurodegenerative disorder usually presenting in infancy or early childhood. Clinical presentation is variable and includes psychomotor delay or regression, acute neurological or acidotic episodes, hypotonia, ataxia, spasticity, movement disorders, and corresponding anomalies of the basal ganglia and brain stem on magnetic resonance imaging. To date, 35 genes have been associated with LS, mostly involved in mitochondrial respiratory chain function and encoded in either nuclear or mitochondrial DNA. We used whole-exome sequencing to identify disease-causing variants in four patients with basal ganglia abnormalities and clinical presentations consistent with LS. Compound heterozygote variants in ECHS1, encoding the enzyme enoyl-CoA hydratase were identified. One missense variant (p.Thr180Ala) was common to all four patients and the haplotype surrounding this variant was also shared, suggesting a common ancestor of French-Canadian origin. Rare mutations in ECHS1 as well as in HIBCH, the enzyme downstream in the valine degradation pathway, have been associated with LS or LS-like disorders. A clear clinical overlap is observed between our patients and the reported cases with ECHS1 or HIBCH deficiency. The main clinical features observed in our cohort are T2-hyperintense signal in the globus pallidus and putamen, failure to thrive, developmental delay or regression, and nystagmus. Respiratory chain studies are not strikingly abnormal in our patients: one patient had a mild reduction of complex I and III and another of complex IV. The identification of four additional patients with mutations in ECHS1 highlights the emerging importance of this pathway in LS.

The clinical application of genome-wide sequencing for monogenic diseases in Canada: Position Statement of the Canadian College of Medical Geneticists

Purpose and scope

The aim of this Position Statement is to provide recommendations for Canadian medical geneticists, clinical laboratory geneticists, genetic counsellors and other physicians regarding the use of genome-wide sequencing of germline DNA in the context of clinical genetic diagnosis. This statement has been developed to facilitate the clinical translation and development of best practices for clinical genome-wide sequencing for genetic diagnosis of monogenic diseases in Canada; it does not address the clinical application of this technology in other fields such as molecular investigation of cancer or for population screening of healthy individuals.

Methods of statement development

Two multidisciplinary groups consisting of medical geneticists, clinical laboratory geneticists, genetic counsellors, ethicists, lawyers and genetic researchers were assembled to review existing literature and guidelines on genome-wide sequencing for clinical genetic diagnosis in the context of monogenic diseases, and to make recommendations relevant to the Canadian context. The statement was circulated for comment to the Canadian College of Medical Geneticists (CCMG) membership-at-large and, following incorporation of feedback, approved by the CCMG Board of Directors. The CCMG is a Canadian organisation responsible for certifying medical geneticists and clinical laboratory geneticists, and for establishing professional and ethical standards for clinical genetics services in Canada.

Results and conclusions

Recommendations include (1) clinical genome-wide sequencing is an appropriate approach in the diagnostic assessment of a patient for whom there is suspicion of a significant monogenic disease that is associated with a high degree of genetic heterogeneity, or where specific genetic tests have failed to provide a diagnosis; (2) until the benefits of reporting incidental findings are established, we do not endorse the intentional clinical analysis of disease-associated genes other than those linked to the primary indication; and (3) clinicians should provide genetic counselling and obtain informed consent prior to undertaking clinical genome-wide sequencing. Counselling should include discussion of the limitations of testing, likelihood and implications of diagnosis and incidental findings, and the potential need for further analysis to facilitate clinical interpretation, including studies performed in a research setting. These recommendations will be routinely re-evaluated as knowledge of diagnostic and clinical utility of clinical genome-wide sequencing improves. While the document was developed to direct practice in Canada, the applicability of the statement is broader and will be of interest to clinicians and health jurisdictions internationally.

Congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency: identification of a common Inuit founder mutation

BACKGROUND

Congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency is a rare hereditary cause of chronic diarrhea in children. People with this condition lack the intestinal brush-border enzyme required for digestion of di- and oligosaccharides, including sucrose and isomaltose, leading to malabsorption. Although the condition is known to be highly prevalent (about 5%-10%) in several Inuit populations, the genetic basis for this has not been described. We sought to identify a common mutation for congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency in the Inuit population.

METHODS

We sequenced the sucrase-isomaltase gene, SI, in a single Inuit proband with congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency who had severe fermentative diarrhea and failure to thrive. We then genotyped a further 128 anonymized Inuit controls from a variety of locales in the Canadian Arctic to assess for a possible founder effect.

