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Intellectual disability v10.85 SP9 Achchuthan Shanmugasundram Deleted their comment
Intellectual disability v10.85 SP9 Achchuthan Shanmugasundram Classified gene: SP9 as Amber List (moderate evidence)
Intellectual disability v10.85 SP9 Achchuthan Shanmugasundram Added comment: Comment on list classification: As there is sufficient evidence available (four unrelated cases) for the association of SP9 to developmental delay/ intellectual disability, this gene can be promoted to green rating in the next GMS update.
Intellectual disability v10.85 SP9 Achchuthan Shanmugasundram Gene: sp9 has been classified as Amber List (Moderate Evidence).
Intellectual disability v10.85 SP9 Achchuthan Shanmugasundram Classified gene: SP9 as Amber List (moderate evidence)
Intellectual disability v10.85 SP9 Achchuthan Shanmugasundram Added comment: Comment on list classification: As there is sufficient evidence available (four unrelated cases) for the association of SP9 to developmental delay/ intellectual disability, this gene can be promoted to green rating in the next GMS update.
Intellectual disability v10.85 SP9 Achchuthan Shanmugasundram Gene: sp9 has been classified as Amber List (Moderate Evidence).
Intellectual disability v10.84 SP9 Achchuthan Shanmugasundram gene: SP9 was added
gene: SP9 was added to Intellectual disability. Sources: Literature
Q3_26_promote_green tags were added to gene: SP9.
Mode of inheritance for gene: SP9 was set to MONOALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal, NOT imprinted
Publications for gene: SP9 were set to 38288683
Phenotypes for gene: SP9 were set to neurodevelopmental disorder, MONDO:0700092
Review for gene: SP9 was set to GREEN
Added comment: PMID:38288683 (2024) reported the identification of four different de novo heterozygous variants in SP9 as a cause of a novel form of interneuronopathy in five unrelated cases.

Individual 1 is a male fetus with moderate ventriculomegaly and multiple periventricular and deep gray matter cystic/ischemic lesions (choroid plexus and periventricular cysts, bilateral GE and caudate signal abnormalities with restricted diffusion) identified on late third‑trimester MRI, leading to termination of pregnancy at 35 weeks’ gestation. This individual was identified with c.1133A>C (p.Glu378Ala) variant in SP9 gene.

The age of other four individuals ranged from six months to six years and all had neurodevelopmental disorder of variable severity. A first clinical phenotype consisting of moderate intellectual disability (ID) associated with an ASD with or without epilepsy was present in individuals 2 and 5 who carried frameshift SP9 variants, p.c.1216del (p.His406ThrfsTer2) and c.1192_1207dup (p.Arg403Glnfs∗15), respectively. A second, more severe clinical phenotype consisting of epileptic encephalopathy was present in individuals 3 and 4, who both carried a missense variant c.1133A>G (p.Glu378Gly) involving the same glutamate residue in position 378 as individual 1.

In summary, (global) developmental delay and/or intellectual disability was reported in four patients, while epilepsy was reported in three.

This gene has been associated with relevant phenotype in Gene2Phenotype (with 'moderate' rating on the DD panel), but not yet reported in OMIM (last accessed 30 July 2026).
Sources: Literature
Intellectual disability v8.200 MARS2 Achchuthan Shanmugasundram changed review comment from: Comment on publications: PMID:39995633 was identified by the Genomics England Applied Machine Learning (ML) team in a Biocuration-ML project for identifying new gene-disease associations using Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Generative AI techniques.

The patient reported in PMID:39995633 presented with psychomotor developmental delay, growth failure, and generalized skeletal alterations. Genetic analyses showed novel biallelic variants, c.277G > A; p.(Asp93Asn) and c.409C > T; p.(Arg137Cys) in the MARS2 gene. These variants were inherited from the patient's parents, with one variant detected in the mother and the other in the father, both heterozygous.; to: Comment on publications: PMID:39995633 was identified by the Genomics England Applied Machine Learning (ML) team in a Biocuration-ML project for identifying new gene-disease associations using Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Generative AI techniques.

