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Cheng YHH, Bohaczuk SC, Stergachis AB. Functional categorization of gene regulatory variants that cause Mendelian conditions. Hum Genet 2024; 143:559-605. [PMID: 38436667 PMCID: PMC11078748 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-023-02639-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Much of our current understanding of rare human diseases is driven by coding genetic variants. However, non-coding genetic variants play a pivotal role in numerous rare human diseases, resulting in diverse functional impacts ranging from altered gene regulation, splicing, and/or transcript stability. With the increasing use of genome sequencing in clinical practice, it is paramount to have a clear framework for understanding how non-coding genetic variants cause disease. To this end, we have synthesized the literature on hundreds of non-coding genetic variants that cause rare Mendelian conditions via the disruption of gene regulatory patterns and propose a functional classification system. Specifically, we have adapted the functional classification framework used for coding variants (i.e., loss-of-function, gain-of-function, and dominant-negative) to account for features unique to non-coding gene regulatory variants. We identify that non-coding gene regulatory variants can be split into three distinct categories by functional impact: (1) non-modular loss-of-expression (LOE) variants; (2) modular loss-of-expression (mLOE) variants; and (3) gain-of-ectopic-expression (GOE) variants. Whereas LOE variants have a direct corollary with coding loss-of-function variants, mLOE and GOE variants represent disease mechanisms that are largely unique to non-coding variants. These functional classifications aim to provide a unified terminology for categorizing the functional impact of non-coding variants that disrupt gene regulatory patterns in Mendelian conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y H Hank Cheng
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Stephanie C Bohaczuk
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Andrew B Stergachis
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
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Mazel B, Delanne J, Garde A, Racine C, Bruel AL, Duffourd Y, Lopergolo D, Santorelli FM, Marchi V, Pinto AM, Mencarelli MA, Canitano R, Valentino F, Papa FT, Fallerini C, Mari F, Renieri A, Munnich A, Niclass T, Le Guyader G, Thauvin-Robinet C, Philippe C, Faivre L. FOXG1 variants can be associated with milder phenotypes than congenital Rett syndrome with unassisted walking and language development. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2024:e32970. [PMID: 38459409 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Since 2008, FOXG1 haploinsufficiency has been linked to a severe neurodevelopmental phenotype resembling Rett syndrome but with earlier onset. Most patients are unable to sit, walk, or speak. For years, FOXG1 sequencing was only prescribed in such severe cases, limiting insight into the full clinical spectrum associated with this gene. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) now enables unbiased diagnostics. Through the European Reference Network for Rare Malformation Syndromes, Intellectual and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders, we gathered data from patients with heterozygous FOXG1 variants presenting a mild phenotype, defined as able to speak and walk independently. We also reviewed data from three previously reported patients meeting our criteria. We identified five new patients with pathogenic FOXG1 missense variants, primarily in the forkhead domain, showing varying nonspecific intellectual disability and developmental delay. These features are not typical of congenital Rett syndrome and were rarely associated with microcephaly and epilepsy. Our findings are consistent with a previous genotype-phenotype analysis by Mitter et al. suggesting the delineation of five different FOXG1 genotype groups. Milder phenotypes were associated with missense variants in the forkhead domain. This information may facilitate prognostic assessments in children carrying a FOXG1 variant and improve the interpretation of new variants identified with genomic sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoit Mazel
- Centre de Référence Anomalies du Développement et Syndromes Malformatifs, Centre de Génétique, FHU TRANSLAD - CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
- Inserm UMR1231 GAD, Génétique des Anomalies du Développement, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Julian Delanne
- Centre de Référence Anomalies du Développement et Syndromes Malformatifs, Centre de Génétique, FHU TRANSLAD - CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
- Centre de référence Déficiences Intellectuelles de Causes Rares, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Aurore Garde
- Centre de Référence Anomalies du Développement et Syndromes Malformatifs, Centre de Génétique, FHU TRANSLAD - CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
- Inserm UMR1231 GAD, Génétique des Anomalies du Développement, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Caroline Racine
- Centre de Référence Anomalies du Développement et Syndromes Malformatifs, Centre de Génétique, FHU TRANSLAD - CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
- Inserm UMR1231 GAD, Génétique des Anomalies du Développement, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Ange-Line Bruel
- Inserm UMR1231 GAD, Génétique des Anomalies du Développement, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France
- Laboratoire de Génomique Médicale, Unité Fonctionnelle Innovation en diagnostic génomique, Unité fonctionnelle innovation en diagnostic génomique des maladies rares, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Yannis Duffourd
- Inserm UMR1231 GAD, Génétique des Anomalies du Développement, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France
- Laboratoire de Génomique Médicale, Unité Fonctionnelle Innovation en diagnostic génomique, Unité fonctionnelle innovation en diagnostic génomique des maladies rares, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Diego Lopergolo
- Molecular Medicine for Neurodegenerative and Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Stella Maris Foudation, Pisa, Italy
| | - Filippo Maria Santorelli
- Molecular Medicine for Neurodegenerative and Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Stella Maris Foudation, Pisa, Italy
| | - Viviana Marchi
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Stella Maris Scientific Institute, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Pinto
- Genetica Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Roberto Canitano
- Division of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, University Hospital of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Floriana Valentino
- Medical Genetics Unit, University of Siena, Policlinico Le Scotte, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Chiara Fallerini
- Medical Genetics Unit, University of Siena, Policlinico Le Scotte, Siena, Italy
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, Med Biotech Hub and Competence Center, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Francesca Mari
- Genetica Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy
- Medical Genetics Unit, University of Siena, Policlinico Le Scotte, Siena, Italy
| | - Alessandra Renieri
- Genetica Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy
- Medical Genetics Unit, University of Siena, Policlinico Le Scotte, Siena, Italy
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, Med Biotech Hub and Competence Center, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Arnold Munnich
- Service de Génétique Médicale et Clinique, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, France
| | - Tanguy Niclass
- Service de Génétique Clinique, CHU de Poitiers, Poitiers, France
| | | | - Christel Thauvin-Robinet
- Centre de Référence Anomalies du Développement et Syndromes Malformatifs, Centre de Génétique, FHU TRANSLAD - CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
- Inserm UMR1231 GAD, Génétique des Anomalies du Développement, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France
- Centre de référence Déficiences Intellectuelles de Causes Rares, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
- Laboratoire de Génomique Médicale, Unité Fonctionnelle Innovation en diagnostic génomique, Unité fonctionnelle innovation en diagnostic génomique des maladies rares, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Christophe Philippe
- Inserm UMR1231 GAD, Génétique des Anomalies du Développement, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France
- Laboratoire de Génomique Médicale, Unité Fonctionnelle Innovation en diagnostic génomique, Unité fonctionnelle innovation en diagnostic génomique des maladies rares, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Laurence Faivre
- Centre de Référence Anomalies du Développement et Syndromes Malformatifs, Centre de Génétique, FHU TRANSLAD - CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
- Inserm UMR1231 GAD, Génétique des Anomalies du Développement, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France
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Johannesen KM, Tümer Z, Weckhuysen S, Barakat TS, Bayat A. Solving the unsolved genetic epilepsies: Current and future perspectives. Epilepsia 2023; 64:3143-3154. [PMID: 37750451 DOI: 10.1111/epi.17780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Many patients with epilepsy undergo exome or genome sequencing as part of a diagnostic workup; however, many remain genetically unsolved. There are various factors that account for negative results in exome/genome sequencing for patients with epilepsy: (1) the underlying cause is not genetic; (2) there is a complex polygenic explanation; (3) the illness is monogenic but the causative gene remains to be linked to a human disorder; (4) family segregation with reduced penetrance; (5) somatic mosaicism or the complexity of, for example, a structural rearrangement; or (6) limited knowledge or diagnostic tools that hinder the proper classification of a variant, resulting in its designation as a variant of unknown significance. The objective of this review is to outline some of the diagnostic options that lie beyond the exome/genome, and that might become clinically relevant within the foreseeable future. These options include: (1) re-analysis of older exome/genome data as knowledge increases or symptoms change; (2) looking for somatic mosaicism or long-read sequencing to detect low-complexity repeat variants or specific structural variants missed by traditional exome/genome sequencing; (3) exploration of the non-coding genome including disruption of topologically associated domains, long range non-coding RNA, or other regulatory elements; and finally (4) transcriptomics, DNA methylation signatures, and metabolomics as complementary diagnostic methods that may be used in the assessment of variants of unknown significance. Some of these tools are currently not integrated into standard diagnostic workup. However, it is reasonable to expect that they will become increasingly available and improve current diagnostic capabilities, thereby enabling precision diagnosis in patients who are currently undiagnosed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrine M Johannesen
- Department of Genetics, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Epilepsy Genetics and Personalized Medicine, The Danish Epilepsy Center, Dianalund, Denmark
| | - Zeynep Tümer
- Department of Genetics, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sarah Weckhuysen
- Applied and Translational Neurogenomics Group, VIB Centre for Molecular Neurology, Antwerp, Belgium
- Translational Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- μNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Tahsin Stefan Barakat
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Discovery Unit, Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Allan Bayat
- Department of Epilepsy Genetics and Personalized Medicine, The Danish Epilepsy Center, Dianalund, Denmark
- Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Brimble E, Reyes KG, Kuhathaas K, Devinsky O, Ruzhnikov MRZ, Ortiz-Gonzalez XR, Scheffer I, Bahi-Buisson N, Olson H. Expanding genotype-phenotype correlations in FOXG1 syndrome: results from a patient registry. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2023; 18:149. [PMID: 37308910 PMCID: PMC10262363 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-023-02745-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We refine the clinical spectrum of FOXG1 syndrome and expand genotype-phenotype correlations through evaluation of 122 individuals enrolled in an international patient registry. METHODS The FOXG1 syndrome online patient registry allows for remote collection of caregiver-reported outcomes. Inclusion required documentation of a (likely) pathogenic variant in FOXG1. Caregivers were administered a questionnaire to evaluate clinical severity of core features of FOXG1 syndrome. Genotype-phenotype correlations were determined using nonparametric analyses. RESULTS We studied 122 registry participants with FOXG1 syndrome, aged < 12 months to 24 years. Caregivers described delayed or absent developmental milestone attainment, seizures (61%), and movement disorders (58%). Participants harbouring a missense variant had a milder phenotype. Compared to individuals with gene deletions (0%) or nonsense variants (20%), missense variants were associated with more frequent attainment of sitting (73%). Further, individuals with missense variants (41%) achieved independent walking more frequently than those with gene deletions (0%) or frameshift variants (6%). Presence of epilepsy also varied by genotype and was significantly more common in those with gene deletions (81%) compared to missense variants (47%). Individuals with gene deletions were more likely to have higher seizure burden than other genotypes with 53% reporting daily seizures, even at best control. We also observed that truncations preserving the forkhead DNA binding domain were associated with better developmental outcomes. CONCLUSION We refine the phenotypic spectrum of neurodevelopmental features associated with FOXG1 syndrome. We strengthen genotype-driven outcomes, where missense variants are associated with a milder clinical course.
