Whole exome sequencing identifies a novel mutation in ASPM and ultra-rare mutation in CDK5RAP2 causing Primary microcephaly in consanguineous Pakistani families

Abstract

Background & Objectives: Primary Microcephaly (MCPH) is a rare neurogenetic disease, manifesting congenitally reduced head circumference and non-progressive intellectual disability (ID). To date, twenty-eight genes with biallelic mutations have been reported for this disorder. The study aimed for molecular genetic characterization of Pakistani families segregating MCPH.
 Methods: We studied two unrelated consanguineous families (family A and B) presenting >2 patients with diagnostic symptoms of MCPH, born to asymptomatic parents. We employed whole-exome sequencing (WES) of probands to find putative causal mutations. The candidate variants were further confirmed and analyzed for co-segregation by Sanger sequencing of all available members of each family. This study was conducted at Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan, and Cologne Center for Genomics (CCG), University of Cologne, Germany; during 2017-2020.
 Results: We identified a novel homozygous variant c.10097_10098delGA, p.(Gly3366Glufs*19) in exon 26 of ASPM gene in family A which presents with moderate intellectual disability, speech impairment, visual abnormalities, seizures, and ptyalism. Family B was found to segregate nonsense, homozygous variant c.448C>T p.(Arg150*) in CDK5RAP2. The patients also exhibited mild to severe seizures without ptyalism that has not been previously reported in patients with mutations in the CDK5RAP2 gene.
 Conclusion: We report a novel mutation in ASPM and ultra-rare mutation in the CDK5RAP2 gene, both causing primary microcephaly. The study expands the mutational spectrum of the ASPM gene to 212, and also adds to the clinical spectrum of CDK5RAP2 mutations. It also demonstrated the utility of WES in the investigation and genetic diagnosis of genetically heterogeneous disorders like MCPH. These findings would aid in diagnostic and preventive strategies including carrier screening, cascade testing, and genetic counselling.
 doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.1.4464
 How to cite this:Makhdoom EH, Anwar H, Baig SM, Hussain G. Whole exome sequencing identifies a novel mutation in ASPM and ultra-rare mutation in CDK5RAP2 causing Primary microcephaly in consanguineous Pakistani families. Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(1):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.1.4464
 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Genetic Primary Microcephalies: When Centrosome Dysfunction Dictates Brain and Body Size

“…ASPM is the most frequently mutated gene in autosomal recessive PMs. Since the identification of the first patients [ 6 ], 861 individuals from 390 families carrying 210 different biallelic variants spread over the gene have been reported (for synthesis, see [ 50 , 51 ] and more recently [ 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 ]). Approximately 55% of published cases were of Pakistani origin.…”

“…Mutations in CDK5RAP2 are a rare cause of autosomal recessive PMs. Since the identification of the first patients [ 4 ], 45 individuals from 23 families, along with 26 different biallelic variants which spread over the gene, have been reported (see synthesis in [ 12 ] and more recently [ 64 , 72 ]). Approximately 55% of published cases were of Pakistani origin.…”