Early onset or syndromic epilepsy

Gene: PUM1

Comment on list classification: Changed rating from Green to Amber so that Green genes on this panel reflect the NHS signed-off version. This will be reviewed at the next GMS panel update (added 'for-review' tag).

Created: 20 Oct 2020, 4:08 p.m. | Last Modified: 20 Oct 2020, 4:08 p.m.

Panel Version: 2.200

The rating of this gene has been updated following NHS Genomic Medicine Service approval.

Created: 3 Mar 2022, 5:34 p.m. | Last Modified: 3 Mar 2022, 5:34 p.m.

Panel Version: 2.491

Comment on list classification: Associated with relevant phenotype in OMIM, but not associated with phenotype in Gen2Phen. At least 3 SNVs in at least 5 unrelated cases and CNVs spanning PUM1 in 9 cases. Supportive functional studies also reported.

Created: 23 Mar 2020, 1:36 p.m. | Last Modified: 23 Mar 2020, 1:36 p.m.

Panel Version: 2.9

Comment on phenotypes: Global developmental delay;Intellectual disability;Seizures;Abnormality of the face;Ataxia;Cryptorchidism

Created: 23 Mar 2020, 1:22 p.m. | Last Modified: 23 Mar 2020, 1:22 p.m.

Panel Version: 2.8

Green List (high evidence)

More than 10 families reported. Individuals with either PUM1 deletions or de novo missense variants have a developmental syndrome (Pumilio1-associated developmental disability, ataxia, and seizure; PADDAS). One family reported with milder missense variant and adult-onset ataxia with incomplete penetrance (Pumilio1-related cerebellar ataxia, PRCA)

Created: 5 Feb 2020, 5:35 a.m. | Last Modified: 5 Feb 2020, 5:35 a.m.

Panel Version: 2.0

Mode of inheritance
MONOALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal, NOT imprinted

Phenotypes
intellectual disability; epilepsy; Spinocerebellar ataxia 47, MIM# 617931

Publications

• 29474920
• 25768905
• 30903679
• 31859446

Green List (high evidence)

5 unrelated individuals with de novo pathogenic PUM1 variants have been reported in the literature. DD (5/5), ID (4/5 - relevant severity to the current panel), seizures (4/4 - absence/tonic-clonic, abnormal EEG) and variable other features (incl. facial dysmorphism, ataxia, cryptorchidism) appear to be part of the phenotype. 9 individuals with deletions spanning PUM1 and proximal genes presented similar features.

[1] PMID: 29474920 - Gennarino et al (2018)
[2] PMID: 30903679 - Bonnemason-Carrere et al (2019)
[3] PMID: 31859446 - Voet et al (2019) [with review of the literature]

SNVs in relevant individuals were identified by exome sequencing and were in all cases de novo.

Arg1147Trp was a recurrent variant reported in 3 unrelated subjects with ID and seizures (Refs 1,2,3 / NM_001020658.1:c.3439C>T). A nonsense variant was reported in an additional one with DD, ID, seizures and additional features (c.2509C>T / p.Arg837* - Ref3). One individual with a de novo missense variant (c.3416G>A / p.Arg1139Trp) with DD and ataxia, though without ID was reported in Ref1.

Details on 9 individuals with 0.3 - 5.6 Mb deletions spanning PUM1 and other genes are provided in Ref1. Features also included DD, ID, seizures, ataxia, etc.

Extensive initial investigations were reported for individuals in Refs 2 and 3 (various investigations incl. karyotype, SNP-array, targeted sequencing of OPHN1, KANSL1 or of a small panel of ID genes, biopsies and/or metabolic work-up) to rule out alternative causes. These only revealed a likely benign CNV and a GRIA3 SNV of uncertain significance in the case of an individual harboring the recurrent Arg1147Trp variant [Ref2].

Role of the gene (from OMIM):
Pumilio proteins, such as PUM1, negatively regulate gene expression by repressing translation of mRNAs to which they bind (Lee et al., 2016). A clinically significant PUM1 target is ataxin (ATXN1; 601556), mutation in which causes spinocerebellar ataxia-1 (SCA1; 601556).

Variant studies:
- Arg1147Trp was shown to be associated with normal PUM1 mRNA levels, but reduced (to ~43%) PUM1 protein levels in patient fibroblasts. ATXN1 mRNA and protein levels, as well as protein and/or mRNA levels of other PUM1 targets were shown to be increased (Ref1).
- In Ref1, in vitro transfection assays with wt or mt PUM1 were performed in HEK293T cells to evaluate repression of ATXN1 and E2F3. While overexpression of wt and Arg1147Trp were able to reduce ATXN1 and E2F3 levels, Arg1139Trp was not able to repress ATXN1 or E2F3.
- Upon overexpression in mouse hippocampal neurons, PUM1 missense mutations (among others Arg1139Trp and Arg1147Trp) were shown to alter neuronal morphology.

Overall haploinsufficiency is the proposed mechanism for the disorder for which the acronym PADDAS is used (Pumilio1-associated developmental disability, ataxia and seizure).

Milder mutations reducing PUM1 levels by 25% are associated with adult-onset ataxia without ID (PRCA or Pumilio1-related cerebellar ataxia) [Ref1].

Mouse models:
The role of PUM1 was first suggested in mouse models where Pum1 mutations were shown to lead to a SCA1-like phenotype (PMID cited : 12086639 - Watase et al 2002) further shown to be caused by increased Atxn1 mRNA and protein levels (PMID cited : 25768905 - Gennarino et al 2015).
The mouse model seems to recapitulate several of the features observed in affected individuals : Pum1 homozygous ko mice display among others hyperactivity, progressive cerebellar signs, spontaneous seizures as also observed in affected individuals (PMID cited : 25768905 - Gennarino et al 2015). Cryptorchidism was observed in 2 patients similar to testicular hypoplasia reported in Pum1 ko mice (PMID cited : 22342750 - Chen et al 2012).
- Heterozygous mice were evaluated in Ref1 with 69% or 75% exhibiting spontaneous seizures by the end of 30 or 35 wks respectively, with abnormal EEG activity already by 16 wks.

Additional individuals with PUM1 variants and a relevant phenotype of ID with or without seizures have been reported as part of the DDD study or as external submissions to Decipher and ClinVar :

https://decipher.sanger.ac.uk/search?q=PUM1#research-variants/results [ DDD4K.01387 participant ]
https://decipher.sanger.ac.uk/search?q=pum1#consented-patients/results [ external submission(s) ]
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/clinvar/variation/431110/ [ splice-site variant in an individual with ID submitted prior to the 1st publication on the disorder ]
Sources: Literature

Created: 31 Dec 2019, 2 a.m.

Mode of inheritance
MONOALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal, imprinted status unknown

Phenotypes
Global developmental delay; Intellectual disability; Seizures; Abnormality of the face; Ataxia; Cryptorchidism

Publications

• 29474920
• 30903679
• 31859446