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Bruet E, Amarante-Silva D, Gorojankina T, Creuzet S. The Emerging Roles of the Cephalic Neural Crest in Brain Development and Developmental Encephalopathies. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:9844. [PMID: 37372994 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24129844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The neural crest, a unique cell population originating from the primitive neural field, has a multi-systemic and structural contribution to vertebrate development. At the cephalic level, the neural crest generates most of the skeletal tissues encasing the developing forebrain and provides the prosencephalon with functional vasculature and meninges. Over the last decade, we have demonstrated that the cephalic neural crest (CNC) exerts an autonomous and prominent control on the development of the forebrain and sense organs. The present paper reviews the primary mechanisms by which CNC can orchestrate vertebrate encephalization. Demonstrating the role of the CNC as an exogenous source of patterning for the forebrain provides a novel conceptual framework with profound implications for understanding neurodevelopment. From a biomedical standpoint, these data suggest that the spectrum of neurocristopathies is broader than expected and that some neurological disorders may stem from CNC dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Bruet
- Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, NeuroPSI, CNRS, Paris-Saclay University, Campus CEA Saclay, Bât 151, 151 Route de la Rotonde, 91400 Saclay, France
| | - Diego Amarante-Silva
- Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, NeuroPSI, CNRS, Paris-Saclay University, Campus CEA Saclay, Bât 151, 151 Route de la Rotonde, 91400 Saclay, France
| | - Tatiana Gorojankina
- Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, NeuroPSI, CNRS, Paris-Saclay University, Campus CEA Saclay, Bât 151, 151 Route de la Rotonde, 91400 Saclay, France
| | - Sophie Creuzet
- Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, NeuroPSI, CNRS, Paris-Saclay University, Campus CEA Saclay, Bât 151, 151 Route de la Rotonde, 91400 Saclay, France
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D’Aurizio R, Catona O, Pitasi M, Li YE, Ren B, Nicolis SK. Bridging between Mouse and Human Enhancer-Promoter Long-Range Interactions in Neural Stem Cells, to Understand Enhancer Function in Neurodevelopmental Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23147964. [PMID: 35887306 PMCID: PMC9322198 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-coding variation in complex human disease has been well established by genome-wide association studies, and is thought to involve regulatory elements, such as enhancers, whose variation affects the expression of the gene responsible for the disease. The regulatory elements often lie far from the gene they regulate, or within introns of genes differing from the regulated gene, making it difficult to identify the gene whose function is affected by a given enhancer variation. Enhancers are connected to their target gene promoters via long-range physical interactions (loops). In our study, we re-mapped, onto the human genome, more than 10,000 enhancers connected to promoters via long-range interactions, that we had previously identified in mouse brain-derived neural stem cells by RNApolII-ChIA-PET analysis, coupled to ChIP-seq mapping of DNA/chromatin regions carrying epigenetic enhancer marks. These interactions are thought to be functionally relevant. We discovered, in the human genome, thousands of DNA regions syntenic with the interacting mouse DNA regions (enhancers and connected promoters). We further annotated these human regions regarding their overlap with sequence variants (single nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs; copy number variants, CNVs), that were previously associated with neurodevelopmental disease in humans. We document various cases in which the genetic variant, associated in humans to neurodevelopmental disease, affects an enhancer involved in long-range interactions: SNPs, previously identified by genome-wide association studies to be associated with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and intelligence, are located within our human syntenic enhancers, and alter transcription factor recognition sites. Similarly, CNVs associated to autism spectrum disease and other neurodevelopmental disorders overlap with our human syntenic enhancers. Some of these enhancers are connected (in mice) to homologs of genes already associated to the human disease, strengthening the hypothesis that the gene is indeed involved in the disease. Other enhancers are connected to genes not previously associated with the disease, pointing to their possible pathogenetic involvement. Our observations provide a resource for further exploration of neural disease, in parallel with the now widespread genome-wide identification of DNA variants in patients with neural disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romina D’Aurizio
- Institute of Informatics and Telematics (IIT), National Research Council (CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy;
- Correspondence:
| | - Orazio Catona
- Institute of Informatics and Telematics (IIT), National Research Council (CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Mattia Pitasi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy; (M.P.); (S.K.N.)
| | - Yang Eric Li
- University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (Y.E.L.); (B.R.)
| | - Bing Ren
- University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (Y.E.L.); (B.R.)
| | - Silvia Kirsten Nicolis
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy; (M.P.); (S.K.N.)
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Yang H, Ryu J, Lim C, Choi JW, Park YJ, Jang SW, Shim S. SOXE group transcription factors regulates the expression of FoxG1 during inner ear development. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022; 623:96-103. [PMID: 35878429 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.07.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The transcription factor FOXG1 plays an important role in inner ear development; however, the cis-regulatory mechanisms controlling the inner-ear-specific expression of FOXG1 are poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to identify the element that specifically regulates FoxG1 expression in the otic vesicle, which develops into the inner ear, through comparative genome analysis between vertebrate species and chromatin immunoprecipitation. The cis-regulatory element (E2) identified showed high evolutionary conservation among vertebrates in the genomic DNA of FoxG1 spanning approximately 3 Mbp. We identified core sequences important for the activity of the otic-vesicle-specific enhancer through in vitro and in vivo reporter assays for various E2 enhancer mutants and determined the consensus sequence for SOX DNA binding. In addition, SoxE, a subfamily of the Sox family, was simultaneously expressed in the otic vesicles of developing embryos and showed a similar protein expression pattern as that of FoxG1. Furthermore, SOXE transcription factors induced specific transcriptional activity through the FoxG1 Otic enhancer (E2b). These findings suggest that the interaction between the otic enhancer of FoxG1 and SOXE transcription factor, in which the otic expression of FoxG1 is evolutionarily well-conserved, is important during early development of the inner ear, a sensory organ important for survival in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayoung Yang
- Department of Biochemistry, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiho Ryu
- Department of Biochemistry, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Chungun Lim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Won Choi
- Division of BT Convergence, Cheongju University, Cheongju, 28503, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Jun Park
- Immunotherapy Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Wuk Jang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea; Asan Medical Institute of Convergence Science and Technology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, 138-736, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sungbo Shim
- Department of Biochemistry, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea.
