Three rare diseases in one Sib pair: RAI1, PCK1, GRIN2B mutations associated with Smith-Magenis Syndrome, cytosolic PEPCK deficiency and NMDA receptor glutamate insensitivity

Mol Genet Metab. 2014 Nov;113(3):161-70. doi: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2014.04.001. Epub 2014 Apr 13.

Abstract

The National Institutes of Health Undiagnosed Diseases Program evaluates patients for whom no diagnosis has been discovered despite a comprehensive diagnostic workup. Failure to diagnose a condition may arise from the mutation of genes previously unassociated with disease. However, we hypothesized that this could also co-occur with multiple genetic disorders. Demonstrating a complex syndrome caused by multiple disorders, we report two siblings manifesting both similar and disparate signs and symptoms. They shared a history of episodes of hypoglycemia and lactic acidosis, but had differing exam findings and developmental courses. Clinical acumen and exome sequencing combined with biochemical and functional studies identified three genetic conditions. One sibling had Smith-Magenis Syndrome and a nonsense mutation in the RAI1 gene. The second sibling had a de novo mutation in GRIN2B, which resulted in markedly reduced glutamate potency of the encoded receptor. Both siblings had a protein-destabilizing homozygous mutation in PCK1, which encodes the cytosolic isoform of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK-C). In summary, we present the first clinically-characterized mutation of PCK1 and demonstrate that complex medical disorders can represent the co-occurrence of multiple diseases.

Keywords: Developmental delay; Dysmorphism; Hypoglycemia; Lactic acidemia; Multiple genetic disorders; Protein structure-function.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Base Sequence
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Female
  • Genetic Association Studies
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation, Missense
  • Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (ATP) / deficiency*
  • Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP) / genetics*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / genetics*
  • Smith-Magenis Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Smith-Magenis Syndrome / genetics
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*

Substances

  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • NR2B NMDA receptor
  • RAI1 protein, human
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • PCK1 protein, human
  • Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP)
  • PCK2 protein, human
  • Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (ATP)