Novara F, Beri S, Giorda R, Ortibus E, Nageshappa S, Darra F, Dalla Bernardina B, Zuffardi O, Van Esch H. Refining the phenotype associated with MEF2C haploinsufficiency.
Clin Genet 2011;
78:471-7. [PMID:
20412115 DOI:
10.1111/j.1399-0004.2010.01413.x]
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Abstract
Recently, submicroscopic deletions of the 5q14.3 region have been described in patients with severe mental retardation (MR), stereotypic movements, epilepsy and cerebral malformations. Further delineation of a critical region of overlap in these patients pointed to MEF2C as the responsible gene. This finding was further reinforced by the identification of a nonsense mutation in a patient with a similar phenotype. In brain, MEF2C is essential for early neurogenesis, neuronal migration and differentiation. Here we present two additional patients with severe MR, autism spectrum disorder and epilepsy, carrying a very small deletion encompassing the MEF2C gene. This finding strengthens the role of this gene in severe MR, and enables further delineation of the clinical phenotype.
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