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Dsouza KB, Maslova A, Al-Jibury E, Merkenschlager M, Bhargava VK, Libbrecht MW. Learning representations of chromatin contacts using a recurrent neural network identifies genomic drivers of conformation. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3704. [PMID: 35764630 PMCID: PMC9240038 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31337-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the availability of chromatin conformation capture experiments, discerning the relationship between the 1D genome and 3D conformation remains a challenge, which limits our understanding of their affect on gene expression and disease. We propose Hi-C-LSTM, a method that produces low-dimensional latent representations that summarize intra-chromosomal Hi-C contacts via a recurrent long short-term memory neural network model. We find that these representations contain all the information needed to recreate the observed Hi-C matrix with high accuracy, outperforming existing methods. These representations enable the identification of a variety of conformation-defining genomic elements, including nuclear compartments and conformation-related transcription factors. They furthermore enable in-silico perturbation experiments that measure the influence of cis-regulatory elements on conformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin B Dsouza
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
| | - Alexandra Maslova
- School of Computing Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
| | - Ediem Al-Jibury
- MRC, London Institute of Medical Sciences, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Computing, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Matthias Merkenschlager
- MRC, London Institute of Medical Sciences, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Vijay K Bhargava
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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The non-coding genome in genetic brain disorders: new targets for therapy? Essays Biochem 2021; 65:671-683. [PMID: 34414418 PMCID: PMC8564736 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20200121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The non-coding genome, consisting of more than 98% of all genetic information in humans and once judged as ‘Junk DNA’, is increasingly moving into the spotlight in the field of human genetics. Non-coding regulatory elements (NCREs) are crucial to ensure correct spatio-temporal gene expression. Technological advancements have allowed to identify NCREs on a large scale, and mechanistic studies have helped to understand the biological mechanisms underlying their function. It is increasingly becoming clear that genetic alterations of NCREs can cause genetic disorders, including brain diseases. In this review, we concisely discuss mechanisms of gene regulation and how to investigate them, and give examples of non-coding alterations of NCREs that give rise to human brain disorders. The cross-talk between basic and clinical studies enhances the understanding of normal and pathological function of NCREs, allowing better interpretation of already existing and novel data. Improved functional annotation of NCREs will not only benefit diagnostics for patients, but might also lead to novel areas of investigations for targeted therapies, applicable to a wide panel of genetic disorders. The intrinsic complexity and precision of the gene regulation process can be turned to the advantage of highly specific treatments. We further discuss this exciting new field of ‘enhancer therapy’ based on recent examples.
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Boltsis I, Grosveld F, Giraud G, Kolovos P. Chromatin Conformation in Development and Disease. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:723859. [PMID: 34422840 PMCID: PMC8371409 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.723859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Chromatin domains and loops are important elements of chromatin structure and dynamics, but much remains to be learned about their exact biological role and nature. Topological associated domains and functional loops are key to gene expression and hold the answer to many questions regarding developmental decisions and diseases. Here, we discuss new findings, which have linked chromatin conformation with development, differentiation and diseases and hypothesized on various models while integrating all recent findings on how chromatin architecture affects gene expression during development, evolution and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilias Boltsis
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Frank Grosveld
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Guillaume Giraud
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon – INSERM U1052, Lyon, France
| | - Petros Kolovos
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
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11
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Guo H, Li JJ, Lu Q, Hou L. Detecting local genetic correlations with scan statistics. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2033. [PMID: 33795679 PMCID: PMC8016883 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22334-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic correlation analysis has quickly gained popularity in the past few years and provided insights into the genetic etiology of numerous complex diseases. However, existing approaches oversimplify the shared genetic architecture between different phenotypes and cannot effectively identify precise genetic regions contributing to the genetic correlation. In this work, we introduce LOGODetect, a powerful and efficient statistical method to identify small genome segments harboring local genetic correlation signals. LOGODetect automatically identifies genetic regions showing consistent associations with multiple phenotypes through a scan statistic approach. It uses summary association statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) as input and is robust to sample overlap between studies. Applied to seven phenotypically distinct but genetically correlated neuropsychiatric traits, we identify 227 non-overlapping genome regions associated with multiple traits, including multiple hub regions showing concordant effects on five or more traits. Our method addresses critical limitations in existing analytic strategies and may have wide applications in post-GWAS analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanmin Guo
- Center for Statistical Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - James J Li
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Qiongshi Lu
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
| | - Lin Hou
- Center for Statistical Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
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12
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Zhang X, Connelly J, Chao Y, Wang QJ. Multifaceted Functions of Protein Kinase D in Pathological Processes and Human Diseases. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11030483. [PMID: 33807058 PMCID: PMC8005150 DOI: 10.3390/biom11030483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein kinase D (PKD) is a family of serine/threonine protein kinases operating in the signaling network of the second messenger diacylglycerol. The three family members, PKD1, PKD2, and PKD3, are activated by a variety of extracellular stimuli and transduce cell signals affecting many aspects of basic cell functions including secretion, migration, proliferation, survival, angiogenesis, and immune response. Dysregulation of PKD in expression and activity has been detected in many human diseases. Further loss- or gain-of-function studies at cellular levels and in animal models provide strong support for crucial roles of PKD in many pathological conditions, including cancer, metabolic disorders, cardiac diseases, central nervous system disorders, inflammatory diseases, and immune dysregulation. Complexity in enzymatic regulation and function is evident as PKD isoforms may act differently in different biological systems and disease models, and understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying these differences and their biological significance in vivo is essential for the development of safer and more effective PKD-targeted therapies. In this review, to provide a global understanding of PKD function, we present an overview of the PKD family in several major human diseases with more focus on cancer-associated biological processes.
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Melo US, Schöpflin R, Acuna-Hidalgo R, Mensah MA, Fischer-Zirnsak B, Holtgrewe M, Klever MK, Türkmen S, Heinrich V, Pluym ID, Matoso E, Bernardo de Sousa S, Louro P, Hülsemann W, Cohen M, Dufke A, Latos-Bieleńska A, Vingron M, Kalscheuer V, Quintero-Rivera F, Spielmann M, Mundlos S. Hi-C Identifies Complex Genomic Rearrangements and TAD-Shuffling in Developmental Diseases. Am J Hum Genet 2020; 106:872-884. [PMID: 32470376 PMCID: PMC7273525 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2020.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide analysis methods, such as array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and whole-genome sequencing (WGS), have greatly advanced the identification of structural variants (SVs) in the human genome. However, even with standard high-throughput sequencing techniques, complex rearrangements with multiple breakpoints are often difficult to resolve, and predicting their effects on gene expression and phenotype remains a challenge. Here, we address these problems by using high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) generated from cultured cells of nine individuals with developmental disorders (DDs). Three individuals had previously been identified as harboring duplications at the SOX9 locus and six had been identified with translocations. Hi-C resolved the positions of the duplications and was instructive in interpreting their distinct pathogenic effects, including the formation of new topologically associating domains (neo-TADs). Hi-C was very sensitive in detecting translocations, and it revealed previously unrecognized complex rearrangements at the breakpoints. In several cases, we observed the formation of fused-TADs promoting ectopic enhancer-promoter interactions that were likely to be involved in the disease pathology. In summary, we show that Hi-C is a sensible method for the detection of complex SVs in a clinical setting. The results help interpret the possible pathogenic effects of the SVs in individuals with DDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uirá Souto Melo
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, RG Development and Disease, 13353 Berlin, Germany; Institute for Medical Genetics and Human Genetics, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert Schöpflin
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, RG Development and Disease, 13353 Berlin, Germany; Institute for Medical Genetics and Human Genetics, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Rocio Acuna-Hidalgo
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, RG Development and Disease, 13353 Berlin, Germany; Institute for Medical Genetics and Human Genetics, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Atta Mensah
- Institute for Medical Genetics and Human Genetics, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Björn Fischer-Zirnsak
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, RG Development and Disease, 13353 Berlin, Germany; Institute for Medical Genetics and Human Genetics, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Manuel Holtgrewe
- Institute for Medical Genetics and Human Genetics, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Core Unit Bioinformatics, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Marius-Konstantin Klever
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, RG Development and Disease, 13353 Berlin, Germany; Institute for Medical Genetics and Human Genetics, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Seval Türkmen
- Institute for Medical Genetics and Human Genetics, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Verena Heinrich
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Department of Computational Molecular Biology, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ilina Datkhaeva Pluym
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Eunice Matoso
- Medical Genetics Unit, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal; Center of Investigation on Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (iCBR-CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | | | - Pedro Louro
- Medical Genetics Unit, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal; Familial Risk Clinic, Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil, 1099-023 Lisboa, Portugal; Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidade da Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Wiebke Hülsemann
- Handchirurgie Kinderkrankenhaus Wilhelmstift, 22149 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Monika Cohen
- kbo-Kinderzentrum München, 81377 München, Germany
| | - Andreas Dufke
- Institut für Medizinische Genetik und Angewandte Genomik, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Anna Latos-Bieleńska
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Medical Sciences in Poznan, 60-806 Poznan, Poland; Centers for Medical Genetics GENESIS, Grudzieniec st, 60-601 Poznan, Poland
| | - Martin Vingron
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Department of Computational Molecular Biology, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Vera Kalscheuer
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, RG Development and Disease, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Fabiola Quintero-Rivera
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UCLA Clinical Genomics Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Malte Spielmann
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Human Molecular Genomics Group, 13353 Berlin, Germany; Institut für Humangenetik Lübeck, Universität zu Lübeck, 23538 Lübeck, Germany.
