Publications by authors named "R C van Jaarsveld"

Article Synopsis
  • - Microtubule affinity-regulating kinase 2 (MARK2) is crucial for neurons to develop properly, and variants in MARK2 have been linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental issues, with most being loss-of-function mutations.
  • - A study analyzed 31 individuals with MARK2 variants showing ASD along with unique facial features, finding that the loss of MARK2 disrupts early neuron development and leads to abnormal growth patterns in neural cells.
  • - Research using iPSC models and MARK2-deficient mice highlighted the link between MARK2 loss and issues in neuronal function, connecting it to the reduction of the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway, while suggesting lithium as a potential treatment
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Craniotubular Dysplasia Ikegawa type is a sclerosing bone disorder recently identified in five patients from four independent Indian families. It is caused by homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in TMEM53. Deficient TMEM53 leads to overactive BMP signaling which promotes bone formation.

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CSMD1 (Cub and Sushi Multiple Domains 1) is a well-recognized regulator of the complement cascade, an important component of the innate immune response. CSMD1 is highly expressed in the central nervous system (CNS) where emergent functions of the complement pathway modulate neural development and synaptic activity. While a genetic risk factor for neuropsychiatric disorders, the role of CSMD1 in neurodevelopmental disorders is unclear.

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Variation in the non-coding genome is being increasingly recognized to be involved in monogenic disease etiology. However, the interpretation of non-coding variation is complicated by a lack of understanding of how non-coding genetic elements function. Additional lines of evidence are therefore needed to recognize non-coding variants as pathogenic.

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Utilizing trio whole-exome sequencing and a gene matching approach, we identified a cohort of 18 male individuals from 17 families with hemizygous variants in KCND1, including two de novo missense variants, three maternally inherited protein-truncating variants, and 12 maternally inherited missense variants. Affected subjects present with a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by diverse neurological abnormalities, mostly delays in different developmental domains, but also distinct neuropsychiatric signs and epilepsy. Heterozygous carrier mothers are clinically unaffected.

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