Zollo et al. report that mutations in PRUNE1, a phosphoesterase superfamily molecule, underlie primary microcephaly and profound global developmental delay in four unrelated families from Oman, India, Iran and Italy. The study highlights a potential role for prune during microtubule polymerization, suggesting that prune syndrome may be a tubulinopathy.

EPT1 encodes an enzyme involved in the Kennedy pathway of phospholipid biosynthesis, important for cell membrane integrity. Ahmed et al. identify an EPT1 mutation that impairs enzyme activity and causes complex motor neuron degenerative disease. This is the first human disorder shown to arise through Kennedy pathway dysfunction.

CES effectively identified disease-causing alleles at the mild end of the cohensinopathy spectrum and enabled characterization of candidate disease genes.