Many genes encoding synaptic proteins are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), intellectual disability (ID), and epilepsy. Here we review recent studies on the synaptic effects of disease-associated rare variants identified in two families of synaptic proteins: NMDA receptors (NMDARs) and the postsynaptic adhesion molecules neuroligins (NLGNs). Many NMDAR subunit genes (GRINs) are highly intolerant to variation, and both gain-of-function (GOF) and loss-of-function (LOF) variants are implicated in disease. NLGN genes are also associated with ASDs, and in some cases, contribute to the male bias identified in these patients. Understanding the molecular basis of synaptic dysfunction of rare variants in these genes will help the design of new therapeutic approaches.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conb.2021.03.001 | DOI Listing |
Epilepsia
January 2025
Applied Translational Neurogenomics Group, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnology (VIB) Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, Antwerp, Belgium.
Objective: This study aims to improve genetic diagnosis in childhood onset epilepsy with neurodevelopmental problems by utilizing RNA sequencing of fibroblasts to identify pathogenic variants that may be missed by exome sequencing and copy number variation analysis.
Methods: We enrolled 41 individuals with childhood onset epilepsy and neurodevelopmental problems who previously had inconclusive genetic testing. Fibroblast samples were cultured and analyzed using RNA sequencing to detect aberrant expression, aberrant splicing, and monoallelic expression using the Detection of RNA Outlier Pipeline (DROP) pipeline.
Eur J Neurol
February 2025
1st Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Background: The p.A53T variant in the SNCA gene was considered, until recently, to be the only SNCA variant causing familial Parkinson's disease (PD) in the Greek population. We identified a novel heterozygous p.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur J Neurol
February 2025
Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Background: Hereditary transthyretin (ATTRv) amyloidosis is a rare, adult-onset autosomal-dominant disorder caused by pathogenic variants in the transthyretin (TTR) gene. Data about relevant variants in specific populations and typical initial manifestations may facilitate early diagnosis and treatment. We here describe the genetic landscape of ATTRv amyloidosis in Israel.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCureus
December 2024
University of Florida Health Congenital Heart Center, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, USA.
Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) comprises a set of rare congenital abnormalities in the origin or path of the coronary arteries with highly variable clinical implications. This is a pilot feasibility study where we investigated the influence of the anomalous coronary artery inlet architecture on coronary perfusion using coronary blood flow computational simulations to help predict the risk for coronary ischemia in patients with anomalous aortic origin of the right coronary artery (AAORCA) with these types of anomalous coronary artery inlet architectures. We developed a protocol for generating 3D models of patient coronary artery anatomies from an IRB-approved dataset of cardiac CT images of patients with AAORCA at our institution.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJBMR Plus
February 2025
Research Program for Clinical and Molecular Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland.
Hypophosphatemic rickets is a rare bone disease characterized by short stature, bone deformities, impaired bone mineralization, and dental problems. Most commonly, hypophosphatemic rickets is caused by pathogenic variants in the X-chromosomal gene, but autosomal dominant and recessive forms also exist. We investigated a Finnish family in which the son (index, 29 yr) and mother (56 yr) had hypophosphatemia since childhood.
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