| | - Stefan Mundlos
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, RG Development and Disease, 13353 Berlin, Germany; Institute for Medical Genetics and Human Genetics, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
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Wang Y, Jiang T, Tang P, Wu Y, Jiang Z, Dai J, Gu Y, Xu J, Da M, Ma H, Jin G, Mo X, Li Q, Wang X, Hu Z. Family-based whole-genome sequencing identifies compound heterozygous protein-coding and noncoding mutations in tetralogy of Fallot. Gene 2020; 741:144555. [PMID: 32165302 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2020.144555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is one of most serious cyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD) and the prevalence is estimated to be 1 in 3000 live births worldwide. Though multiple studies have found genetic variants as risk factors for TOF, they could only explain a small fraction of the pathogenesis. Here, we performed whole genome sequencing (WGS) for 6 individuals derived from 2 families to evaluate pathogenic mutations located in both coding and noncoding regions. We characterized the annotated deleterious coding mutations and impaired noncoding mutations in regulatory elements by various data analysis. Additionally, functional assays were conducted to validate function regulatory elements and noncoding mutations. Interestingly, a compound heterozygous pattern with pathogenic coding and noncoding mutations was identified in probands. In proband 1, biallelic mutations (g.139409115A > T, encoding p.Asn685Ile; g.139444949C > A) in NOTCH1 exon and its regulatory element were detected. In vitro experiments revealed that the regulatory element acted as a silencer and the noncoding mutation decreased the expression of NOTCH1. In proband 2, we also found compound heterozygous mutations (g. 216235029C > T, encoding p.Val2281Met; g. 216525154A > C) which potentially regulated the function of FN1 gene. In summary, our study firstly reported an instance of newly identified noncoding mutation in regulatory element within the compound heterozygous pattern in TOF. The results provided a deeper understanding of TOF genetic architectures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Tao Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Pushi Tang
- Department of Cardiovascular Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, China
| | - Yifei Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Zhu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Juncheng Dai
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Yayun Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Jing Xu
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Min Da
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Hongxia Ma
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Guangfu Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Xuming Mo
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Qingguo Li
- Department of Cardiovascular Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, China.
| | - Xiaowei Wang
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China.
| | - Zhibin Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.
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15
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Hou PS, hAilín DÓ, Vogel T, Hanashima C. Transcription and Beyond: Delineating FOXG1 Function in Cortical Development and Disorders. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:35. [PMID: 32158381 PMCID: PMC7052011 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Forkhead Box G1 (FOXG1) is a member of the Forkhead family of genes with non-redundant roles in brain development, where alteration of this gene's expression significantly affects the formation and function of the mammalian cerebral cortex. FOXG1 haploinsufficiency in humans is associated with prominent differences in brain size and impaired intellectual development noticeable in early childhood, while homozygous mutations are typically fatal. As such, FOXG1 has been implicated in a wide spectrum of congenital brain disorders, including the congenital variant of Rett syndrome, infantile spasms, microcephaly, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia. Recent technological advances have yielded greater insight into phenotypic variations observed in FOXG1 syndrome, molecular mechanisms underlying pathogenesis of the disease, and multifaceted roles of FOXG1 expression. In this review, we explore the emerging mechanisms of FOXG1 in a range of transcriptional to posttranscriptional events in order to evolve our current view of how a single transcription factor governs the assembly of an elaborate cortical circuit responsible for higher cognitive functions and neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Shan Hou
- Laboratory for Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Education and Integrated Arts and Sciences, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan.,Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Darren Ó hAilín
- Department of Molecular Embryology, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Tanja Vogel
- Department of Molecular Embryology, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Center for Basics in NeuroModulation (NeuroModul Basics), Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Carina Hanashima
- Laboratory for Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Education and Integrated Arts and Sciences, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Integrative Bioscience and Biomedical Engineering, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University Center for Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
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16
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Wu JB, Sha J, Zhai JF, Liu Y, Zhang B. Prenatal diagnosis of maternal partial trisomy 9p23p24.3 and 14q11.2q21.3 in a fetus: a case report. Mol Cytogenet 2020; 13:6. [PMID: 32055256 PMCID: PMC7006427 DOI: 10.1186/s13039-020-0473-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective This study aimed to report a fetus with maternal partial trisomy 9p and 14q and the phenotype detected in ultrasound. Methods The chromosome rearrangements in the fetus were characterized by G-banding and chromosome microarray analysis based on single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array of cultured amniocytes and compared with the parents’ karyotypes. Results The fetal abnormal karyotype was 47,XY,+der(14)(9;14)(p23;q22). The SNP array revealed a duplicate 11.8-Mb 9p23-p24.3 fragment and a duplicate 29.6-Mb 14q11.2-q21.3 fragment. The peripheral blood karyotype of the mother was 46,XX,t(9;14)(p23;q22), while the father’s was normal at the level of 300~400 bands. A high-resolution karyotype analysis conformed the same abnormality of the mother at the level of 550~650 bands. These results indicated that the fetal chromosomal abnormality probably derived from the mother. The fetal nuchal translucency thickness was 3.5 mm, and the fetal heart was detected with around 1.0-mm ventricular defect by the ultrasound examination at 12-week gestation. The couple decided to terminate the pregnancy. They opted for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer for the fourth pregnancy, which was successful. Conclusions The SNP array combined with cytogenetic analysis was particularly effective in identifying abnormal chromosomal rearrangements. These methods combined with the existing database information and fetal ultrasonography might provide a comprehensive and efficient way for the prenatal assessment of fetal situations. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis might effectively assist those women with an adverse pregnancy history in their next pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- J B Wu
- 1Department of Prenatal Diagnosis Medical Cente, Xuzhou Clinical School of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Southeast University, 199 South Jiefang Road, Xuzhou, 221009 Jiangsu China
| | - J Sha
- 1Department of Prenatal Diagnosis Medical Cente, Xuzhou Clinical School of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Southeast University, 199 South Jiefang Road, Xuzhou, 221009 Jiangsu China
| | - J F Zhai
- 1Department of Prenatal Diagnosis Medical Cente, Xuzhou Clinical School of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Southeast University, 199 South Jiefang Road, Xuzhou, 221009 Jiangsu China
| | - Y Liu
- 2Department of Ultrasonography, Xuzhou Clinical School of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Southeast University, Xuzhou, China
| | - B Zhang
- 1Department of Prenatal Diagnosis Medical Cente, Xuzhou Clinical School of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Southeast University, 199 South Jiefang Road, Xuzhou, 221009 Jiangsu China
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17
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Hu X, Liu J, Guo R, Guo J, Zhao Z, Li W, Xu B, Hao C. A novel 14q13.1-21.1 deletion identified by CNV-Seq in a patient with brain-lung-thyroid syndrome, tooth agenesis and immunodeficiency. Mol Cytogenet 2019; 12:51. [PMID: 31890031 PMCID: PMC6924084 DOI: 10.1186/s13039-019-0463-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chromosome 14q11-q22 deletion syndrome (OMIM 613457) is a rare genomic disorder. The phenotype heterogeneity depends on the deletion size, breakpoints and genes deleted. Critical genes like FOXG1, NKX2–1, PAX9 were identified. Case presentation We performed whole exome sequencing (WES) and copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq) for a patient with mild speech and motor developmental delay, short stature, recurrent pulmonary infections, tooth agenesis and triad of brain-lung-thyroid syndrome. By using CNV-seq, we identified a 3.1 Mb de novo interstitial deletion of the 14q13.2q21.1 region encompassing 17 OMIM genes including NKX2–1, PAX9 and NFKBIA. Our patient’s phenotype is consistent with other published 14q13 deletion patients. Conclusion Our results showed the combination of WES and CNV-seq is an effective diagnostic strategy for patients with genetic or genomic disorders. After reviewing published patients, we also proposed a new critical region for 14q13 deletion syndrome with is a more benign disorder compared to 14q11-q22 deletion syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuyun Hu
- 1Beijing Key Laboratory for Genetics of Birth Defects, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute; MOE Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children; Genetics and Birth Defects Control Center, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, 100045 China
| | - Jun Liu
- 2China National Clinical Research Center of Respiratory Diseases, Respiratory Department of Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, 100045 China
| | - Ruolan Guo
- 1Beijing Key Laboratory for Genetics of Birth Defects, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute; MOE Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children; Genetics and Birth Defects Control Center, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, 100045 China
| | - Jun Guo
- 1Beijing Key Laboratory for Genetics of Birth Defects, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute; MOE Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children; Genetics and Birth Defects Control Center, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, 100045 China
| | - Zhipeng Zhao
- 2China National Clinical Research Center of Respiratory Diseases, Respiratory Department of Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, 100045 China
| | - Wei Li
- 1Beijing Key Laboratory for Genetics of Birth Defects, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute; MOE Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children; Genetics and Birth Defects Control Center, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, 100045 China
| | - Baoping Xu
- 2China National Clinical Research Center of Respiratory Diseases, Respiratory Department of Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, 100045 China
| | - Chanjuan Hao
- 1Beijing Key Laboratory for Genetics of Birth Defects, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute; MOE Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children; Genetics and Birth Defects Control Center, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, 100045 China
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18
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Mild presentation of the congenital variant Rett syndrome in a Pakistani male: expanding the phenotype of the forkhead box protein G1 spectrum. Clin Dysmorphol 2019; 29:111-113. [PMID: 31577544 DOI: 10.1097/mcd.0000000000000302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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19
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FOXG1-Related Syndrome: From Clinical to Molecular Genetics and Pathogenic Mechanisms. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20174176. [PMID: 31454984 PMCID: PMC6747066 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20174176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals with mutations in forkhead box G1 (FOXG1) belong to a distinct clinical entity, termed “FOXG1-related encephalopathy”. There are two clinical phenotypes/syndromes identified in FOXG1-related encephalopathy, duplications and deletions/intragenic mutations. In children with deletions or intragenic mutations of FOXG1, the recognized clinical features include microcephaly, developmental delay, severe cognitive disabilities, early-onset dyskinesia and hyperkinetic movements, stereotypies, epilepsy, and cerebral malformation. In contrast, children with duplications of FOXG1 are typically normocephalic and have normal brain magnetic resonance imaging. They also have different clinical characteristics in terms of epilepsy, movement disorders, and neurodevelopment compared with children with deletions or intragenic mutations. FOXG1 is a transcriptional factor. It is expressed mainly in the telencephalon and plays a pleiotropic role in the development of the brain. It is a key player in development and territorial specification of the anterior brain. In addition, it maintains the expansion of the neural proliferating pool, and also regulates the pace of neocortical neuronogenic progression. It also facilitates cortical layer and corpus callosum formation. Furthermore, it promotes dendrite elongation and maintains neural plasticity, including dendritic arborization and spine densities in mature neurons. In this review, we summarize the clinical features, molecular genetics, and possible pathogenesis of FOXG1-related syndrome.