The patient reported in PMID:39995633 presented with psychomotor developmental delay, growth failure, and generalized skeletal alterations. However, this patient was not reported with intellectual disability in the publication.

Genetic analyses showed novel biallelic variants, c.277G > A; p.(Asp93Asn) and c.409C > T; p.(Arg137Cys) in the MARS2 gene. These variants were inherited from the patient's parents, with one variant detected in the mother and the other in the father, both heterozygous.
Intellectual disability v8.200 MARS2 Achchuthan Shanmugasundram Added comment: Comment on publications: PMID:39995633 was identified by the Genomics England Applied Machine Learning (ML) team in a Biocuration-ML project for identifying new gene-disease associations using Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Generative AI techniques.

The patient reported in PMID:39995633 presented with psychomotor developmental delay, growth failure, and generalized skeletal alterations. Genetic analyses showed novel biallelic variants, c.277G > A; p.(Asp93Asn) and c.409C > T; p.(Arg137Cys) in the MARS2 gene. These variants were inherited from the patient's parents, with one variant detected in the mother and the other in the father, both heterozygous.
Intellectual disability v5.532 DOCK4 Zornitza Stark gene: DOCK4 was added
gene: DOCK4 was added to Intellectual disability - microarray and sequencing. Sources: Literature
Mode of inheritance for gene: DOCK4 was set to MONOALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal, NOT imprinted
Publications for gene: DOCK4 were set to 38526744
Phenotypes for gene: DOCK4 were set to DOCK4-related neurodevelopmental disorder (MONDO:0060490)
Review for gene: DOCK4 was set to GREEN
Added comment: 7 unrelated individuals reported with heterozygous variants (missense or null variants) in DOCK4. The individuals either had ID or DD between mild and moderate with brain abnormalities. Two of the individuals are reportedly compound heterozygous.

Functional assay neuro-2A Dock4 knockout cells by using the Alt-R CRISPR-Cas9 system utilizing two different guide RNAs (ko1 and ko2) and one nonspecific control guide RNA (C: control). The assay depicted the loss of function mechanism in the presence of either p.Arg853Leu and p.Asp946_Lys1966delinsValSer* (described as 945VS).
Sources: Literature
Intellectual disability v3.1544 DTYMK Konstantinos Varvagiannis gene: DTYMK was added
gene: DTYMK was added to Intellectual disability. Sources: Literature
Mode of inheritance for gene: DTYMK was set to BIALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal
Publications for gene: DTYMK were set to Global developmental delay; Intellectual disability; Microcephaly; Seizures; Global brain atrophy; Cardiorespiratory arrest
Phenotypes for gene: DTYMK were set to 31271740; 34918187; 35346037
Penetrance for gene: DTYMK were set to Complete
Review for gene: DTYMK was set to GREEN
Added comment: 4 individuals (from 3 families) harboring biallelic DTYMK pathogenic variants have been reported.

Consider inclusion in the current panel with green rating given consistent and relevant phenotype and evidence provided to date [effect of variants (LoF), pathogenesis, similar phenotypes in zebrafish model, etc].

Relevant studies are summarized below.
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Lam et al (2019 - PMID: 31271740) described two siblings aged 25m and 7y, harboring biallelic DTYMK variants.

The phenotype consisted of hypotonia, congenital microcephaly, DD, severe ID. Other shared features included raised serum lactate, pyruvate and alanine. The phenotype was more pronounced in the younger one (epilepticus during febrile illness, epilepsy on multiple anti-convulsants, evidence of regression, etc). Brain MRI revealed marked cerebral atrophy among the findings while a lactate peak was present in spectroscopy. The elder brother developed an episode of sudden onset coma with respiratory failure at the age of 7y.