RESULTS

In the proband, we identified a novel, homozygous frameshift mutation, c.273_274delAG (p.Gly92Leufs*8), predicted to result in complete absence of a functional protein product. This change was very common among the Inuit controls, with an observed allele frequency of 17.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 12.6%-21.8%). The predicted Hardy-Weinberg prevalence of congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency in Inuit people, based on this single founder allele, is 3.0% (95% CI 1.4%-4.5%), which is comparable with previous estimates.

INTERPRETATION

We found a common mutation, SI c.273_274delAG, to be responsible for the high prevalence of congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency among Inuit people. Targeted mutation testing for this allele should afford a simple and minimally invasive means of diagnosing this condition in Inuit patients with chronic diarrhea.

Analysis of methylcitrate in dried blood spots by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Accumulation of propionylcarnitine (C3) in neonatal dried blood spots (DBS) is indicative of inborn errors of propionate metabolism including propionic acidemia (PA), methylmalonic aciduria (MMA), and cobalamin (Cbl) metabolic defects. Concentrations of C3 in affected newborns overlap with healthy individuals rendering this marker neither specific nor sensitive. While a conservative C3 cutoff together with relevant acylcarnitines ratios improve screening sensitivity, existing mass spectrometric methods in newborn screening laboratories are inadequate at improving testing specificity. Therefore, using the original screening DBS, we sought to measure 2-methylcitric acid (MCA), a pathognomonic hallmark of C3 disorders to decrease the false positive rate and improve the positive predictive value of C3 disorders. MCA was derivatized with 4-[2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethylaminosulfonyl]-7-(2-aminoethylamino)-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (DAABD-AE). No separate extraction step was required and derivatization was performed directly using a 3.2-mm disc of DBS as a sample (65°C for 45 min). The reaction mixture was analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. MCA was well separated and eluted at 2.3 min with a total run time of 7 min. The median and (range) of MCA of 0.06 μmol/L (0-0.63) were in excellent agreement with the literature. The method was applied retrospectively on DBS samples from established patients with PA, MMA, Cbl C, Cbl F, maternal vitamin B12 deficiency (n = 20) and controls (n = 337). Comparison with results obtained by another method was satisfactory (n = 252). This method will be applied as a second tier test for samples which trigger positive PA or MMA results by the primary newborn screening method.

Compound heterozygous mutations in glycyl-tRNA synthetase are a proposed cause of systemic mitochondrial disease

Background

Glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GARS) is an aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (ARS) that links the amino acid glycine to its corresponding tRNA prior to protein translation and is one of three bifunctional ARS that are active within both the cytoplasm and mitochondria. Dominant mutations in GARS cause rare forms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and distal spinal muscular atrophy.

Case presentation

We report a 12-year old girl who presented with clinical and biochemical features of a systemic mitochondrial disease including exercise-induced myalgia, non-compaction cardiomyopathy, persistent elevation of blood lactate and alanine and MRI evidence of mild periventricular leukomalacia. Using exome sequencing she was found to harbor compound heterozygous mutations within the glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GARS) gene; c.1904C > T; p.Ser635Leu and c.1787G > A; p.Arg596Gln. Each mutation occurred at a highly conserved site within the anticodon binding domain.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that recessive mutations in GARS may cause systemic mitochondrial disease. This phenotype is distinct from patients with previously reported dominant mutations in this gene, thereby expanding the spectrum of disease associated with GARS dysregulation.

Disruption of the ASTN2/TRIM32 locus at 9q33.1 is a risk factor in males for autism spectrum disorders, ADHD and other neurodevelopmental phenotypes

Rare copy number variants (CNVs) disrupting ASTN2 or both ASTN2 and TRIM32 have been reported at 9q33.1 by genome-wide studies in a few individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). The vertebrate-specific astrotactins, ASTN2 and its paralog ASTN1, have key roles in glial-guided neuronal migration during brain development. To determine the prevalence of astrotactin mutations and delineate their associated phenotypic spectrum, we screened ASTN2/TRIM32 and ASTN1 (1q25.2) for exonic CNVs in clinical microarray data from 89 985 individuals across 10 sites, including 64 114 NDD subjects. In this clinical dataset, we identified 46 deletions and 12 duplications affecting ASTN2. Deletions of ASTN1 were much rarer. Deletions near the 3' terminus of ASTN2, which would disrupt all transcript isoforms (a subset of these deletions also included TRIM32), were significantly enriched in the NDD subjects (P = 0.002) compared with 44 085 population-based controls. Frequent phenotypes observed in individuals with such deletions include autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), speech delay, anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). The 3'-terminal ASTN2 deletions were significantly enriched compared with controls in males with NDDs, but not in females. Upon quantifying ASTN2 human brain RNA, we observed shorter isoforms expressed from an alternative transcription start site of recent evolutionary origin near the 3' end. Spatiotemporal expression profiling in the human brain revealed consistently high ASTN1 expression while ASTN2 expression peaked in the early embryonic neocortex and postnatal cerebellar cortex. Our findings shed new light on the role of the astrotactins in psychopathology and their interplay in human neurodevelopment.

