Recessive VARS2 mutation underlies a novel syndrome with epilepsy, mental retardation, short stature, growth hormone deficiency, and hypogonadism

Alsemari, Abdulaziz; Al-Younes, Banan; Goljan, Ewa; Jaroudi, Dyala; BinHumaid, Faisal; Meyer, Brian F.; Arold, Stefan T.; Monies, Dorota

Recessive VARS2 mutation underlies a novel syndrome with epilepsy, mental retardation, short stature, growth hormone deficiency, and hypogonadism

Files

document.pdf (3.48 MB)

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Type

Article

Authors

Alsemari, Abdulaziz
Al-Younes, Banan
Goljan, Ewa
Jaroudi, Dyala
BinHumaid, Faisal
Meyer, Brian F.
Arold, Stefan T.

Monies, Dorota

KAUST Department

Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division
Bioscience Program
Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC)

Online Publication Date

2017-11-14

Print Publication Date

2017-12

Date

2017-11-14

Abstract

Most mitochondrial and cytoplasmic aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) are encoded by nuclear genes. Syndromic disorders resulting from mutation of aaRSs genes display significant phenotypic heterogeneity. We expand aaRSs-related phenotypes through characterization of the clinical and molecular basis of a novel autosomal-recessive syndrome manifesting severe mental retardation, ataxia, speech impairment, epilepsy, short stature, microcephaly, hypogonadism, and growth hormone deficiency.A G>A variant in exon 29 of VARS2 (c.3650G>A) (NM_006295) was identified in the index case. This homozygous variant was confirmed by Sanger sequencing and segregated with disease in the family studied. The c.3650G>A change results in alteration of arginine to histidine at residue 1217 (R1217H) of the mature protein and is predicted to be pathogenic.These findings contribute to a growing list of aaRSs disorders, broadens the spectrum of phenotypes attributable to VARS2 mutations, and provides new insight into genotype-phenotype correlations among the mitochondrial synthetase genes.

Citation

Alsemari A, Al-Younes B, Goljan E, Jaroudi D, BinHumaid F, et al. (2017) Recessive VARS2 mutation underlies a novel syndrome with epilepsy, mental retardation, short stature, growth hormone deficiency, and hypogonadism. Human Genomics 11. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40246-017-0124-4.

Acknowledgements

This work was funded through grants from King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (RAC 2140029) and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST#13-MED2056-20).