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20
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Thyme SB, Pieper LM, Li EH, Pandey S, Wang Y, Morris NS, Sha C, Choi JW, Herrera KJ, Soucy ER, Zimmerman S, Randlett O, Greenwood J, McCarroll SA, Schier AF. Phenotypic Landscape of Schizophrenia-Associated Genes Defines Candidates and Their Shared Functions. Cell 2019; 177:478-491.e20. [PMID: 30929901 PMCID: PMC6494450 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2019.01.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Genomic studies have identified hundreds of candidate genes near loci associated with risk for schizophrenia. To define candidates and their functions, we mutated zebrafish orthologs of 132 human schizophrenia-associated genes. We created a phenotype atlas consisting of whole-brain activity maps, brain structural differences, and profiles of behavioral abnormalities. Phenotypes were diverse but specific, including altered forebrain development and decreased prepulse inhibition. Exploration of these datasets identified promising candidates in more than 10 gene-rich regions, including the magnesium transporter cnnm2 and the translational repressor gigyf2, and revealed shared anatomical sites of activity differences, including the pallium, hypothalamus, and tectum. Single-cell RNA sequencing uncovered an essential role for the understudied transcription factor znf536 in the development of forebrain neurons implicated in social behavior and stress. This phenotypic landscape of schizophrenia-associated genes prioritizes more than 30 candidates for further study and provides hypotheses to bridge the divide between genetic association and biological mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Summer B Thyme
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
| | - Lindsey M Pieper
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Eric H Li
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Shristi Pandey
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Yiqun Wang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Nathan S Morris
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Carrie Sha
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Joo Won Choi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Kristian J Herrera
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Edward R Soucy
- Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Steve Zimmerman
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Owen Randlett
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Joel Greenwood
- Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Steven A McCarroll
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Alexander F Schier
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Biozentrum, University of Basel, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; FAS Center for Systems Biology, Harvard University, MA 02138, USA; Allen Discovery Center for Cell Lineage Tracing, Seattle, WA 98104, USA.
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Vineeth VS, Dutta UR, Tallapaka K, Das Bhowmik A, Dalal A. Whole exome sequencing identifies a novel 5 Mb deletion at 14q12 region in a patient with global developmental delay, microcephaly and seizures. Gene 2018; 673:56-60. [PMID: 29920362 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2018.06.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Rett syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting the nervous, musculoskeletal and gastroenteric systems. Affected individuals show normal neonatal development for 6-18 months followed by sudden growth arrest, psychomotor retardation and a broad spectrum of clinical features. Sequence variants in MECP2 gene have been identified as the major genetic etiology accounting for 90-95% of patients. Apart from MECP2, pathogenic sequence variants and copy number variants of FOXG1 gene lead to congenital type of Rett syndrome which is a more severe form and characterised by absence of early normal development as seen in classical Rett syndrome. In this report we describe a female child with global developmental delay, microcephaly and myoclonic seizures harbouring a 5 Mb deletion in 14q12 locus resulting in deletion of single copy of brain specific genes FOXG1, PRKD1 and NOVA1. Whole exome sequencing ruled out any possible role of other pathogenic single nucleotide variants and/or indels as the etiology for the observed phenotype. However, copy number variation analysis from the whole exome data detected a ~ 5 Mb microdeletion at the long arm of chromosome 14q12 region. The deletion was confirmed through array Comparative Genomic Hybridization and validated by quantitative PCR. Further, parents were analysed for mosaicism through metaphase Fluorescence in-situ Hybridisation. Our report broadens the phenotype of atypical Rett syndrome and reiterates the role of exome sequencing not only in detection of point mutation/small indels but also for detection of large deletions/duplication in coding regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venugopal S Vineeth
- Diagnostics Division, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting & Diagnostics, Hyderabad, India
| | - Usha R Dutta
- Diagnostics Division, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting & Diagnostics, Hyderabad, India
| | - Karthik Tallapaka
- Department of Medical Genetics, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, India
| | - Aneek Das Bhowmik
- Diagnostics Division, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting & Diagnostics, Hyderabad, India.
| | - Ashwin Dalal
- Diagnostics Division, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting & Diagnostics, Hyderabad, India
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22
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Wanke KA, Devanna P, Vernes SC. Understanding Neurodevelopmental Disorders: The Promise of Regulatory Variation in the 3'UTRome. Biol Psychiatry 2018; 83:548-557. [PMID: 29289333 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Revised: 11/02/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders have a strong genetic component, but despite widespread efforts, the specific genetic factors underlying these disorders remain undefined for a large proportion of affected individuals. Given the accessibility of exome sequencing, this problem has thus far been addressed from a protein-centric standpoint; however, protein-coding regions only make up ∼1% to 2% of the human genome. With the advent of whole genome sequencing we are in the midst of a paradigm shift as it is now possible to interrogate the entire sequence of the human genome (coding and noncoding) to fill in the missing heritability of complex disorders. These new technologies bring new challenges, as the number of noncoding variants identified per individual can be overwhelming, making it prudent to focus on noncoding regions of known function, for which the effects of variation can be predicted and directly tested to assess pathogenicity. The 3'UTRome is a region of the noncoding genome that perfectly fulfills these criteria and is of high interest when searching for pathogenic variation related to complex neurodevelopmental disorders. Herein, we review the regulatory roles of the 3'UTRome as binding sites for microRNAs or RNA binding proteins, or during alternative polyadenylation. We detail existing evidence that these regions contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders and outline strategies for identification and validation of novel putatively pathogenic variation in these regions. This evidence suggests that studying the 3'UTRome will lead to the identification of new risk factors, new candidate disease genes, and a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms contributing to neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai A Wanke
- Neurogenetics of Vocal Communication Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Language and Genetics Department, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Paolo Devanna
- Neurogenetics of Vocal Communication Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Sonja C Vernes
- Neurogenetics of Vocal Communication Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
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23
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Liu B, Zhou K, Wu X, Zhao C. Foxg1 deletion impairs the development of the epithalamus. Mol Brain 2018; 11:5. [PMID: 29394901 PMCID: PMC5797387 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-018-0350-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The epithalamus, which is dorsal to the thalamus, consists of the habenula, pineal gland and third ventricle choroid plexus and plays important roles in the stress response and sleep-wake cycle in vertebrates. During development, the epithalamus arises from the most dorsal part of prosomere 2. However, the mechanism underlying epithalamic development remains largely unknown. Foxg1 is critical for the development of the telencephalon, but its role in diencephalic development has been under-investigated. Patients suffering from FOXG1-related disorders exhibit severe anxiety, sleep disturbance and choroid plexus cysts, indicating that Foxg1 likely plays a role in epithalamic development. In this study, we identified the specific expression of Foxg1 in the developing epithalamus. Using a "self-deletion" approach, we found that the habenula significantly expanded and included an increased number of habenular subtype neurons. The innervations, particularly the habenular commissure, were severely impaired. Meanwhile, the Foxg1 mutants exhibited a reduced pineal gland and more branched choroid plexus. After ablation of Foxg1 no obvious changes in Shh and Fgf signalling were observed, suggesting that Foxg1 regulates the development of the epithalamus without the involvement of Shh and Fgfs. Our findings provide new insights into the regulation of the development of the epithalamus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Diseases, MOE, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Kaixing Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Diseases, MOE, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaojing Wu
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Diseases, MOE, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunjie Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Diseases, MOE, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China. .,Depression Center, Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, 100069, China.
