Publications by authors named "Stals K"

Pathogenic variants in cytochrome oxidase assembly factor 5 (COA5), a proposed complex IV (CIV) assembly factor, have been shown to cause clinical mitochondrial disease with two siblings affected by neonatal hypertrophic cardiomyopathy manifesting a rare, homozygous missense variant (NM_001008215.3: c.157G>C, p.

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Four genes-DAND5, PKD1L1, MMP21, and CIROP-form a genetic module that has specifically evolved in vertebrate species that harbor motile cilia in their left-right organizer (LRO). We find here that CIROZ (previously known as C1orf127) is also specifically expressed in the LRO of mice, frogs, and fish, where it encodes a protein with a signal peptide followed by 3 zona pellucida N domains, consistent with extracellular localization. We report 16 individuals from 10 families with bi-allelic CIROZ inactivation variants, which cause heterotaxy with congenital heart defects.

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Pathogenic variants in either the mitochondrial or nuclear genomes are associated with a diverse group of human disorders characterized by impaired mitochondrial function. Within this group, an increasing number of families have been identified, where Mendelian genetic disorders implicate defective mitochondrial RNA biology. The PDE12 gene encodes the poly(A)-specific exoribonuclease, involved in the quality control of mitochondrial non-coding RNAs.

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Dissecting biological pathways highlighted by Mendelian gene discovery has provided critical insights into the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) and neurodegeneration. This approach ultimately catalyzes the identification of potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Here, we identify as a new gene implicated in PD and childhood neurodegeneration.

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Defects in motile cilia, termed motile ciliopathies, result in clinical manifestations affecting the respiratory and reproductive system, as well as laterality defects and hydrocephalus. We previously defined biallelic variants causing and male infertility, mirroring the findings in mice. Here, we present clinical and genomic findings in five newly identified individuals from four unrelated families affected by -related disorder.

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ISG15 deficiency is a rare disease caused by autosomal recessive variants in the gene, which encodes the ISG15 protein. The ISG15 protein plays a dual role in both the type I and II interferon (IFN) immune pathways. Extracellularly, the ISG15 protein is essential for IFN-γ-dependent anti-mycobacterial immunity, while intracellularly, ISG15 is necessary for USP18-mediated downregulation of IFN-α/β signalling.

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Homozygous plakophilin-2 () variants have been identified as a cause of a lethal form of dilated cardiomyopathy with excessive trabeculations (DCM-ET) in three cases. We report three more cases from two families with homozygous pathogenic variants and perinatal-onset, lethal DCM-ET. Identification of the genetic abnormalities played a key role in decision-making and family counselling in these cases.

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Purpose: We sought to delineate a multisystem disorder caused by recessive cysteine-rich with epidermal growth factor-like domains 1 (CRELD1) gene variants.

Methods: The impact of CRELD1 variants was characterized through an international collaboration utilizing next-generation DNA sequencing, gene knockdown, and protein overexpression in Xenopus tropicalis, and in vitro analysis of patient immune cells.

Results: Biallelic variants in CRELD1 were found in 18 participants from 14 families.

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Background: Kinesin motor proteins transport intracellular cargo, including mRNA, proteins, and organelles. Pathogenic variants in kinesin-related genes have been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders and skeletal dysplasias. We identified de novo, heterozygous variants in KIF5B, encoding a kinesin-1 subunit, in four individuals with osteogenesis imperfecta.

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FARS2 encodes the mitochondrial phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase (mtPheRS), which is essential for charging mitochondrial (mt-) tRNA with phenylalanine for use in intramitochondrial translation. Many biallelic, pathogenic FARS2 variants have been described previously, which are mostly associated with two distinct clinical phenotypes; an early onset epileptic mitochondrial encephalomyopathy or a later onset spastic paraplegia. In this study, we report on a patient who presented at 3 weeks of age with tachypnoea and poor feeding, which progressed to severe metabolic decompensation with lactic acidosis and seizure activity followed by death at 9 weeks of age.

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Article Synopsis
  • NR2F2 (also known as COUP-TF2) is a transcription factor crucial for mammalian development, with rare variants linked to conditions like congenital heart disease (CHD) and congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).
  • This study reviews 17 new cases of individuals with heterozygous NR2F2 variants, confirming variability in clinical features, such as intrauterine growth restriction, heart defects, developmental delays, and various congenital anomalies.
  • The findings showcase the need for better characterization of the phenotypic range associated with NR2F2 variants and potential clinical guidelines for diagnosis and evaluation.
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  • Cerebral palsy (CP), specifically spastic quadriplegia, can be linked to genetic factors, with mutations in the ADD3 gene found to play a role in some cases.
  • A 16-year-old male with spastic diplegia underwent extensive testing, including whole exome sequencing (WES), which identified a biallelic variant in the ADD3 gene associated with inherited cerebral palsy.
  • Researchers developed a Drosophila model to study the effects of ADD3 mutations, revealing that alterations in this gene lead to reduced lifespan and impaired movement, providing insights for potential treatments for ADD3-related cerebral palsy.
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Purpose: ZMYND8 encodes a multidomain protein that serves as a central interactive hub for coordinating critical roles in transcription regulation, chromatin remodeling, regulation of super-enhancers, DNA damage response and tumor suppression. We delineate a novel neurocognitive disorder caused by variants in the ZMYND8 gene.

Methods: An international collaboration, exome sequencing, molecular modeling, yeast two-hybrid assays, analysis of available transcriptomic data and a knockdown Drosophila model were used to characterize the ZMYND8 variants.

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Article Synopsis
  • TAF4 is a key subunit of the TFIID complex involved in starting transcription, and while other subunits are known to be linked to developmental disorders, TAF4 had not previously been recognized as a disease gene.
  • Researchers report on eight individuals with new loss-of-function variants in TAF4, showing symptoms such as intellectual disability, abnormal behavior, and facial differences, which are characteristic of neuro-developmental disorders.
  • The study proposes the term "TAF4-related NDD" (T4NDD) for this condition and highlights its similarities with other disorders linked to TFIID subunits, suggesting a broader category of related conditions known as TAF-opathies.
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GRIA1 encodes the GluA1 subunit of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate (AMPA) receptors, which are ligand-gated ion channels that act as excitatory receptors for the neurotransmitter L-glutamate (Glu). AMPA receptors (AMPARs) are homo- or heteromeric protein complexes with four subunits, each encoded by different genes, GRIA1 to GRIA4. Although GluA1-containing AMPARs have a crucial role in brain function, the human phenotype associated with deleterious GRIA1 sequence variants has not been established.

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Article Synopsis
  • Recent research identified FBXO11 gene variants as a cause of a neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD), and analysis of 23 new cases showed a wide range of symptoms, primarily developmental delays and intellectual disability.
  • The study found various mutations, including deletions and missense variants, affecting the FBXO11 protein's structure and function, which often resulted in mislocalization and reduced protein levels.
  • Functional tests indicated that these mutations likely disrupt the normal function of FBXO11, suggesting that haploinsufficiency (having only one functioning copy of the gene) may lead to the observed NDD symptoms.
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Purpose: Recent reports of individuals with cytoplasmic transfer RNA (tRNA) synthetase-related disorders have identified cases with phenotypic variability from the index presentations. We sought to assess phenotypic variability in individuals with AARS1-related disease.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was performed on individuals with biallelic variants in AARS1.

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Purpose: Phosphatidylinositol Glycan Anchor Biosynthesis, class G (PIGG) is an ethanolamine phosphate transferase catalyzing the modification of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI). GPI serves as an anchor on the cell membrane for surface proteins called GPI-anchored proteins (GPI-APs). Pathogenic variants in genes involved in the biosynthesis of GPI cause inherited GPI deficiency (IGD), which still needs to be further characterized.

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Objective: Precursors of peptide hormones undergo posttranslational modifications within the trans-Golgi network (TGN). Dysfunction of proteins involved at different steps of this process cause several complex syndromes affecting the central nervous system (CNS). We aimed to clarify the genetic cause in a group of patients characterized by hypopituitarism in combination with brain atrophy, thin corpus callosum, severe developmental delay, visual impairment, and epilepsy.

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Background: Coat protein complex 1 (COPI) is integral in the sorting and retrograde trafficking of proteins and lipids from the Golgi apparatus to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In recent years, coat proteins have been implicated in human diseases known collectively as "coatopathies".

Methods: Whole exome or genome sequencing of two families with a neuro-developmental syndrome, variable microcephaly and cataracts revealed biallelic variants in COPB1, which encodes the beta-subunit of COPI (β-COP).

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Deletion 1p36 (del1p36) syndrome is the most common human disorder resulting from a terminal autosomal deletion. This condition is molecularly and clinically heterogeneous. Deletions involving two non-overlapping regions, known as the distal (telomeric) and proximal (centromeric) critical regions, are sufficient to cause the majority of the recurrent clinical features, although with different facial features and dysmorphisms.

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Histone deacetylases play crucial roles in the regulation of chromatin structure and gene expression in the eukaryotic cell, and disruption of their activity causes a wide range of developmental disorders in humans. Loss-of-function alleles of , a founding member of the class IIa deacetylases, have been reported in brachydactyly-mental retardation syndrome (BDMR). However, while disruption of HDAC4 activity and deregulation of its downstream targets may contribute to the BDMR phenotype, loss of HDAC4 function usually occurs as part of larger deletions of chromosome 2q37; BDMR is also known as chromosome 2q37 deletion syndrome, and the precise role of HDAC4 within the phenotype remains uncertain.

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