Mutations in the spliceosomal gene SNW1 cause neurodevelopment disorders with microcephaly.

ABSTRACT: The spliceosome is a critical cellular machinery responsible for pre-mRNA splicing that is essential for the proper expression of genes. Mutations in its core components are increasingly linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, such as primary microcephaly. Here, we investigated the role of SNW domain-containing protein 1 (SNW1), a spliceosomal protein, in splicing integrity and neurodevelopment. We identified 9 heterozygous mutations in the SNW1 gene in patients presenting with primary microcephaly. These mutations impaired SNW1's interactions with core spliceosomal proteins, leading to defective RNA splicing and reduced protein functionality. Using Drosophila melanogaster and human embryonic stem cell-derived cerebral organoids models, we demonstrated that SNW1 depletion resulted in signi

SUBMITTER: Ji L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12435841 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature