AIM： To use the tyrosinase minigene as a visual marker to perform microinjection training and improve the techniques related with transgene to greatly elevate the effidency of gene transfer. METHODS： A mouse tyrosin...AIM： To use the tyrosinase minigene as a visual marker to perform microinjection training and improve the techniques related with transgene to greatly elevate the effidency of gene transfer. METHODS： A mouse tyrosinase minigene, i.e., TyBS, in which the 2.25-kb authentic genomic 5＇ non-coding flanking sequence of mouse tyrosinase was fused to a mouse tyrosinase cDNA, was introduced into the fertilized eggs of outbred Kunming albino mice. RESULTS： Of the 11 animals that developed from the injected eggs, two mice （P1 and #8） exhibited pigmented hair （P1） and eyes （P1 and #8）, as confirmed by PCR analysis for the tyrosinase minigene integrated into the genome. When founder P1 was bred to Kunming male mouse, six progeny out of 11 offspring inherited the transgene and the pigmented-eye phenotype. CONCLUSION： Taken together, these results suggest that this minigene encodes the active tyrosinase protein and that its 5＇ flanking region contains the sequences regulating the expression of mouse tyrosinase gene as expected. We have rescued the albino phenotype by introduction and expression of a functional tyrosinase minigene in the Kunming albino mouse and the transgene can be passed to subsequent generation. These findings also indicate that TyBS can be a useful visual marker gene in the co-transgenic experiments.展开更多
To evaluate the Plasmodium falciparum CTL epitope vaccines in HLA class I allele specific human cell lines that have high frequency among Chinese population. Methods. Synthesized oligonucleotides encoding for P.f. CTL...To evaluate the Plasmodium falciparum CTL epitope vaccines in HLA class I allele specific human cell lines that have high frequency among Chinese population. Methods. Synthesized oligonucleotides encoding for P.f. CTL epitope genes, constructed eukaryotic expression plasmids, transfected the minigenes into HLA class I allele specific human cell lines and identified endogenous expressing of the minigenes by RT- PCR and HLA stabilization assay. Results. Two mini- genes encoding Plasmodium falciparum CTL epitopes were designed and cloned, respectively, into an eukaryotic expressing vector to form TR26 which was restricted to HLA- B51, SH6 which was restricted to HLA- A2.1, and TS, which had the two aforementioned mini- genes fused in tandem. All of these CTL epitope genes were transfected and endogenously expressed in respective cell lines containing appropriate HLA molecules. The obviously increased expressions of HLA class I molecules were detected in the transfected cell lines. It was demonstrated that the two discrete Plasmodium falciparum epitope genes were effectively processed and presented, and the close proximity of the two epitope genes in one chain as in mini- gene TS did not interfere with the processing and presenting of each epitope gene in corresponding cell line. Conclusion. A successful expression and presentation of multiple CTL epitope mini- gene in MHC class I allele specific human cell lines were demonstrated by an in vitro assay, which could be corresponding to the vaccination of CTL vaccines in people with different MHC I molecules. This work also suggested the possibility of constructing a multiple CTL epitope plasmodium falciparum DNA vaccine that could cover most of Chinese population.展开更多
AIM:To report a novel splicing mutation in the RPGR gene(encoding retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator)in a three-generation Chinese family with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa(XLRP).METHODS:Comprehensive ophthalmic ex...AIM:To report a novel splicing mutation in the RPGR gene(encoding retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator)in a three-generation Chinese family with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa(XLRP).METHODS:Comprehensive ophthalmic examinations including best corrected visual acuity,fundus photography,vision field,and pattern-visual evoked potential were performed to identify the disease phenotype of a six-yearold boy from the family(proband).Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of five available members of the pedigree.Whole-exome sequencing(WES),Sanger sequencing,and pSPL3-based exon trapping were used to investigate the aberrant splicing of RPGR.Human Splice Finder v3.1 and NNSPLICE v0.9 were used for in silico prediction of splice site variants.RESULTS:The proband was diagnosed as having retinitis pigmentosa(RP).He had severe symptoms with early onset.A novel splicing mutation,c.619+1G>C in RPGR was identified in the proband by WES and in four family members by Sanger sequencing.Minigene splicing assays verified that c.619+1G>C in RPGR would result in the formation of a damaging alternative transcript in which the last 91 bp of exon 6 were skipped,leading to the subsequent deletion of 623 correct amino acids(c.529_619del p.Val177Glnfs*16).CONCLUSION:We identify a novel splice donor site mutation causing aberrant splicing of RPGR.Our findings add to the catalog of pathological mutations of RPGR and further emphasize the functional importance of RPGR in RP pathogenesis and its complex clinical phenotypes.展开更多
Background: Since the identification of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) gene in 1989, many polymorphisms have been identified in cystic fibrosis (CF) or CFTR-related disorders (CFTR-RDs) patients an...Background: Since the identification of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) gene in 1989, many polymorphisms have been identified in cystic fibrosis (CF) or CFTR-related disorders (CFTR-RDs) patients and still remain to be characterized at the molecular level. These polymorphisms are difficult to classify as pathogenic or non-disease causing because the polymorphisms are either located in the coding region, but are synonymous, or are found in the intronic regions. Here we investigated the potential impact of the c.743 + 40A > G polymorphism within CFTR intron 6 on the alternative splicing. Indeed, this variant has been observed frequently in our examined patients. Moreover, a family carrying this variant exhibited CFTR-RD phenotype. Methods: By denaturing high pressure liquid phase chromatography (DHPLC) and sequencing, thirty of 293 subjects French origin carried the c.743 + 40A > G variant. Of these, 16 patients were affected by CF or CFTR-RD. Wild-type sequences and mutant CFTR intron 6 and its boundaries were inserted into the pTBNdeI hybride minigene and expressed in three different cell lines. After RT-PCR analysis of mRNA using specific primers, sequences of the minigene transcripts were obtained. Results: No aberrant splicing was detected with minigene carrying c.743 + 40A > G variant in all transfected cell lines. However, an alternative splicing in the positive control was detected with a minigene carrying the c.1392G > T + 1G > T mutation: 5 nucleotides were deleted from mRNA sequences, indicating that used cell lines are appropriate for studying the splicing. Conclusion: Transient transfections of a minigene containing the c.743 + 40A > G polymorphism showed no splicing errors, and thus this intronic alteration was finally classified as non-pathogenic. As it is always associated with c.2562T > G and c.4389G > A, or TG12-7T poly-morphisms, further experiments are needed to determine the role of these complex alleles in disease pathogenesis.展开更多
The objective of the present study is to establish a minigene model for studying pre-mRNA alternative splicing. To prepare the minigene DNA constructs, with human or mouse genomic DNA as templates, GluR-B , FGF-2R and...The objective of the present study is to establish a minigene model for studying pre-mRNA alternative splicing. To prepare the minigene DNA constructs, with human or mouse genomic DNA as templates, GluR-B , FGF-2R and Zis 搈inigene?fragments were amplified us-ing PCR and cloned to the eukaryotic expression vectors. The three constructed minigenes and the expression vectors of Tra2b1 and Zis2 were co-transfected in Hela cells. RT-PCR analysis was performed to semi-quantitatively determine the spliced products from the minigenes. The results demonstrated that the constructed minigenes are useful in studying the pre-mRNA al-ternative splicing in cultured cells. With the established Zis minigene, we for the first time found that Zis2 isoform regulates the alternative splicing of Zis minigene.展开更多
Duchenne muscular dystrophy(DMD)and Becker muscular dystrophy(BMD)are caused by mutations in the DMD gene.The aim of this study is to identify pathogenic DMD variants in probands and reduce the risk of recurrence of t...Duchenne muscular dystrophy(DMD)and Becker muscular dystrophy(BMD)are caused by mutations in the DMD gene.The aim of this study is to identify pathogenic DMD variants in probands and reduce the risk of recurrence of the disease in affected families.Variations in 100 unrelated DMD/BMD patients were detected by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification(MLPA)and next-generation sequencing(NGS).Pathogenic variants in DMD were successfully identified in all cases,and 11 of them were novel.The most common mutations were intragenic deletions(69%),with two hotspots located in the 5'end(exons 