Exome sequencing identifies three novel candidate genes implicated in intellectual disability

PLoS One. 2014 Nov 18;9(11):e112687. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0112687. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Intellectual disability (ID) is a major health problem mostly with an unknown etiology. Recently exome sequencing of individuals with ID identified novel genes implicated in the disease. Therefore the purpose of the present study was to identify the genetic cause of ID in one syndromic and two non-syndromic Pakistani families. Whole exome of three ID probands was sequenced. Missense variations in two plausible novel genes implicated in autosomal recessive ID were identified: lysine (K)-specific methyltransferase 2B (KMT2B), zinc finger protein 589 (ZNF589), as well as hedgehog acyltransferase (HHAT) with a de novo mutation with autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. The KMT2B recessive variant is the first report of recessive Kleefstra syndrome-like phenotype. Identification of plausible causative mutations for two recessive and a dominant type of ID, in genes not previously implicated in disease, underscores the large genetic heterogeneity of ID. These results also support the viewpoint that large number of ID genes converge on limited number of common networks i.e. ZNF589 belongs to KRAB-domain zinc-finger proteins previously implicated in ID, HHAT is predicted to affect sonic hedgehog, which is involved in several disorders with ID, KMT2B associated with syndromic ID fits the epigenetic module underlying the Kleefstra syndromic spectrum. The association of these novel genes in three different Pakistani ID families highlights the importance of screening these genes in more families with similar phenotypes from different populations to confirm the involvement of these genes in pathogenesis of ID.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acyltransferases / genetics*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Chromosome Deletion
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9 / genetics
  • Craniofacial Abnormalities / genetics*
  • Exome*
  • Female
  • Genes, Dominant
  • Genes, Recessive
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Intellectual Disability / genetics*
  • Male
  • Mutation, Missense
  • Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein / genetics*
  • Pedigree
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics*

Substances

  • Repressor Proteins
  • ZNF589 protein, human
  • Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein
  • Acyltransferases
  • HHAT protein, human

Supplementary concepts

  • Kleefstra Syndrome

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the COMSATS Institute of Information Technology to RQ. This study was also supported by the European Union's Seventh Framework Program [grant agreement number 241995 project GENCODYS and grant agreement number 223143, project TECHGENE]. None of the funding agencies had any role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript.