De Novo Truncating Mutations in WASF1 Cause Intellectual Disability with Seizures

Yoko Ito, Keren J. Carss, Sofia T. Duarte, Taila Hartley, Boris Keren, Manju A. Kurian, Isabelle Marey, Perinne Charles, Carla Mendonca, Caroline Nava, Rolph Pfundt, Alba Sanchis-Juan, Hans van Bokhoven, Anthony van Essen, Conny van Ravenswaaij-Arts, Kym M. Boycott, Kristin D. Kernohan, Sarah Dyack, F. Lucy Raymond*, Yvonne HenskensNIHR BioResource, Care4Rare Canada Consortium

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Next-generation sequencing has been invaluable in the elucidation of the genetic etiology of many subtypes of intellectual disability in recent years. Here, using exome sequencing and whole-genome sequencing, we identified three de novo truncating mutations in WAS protein family member 1 (WASF1) in five unrelated individuals with moderate to profound intellectual disability with autistic features and seizures. WASF1, also known as WAVE1, is part of the WAVE complex and acts as a mediator between Rac-GTPase and actin to induce actin polymerization. The three mutations connected by Matchmaker Exchange were c.1516C>T (p.Arg506Ter), which occurs in three unrelated individuals, c.1558C>T (p.Gln520Ter), and c.1482delinsGCCAGG (p.Ile494MetfsTer23). All three variants are predicted to partially or fully disrupt the C-terminal actin-binding WCA domain. Functional studies using fibroblast cells from two affected individuals with the c.1516C>T mutation showed a truncated WASF1 and a defect in actin remodeling. This study provides evidence that de novo heterozygous mutations in WASF1 cause a rare form of intellectual disability.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)144-153
Number of pages10
JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics
Volume103
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 5 Jul 2018

Keywords

  • PROTEIN
  • WAVE
  • PLASTICITY
  • DISORDERS
  • EXCHANGE
  • COMPLEX
  • GENES

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