2–19)and the central of the DMD gene(exons 45–55),while point mutations were observed in 22%patients.Further,c.1149+1G>A and c.1150?2A>G were confirmed by hybrid minigene splicing assay(HMSA).This two splice site mutations would lead to two aberrant DMD isoforms which give rise to severely truncated protein.Therefore,the clinical use of MLPA,NGS,and HMSA is an effective strategy to identify variants.Importantly,eight embryos were terminated pregnancies according to prenatal diagnosis and a healthy boy was successfully delivered by preimplantation genetic diagnosis(PGD).Early and accurate genetic diagnosis is essential for prenatal diagnosis/PGD to reduce the risk of recurrence of DMD in affected families.展开更多
In the alternative splicing, intron retention, of histamine H3 receptors in rats and mice, the short transcript isoforms that are excised alternatively spliced introns are easily detected in a very low level in rats a...In the alternative splicing, intron retention, of histamine H3 receptors in rats and mice, the short transcript isoforms that are excised alternatively spliced introns are easily detected in a very low level in rats and are undetectable in mice using the regular PCR protocol. The retained introns have common 5＇ splice site and different 3＇ splice sites. The detailed mechanism for the special alternative splicing remains largely unclear. In this study, we developed a minigene splicing system to recapitulate natural alternative splicing of the receptors and investigated the effects of 5＇ and 3＇ splice sites on intron retention in HeLa cells. Mutating weak 5＇ and 3＇ splice sites of the alternatively spliced introns toward the canonical consensus sequences promoted the splicing of the corresponding introns in rat and mouse minigenes. The effect of splice site strength was context-dependent and much more sigiaificant for the 3＇ splice site of the longer alternative intron than for the 3＇ splice site of the shorter alternative intron and the common 5＇ splice sites; it was also more significant in the rat minigene than in the mouse minigene. Mutating the 3＇ splice site of the longer alternative intron resulted in almost complete splicing of the intron and made the corresponding isoform to become the nearly exclusive transcript in the rat minigene.展开更多
BACKGROUND Acute intermittent porphyria(AIP)is a rare autosomal dominant porphyrin metabolic disease caused by a mutation in the hydroxymethylbilane synthase(HMBS)gene.This study aimed to explore the clinical manifest...BACKGROUND Acute intermittent porphyria(AIP)is a rare autosomal dominant porphyrin metabolic disease caused by a mutation in the hydroxymethylbilane synthase(HMBS)gene.This study aimed to explore the clinical manifestations of a patient with AIP,to identify a novel HMBS gene mutation in the proband and some of her family members,and to confirm the pathogenicity of the variant.CASE SUMMARY A 22-year-old Chinese woman developed severe abdominal pain,lumbago,sinus tachycardia,epileptic seizure,hypertension,and weakness in lower limbs in March,2018.Biochemical examinations indicated hypohepatia and hyponatremia.Her last menstrual period was 45 d prior to admission,and she was unaware of the pregnancy,which was confirmed by a pregnancy test after admission.Sunlight exposure of her urine sample for 1 h turned it from yellow to wine red.Urinary porphyrin test result was positive.Based on these clinical manifestations,AIP was diagnosed.After increasing her daily glucose intake(250–300 g/d),abdominal pain was partially relieved.Three days after hospitalization,spontaneous vaginal bleeding occurred,which was confirmed as spontaneous abortion;thereafter,her clinical symptoms completely resolved.Genetic testing revealed a novel heterozygous splicing variant of the HMBS gene in exon 10(c.648_651+1delCCAGG)in the proband and four other family members.The pathogenicity of the variant was verified through bioinformatic methods and a minigene assay.CONCLUSION We identified a novel HMBS gene mutation in a Chinese patient with AIP and confirmed its pathogenicity.展开更多