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24
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Zepeda-Mendoza CJ, Bardon A, Kammin T, Harris DJ, Cox H, Redin C, Ordulu Z, Talkowski ME, Morton CC. Phenotypic interpretation of complex chromosomal rearrangements informed by nucleotide-level resolution and structural organization of chromatin. Eur J Hum Genet 2018; 26:374-381. [PMID: 29321672 DOI: 10.1038/s41431-017-0068-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Revised: 09/20/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular characterization of balanced chromosomal abnormalities constitutes a powerful tool in understanding the pathogenic mechanisms of complex genetic disorders. Here we report a male with severe global developmental delay in the presence of a complex karyotype and normal microarray and exome studies. The subject, referred to as DGAP294, has two de novo apparently balanced translocations involving chromosomes 1 and 14, and chromosomes 4 and 10, disrupting several different transcripts of adhesion G protein-coupled receptor L2 (ADGRL2) and protocadherin 15 (PCDH15). In addition, a maternally inherited inversion disrupts peptidyl arginine deiminase types 3 and 4 (PADI3 and PADI4) on chromosome 1. None of these gene disruptions explain the patient's phenotype. Using genome regulatory annotations and chromosome conformation data, we predict a position effect ~370 kb upstream of a translocation breakpoint located at 14q12. The position effect involves forkhead box G1 (FOXG1), mutations in which are associated with the congenital form of Rett syndrome and FOXG1 syndrome. We believe the FOXG1 position effect largely accounts for the clinical phenotype in DGAP294, which can be classified as FOXG1 syndrome like. Our findings emphasize the significance of not only analyzing disrupted genes by chromosomal rearrangements, but also evaluating potential long-range position effects in clinical diagnoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinthya J Zepeda-Mendoza
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Tammy Kammin
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David J Harris
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Helen Cox
- West Midlands Regional Clinical Genetics Unit, Birmingham Women's Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
| | - Claire Redin
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zehra Ordulu
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael E Talkowski
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Medical and Population Genetics Program, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Cynthia C Morton
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. .,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. .,Medical and Population Genetics Program, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA. .,Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. .,Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
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25
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Regulatory variants of FOXG1 in the context of its topological domain organisation. Eur J Hum Genet 2017; 26:186-196. [PMID: 29289958 DOI: 10.1038/s41431-017-0011-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2017] [Revised: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/31/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
FOXG1 syndrome is caused by FOXG1 intragenic point mutations, or by long-range position effects (LRPE) of intergenic structural variants. However, the size of the FOXG1 regulatory landscape is uncertain, because the associated topologically associating domain (TAD) in fibroblasts is split into two domains in embryonic stem cells (hESC). Indeed, it has been suggested that the pathogenetic mechanism of deletions that remove the stem-cell-specific TAD boundary may be enhancer adoption due to ectopic activity of enhancer(s) located in the distal hESC-TAD. Herein we map three de novo translocation breakpoints to the proximal regulatory domain of FOXG1. The classical FOXG1 syndrome in these and in other translocation patients, and in a patient with an intergenic deletion that removes the hESC-specific TAD boundary, do not support the hypothesised enhancer adoption as a main contributor to the FOXG1 syndrome. Also, virtual 4 C and HiC-interaction data suggest that the hESC-specific TAD boundary may not be critical for FOXG1 regulation in a majority of human cells and tissues, including brain tissues and a neuronal progenitor cell line. Our data support the importance of a critical regulatory region (SRO) proximal to the hESC-specific TAD boundary. We further narrow this critical region by a deletion distal to the hESC-specific boundary, associated with a milder clinical phenotype. The distance from FOXG1 to the SRO ( > 500 kb) highlight a limitation of ENCODE DNase hypersensitivity data for functional prediction of LRPE. Moreover, the SRO has little overlap with a cluster of frequently associating regions (FIREs) located in the proximal hESC-TAD.
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26
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FOXG1 syndrome: genotype-phenotype association in 83 patients with FOXG1 variants. Genet Med 2017; 20:98-108. [PMID: 28661489 DOI: 10.1038/gim.2017.75] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 03/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
PurposeThe study aimed at widening the clinical and genetic spectrum and assessing genotype-phenotype associations in FOXG1 syndrome due to FOXG1 variants.MethodsWe compiled 30 new and 53 reported patients with a heterozygous pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant in FOXG1. We grouped patients according to type and location of the variant. Statistical analysis of molecular and clinical data was performed using Fisher's exact test and a nonparametric multivariate test.ResultsAmong the 30 new patients, we identified 19 novel FOXG1 variants. Among the total group of 83 patients, there were 54 variants: 20 frameshift (37%), 17 missense (31%), 15 nonsense (28%), and 2 in-frame variants (4%). Frameshift and nonsense variants are distributed over all FOXG1 protein domains; missense variants cluster within the conserved forkhead domain. We found a higher phenotypic variability than previously described. Genotype-phenotype association revealed significant differences in psychomotor development and neurological features between FOXG1 genotype groups. More severe phenotypes were associated with truncating FOXG1 variants in the N-terminal domain and the forkhead domain (except conserved site 1) and milder phenotypes with missense variants in the forkhead conserved site 1.ConclusionsThese data may serve for improved interpretation of new FOXG1 sequence variants and well-founded genetic counseling.
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27
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Fryssira H, Tsoutsou E, Psoni S, Amenta S, Liehr T, Anastasakis E, Skentou C, Ntouflia A, Papoulidis I, Manolakos E, Chaliasos N. Partial monosomy14q involving FOXG1 and NOVA1 in an infant with microcephaly, seizures and severe developmental delay. Mol Cytogenet 2016; 9:55. [PMID: 27486480 PMCID: PMC4970234 DOI: 10.1186/s13039-016-0269-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2016] [Accepted: 07/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background FOXG1 gene mutations have been associated with the congenital variant of Rett syndrome (RTT) since the initial description of two patients in 2008. The on-going accumulation of clinical data suggests that the FOXG1-variant of RTT forms a distinguishable phenotype, consisting mainly of postnatal microcephaly, seizures, hypotonia, developmental delay and corpus callosum agenesis. Case presentation We report a 6-month-old female infant, born at 38 weeks of gestation after in vitro fertilization, who presented with feeding difficulties, irritability and developmental delay from the first months of life. Microcephaly with bitemporal narrowing, dyspraxia, poor eye contact and strabismus were also noted. At 10 months, the proband exhibited focal seizures and required valproic acid treatment. Array-Comparative Genomic Hybridization revealed a 4.09 Mb deletion in 14q12 region, encompassing the FOXG1 and NOVA1 genes. The proband presented similar feature with patients with 14q12 deletions except for dysgenesis of corpus callosum. Disruption of the NOVA1 gene which promotes the motor neurons apoptosis has not yet been linked to any human phenotypes and it is uncertain if it affects our patient’s phenotype. Conclusions Since our patient is the first reported case with deletion of both genes (FOXG1-NOVA1), thorough clinical follow up would further delineate the Congenital Rett-Variant phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Fryssira
- Medical genetics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - E Tsoutsou
- Medical genetics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - S Psoni
- Medical genetics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - S Amenta
- "Mitera" Maternity Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - T Liehr
- Institute of Human Genetics, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - E Anastasakis
- Hellenic Navy Hospital, Deinokratous 70, Athens, 11521 Greece
| | - Ch Skentou
- "Mitera kai emvrio" Medical centre, Larisa, Greece
| | - A Ntouflia
- "Access to Genome" Clinical Laboratory Genetics, Athens Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - I Papoulidis
- "Access to Genome" Clinical Laboratory Genetics, Athens Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - E Manolakos
- "Access to Genome" Clinical Laboratory Genetics, Athens Thessaloniki, Greece ; Department of Medical Genetics, Binaghi Hospital, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - N Chaliasos
- Child Health Department, University Hospital of Ioannina (UHI), Ioannina, Greece
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28
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Bregand-White J, Saller DN, Clemens M, Surti U, Yatsenko SA, Rajkovic A. Genotype-phenotype correlation and pregnancy outcomes of partial trisomy 14q: A systematic review. Am J Med Genet A 2016; 170:2365-71. [PMID: 27286879 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.37793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2016] [Accepted: 05/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Over the last decade, several advances in ultrasound techniques, increasing availability of whole genome microarray testing, and overall expansion of our knowledge about the human genome have drastically enhanced our ability to detect chromosomal abnormalities prenatally. Despite that, genotype-phenotype correlation is difficult to establish for many chromosomal aberrations, particularly for those that are rare, as it requires thorough analysis of a significant number of cases. This in turn increases the burden of the obstetric provider to appropriately counsel a patient regarding prognosis and pregnancy options in these complicated situations. Our experience in prenatal diagnosis and management of a fetus with multiple anomalies and partial trisomy for the 14q11-q24.2 prompted a comprehensive analysis of the relevant literature. Although complete non-mosaic trisomy 14 is associated with first trimester miscarriages, partial trisomy 14q is a rare condition with undefined genotype-phenotype correlation, preventing accurate prenatal counseling, and informed decision making. We performed a systematic literature review, that aimed to summarize prenatal and postnatal findings of individual case reports on 51 patients with partial trisomy 14q in order to elucidate genotype-phenotype correlation, and to supply healthcare professionals with recommendation on essential fetal and parental testing for accurate diagnosis, pregnancy outcomes, and proper family counseling. Comparison of the clinical findings among the patients with partial 14q trisomy suggest that the resulting phenotype is likely to be influenced by the extent of the 14q trisomy segment, associated chromosomal imbalances, parental origin of the rearrangement, and dosage of the genes within the imprinted 14q32 cluster. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Bregand-White
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Devereux N Saller
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Michele Clemens
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Urvashi Surti
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Pittsburgh Cytogenetics Laboratory, Center for Medical Genetics and Genomics, Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Svetlana A Yatsenko
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Pittsburgh Cytogenetics Laboratory, Center for Medical Genetics and Genomics, Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Aleksandar Rajkovic
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Pittsburgh Cytogenetics Laboratory, Center for Medical Genetics and Genomics, Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Ma Y, Chen C, Wang Y, Wu L, He F, Chen C, Zhang C, Deng X, Yang L, Chen Y, Wu L, Yin F, Peng J. Analysis copy number variation of Chinese children in early-onset epileptic encephalopathies with unknown cause. Clin Genet 2016; 90:428-436. [PMID: 26925868 DOI: 10.1111/cge.12768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2015] [Revised: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 02/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Y. Ma
- Department of Pediatrics; Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Changsha China
