Parental origin of de novo MECP2 mutations in Rett syndrome

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder occurring almost exclusively in females as sporadic cases. Recently, DNA mutations in the MECP2 gene have been detected in approximately 70% of patients with RTT. To explain the sex-limited expression of RTT, it has been suggested that de novo X-linked mutations occur exclusively in male germ cells resulting therefore only in affected daughters. To test this hypothesis, we have analysed 19 families with RTT syndrome due to MECP2 molecular defects. In seven informative families we have found by DHPLC a nucleotide variant which could be used to differentiate between the maternal and the paternal allele. In each subject investigated from these families, we have amplified specifically each allele and sequenced allele-specific PCR products to identify the allele bearing the mutation as well as the parental origin of each X chromosome. This approach allowed us to determine the parental origin of de novo mutations in all informative families. In five cases, the de novo MECP2 mutations have a paternal origin and in the two other cases a maternal origin. In all transitions at CpG, the de novo mutation observed was of paternal origin. The high frequency of male germ-line transmission of the mutation (71% of RTT informative cases) is consistent with a predominant occurrence of the disease in females.     

Variation in exon 1 coding region and promoter of MECP2 in Rett syndrome and controls

Mutations in MECP2 are a cause of Rett syndrome. Recently, a new isoform of MeCP2 was described, which has an alternative N-terminus, transcribed from exon 1. We screened exon 1 and the promoter region of MECP2 in 97 mutation-negative Rett syndrome cases. We found two sequence variants, but there was no evidence that they are pathogenic. Mutations in exon 1 and the promoter of MECP2 are not a common cause of Rett syndrome.     

Enrichment of mutations in chromatin regulators in people with Rett syndrome lacking mutations in MECP2

PurposeRett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused primarily by de novo mutations in MECP2 and sometimes in CDKL5 and FOXG1. However, some RTT patients lack mutations in these genes.MethodsTwenty-two RTT patients without apparent MECP2, CDKL5, and FOXG1 mutations were subjected to both whole-exome sequencing and single-nucleotide polymorphism array–based copy-number variant (CNV) analyses.ResultsThree patients had MECP2 mutations initially missed by clinical testing. Of the remaining 19, 17 (89.5%) had 29 other likely pathogenic intragenic mutations and/or CNVs (10 patients had 2 or more). Interestingly, 13 patients had mutations in a gene/region previously reported in other neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), thereby providing a potential diagnostic yield of 68.4%. These mutations were significantly enriched in chromatin regulators (corrected P = 0.0068) and moderately enriched in postsynaptic cell membrane molecules (corrected P = 0.076), implicating glutamate receptor signaling.ConclusionThe genetic etiology of RTT without MECP2, CDKL5, and FOXG1 mutations is heterogeneous, overlaps with other NDDs, and complicated by a high mutation burden. Dysregulation of chromatin structure and abnormal excitatory synaptic signaling may form two common pathological bases of RTT.     

MECP2 mutations account for most cases of typical forms of Rett syndrome

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe progressive neurological disorder that affects almost exclusively females, with an estimated prevalence of approximately one in 10 000-15 000 female births. Most cases are sporadic, but several reports about familial recurrence support X-linked dominant inheritance with male lethality. The gene responsible for this disorder, MECP2, was recently identified by candidate gene strategy. Mutations were detected in <25% of RTT cases in this first report. To characterize the spectrum of mutations in the MECP2 gene in RTT patients, we selected 46 typical RTT patients and performed mutation screening by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis combined with direct sequencing. We identified 30 mutations, accounting for 65% of RTT patients. They include 12 novel mutations (11 located in exon 3 and one in exon 2). Mutations, such as R270X and frameshift deletions in a (CCACC) (n) rich region, have been found with multiple recurrences. Most of the mutations were de novo, except in one family where the non-affected transmitter mother exhibited a bias of X inactivation. Although this study showed that MECP2 mutations account for most cases of typical forms of RTT (65%) and mutations in non-coding regions cannot be excluded for the remaining cases, an alternative hypothesis that takes into account the homogeneous phenotype and exclusive involvement of females, could be the implication in RTT of a putative second X-linked gene.     

中国Rett综合征患儿突变基因的亲源分析

Objective To identify the parental origin of methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2)gene mutations in Chinese patients with Rett syndrome. Methods Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in intron 3 of the MECP2 gene were analyzed by PCR and sequencing in 115 patients with Rett syndrome.Then sequencing of the SNP region was performed for the fathers of the patients who had at least one SNP,to determine which allele was from the father. Then allele-specific PCR was performed and the products were sequenced to see whether the allele from father or mother harbored the mutation. Results Seventy-six of the 115 patients had at least one SNP. Three hot SNPs were found in these patients. They were: IVS3+22C＞G, IVS3+266C＞T and IVS3+683C＞T. Among the 76 cases, 73 had a paternal origin of MECP2 mutations, and the other 3 had a maternal origin. There were multiple types of MECP2 mutation of the paternal origin, including 4 frame shift, 2 deletion and 67 point (56 C＞T, 6 C＞G, 2 A＞G, 2 G＞T and 1 A＞T) mutations. The mutation types of the 3 ptients with maternal origin included 2 frame shift and 1 point (C＞T) mutation. Conclusion In Chinese RTT patients, the MECP2 mutations are mostly of paternal origin.     

中国Rett综合征患儿突变基因的亲源分析

Objective To identify the parental origin of methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2)gene mutations in Chinese patients with Rett syndrome. Methods Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in intron 3 of the MECP2 gene were analyzed by PCR and sequencing in 115 patients with Rett syndrome.Then sequencing of the SNP region was performed for the fathers of the patients who had at least one SNP,to determine which allele was from the father. Then allele-specific PCR was performed and the products were sequenced to see whether the allele from father or mother harbored the mutation. Results Seventy-six of the 115 patients had at least one SNP. Three hot SNPs were found in these patients. They were: IVS3+22C＞G, IVS3+266C＞T and IVS3+683C＞T. Among the 76 cases, 73 had a paternal origin of MECP2 mutations, and the other 3 had a maternal origin. There were multiple types of MECP2 mutation of the paternal origin, including 4 frame shift, 2 deletion and 67 point (56 C＞T, 6 C＞G, 2 A＞G, 2 G＞T and 1 A＞T) mutations. The mutation types of the 3 ptients with maternal origin included 2 frame shift and 1 point (C＞T) mutation. Conclusion In Chinese RTT patients, the MECP2 mutations are mostly of paternal origin.     

中国Rett综合征患儿突变基因的亲源分析

目的 明确中国Rett综合征(Rett syndrome,RTT)患儿致病基因甲基化CpG结合蛋白2(methyl-CpG-binding protein 2,MECP2)的突变亲源.方法 对115例经基因突变分析证实存在MECP2突变的患儿进行第3内含子测序分析,寻找单核苷酸多态性(single nucleotide polymorphism,SNP)位点.对发现SNP患儿行等位基因特异性PCR扩增,通过比较患儿及其父亲SNP碱基序列,判定患儿突变基因所在染色体亲源.结果 115例患儿中76例存在至少一种SNP.在中国RTT患儿中发现3个热点SNP.76例患儿中73例突变位于父源X染色体,3例突变位于母源X染色体.结论 我国RTT患儿MECP2突变以父源突变为主.     

Rett综合征MECP2基因突变分析

目的 分析我国典型的Rett综合征患儿甲基化CpG结合蛋白－2基因（methyl-CpG-binding protein 2,MECP2）突变。方法 使用PCR扩增、单链构象多态性分析、PCR产物克隆和DNA测序的方法。检测分析了26例Rett综合征患儿、其父母和其中2例患儿的妹妹MECP2基因3个外显子的基因突变。结果 26例Rett综合征患儿中发现14例有9种类型MECP2基因的杂合性突变，突变均位于第3外显子。其中7例有3种错义突变：C473T（T158M)4例,C674G(P225R)1例，C916T（R306C）2例；4例有3种无义突变：C502T（R168X）2例，C763T（R255X）1例，C880T（R294X）1例；2种由于缺失导致的突变：1例为1152del 44bp和1例1158－1167／1171－1186del 26bp；1鲍由于碱基插入导致的移码突变：874insA。1158－1167／1171－1186del 26bp和874insA突变为首次报千，突变均为新生突变。此外，新发现了一种源于你亲的错义变异1141G（P381A）。结论 我国Rett综合征患儿存在MECP2基因突变，典型的Rett综合征MECP2基因突变率大于50％。     

MECP2 deletions and genotype-phenotype correlation in Rett syndrome

Rett syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder that represents one of the most common genetic causes of mental retardation in girls. MECP2 point mutations in exons 2-4 account for about 80% of classic Rett cases and for a lower percentage of variant patients. We investigated the genetic cause in 77 mutation-negative Rett patients (33 classic, 31 variant, and 13 Rett-like cases) by searching missed MECP2 defects. DHPLC analysis of exon 1 and MLPA analysis allowed us to identify the defect in 17 Rett patients: one exon 1 point mutation (c.47_57del) in a classic case and 16 MECP2 large deletions (15/33 classic and 1/31 variant cases). One identical intragenic MECP2 deletion, probably due to gonadal mosaicism, was found in two sisters with discordant phenotype: one classic and one "highly functioning" preserved speech variant. This result indicates that other epigenetic or genetic factors, beside MECP2, may contribute to phenotype modulation. Three out of 16 MECP2 deletions extend to the adjacent centromeric IRAK1 gene. A putative involvement of the hemizygosity of this gene in the ossification process is discussed. Finally, results reported here clearly indicate that MECP2 large deletions are a common cause of classic Rett, and MLPA analysis is mandatory in MECP2-negative patients, especially in those more severely affected (P = 0.044).     

Spectrum and distribution of MECP2 mutations in 424 Rett syndrome patients: a molecular update

Mutations in the MECP2 (Methyl-CpG-binding protein) gene have been reported to cause Rett syndrome (RTT), an X-linked progressive encephalopathy. Recent studies have identified large gene rearrangements that escape the common PCR-based mutation screening strategy and mutations in a novel MeCP2 isoform (named MECP2B). We have collected the results of MECP2 mutational analysis concerning 424 RTT patients conducted in eight laboratories in France. In total, 121 different MECP2 mutations were identified. R168X (11.5%) is the most common of MECP2 mutations, followed by R270X (9%), R255X (8.7%), T158 M (8.3%) and R306C (6.8%). Only eight mutations had relative frequency>3%. Large and complex rearrangements not previously detected using only a PCR-based strategy represent 5.8% of MECP2 mutations. On the contrary, mutation in exon 1 appears to be rare (less than 0.5%). These data demonstrate the high allelic heterogeneity of RTT in France and suggest that routine mutation screening in MECP2 should include quantitative analysis of the MECP2 gene. This study represents an important instrument for molecular diagnosis strategy and genetic counseling in RTT families.