Objective:To report a fetus with ARCN1-related syndrome caused by a novel de novo heterozygous variant,highlighting the importance of early genetic diagnosis in prenatal care.Methods:The clinical and genetic data of a...Objective:To report a fetus with ARCN1-related syndrome caused by a novel de novo heterozygous variant,highlighting the importance of early genetic diagnosis in prenatal care.Methods:The clinical and genetic data of a fetus with a complex combination of clinical signs and a novel de novo heterozygous variant were collected and have been summarized in this study.The potential pathogenic variant was identified throughout the whole exome sequencing and the effects of candidate variants were further validated by a minigene splicing assay.Results:Prenatal systematic ultrasound detected fetal growth restriction.Genetic analysis identified a novel de novo heterozygous variant within the ARCN1 gene—c.1241+5G>A—located in intron 8.In vitro minigene splicing assays demonstrated that the variant led to two abnormal transcripts.The longer transcript retained 189 base pairs of intron 8,resulting in a truncated protein of 414 amino acids(p.Ser415*).The shorter transcript involved exon 8 skippings,producing a truncated protein of 407 amino acids(p.Ile378Serfs*31).Conclusion:A novel de novo heterozygous variant of the ARCN1 gene,namely NM_001655.5:c.1241+5G>A,was discovered and identified in a fetus with rhizomelic short stature,microretrognathia,and developmental delays.展开更多
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30271177 and No. 39870676 National 9th Five-year Program, No. 101033+3 种基金 Major Science and Technology Projects of Guangdong Province, No. B602 Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, No. 021903 Postdoctoral Fellowship Foundation of China (Series 29) Special Fund of Scientific Instrument Collaborative Share-net in Guangzhou. No. 2006176
文摘AIM： To use the tyrosinase minigene as a visual marker to perform microinjection training and improve the techniques related with transgene to greatly elevate the effidency of gene transfer. METHODS： A mouse tyrosinase minigene, i.e., TyBS, in which the 2.25-kb authentic genomic 5＇ non-coding flanking sequence of mouse tyrosinase was fused to a mouse tyrosinase cDNA, was introduced into the fertilized eggs of outbred Kunming albino mice. RESULTS： Of the 11 animals that developed from the injected eggs, two mice （P1 and #8） exhibited pigmented hair （P1） and eyes （P1 and #8）, as confirmed by PCR analysis for the tyrosinase minigene integrated into the genome. When founder P1 was bred to Kunming male mouse, six progeny out of 11 offspring inherited the transgene and the pigmented-eye phenotype. CONCLUSION： Taken together, these results suggest that this minigene encodes the active tyrosinase protein and that its 5＇ flanking region contains the sequences regulating the expression of mouse tyrosinase gene as expected. We have rescued the albino phenotype by introduction and expression of a functional tyrosinase minigene in the Kunming albino mouse and the transgene can be passed to subsequent generation. These findings also indicate that TyBS can be a useful visual marker gene in the co-transgenic experiments.
基金This project was supported by the National Natural Sciences Foun-dation of China, grant# 39770670 and China Medical Bo
文摘To evaluate the Plasmodium falciparum CTL epitope vaccines in HLA class I allele specific human cell lines that have high frequency among Chinese population. Methods. Synthesized oligonucleotides encoding for P.f. CTL epitope genes, constructed eukaryotic expression plasmids, transfected the minigenes into HLA class I allele specific human cell lines and identified endogenous expressing of the minigenes by RT- PCR and HLA stabilization assay. Results. Two mini- genes encoding Plasmodium falciparum CTL epitopes were designed and cloned, respectively, into an eukaryotic expressing vector to form TR26 which was restricted to HLA- B51, SH6 which was restricted to HLA- A2.1, and TS, which had the two aforementioned mini- genes fused in tandem. All of these CTL epitope genes were transfected and endogenously expressed in respective cell lines containing appropriate HLA molecules. The obviously increased expressions of HLA class I molecules were detected in the transfected cell lines. It was demonstrated that the two discrete Plasmodium falciparum epitope genes were effectively processed and presented, and the close proximity of the two epitope genes in one chain as in mini- gene TS did not interfere with the processing and presenting of each epitope gene in corresponding cell line. Conclusion. A successful expression and presentation of multiple CTL epitope mini- gene in MHC class I allele specific human cell lines were demonstrated by an in vitro assay, which could be corresponding to the vaccination of CTL vaccines in people with different MHC I molecules. This work also suggested the possibility of constructing a multiple CTL epitope plasmodium falciparum DNA vaccine that could cover most of Chinese population.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31751003)Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province(No.LY20H120009)+1 种基金Health Commission of Zhejiang Province(No.2022KY168)Beijing Bethune Charitable Foundation(No.BJ-GY2021013J).
文摘AIM:To report a novel splicing mutation in the RPGR gene(encoding retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator)in a three-generation Chinese family with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa(XLRP).METHODS:Comprehensive ophthalmic examinations including best corrected visual acuity,fundus photography,vision field,and pattern-visual evoked potential were performed to identify the disease phenotype of a six-yearold boy from the family(proband).Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of five available members of the pedigree.Whole-exome sequencing(WES),Sanger sequencing,and pSPL3-based exon trapping were used to investigate the aberrant splicing of RPGR.Human Splice Finder v3.1 and NNSPLICE v0.9 were used for in silico prediction of splice site variants.RESULTS:The proband was diagnosed as having retinitis pigmentosa(RP).He had severe symptoms with early onset.A novel splicing mutation,c.619+1G>C in RPGR was identified in the proband by WES and in four family members by Sanger sequencing.Minigene splicing assays verified that c.619+1G>C in RPGR would result in the formation of a damaging alternative transcript in which the last 91 bp of exon 6 were skipped,leading to the subsequent deletion of 623 correct amino acids(c.529_619del p.Val177Glnfs*16).CONCLUSION:We identify a novel splice donor site mutation causing aberrant splicing of RPGR.Our findings add to the catalog of pathological mutations of RPGR and further emphasize the functional importance of RPGR in RP pathogenesis and its complex clinical phenotypes.
文摘Background: Since the identification of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) gene in 1989, many polymorphisms have been identified in cystic fibrosis (CF) or CFTR-related disorders (CFTR-RDs) patients and still remain to be characterized at the molecular level. These polymorphisms are difficult to classify as pathogenic or non-disease causing because the polymorphisms are either located in the coding region, but are synonymous, or are found in the intronic regions. Here we investigated the potential impact of the c.743 + 40A > G polymorphism within CFTR intron 6 on the alternative splicing. Indeed, this variant has been observed frequently in our examined patients. Moreover, a family carrying this variant exhibited CFTR-RD phenotype. Methods: By denaturing high pressure liquid phase chromatography (DHPLC) and sequencing, thirty of 293 subjects French origin carried the c.743 + 40A > G variant. Of these, 16 patients were affected by CF or CFTR-RD. Wild-type sequences and mutant CFTR intron 6 and its boundaries were inserted into the pTBNdeI hybride minigene and expressed in three different cell lines. After RT-PCR analysis of mRNA using specific primers, sequences of the minigene transcripts were obtained. Results: No aberrant splicing was detected with minigene carrying c.743 + 40A > G variant in all transfected cell lines. However, an alternative splicing in the positive control was detected with a minigene carrying the c.1392G > T + 1G > T mutation: 5 nucleotides were deleted from mRNA sequences, indicating that used cell lines are appropriate for studying the splicing. Conclusion: Transient transfections of a minigene containing the c.743 + 40A > G polymorphism showed no splicing errors, and thus this intronic alteration was finally classified as non-pathogenic. As it is always associated with c.2562T > G and c.4389G > A, or TG12-7T poly-morphisms, further experiments are needed to determine the role of these complex alleles in disease pathogenesis.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.30070242)Scientific Foundation for Youth in Life Sciences,Fudan University.
文摘The objective of the present study is to establish a minigene model for studying pre-mRNA alternative splicing. To prepare the minigene DNA constructs, with human or mouse genomic DNA as templates, GluR-B , FGF-2R and Zis 搈inigene?fragments were amplified us-ing PCR and cloned to the eukaryotic expression vectors. The three constructed minigenes and the expression vectors of Tra2b1 and Zis2 were co-transfected in Hela cells. RT-PCR analysis was performed to semi-quantitatively determine the spliced products from the minigenes. The results demonstrated that the constructed minigenes are useful in studying the pre-mRNA al-ternative splicing in cultured cells. With the established Zis minigene, we for the first time found that Zis2 isoform regulates the alternative splicing of Zis minigene.
基金the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2016YFC1000703)the Medicine and Health Science and Technology Plan Projects in Zhejiang Province(No.2014KYA246)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.81801441 and 81300532)
文摘Duchenne muscular dystrophy(DMD)and Becker muscular dystrophy(BMD)are caused by mutations in the DMD gene.The aim of this study is to identify pathogenic DMD variants in probands and reduce the risk of recurrence of the disease in affected families.Variations in 100 unrelated DMD/BMD patients were detected by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification(MLPA)and next-generation sequencing(NGS).Pathogenic variants in DMD were successfully identified in all cases,and 11 of them were novel.The most common mutations were intragenic deletions(69%),with two hotspots located in the 5'end(exons 2–19)and the central of the DMD gene(exons 45–55),while point mutations were observed in 22%patients.Further,c.1149+1G>A and c.1150?2A>G were confirmed by hybrid minigene splicing assay(HMSA).This two splice site mutations would lead to two aberrant DMD isoforms which give rise to severely truncated protein.Therefore,the clinical use of MLPA,NGS,and HMSA is an effective strategy to identify variants.Importantly,eight embryos were terminated pregnancies according to prenatal diagnosis and a healthy boy was successfully delivered by preimplantation genetic diagnosis(PGD).Early and accurate genetic diagnosis is essential for prenatal diagnosis/PGD to reduce the risk of recurrence of DMD in affected families.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (No.2006CB943601)
文摘In the alternative splicing, intron retention, of histamine H3 receptors in rats and mice, the short transcript isoforms that are excised alternatively spliced introns are easily detected in a very low level in rats and are undetectable in mice using the regular PCR protocol. The retained introns have common 5＇ splice site and different 3＇ splice sites. The detailed mechanism for the special alternative splicing remains largely unclear. In this study, we developed a minigene splicing system to recapitulate natural alternative splicing of the receptors and investigated the effects of 5＇ and 3＇ splice sites on intron retention in HeLa cells. Mutating weak 5＇ and 3＇ splice sites of the alternatively spliced introns toward the canonical consensus sequences promoted the splicing of the corresponding introns in rat and mouse minigenes. The effect of splice site strength was context-dependent and much more sigiaificant for the 3＇ splice site of the longer alternative intron than for the 3＇ splice site of the shorter alternative intron and the common 5＇ splice sites; it was also more significant in the rat minigene than in the mouse minigene. Mutating the 3＇ splice site of the longer alternative intron resulted in almost complete splicing of the intron and made the corresponding isoform to become the nearly exclusive transcript in the rat minigene.
文摘BACKGROUND Acute intermittent porphyria(AIP)is a rare autosomal dominant porphyrin metabolic disease caused by a mutation in the hydroxymethylbilane synthase(HMBS)gene.This study aimed to explore the clinical manifestations of a patient with AIP,to identify a novel HMBS gene mutation in the proband and some of her family members,and to confirm the pathogenicity of the variant.CASE SUMMARY A 22-year-old Chinese woman developed severe abdominal pain,lumbago,sinus tachycardia,epileptic seizure,hypertension,and weakness in lower limbs in March,2018.Biochemical examinations indicated hypohepatia and hyponatremia.Her last menstrual period was 45 d prior to admission,and she was unaware of the pregnancy,which was confirmed by a pregnancy test after admission.Sunlight exposure of her urine sample for 1 h turned it from yellow to wine red.Urinary porphyrin test result was positive.Based on these clinical manifestations,AIP was diagnosed.After increasing her daily glucose intake(250–300 g/d),abdominal pain was partially relieved.Three days after hospitalization,spontaneous vaginal bleeding occurred,which was confirmed as spontaneous abortion;thereafter,her clinical symptoms completely resolved.Genetic testing revealed a novel heterozygous splicing variant of the HMBS gene in exon 10(c.648_651+1delCCAGG)in the proband and four other family members.The pathogenicity of the variant was verified through bioinformatic methods and a minigene assay.CONCLUSION We identified a novel HMBS gene mutation in a Chinese patient with AIP and confirmed its pathogenicity.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(General Program,No.82171678)the Science,Technology,and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality(No.JCYJ20200109140614667)+1 种基金the Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Program(No.JCYJ20230807143504009)the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province(No.2023AFC018).
文摘Objective:To report a fetus with ARCN1-related syndrome caused by a novel de novo heterozygous variant,highlighting the importance of early genetic diagnosis in prenatal care.Methods:The clinical and genetic data of a fetus with a complex combination of clinical signs and a novel de novo heterozygous variant were collected and have been summarized in this study.The potential pathogenic variant was identified throughout the whole exome sequencing and the effects of candidate variants were further validated by a minigene splicing assay.Results:Prenatal systematic ultrasound detected fetal growth restriction.Genetic analysis identified a novel de novo heterozygous variant within the ARCN1 gene—c.1241+5G>A—located in intron 8.In vitro minigene splicing assays demonstrated that the variant led to two abnormal transcripts.The longer transcript retained 189 base pairs of intron 8,resulting in a truncated protein of 414 amino acids(p.Ser415*).The shorter transcript involved exon 8 skippings,producing a truncated protein of 407 amino acids(p.Ile378Serfs*31).Conclusion:A novel de novo heterozygous variant of the ARCN1 gene,namely NM_001655.5:c.1241+5G>A,was discovered and identified in a fetus with rhizomelic short stature,microretrognathia,and developmental delays.