| | - C. Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics; Central South University; Changsha China
| | - Y. Wang
- Department of Pediatrics; Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Changsha China
| | - L. Wu
- Department of Pediatrics; Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Changsha China
| | - F. He
- Department of Pediatrics; Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Changsha China
| | - C. Chen
- Department of Pediatrics; Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Changsha China
| | - C. Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics; Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Changsha China
| | - X. Deng
- Department of Pediatrics; Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Changsha China
| | - L. Yang
- Department of Pediatrics; Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Changsha China
| | - Y. Chen
- Department of Pediatrics; Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Changsha China
| | - L. Wu
- Hunan Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center; Changsha China
| | - F. Yin
- Department of Pediatrics; Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Changsha China
- Hunan Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center; Changsha China
| | - J. Peng
- Department of Pediatrics; Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Changsha China
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30
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Lupiáñez DG, Spielmann M, Mundlos S. Breaking TADs: How Alterations of Chromatin Domains Result in Disease. Trends Genet 2016; 32:225-237. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2016.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 290] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Revised: 01/05/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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31
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Alosi D, Klitten LL, Bak M, Hjalgrim H, Møller RS, Tommerup N. Dysregulation of FOXG1 by ring chromosome 14. Mol Cytogenet 2015; 8:24. [PMID: 25901181 PMCID: PMC4404611 DOI: 10.1186/s13039-015-0129-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2015] [Accepted: 03/19/2015] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study we performed molecular characterization of a patient with an extra ring chromosome derived from chromosome 14, with severe intellectual disability, epilepsy, cerebral paresis, tetraplegia, osteoporosis and severe thoraco-lumbal scoliosis. Array CGH analysis did not show any genomic imbalance but conventional karyotyping and FISH analysis revealed the presence of an interstitial 14q12q24.3 deletion and an extra ring chromosome derived from the deleted material. The deletion and ring chromosome breakpoints were identified at base-pair level by mate-pair and Sanger sequencing. Both breakpoints disrupted putative long non-coding RNA genes (TCONS00022561;RP11-148E17.1) of unknown function. However, the proximal breakpoint was 225 kb downstream of the forkhead box G1 gene (FOXG1), within the known regulatory landscape of FOXG1. The patient represents the first case of a r(14) arising from an interstitial excision where the phenotype is compatible with dysregulation of FOXG1. In turn, the phenotypic overlap between the present case, the FOXG1 syndrome and the r(14) syndrome supports that dysregulation of FOXG1 may contribute to the classical r(14)-syndrome, likely mediated by dynamic mosaicism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Alosi
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Wilhelm Johannsen Centre for Functional Genome Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Laura Line Klitten
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Wilhelm Johannsen Centre for Functional Genome Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark ; Danish Epilepsy Centre, Dianalund, Denmark
| | - Mads Bak
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Wilhelm Johannsen Centre for Functional Genome Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Helle Hjalgrim
- Danish Epilepsy Centre, Dianalund, Denmark ; Institute of Regional Health Services Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Rikke Steensbjerre Møller
- Danish Epilepsy Centre, Dianalund, Denmark ; Institute of Regional Health Services Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Niels Tommerup
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Wilhelm Johannsen Centre for Functional Genome Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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32
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Byun CK, Lee JS, Lim BC, Kim KJ, Hwang YS, Chae JH. FOXG1 Mutation is a Low-Incidence Genetic Cause in Atypical Rett Syndrome. Child Neurol Open 2015; 2:2329048X14568151. [PMID: 28503589 PMCID: PMC5417036 DOI: 10.1177/2329048x14568151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2014] [Revised: 11/28/2014] [Accepted: 12/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the genetic and clinical heterogeneity of Rett syndrome, patients with nonclassic phenotypes are classified as an atypical Rett syndrome, that is, preserved speech variant, early seizure variant, and congenital variant. Respectively, MECP2, CDKL5, and FOXG1 have been found to be the causative genes, but FOXG1 variants are the rarest and least studied. We performed mutational analyses for FOXG1 on 11 unrelated patients without MECP2 and CDKL5 mutations, who were diagnosed with atypical Rett syndrome. One patient, who suffered from severe early-onset mental retardation and multiple-type intractable seizures, carried a novel, de novo FOXG1 mutation (p.Gln70Pro). This case concurs with previous studies that have reported yields of ∼10%. FOXG1-related atypical Rett syndrome is rare in Korean population, but screening of this gene in patients with severe mental retardation, microcephaly, and early-onset multiple seizure types without specific genetic causes can help broaden the phenotypic spectrum of the distinct FOXG1-related syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine K. Byun
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Clinical Neuroscience Center, Seoul National University Children’s Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jin Sook Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Clinical Neuroscience Center, Seoul National University Children’s Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Byung Chan Lim
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Clinical Neuroscience Center, Seoul National University Children’s Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ki Joong Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Clinical Neuroscience Center, Seoul National University Children’s Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yong Seung Hwang
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Clinical Neuroscience Center, Seoul National University Children’s Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jong-Hee Chae
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Clinical Neuroscience Center, Seoul National University Children’s Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Jong-Hee Chae, MD, PhD, Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Clinical Neuroscience Center, Seoul National University Children’s Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehakro Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-744, Korea.
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Ibn-Salem J, Köhler S, Love MI, Chung HR, Huang N, Hurles ME, Haendel M, Washington NL, Smedley D, Mungall CJ, Lewis SE, Ott CE, Bauer S, Schofield PN, Mundlos S, Spielmann M, Robinson PN. Deletions of chromosomal regulatory boundaries are associated with congenital disease. Genome Biol 2014; 15:423. [PMID: 25315429 PMCID: PMC4180961 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-014-0423-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2014] [Accepted: 07/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Recent data from genome-wide chromosome conformation capture analysis indicate that the human genome is divided into conserved megabase-sized self-interacting regions called topological domains. These topological domains form the regulatory backbone of the genome and are separated by regulatory boundary elements or barriers. Copy-number variations can potentially alter the topological domain architecture by deleting or duplicating the barriers and thereby allowing enhancers from neighboring domains to ectopically activate genes causing misexpression and disease, a mutational mechanism that has recently been termed enhancer adoption. Results We use the Human Phenotype Ontology database to relate the phenotypes of 922 deletion cases recorded in the DECIPHER database to monogenic diseases associated with genes in or adjacent to the deletions. We identify combinations of tissue-specific enhancers and genes adjacent to the deletion and associated with phenotypes in the corresponding tissue, whereby the phenotype matched that observed in the deletion. We compare this computationally with a gene-dosage pathomechanism that attempts to explain the deletion phenotype based on haploinsufficiency of genes located within the deletions. Up to 11.8% of the deletions could be best explained by enhancer adoption or a combination of enhancer adoption and gene-dosage effects. Conclusions Our results suggest that enhancer adoption caused by deletions of regulatory boundaries may contribute to a substantial minority of copy-number variation phenotypes and should thus be taken into account in their medical interpretation. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13059-014-0423-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Aguiar DP, Sghari S, Creuzet S. The facial neural crest controls fore- and midbrain patterning by regulating Foxg1 expression through Smad1 activity. Development 2014; 141:2494-505. [PMID: 24917504 DOI: 10.1242/dev.101790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The facial neural crest (FNC), a pluripotent embryonic structure forming craniofacial structures, controls the activity of brain organisers and stimulates cerebrum growth. To understand how the FNC conveys its trophic effect, we have studied the role of Smad1, which encodes an intracellular transducer, to which multiple signalling pathways converge, in the regulation of Foxg1. Foxg1 is a transcription factor essential for telencephalic specification, the mutation of which leads to microcephaly and mental retardation. Smad1 silencing, based on RNA interference (RNAi), was performed in pre-migratory FNC cells. Soon after electroporation of RNAi molecules, Smad1 inactivation abolished the expression of Foxg1 in the chick telencephalon, resulting in dramatic microcephaly and partial holoprosencephaly. In addition, the depletion of Foxg1 activity altered the expression Otx2 and Foxa2 in di/mesencephalic neuroepithelium. However, when mutated forms of Smad1 mediating Fgf and Wnt signalling were transfected into FNC cells, these defects were overcome. We also show that, downstream of Smad1 activity, Dkk1, a Wnt antagonist produced by the FNC, initiated the specification of the telencephalon by regulating Foxg1 activity. Additionally, the activity of Cerberus in FNC-derived mesenchyme synergised with Dkk1 to control Foxg1 expression and maintain the balance between Otx2 and Foxa2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego P Aguiar
- Institut de Neurobiologie, Laboratoire de Neurobiologie et Développement, Avenue de la Terrasse, Gif-sur-Yvette 91198, France
| | - Soufien Sghari
- Institut de Neurobiologie, Laboratoire de Neurobiologie et Développement, Avenue de la Terrasse, Gif-sur-Yvette 91198, France
| | - Sophie Creuzet
- Institut de Neurobiologie, Laboratoire de Neurobiologie et Développement, Avenue de la Terrasse, Gif-sur-Yvette 91198, France
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Seltzer LE, Paciorkowski AR. Genetic disorders associated with postnatal microcephaly. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS PART C-SEMINARS IN MEDICAL GENETICS 2014; 166C:140-55. [PMID: 24839169 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.c.31400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Several genetic disorders are characterized by normal head size at birth, followed by deceleration in head growth resulting in postnatal microcephaly. Among these are classic disorders such as Angelman syndrome and MECP2-related disorder (formerly Rett syndrome), as well as more recently described clinical entities associated with mutations in CASK, CDKL5, CREBBP, and EP300 (Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome), FOXG1, SLC9A6 (Christianson syndrome), and TCF4 (Pitt-Hopkins syndrome). These disorders can be identified clinically by phenotyping across multiple neurodevelopmental and neurobehavioral realms, and enough data are available to recognize these postnatal microcephaly disorders as separate diagnostic entities in their own right. A second diagnostic grouping, comprised of Warburg MICRO syndrome, Cockayne syndrome, and Cerebral-oculo-facial skeletal syndrome, share similar features of somatic growth failure, ophthalmologic, and dysmorphologic features. Many postnatal microcephaly syndromes are caused by mutations in genes important in the regulation of gene expression in the developing forebrain and hindbrain, although important synaptic structural genes also play a role. This is an emerging group of disorders with a fascinating combination of brain malformations, specific epilepsies, movement disorders, and other complex neurobehavioral abnormalities.
