News Release

From Molecular Case Studies: Novel syndrome resulting from multiple genomic lesions

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

March 1, 2016 - Although genomic testing can be useful for clinical diagnosis, most patients have no obvious genomic changes despite a strong indication of a genetic condition. In a paper published in the March issue of Cold Spring Harbor Molecular Case Studies, researchers from the US, Turkey, and the Netherlands describe a rare new syndrome likely arising from the dual contribution of two genomic abnormalities previously individually associated with clinical pathologies.

Two male siblings with similar phenotypic features, namely neurocognitive, craniofacial, and gonadal malformations, did not conform to previously described syndromes. To aid diagnosis, researchers performed whole exome sequencing and cytogenetic testing on the patients and their parents. Initially, the researchers homed in on a coding mutation shared by both patients on the X Chromosome and inherited from their mother. However, testing in zebrafish did not reveal any developmental defects similar to those seen in the patients.

The researchers next looked for large-scale changes in the patients' genomes. Both patients have a terminal duplication of Chromosome 16q and a terminal deletion of Chromosome 5p, encompassing 114 and 50 genes, respectively. The breakpoints of the lesions do not disrupt any transcripts, but previous reports of syndromes with molecular breakpoints overlapping a single chromosomal abnormality are associated with some of the same clinical features as the patients in this study.

The researchers suggest that both genomic regions contribute to the complex clinical presentation of the patients, likely as a result of changes to gene copy numbers. "We anticipate that the unbiased dissection of large copy number variants similar in size to those identified in this study will become possible with the increased throughput of genome editing technologies in model organisms," the researchers write.

###

Researchers from Duke University, Hacettepe University, Baylor College of Medicine, and VU University Medical Center Amsterdam contributed to this study.

This work was supported by the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative and the U.S. National Institutions of Health.

Media Contacts:

The authors are available for more information by contacting: Dr. Nicholas Katsanis (katsanis@cellbio.duke.edu)

Interested reporters may obtain copies of the manuscript online at: http://molecularcasestudies.cshlp.org/content/2/2/a000703.full or via email from Peggy Calicchia, Administrative Assistant (calicchi@cshl.edu, +1-516-422-4012)

About the article:

The manuscript will appear in the March issue of CSH Molecular Case Studies. Its full citation is as follows: Ozanturk A, Davis E, Sabo A, Weiss M, Munzey D, Dugan-Perez S, Sistermans E, Gibbs RA, Ozgul K, Yalnizoglu D, Serdaroglu E, Dursun A, Katsanis N. 2016. A t(5;16) translocation is the likely driver of a syndrome with ambiguous genitalia, facial dysmorphism, intellectual disability, and speech delay. Cold Spring Harb Mol Case Stud 2: a000703.

About Cold Spring Harbor Molecular Case Studies:

Cold Spring Harbor Molecular Case Studies is an open-access, peer-reviewed, international journal in the field of precision medicine. Articles in the journal present genomic and molecular analyses of individuals or cohorts alongside their clinical presentations and phenotypic information. The journal's purpose is to rapidly share insights into disease development and treatment gained by application of genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, biomarker analysis, and other approaches.

About Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press:

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press is an internationally renowned publisher of books, journals, and electronic media, located on Long Island, New York. Since 1933, it has furthered the advance and spread of scientific knowledge in all areas of genetics and molecular biology, including cancer biology, plant science, bioinformatics, and neurobiology. The Press is a division of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, an innovator in life science research and the education of scientists, students, and the public. For more information, visit our website at http://cshlpress.org/


Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.