Quartet WES identified compound heterozygosity for a fs and a missense DTYMK variant (NM_012145.3:c.287_320del / p.Asp96Valfs*8 - c.295G>A / p.Ala99Thr). There were no additional findings. Previous genetic panel analysis for epilepsy was unremarkable for the 1st sib.

There are two pathways for synthesis of dNTPs, the de novo pathway operating in the cytosol only and the salvage operating in both cytosol and mitochondria. DTYMK encodes (deoxy)thymidylate kinase which catalyzes conversion (phosphorylation) of dTMP to dTDP - a step right after convergence of both pathways - in the dTTP synthesis pathway.

Mutations in TK2, an enzyme phosphorylating thymidine in mitochondria to dTMP have been associated with mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome (MDDS).

Given this and as the 2 sibs had raised serum lactate and pyruvate, the authors performed in silico analyses to calculate mtDNA/nDNA ratio dividing the respective read depths for mitochondrial and nuclear DNA obtained from WGS data of the two sibs (blood).

This ratio was shown to be reduced in the more severely affected sib (65.5% of control) although this was not the case for the mildly affected brother (114.6%). As a control a non-MDDS mitochondrial cytopathy sample (corresponding to m.8993T>G) was used. The respective ratio which was calculated for a known POLG-related MDDS case was 15.6%.
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Vanoevelen et al (2022 - PMID: 34918187) describe two unrelated children with hypotonia, absence of developmental progress, microcephaly, seizures (recurrent febrile seizures/myoclonic jerks). Severe cerebral atrophy (with unaffected cerebellum) was observed upon brain imaging. Other findings included puffy body/extremities. Both had complications following respiratory illness leading to demise. CNS pathology in the 1st individual revealed massive neuronal dropout, with sparing of dentate nucleus and brainstem.

CMA in both cases was normal. This was also the case for extensive metabolic investigations (which provided no evidence of eventual mitochondrial dysfunction).

WES revealed compound heterozygosity for 2 missense variants in the first individual (NM_012145.3:c.382G>A - p.Asp128Asn and c.242C>T - p.Pro81Leu). The second individual, born to consanguineous parents, was homozygous for c.242C>T / p.Pro81Leu.

In silico predictions varied although each variant were (mostly) suggestive of a deleterious effect.

Variants were both ultrarare without homozygotes in ExAC,.

The authors generated a dtymk ko zebrafish model (hmz for a frameshift variant). Zebrafish exhibited markedly smaller eyes and pericardiac edema (3dpf-), twitching movements somewhat reminiscent of epilepsy (at 3dpf), prominent edema of brain and intestine. Head size was significantly smaller at a timepoint prior to brain edema (also after correction for length). Histology provided evidence of empty spaces in brain, suggestive of neurodegeneration, with high amounts of apoptotic cells.

dTMPK activity was measured in zebrafish (at 5dpf) as well as in fibroblasts from one individual and in both cases, it was barely detectable and significantly lower compared to wt/htz zebrafish or to the activity in fibroblasts from the parents of the individual tested.

In fibroblasts from the same individual with comparison to his parents, the authors demonstrated that DNA replication was impaired (using pulse-EdU staining to quantify cells in S-phase).

Assessment of cell proliferation in the brain of dtymk ko zebrafish using phospo-Ser10-Histone H3 (pH3) staining was suggestive of severe proliferation defects in forebrain.

Impaired biosynthesis of nucleotides for DNA synthesis/repair would be predicted to result in nucleotide pool imbalance, leading to incorporation of ribonucleotides in genomic DNA with - in turn - impairment of DNA replication and genomic instability (sensitivity to strand breakage).

In line with this, genomic DNA of ko zebrafish following alkaline hydrolysis and alkaline gel electrophoresis was shown to migrate at lower position and to be more fragmented indicating increased sensitivity (due to incorporation of ribonucleotides).

