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To identify the genetic basis of a recessive syndrome characterized by prenatal hyperechogenic brain foci, congenital microcephaly, hypothalamic midbrain dysplasia, epilepsy, and profound global developmental disability.Identification of the responsible gene by whole exome sequencing and homozygosity mapping.Ten patients from 4 consanguineous Palestinian families manifested in utero with hyperechogenic brain foci, microcephaly, and intrauterine growth retardation. Postnatally, patients had progressive severe microcephaly, neonatal seizures, and virtually no developmental milestones. Brain imaging revealed dysplastic elongated masses in the midbrain-hypothalamus-optic tract area. Whole exome sequencing of one affected child revealed only PCDH12 c.2515CT, p.R839X, to be homozygous in the proband and to cosegregate with the condition in her family. The allele frequency of PCDH12 p.R839X is0.00001 worldwide. Genotyping PCDH12 p.R839X in 3 other families with affected children yielded perfect cosegregation with the phenotype (probability by chance is 2.0 × 10(-12)). Homozygosity mapping revealed that PCDH12 p.R839X lies in the largest homozygous region (11.7 MB) shared by all affected patients. The mutation reduces transcript expression by 84% (p2.4 × 10(-13)). PCDH12 is a vascular endothelial protocadherin that promotes cellular adhesion. Endothelial adhesion disruptions due to mutations in OCLN or JAM3 also cause congenital microcephaly, intracranial calcifications, and profound psychomotor disability.Loss of function of PCDH12 leads to recessive congenital microcephaly with profound developmental disability. The phenotype resembles Aicardi-Goutières syndrome and in utero infections. In cases with similar manifestations but no evidence of infection, our results suggest consideration of an additional, albeit rare, cause of congenital microcephaly.

Objective:To identify the genetic basis of a recessive congenital neurologic syndrome characterized by severe hypotonia, arthrogryposis, and respiratory failure.Methods:Identification of the responsible gene by exome sequencing and assessment of the effect of the mutation on protein stability in transfected rat neuronal-like PC12A123.7 cells.Results:Two brothers from a nonconsanguineous Yemeni Jewish family manifested at birth with severe hypotonia and arthrogryposis. The older brother died of respiratory failure at 5 days of age. The proband, now 4.5 years old, has been mechanically ventilated since birth with virtually no milestones achievement. Whole exome sequencing revealed homozygosity of SLC18A3 c.1078G>C, p.Gly360Arg in the affected brothers but not in other family members. SLC18A3 p.Gly360Arg is not reported in world populations but is present at a carrier frequency of 1:30 in healthy Yemeni Jews. SLC18A3 encodes the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT), which loads newly synthesized acetylcholine from the neuronal cytoplasm into synaptic vesicles. Mice that are VAChT-null have been shown to die at birth of respiratory failure. In human VAChT, residue 360 is located in a conserved region and substitution of arginine for glycine is predicted to disrupt proper protein folding and membrane embedding. Stable transfection of wild-type and mutant human VAChT into neuronal-like PC12A123.7 cells revealed similar mRNA levels, but undetectable levels of the mutant protein, suggesting post-translational degradation of mutant VAChT.Conclusion:Loss of function of VAChT underlies severe arthrogryposis and respiratory failure. While most congenital myasthenic syndromes are caused by defects in postsynaptic proteins, VAChT deficiency is a presynaptic myasthenic syndrome.

To determine the prevalence and characteristics of copy number variations (CNVs) in children with cerebral palsy (CP) of unknown etiology, comprising approximately 20% of the CP population.Fifty-two participants (age 10.5 ± 7.8 years; Gross Motor Function Classification System scale 2.8 ± 1.3) with nonprogressive pyramidal and/or extrapyramidal signs since infancy and no identified etiology were enrolled. Individuals with evidence of acquired causes were excluded. Participants underwent neurologic and clinical genetic examinations before the genomic testing. Chromosomal microarray analysis to detect CNVs was performed using the Affymetrix platform. CNVs identified were classified as pathogenic, likely pathogenic, likely benign, or benign. Only pathogenic and likely pathogenic CNVs were defined as clinically significant.Thirty-nine CNVs were found in 25 of 52 participants (48%). Sixteen participants (31%) had clinically significant CNVs: 10 pathogenic and 6 likely pathogenic, of which 7 were not previously associated with motor disability. Nine participants had likely benign CNVs. Clinically significant CNVs were more frequently de novo (12/16; p0.001) including in 5 of 8 individuals who had a first- or second-degree relative with a major neurologic disorder. Dysmorphic features and nonmotor comorbidities were more prevalent in individuals with clinically significant CNVs (p0.05 for both).CNVs, most frequently de novo, are common in individuals with cryptogenic CP. We recommend CNV testing in individuals with CP of unknown etiology.