A new alpha-synuclein missense variant (Thr72Met) in two Turkish families with Parkinson's disease

IntroductionMissense variants and multiplications of the alpha-synuclein gene (SNCA) are established as rare causes of autosomal dominant forms of Parkinson's Disease (PD).MethodsTwo families of Turkish origins with PD were studied; the SNCA coding region was analyzed by Sanger sequencing, and by whole exome sequencing (WES) in the index patient of the first and the second family, respectively. Co-segregation studies and haplotype analysis across the SNCA locus were carried out. Functional studies included in vitro thioflavin-T aggregation assay and in silico structural modelling of the alpha-synuclein (α-syn) protein.ResultsWe identified a novel heterozygous SNCA variant, c.215C > T (p.Thr72Met), segregating with PD in a total of four members in the two families. A shared haplotype across the SNCA locus was found among variant carriers, suggestive of a common ancestor. We next showed that the Thr72Met α-syn displays enhanced aggregation in-vitro, compared to the wild-type species. In silico analysis of a tetrameric α-syn structural model revealed that Threonine 72 lies in the tetrameric interface, and substitution with the much larger methionine residue could potentially destabilize the tetramer.ConclusionWe present clinical, genetic, and functional data supporting a causative role of the SNCA c.215C > T (p.Thr72Met) variant in familial PD. Testing for this variant in patients with PD, especially of Turkish origin, might detect additional carriers. Further functional analyses might offer new insights into the shared biochemical properties of the PD-causing SNCA missense variants, and how they lead to neurodegeneration.     

纯合型家族性高胆固醇血症家系基因型与表型分析

目的对1个纯合型家族性高胆固醇血症(HoFH)家系进行遗传学分析.方法前瞻性研究.选择西安市儿童医院心内科2018年10月确诊的1个HoFH家系先证者及家系成员共20人为研究对象,收集临床资料,提取基因组DNA,对先证者进行全外显子靶向捕获二代测序,并在家系内进行Sanger测序验证.对家系成员杂合突变携带者和未携带者的基因型与表型进行分析.结果先证者为7岁10月龄男性患儿,生后尾骨处皮肤可见圆形绿豆大小黄色皮肤突起,3~4岁起双侧肘关节、膝关节及跟腱处皮肤逐渐出现直径0.5~1.5 cm的黄色瘤样结节,患儿身高、体重、智力发育与同龄儿相同.家族其他成员无类似皮肤黄瘤.患儿总胆固醇(TC)18.16~21.24 mmol/L,低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)14.08~15.51 mmol/L,颈部超声提示双侧颈动脉及椎动脉弥漫性硬化斑块,心脏彩超提示主动脉瓣增厚、钙化.基因检测确定了先证者LDLR基因携带c.418G>A(p.E140K)纯合突变,分别遗传自患儿父母,二人为近亲结婚,均携带LDLR-E140K基因杂合突变.家系中携带LDLR-E140K基因杂合突变成员TC、LDL-C和载脂蛋白B分别为(8.40±0.13)、(6.79±0.01)、(1.95±0.05)mmol/L,明显高于未携带者[(4.59±0.28)、(3.35±0.39)、(0.86±0.10)mmol/L,t=7.269、4.595、6.311,P均<0.05].结论LDLR-E140K基因纯合突变致儿童HoFH,携带纯合突变的先证者临床表型最严重,携带杂合突变的家系成员均有高胆固醇血症表型,LDLR-E 140K是家族性高胆固醇血症的致病性变异.     

Phenotypic and genetic characterization of a next generation live-attenuated yellow fever vaccine candidate

We assessed the genetic and phenotypic characteristics of a yellow fever vaccine candidate, which was cloned from a YF-VAX substrain selected for growth in Vero cells (vYF-247), during the manufacturing process from the master seed lot (MSL) and working seed lot (WSL) through to the drug substance (DS) stage. There were nine minor nucleotide variants observed from the MSL to the DS stage, of which five led to amino acid changes. The variant positions were, however, not known risks for any virulence modification. vYF-247 exhibits a homogenous plaque size profile (as expected for a cloned vaccine candidate) composed of small plaques (<1 mm) that remained consistent throughout the manufacturing process. In addition, there was no change in the viral replication rate. Of note, the DS sequences across the two manufacturing campaigns (2018 and 2019) were very similar suggesting a high batch-to-batch consistency. All MSL, WSL and DS batches exhibited similar neurovirulence profiles in mice and had a more attenuated neurovirulence phenotype than the YF-VAX (egg-based vaccine) comparator. Overall, the neurovirulence phenotype of vYF-247 does not change from MSL, WSL to DS. These data collectively support the safety and genetic stability of vYF-247 during the production process.     

From phenotyping to genotyping - bioinformatics for the busy clinician

Bioinformatics is a new scientific field. It applies computational and analysis tools to the capture, analyze and interpret large quantities of biological data. To understand genomic information, comparative analysis of data obtained is crucial. Primary physicians are dauntingly being implored to evaluate patients genetically, and analyze the results received.We depict online tools available for defining the clinical characteristics of a patient (phenotype), assisting in compiling them into a tentative genetic clinical diagnosis. The subsequent step is to then learn the patient's genotype and how to curate a specific genetic copy number or sequence variant. The online resources available to assist in this arduous process are described.