Identification de mutations dans les gènes de la famille des synapsines chez des individus avec épilepsie, dyslexie ou autisme

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SYN2 is an autism predisposing gene: loss-of-function mutations alter synaptic vesicles cycling and axon outgrowth

An increasing number of genes predisposing to autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) has been identified, many of which are implicated in synaptic function. This 'synaptic autism pathway' notably includes disruption of SYN1 that is associated with epilepsy, autism and abnormal behavior in both human and mice models. Synapsins constitute a multigene family of neuron-specific phosphoproteins (SYN1-3) present in the majority of synapses where they are implicated in the regulation of neurotransmitter release and synaptogenesis. Synapsins I and II, the major Syn isoforms in the adult brain, display partially overlapping functions and defects in both isoforms are associated with epilepsy and autistic-like behavior in mice. In this study, we show that nonsense (A94fs199X) and missense (Y236S and G464R) mutations in SYN2 are associated with ASD in humans. The phenotype is apparent in males. Female carriers of SYN2 mutations are unaffected, suggesting that SYN2 is another example of autosomal sex-limited expression in ASD. When expressed in SYN2 \u200aknockout neurons, wild-type human Syn II fully rescues the SYN2 knockout phenotype, whereas the nonsense mutant is not expressed and the missense mutants are virtually unable to modify the SYN2 knockout phenotype. These results identify for the first time SYN2 \u200aas a novel predisposing gene for ASD and strengthen the hypothesis that a disturbance of synaptic homeostasis underlies ASD

Mutations in NOTCH2 in families with Hajdu-Cheney syndrome

Hajdu-Cheney syndrome is a rare genetic disorder whose hallmark is acro-osteolysis, shortening of terminal phalanges and generalized osteoporosis. We assembled a cohort of 7 families with the condition and performed whole exome resequencing on a selected set of affected patients. One protein-coding gene, NOTCH2, carried heterozygous truncating variants in all patients and their affected family members. Our results replicate recently published studies of HCS and further support this as the causal gene for the disorder. In total we identified five novel and one previously reported mutation, all clustered near the carboxyl terminus of the gene, suggesting an allele specific genotype-phenotype effect since other mutations in NOTCH2 have been reported to cause a form of Alagille syndrome. Notch mediated signaling is known to play a role in bone metabolism. Our results support a potential therapeutic role for Notch pathways in treatment of osteoporosis. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.status: publishe

Mutations in NFKB2 and potential genetic heterogeneity in patients with DAVID syndrome, having variable endocrine and immune deficiencies.

International audienceDAVID syndrome is a rare condition combining anterior pituitary hormone deficiency with common variable immunodeficiency. NFKB2 mutations have recently been identified in patients with ACTH and variable immunodeficiency. A similar mutation was previously found in Nfkb2 in the immunodeficient Lym1 mouse strain, but the effect of the mutation on endocrine function was not evaluated. We ascertained six unrelated DAVID syndrome families. We performed whole exome and traditional Sanger sequencing to search for causal genes. Lym1 mice were examined for endocrine developmental anomalies. Mutations in the NFKB2 gene were identified in three of our families through whole exome sequencing, and in a fourth by direct Sanger sequencing. De novo origin of the mutations could be demonstrated in three of the families. All mutations lie near the C-terminus of the protein-coding region, near signals required for processing of NFΚB2 protein by the alternative pathway. Two of the probands had anatomical pituitary anomalies, and one had growth and thyroid hormone as well as ACTH deficiency; these findings have not been previously reported. Two children of one of the probands carried the mutation and have to date exhibited only an immune phenotype. No mutations were found near the C-terminus of NFKB2 in the remaining two probands; whole exome sequencing has been performed for one of these. Lym1 mice, carrying a similar Nfkb2 C-terminal mutation, showed normal pituitary anatomy and expression of proopiomelanocortin (POMC). We confirm previous findings that mutations near the C-terminus of NFKB2 cause combined endocrine and immunodeficiencies. De novo status of the mutations was confirmed in all cases for which both parents were available. The mutations are consistent with a dominant gain-of-function effect, generating an unprocessed NFKB2 super-repressor protein. We expand the potential phenotype of such NFKB2 mutations to include additional pituitary hormone deficiencies as well as anatomical pituitary anomalies. The lack of an observable endocrine phenotype in Lym1 mice suggests that the endocrine component of DAVID syndrome is either not due to a direct role of NFKB pathways on pituitary development, or else that human and mouse pituitary development differ in its requirements for NFKB pathway function

