De novo deletion in MECP2 in a monozygotic twin pair: a case report

BMC Med Genet. 2011 Aug 27:12:113. doi: 10.1186/1471-2350-12-113.

Abstract

Background: Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe, progressive, neurodevelopmental disorder predominantly observed in females that leads to intellectual disability. Mutations and gross rearrangements in MECP2 account for a large proportion of cases with RTT. A limited number of twin pairs with RTT have also been reported in literature.

Case presentation: We investigated 13 year old, monozygotic twin females with RTT and some noticeable differences in development using a combinatorial approach of sequencing and Taqman assay. Monozygosity status of the twins was confirmed by informative microsatellite markers.

Conclusions: The twins shared a de novo deletion in exon 3 in the MBD domain of MECP2. To the best of our knowledge, this is only the second report of genetic analysis of a monozygotic twin pair.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Base Sequence
  • Chromosomes, Human, X / genetics
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • Diseases in Twins / genetics*
  • Exons
  • Female
  • Gene Dosage
  • Humans
  • Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 / chemistry
  • Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 / genetics*
  • Microsatellite Repeats
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Rett Syndrome / genetics*
  • Sequence Deletion*
  • Twins, Monozygotic

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • MECP2 protein, human
  • Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2