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Takagi M, Sasaki G, Mitsui T, Honda M, Tanaka Y, Hasegawa T. A 2.0 Mb microdeletion in proximal chromosome 14q12, involving regulatory elements of FOXG1, with the coding region of FOXG1 being unaffected, results in severe developmental delay, microcephaly, and hypoplasia of the corpus callosum. Eur J Med Genet 2013; 56:526-8. [PMID: 23895774 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2013.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2012] [Accepted: 05/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
We identified 2.0 Mb of a novel deletion on chromosome 14q12, involving 8 genes and putative regulatory elements of FOXG1 by array CGH in a patient with severe growth and psychomotor retardation, hypotonia, microcephaly, dysmorphic face, and hypoplasia of the corpus callosum. Case of a submicroscopic 14q12 deletion, involving regulatory elements of FOXG1, with the coding region of FOXG1 being unaffected, is extremely rare. Using fibroblast cell line established from the patient, we showed that the expression level of FOXG1 in our patient was decreased. Our finding provides additional evidence that not only over-dosage of FOXG1 as previously mentioned, under-dosage of FOXG1 is also associated with phenotype, overlapping between congenital variant of Rett syndrome with FOXG1 mutations and 14q12 microdeletion, not including the coding region of FOXG1. Though the gene dosage of FOXG1 appears to be critical for the normal development of brain, the complex mechanism of its regulation of gene expression remains to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaki Takagi
- Department of Pediatrics, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan
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Genetic insights into the functional elements of language. Hum Genet 2013; 132:959-86. [PMID: 23749164 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-013-1317-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2012] [Accepted: 05/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Language disorders cover a wide range of conditions with heterologous and overlapping phenotypes and complex etiologies harboring both genetic and environmental influences. Genetic approaches including the identification of genes linked to speech and language phenotypes and the characterization of normal and aberrant functions of these genes have, in recent years, unraveled complex details of molecular and cognitive mechanisms and provided valuable insight into the biological foundations of language. Consistent with this approach, we have reviewed the functional aspects of allelic variants of genes which are currently known to be either causally associated with disorders of speech and language or impact upon the spectrum of normal language ability. We have also reviewed candidate genes associated with heritable speech and language disorders. In addition, we have evaluated language phenotypes and associated genetic components in developmental syndromes that, together with a spectrum of altered language abilities, manifest various phenotypes and offer details of multifactorial determinants of language function. Data from this review have revealed a predominance of regulatory networks involved in the control of differentiation and functioning of neurons, neuronal tracks and connections among brain structures associated with both cognitive and language faculties. Our findings, furthermore, have highlighted several multifactorial determinants in overlapping speech and language phenotypes. Collectively this analysis has revealed an interconnected developmental network and a close association of the language faculty with cognitive functions, a finding that has the potential to provide insight into linguistic hypotheses defining in particular, the contribution of genetic elements to and the modular nature of the language faculty.
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Platelet defects in congenital variant of Rett syndrome patients with FOXG1 mutations or reduced expression due to a position effect at 14q12. Eur J Hum Genet 2013; 21:1349-55. [PMID: 23632790 DOI: 10.1038/ejhg.2013.86] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2012] [Revised: 04/03/2013] [Accepted: 04/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The Forkhead box G1 (FOXG1) gene encodes a transcriptional repressor essential for early development of the telencephalon. Intragenic mutations and gene deletions leading to haploinsufficiency cause the congenital variant of Rett syndrome. We here describe Rett syndrome-like patients, three of them carrying a balanced translocation with breakpoint in the chromosome 14q12 region, and one patient having a 14q12 microdeletion excluding the FOXG1 gene. The hypothesis of long-range FOXG1-regulatory elements in this region was supported by our finding of reduced FOXG1 mRNA and protein levels in platelets and skin fibroblasts from these cases. Given that FOXG1 is not only expressed in brain but also in platelets, we have studied platelet morphology in these patients and two additional patients with FOXG1 mutations. Electron microscopy of their platelets showed some enlarged, rounder platelets with often abnormal alpha, and fewer dense granules. Platelet function studies were possible in one 14q12 translocation patient with a prolonged Ivy bleeding time and a patient with a heterozygous FOXG1 c.1248C>G mutation (p.Tyr416X). Both have a prolonged PFA-100 occlusion time with collagen and epinephrine and reduced aggregation responses to low dose of ADP and epinephrine. Dense granule ATP secretion was normal for strong agonists but absent for epinephrine. In conclusion, our study shows that by using platelets functional evidence of cis-regulatory elements in the 14q12 region result in reduced FOXG1 levels in patients' platelets having translocations or deletions in that region. These platelet functional abnormalities deserve further investigation regarding a non-transcriptional regulatory role for FOXG1 in these anucleated cells.
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Spielmann M, Klopocki E. CNVs of noncoding cis-regulatory elements in human disease. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2013; 23:249-56. [PMID: 23601627 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2013.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2012] [Revised: 02/08/2013] [Accepted: 02/25/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Genomic rearrangements and copy-number variations (CNVs) are structural aberrations of the human genome which contribute to phenotypic variation as well as human disease. By now it is well accepted that structural aberrations affecting coding regions can have pathogenic effects, however, noncoding variants have only recently come into focus as disease-associated variants. The phenotypes associated with alterations in noncoding regions with regulatory potential can be striking and at the same time confined to a certain tissue/organ. Future studies will elucidate the frequency of these changes which are expected to be higher among conditions that are due to disturbance of complex developmental processes. Integrating these data with the recently published data from the ENCODE project will broaden our view of genes and their regulation and contribute to our understanding of pathomechanism underlying human disease. In this article, we review the recent advances in the identification of genomic rearrangements and CNVs in noncoding regions of the genome and their consequences for human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malte Spielmann
- Institute for Medical Genetics and Human Genetics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Guilherme RS, Dutra ARN, Perez ABA, Takeno SS, Oliveira MM, Kulikowski LD, Klein E, Hamid AB, Liehr T, Melaragno MI. First report of a small supernumerary der(8;14) marker chromosome. Cytogenet Genome Res 2013; 139:284-8. [PMID: 23548553 DOI: 10.1159/000348743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Small supernumerary marker chromosomes (sSMC) are structurally abnormal chromosomes, generally equal in size or smaller than a chromosome 20 of the same metaphase spread. Most of them are unexpectedly detected in routine karyotype analyses, and it is usually not easy to correlate them with a specific clinical picture. A small group of sSMCs is derived from more than one chromosome, called complex sSMCs. Here, we report on a patient with a de novo complex sSMC, derived from chromosomes 8 and 14. Banding karyotype analysis, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA), single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based array, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were performed to investigate its origin. Array and FISH analyses revealed a der(14)t(8;14)(p23.2;q22.1)dn. The propositus presents some clinical features commonly found in patients with partial duplication or triplication of 8p and 14q. This is the first report describing a patient with a congenital der(14)t(8;14)(p23.2;q22.1)dn sSMC.
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Affiliation(s)
- R S Guilherme
- Department of Morphology and Genetics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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