Project description:PHF20 encodes plant homeodomain finger protein 20 (PHF20), a component of the KAT8-containing non-specific lethal (NSL) complex that deposits acetylation on histone H4 to activate gene expression. We report two unrelated individuals with developmental delay, microcephaly and distinctive facial features, in whom exome sequencing and chromosomal microarray analysis revealed a homozygous deletion of PHF20 that segregated with the disease phenotype in their families. Breakpoint junction sequencing revealed an Alu-Alu mediated deletion event. Western blot in cells from an affected individual showed undetectable PHF20, while levels of other NSL complex subunits were unaltered. Transcriptomic and epigenomic analysis revealed significant downregulation of gene pathways related to cell projection and neuronal development, associated with reduced histone H4K16 acetylation at these genes. In conclusion, our data suggest that homozygous deletion of PHF20 leads to a neurodevelopmental syndrome, potentially through targeted epigenetic dysregulation and altered gene expression essential for neuronal development. Identifying additional families with biallelic PHF20 variants will further delineate the phenotypic spectrum, and molecular studies in neuronal cell lines will be essential for understanding the disease mechanism.
Project description:Kallmann syndrome is a genetically heterogeneous condition and a treatable form of male infertility. Defects in KAL1 gene have been implicated in Kallmann syndrome, which can be associated with X-linked ichthyosis in contiguous gene syndromes. In order to uncover the genetic cause of two brothers with Kallmann syndrome and X-linked ichthyosis, a custom semiconductor targeted resequencing panel to detect seventeen Kallmann syndrome causal genes and STS gene was designed. Next-generation sequencing was performed using this panel in the two affected brothers and their normal parents. To validate the result, we applied CytoScan™ HD array, quantitative real-time PCR and direct PCR electrophoresis analysis with the participants. The patients received clinical assessment, human chorionic gonadotropin treatment and follow-up for 39 months. The results showed that the two affected siblings have the same de novo deletion at Xp22.3 including exons 9-14 of KAL1 gene and entire STS gene but showed different phenotypes in some respects. The secondary sex characteristics of the patients were greatly improved after treatment. We firstly reported that a de novo homozygous deletion contribute to KS with bilateral cryptorchidism and unilateral renal agenesis or normal kidney development and developed a cost-effective and reliable semiconductor targeted resequencing panel for genetic diagnosis of Kallmann syndrome in routinely obtained samples.
Project description:Kallmann syndrome is a genetically heterogeneous condition and a treatable form of male infertility. Defects in KAL1 gene have been implicated in Kallmann syndrome, which can be associated with X-linked ichthyosis in contiguous gene syndromes. In order to uncover the genetic cause of two brothers with Kallmann syndrome and X-linked ichthyosis, a custom semiconductor targeted resequencing panel to detect seventeen Kallmann syndrome causal genes and STS gene was designed. Next-generation sequencing was performed using this panel in the two affected brothers and their normal parents. To validate the result, we applied CytoScan⢠HD array, quantitative real-time PCR and direct PCR electrophoresis analysis with the participants. The patients received clinical assessment, human chorionic gonadotropin treatment and follow-up for 39 months. The results showed that the two affected siblings have the same de novo deletion at Xp22.3 including exons 9-14 of KAL1 gene and entire STS gene but showed different phenotypes in some respects. The secondary sex characteristics of the patients were greatly improved after treatment. We firstly reported that a de novo homozygous deletion contribute to KS with bilateral cryptorchidism and unilateral renal agenesis or normal kidney development and developed a cost-effective and reliable semiconductor targeted resequencing panel for genetic diagnosis of Kallmann syndrome in routinely obtained samples. One of the two brothers with Kallmann syndrome and X-linked ichthyosis was analyzed for validation the results of the deletion detected by next-generation sequencing.
Project description:Genetic variants in LZTR1 are associated with the development of Noonan syndrome. Here, we analyzed the proteome of cultured cardiomyocytes derived from hiPSCs with a pathological homozygous LZTR1 variant L580P in comparison to heterozygous and homozygous CRISPR/Cas9-corrected iPSC lines.
Project description:The goal of this study was to investigate DNA methylation and gene expression changes in a zebrafish model of ICF Syndrome which were generated by mutation of ICF-gene zbtb24. Comparison of gene expression changes between wildtype and zbtb24 homozygous mutants revealed upregulation of interferon response genes following zbtb24 deletion. Upregulation of interferon response genes was blocked by mutation of the dsRNA helicase Mda5.
Project description:The goal of this study was to investigate DNA methylation and gene expression changes in a zebrafish model of ICF Syndrome which were generated by mutation of ICF-gene zbtb24. Comparison of gene expression changes between wildtype and zbtb24 homozygous mutants revealed upregulation of interferon response genes following zbtb24 deletion. Upregulation of interferon response genes was blocked by mutation of the dsRNA helicase Mda5.
Project description:The goal of this study was to investigate DNA methylation and gene expression changes in a zebrafish model of ICF Syndrome which were generated by mutation of ICF-gene zbtb24. Comparison of gene expression changes between wildtype and zbtb24 homozygous mutants revealed upregulation of interferon response genes following zbtb24 deletion. Upregulation of interferon response genes was blocked by mutation of the dsRNA helicase Mda5.