Visualization of DNA breakage by γH2AX staining, following UV-irradiation of zebrafish embryos revealed persistence of elevated γH2AX levels and DNA damage response signaling, interpreted as increase in unrepaired DNA breaks.

mtDNA copy numbers in fibroblasts from the affected individual was somewhat but not significantly lower compared to his parents. Importantly, the copy numbers were similar to controls (N=5) which overall does not support mtDNA depletion as a consequence of DTYMK deficiency.

Integrity of mtDNA did not appear to be compromised , with the mitochondrial genome migrating at the expected length of 16,5 kb with no indications of mtDNA deletions for both affected individual and his parents.

Activity of the mitochondrial respiratory complexes I-V in fibroblasts from the affected individual was comparable to that of his parents.

Overall, there was no evidence for mtDNA depletion (although not studied in muscle biopsy) while functional studies failed to demonstrate mitochondrial dysfunction.

The authors discuss other disorders of impaired dTTP metabolism due to mutations in TYMP, RRM2B or CAD.
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In a recent study using zebrafish model, Hu Frisk et al (2022 - PMID: 35346037) further demonstrate that Dtymk is essential for neurodevelopment providing evidence for expression of a compensatory thymidylate kinase-like enzyme at later stages of development (explaining survival of ko dtymk zebrafish despite the central role of this enzyme in dTTP generation). [Not further reviewed]
Sources: Literature
Intellectual disability v2.1022 CACNA2D2 Konstantinos Varvagiannis gene: CACNA2D2 was added
gene: CACNA2D2 was added to Intellectual disability. Sources: Literature
Mode of inheritance for gene: CACNA2D2 was set to BIALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal
Publications for gene: CACNA2D2 were set to 23339110; 24358150; 30410802; 29997391; 31402629; 11487633; 11756448; 4177347; 14660671; 15331424
Phenotypes for gene: CACNA2D2 were set to Cerebellar atrophy with seizures and variable developmental delay (MIM 618501)
Penetrance for gene: CACNA2D2 were set to Complete
Review for gene: CACNA2D2 was set to AMBER
gene: CACNA2D2 was marked as current diagnostic
Added comment: Gene reviewed for the epilepsy panel. Due to the phenotype of EE, with variable GDD (severe in many cases) and/or ID (either specifically commented on or inferred in some cases, although not universal) this gene might also be relevant for the current panel. CACNA2D2 is also included in gene panels for ID offered by some diagnostic laboratories (eg. GeneDx) as well as the SysID database. There is no associated phenotype in G2P.

Copied from the epilepsy panel:

Biallelic pathogenic CACNA2D2 variants cause Cerebellar atrophy with seizures and variable developmental delay (MIM 618501).

A recent OMIM update, a subsequent relevant publication by Punatha et al. as well as several additional LP/P variants in ClinVar for the phenotype of epileptic encephalopathy, support possible upgrade to green.

The following affected individuals appear to be relevant [NM_006030.3 used as RefSeq unless otherwise specified]:

[1] Edvardson et al. (PMID: 23339110) - 3 sibs born to consanguineous parents with EIEE, severe GDD / ID (inferred from the descritpion, at least for the oldest one), cerebellar atrophy and movement abnormalities. A CACNA2D2 variant (c.3137T>C / p.Leu1046Pro) was found in affected individuals by SNP-arrays and WES in one of them. Functional studies (reduction in current density of calcium channels in Xenopus laevis oocytes) supported the deleterious effect of the variant. A role of a rare hmz CESLR3 variant could not be ruled out.

[2] Pippucci et al. (PMID: 24358150) - 1 individual born to consanguineous parents, presenting with EE (onset at 1-2 m), severe GDD, cerebellar atrophy and choreiform movements. Homozygosity for a LoF variant (c.1294delA - p.Asn432fs) was found by WES. The role of the variant was further supported by expression studies (80% reduced mRNA levels, protein levels estimated at 3% of control / milder effect in htz parents). The proband was also hmz for a CESLR3 variant. Previous studies incl. 'high-resolution karyotype' and metabolic investigations.