A blood test for cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis with potential for disease detection in newborns

Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is a rare, difficult-to-diagnose genetic disorder of bile acid (BA) synthesis that can cause progressive neurological damage and premature death. Detection of CTX in the newborn period would be beneficial because an effective oral therapy for CTX is available to prevent disease progression. There is no suitable test to screen newborn dried bloodspots (DBS) for CTX. Blood screening for CTX is currently performed by GC-MS measurement of elevated 5α-cholestanol. We present here LC-ESI/MS/MS methodology utilizing keto derivatization with (O-(3-trimethylammonium-propyl) hydroxylamine) reagent to enable sensitive detection of ketosterol BA precursors that accumulate in CTX. The availability of isotopically enriched derivatization reagent allowed ready tagging of ketosterols to generate internal standards for isotope dilution quantification. Ketosterols were quantified and their utility as markers for CTX was compared with 5α-cholestanol. 7α,12α-Dihydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one provided the best discrimination between CTX and unaffected samples. In two CTX, newborn DBS concentrations of this ketosterol (120-214 ng/ml) were ∼10-fold higher than in unaffected newborn DBS (16.4 ± 6.0 ng/ml), such that quantification of this ketosterol provides a test with potential to screen newborn DBS for CTX. Early detection and intervention through newborn screening would greatly benefit those affected with CTX by preventing morbidity and mortality.

Infantile Sialic Acid Storage Disease: Two Unrelated Inuit Cases Homozygous for a Common Novel SLC17A5 Mutation

Infantile sialic acid storage disease (ISSD) is a lysosomal storage disease characterized by accumulation of covalently unlinked (free) sialic acid in multiple tissues. ISSD and Salla disease (a predominantly neurological disorder) are allelic disorders caused by recessive mutations of a lysosomal anionic monosaccharide transporter, SLC17A5. While Salla disease is common in Finland due to a founder-effect mutation (p.Arg39Cys), ISSD is comparatively rare in all populations studied.Here, we describe the clinical and molecular features of two unrelated Canadian Inuit neonates with a virtually identical presentation of ISSD. Both individuals presented antenatally with fetal hydrops, dying shortly following delivery. Urinary free sialic acid excretion was markedly increased in the one case in which urine could be obtained for testing; postmortem examination showed a picture of widespread lysosomal storage in both. Both children were homozygous for a novel splice site mutation (NM_012434:c.526-2A>G) resulting in skipping of exon 4 and an ensuing frameshift. Analysis of a further 129 pan-Arctic Inuit controls demonstrated a heterozygous carrier rate of 1/129 (~0.4 %) in our sample. Interestingly, lysosomal enzyme studies showed an unexplained ninefold increase in neuraminidase activity, with lesser elevations in the activities of several other lysosomal enzymes. Our results raise the possibility of a common founder mutation presenting as hydrops in this population. Furthermore, if confirmed in subsequent cases, the marked induction of neuraminidase activity seen here may prove useful in the clinical diagnosis of ISSD.

Whole-exome sequencing expands the phenotype of Hunter syndrome

Whole-exome sequencing (WES) has proven its utility in finding novel genes associated with rare conditions and its usefulness is being further demonstrated in expanding the phenotypes of well known diseases. We present here a family with a previously undiagnosed X-linked condition characterized by progressive restriction of joint range of motion, prominence of the supraorbital ridge, audiology issues and hernias. They had an average stature, normal occipitofrontal circumference and intelligence, absence of dysostosis multiplex and otherwise good health. A diagnosis of Hunter syndrome was determined using WES and further supported by biochemical investigations. The phenotype of this family does not correspond to either the severe or attenuated clinical subtypes of Hunter syndrome. As further atypical families are reported, this classification will need to be modified. Our findings highlight the utility of WES in expanding the recognized phenotypic spectrum of known syndromes.