A splicing variation in NPRL2 causing familial focal epilepsy with variable foci: additional cases and literature review

J Hum Genet. 2022 Feb;67(2):79-85. doi: 10.1038/s10038-021-00969-z. Epub 2021 Aug 11.

Abstract

NPRL2 (nitrogen permease regulator like 2) is a component of the GATOR1(GAP activity towards rags complex 1) proteins, which is an inhibitor of the amino acid-sensing branch of the mTORC1 pathway. GATOR1 complex variations were reported to correlate with familial focal epilepsy with variable foci (FFEVF). However, FFEVF caused by NPRL2 variants has not been widely explored. Here, we describe a variant, 339+2T>C, in NPRL2 identified by trio whole-exome sequencing (WES) in a family. This splicing variant that occurred at the 5' end of exon 3 was confirmed by minigene assays, which affected alternative splicing and led to exon 3 skipping in NPRL2. Our cases presented multiple seizure types (febrile seizures, infantile spasms, focal seizures, or focal to generalized tonic-clonic seizures). Electroencephalogram (EEG) showed frequent discharges in the left frontal and central regions. A favorable prognosis was achieved in response to vitamin B6 and topiramate when the patient was seven months old. Our study expands the phenotype and genotype spectrum of FFEVF and provides solid diagnostic evidence for FFEVF.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Base Sequence
  • Electroencephalography / methods
  • Epilepsies, Partial / diagnosis
  • Epilepsies, Partial / genetics*
  • Epilepsies, Partial / physiopathology
  • Exome Sequencing / methods
  • Family Health
  • Female
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Mutation*
  • Pedigree
  • Protein Conformation
  • RNA Splicing*
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / chemistry
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • NPRL2 protein, human
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins

Supplementary concepts

  • Epilepsy, Partial, with Variable Foci