Mutations in C5ORF42 Cause Joubert Syndrome in the French Canadian Population

Joubert syndrome (JBTS) is an autosomal-recessive disorder characterized by a distinctive mid-hindbrain malformation, developmental delay with hypotonia, ocular-motor apraxia, and breathing abnormalities. Although JBTS was first described more than 40 years ago in French Canadian siblings, the causal mutations have not yet been identified in this family nor in most French Canadian individuals subsequently described. We ascertained a cluster of 16 JBTS-affected individuals from 11 families living in the Lower St. Lawrence region. SNP genotyping excluded the presence of a common homozygous mutation that would explain the clustering of these individuals. Exome sequencing performed on 15 subjects showed that nine affected individuals from seven families (including the original JBTS family) carried rare compound-heterozygous mutations in C5ORF42. Two missense variants (c.4006C>T [p.Arg1336Trp] and c.4690G>A [p.Ala1564Thr]) and a splicing mutation (c.7400+1G>A), which causes exon skipping, were found in multiple subjects that were not known to be related, whereas three other truncating mutations (c.6407del [p.Pro2136Hisfs∗31], c.4804C>T [p.Arg1602∗], and c.7477C>T [p.Arg2493∗]) were identified in single individuals. None of the unaffected first-degree relatives were compound heterozygous for these mutations. Moreover, none of the six putative mutations were detected among 477 French Canadian controls. Our data suggest that mutations in C5ORF42 explain a large portion of French Canadian individuals with JBTS

<i>De Novo</i> Mutations in Moderate or Severe Intellectual Disability

<div><p>Genetics is believed to have an important role in intellectual disability (ID). Recent studies have emphasized the involvement of <i>de novo</i> mutations (DNMs) in ID but the extent to which they contribute to its pathogenesis and the identity of the corresponding genes remain largely unknown. Here, we report a screen for DNMs in subjects with moderate or severe ID. We sequenced the exomes of 41 probands and their parents, and confirmed 81 DNMs affecting the coding sequence or consensus splice sites (1.98 DNMs/proband). We observed a significant excess of <i>de novo</i> single nucleotide substitutions and loss-of-function mutations in these cases compared to control subjects, suggesting that at least a subset of these variations are pathogenic. A total of 12 likely pathogenic DNMs were identified in genes previously associated with ID (<i>ARID1B, CHD2, FOXG1, GABRB3, GATAD2B, GRIN2B, MBD5, MED13L, SETBP1, TBR1, TCF4, WDR45</i>), resulting in a diagnostic yield of ∼29%. We also identified 12 possibly pathogenic DNMs in genes (<i>HNRNPU, WAC</i>, <i>RYR2, SET, EGR1, MYH10</i>, <i>EIF2C1</i>, <i>COL4A3BP, CHMP2A, PPP1CB, VPS4A, PPP2R2B</i>) that have not previously been causally linked to ID. Interestingly, no case was explained by inherited mutations. Protein network analysis indicated that the products of many of these known and candidate genes interact with each other or with products of other ID-associated genes further supporting their involvement in ID. We conclude that DNMs represent a major cause of moderate or severe ID.</p></div

Distribution of the DNMs identified in this study and in controls.

<p>*canonical splice site variants not included.</p><p>**Consensus splice site variant not included.</p><p>NA, not applicable. LoF SNVs, nonsense and canonical splice site. Nominally significant <i>P</i> values (<0.05) calculated using an <i>R</i> exact binomial test.</p><p>Distribution of the DNMs identified in this study and in controls.</p

Physical protein-protein interaction network generated by GeneMANIA (http://www.GeneMANIA.org/; Gene Ontology molecular function based weighting).

<p>The Query genes included those listed in <a href="http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pgen.1004772#pgen-1004772-t003" target="_blank">Table 3</a> from this study (in bold) and known and candidate ID genes reported with predicted-damaging DNMs from other studies (<a href="http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pgen.1004772#pgen.1004772.s003" target="_blank">Table S2</a>). Known ID genes are in red. The resulting network of 38 interconnected proteins was found to be enriched for proteins whose Gene Ontology molecular functions are implicated in the glutamate receptor signalling pathway (GRIN1, GRIN2A, GRIN2B, GRIA1, CACNG2, SHANK3; <i>FDR q</i>-value = 7.04e-6).</p