[3] Butler et al. (PMID: 30410802) - A 5 y.o. male, with EE (seizure onset at 7m / GDD) and cerebellar atrophy. Compound heterozygosity for c.782C>T (p.Pro261Leu) and c.3137T>C (p.Leu1046Pro) was demonstrated by WES and supported by segregation studies.

[4] Valence et al. (PMID: 29997391) - Reported on a 20 y.o. male belonging to a cohort of 20 individuals with congenital ataxia, all from consaguineous families. This individual, who had cerebellar atrophy, ataxia, a single episode of febrile seizures and normal cognitive impairment was homozygosity for c.2971G>A (p.Asp991Asn). RT-PCR revealed presence of a normal length transcript as well as an additional, longer one, due to a concurrent splicing effect (activation of a cryptic donor splice site and retention of 4 bases of intronic sequence). Presence of both nl/abn length transcripts was presumed to explain the mild phenotype (variability also commented in OMIM).

[5] Punatha et al. (PMID: 31402629) - 3 affected individuals from 2 consanguineous families presenting with early onset EE (onset 1-7m), GDD/ID, cerebelar atrophy and ataxia. Sibs from the first family were homozygous for c.1778G>C (p.Arg593Pro). An affected 5 y.o. child from the 2nd family was homozygous for c.485_486delAT (p.Tyr162Ter). Mutations were found by WES in regions of AOH.

The following variants - not reported in the literature - have been submitted in ClinVar as LP / P for EE:
[VCV000645106.1] NM_006030.4:c.1389+2T>C - EIEE with suppression bursts - Likely Pathogenic (Invitae)
[VCV000570589.1] NM_006030.4:c.1956_1960del (p.Asn652fs) - EIEE - Pathogenic (Invitae)
[VCV000578284.1] NM_006030.4:c.1555C>T (p.Gln519Ter) - EIEE - Pathogenic (Invitae)
[VCV000653393.1] NM_006030.4:c.851dup (p.Ala286fs) - EIEE with suppression bursts - Pathogenic (Invitae)
[VCV000411003.1] NM_006030.4:c.485_486del (p.Tyr161_Tyr162insTer) - EIEE - Pathogenic (Invitae)

Additional ones have been reported as LP / P although the condition is not specified.
[VCV000620551.1] NM_006030.4:c.1023C>A (p.Cys341Ter) - Likely pathogenic (GeneDx)
[VCV000373439.2] NM_006030.4:c.1846-1G>A - Likely pathogenic (GeneDx)
[VCV000423330.2] NM_006030.4:c.200dup (p.His68fs) - Pathogenic (GeneDx).

The aforementioned laboratories include CACNA2D2 in gene panels for epilepsy (Invitae) and/or ID (GeneDx).

A role for the CACNA2D2 is supported by :
- The highly overlapping features (with the exception of the milder phenotype reported by Valence et al.) incl. early onset of seizures, GDD, cerebellar atrophy in all (9/9 incl. the individual reported by Valence, as evaluated Punatha et al). Ataxia was a feature in many (with movement abnormalities also in the remaining ones).
- The role of the gene encoding the alpha-2-delta-2 auxiliary subunit of high voltage-gated calcium channels. Auxiliary subunits modulate calcium current and channel activation and inactivation kinetics, and may be involved in proper assembly and membrane localization of the channels (summary by Edvardson and OMIM).
- Functional / expression studies for some of the variants (as in Refs 1,2,4).
- Relevant expression patterns (notably in cerebellum) [GTEx project]
- Mouse models recapitulating the human phenotypes (summarized by Edvardson et al) : The 'ducky' mouse model (due to biallelic Cacna2d2 mutations) presenting absence epilepsy, spike-wave seizures and ataxia. Dysgenesis of the cerebellum is among the neuropathological findings (PMIDs cited : 11487633, 11756448, 4177347). The 'entla' mouse model (also AR due to an in-frame duplication) presents also epilepsy and ataxia (PMID : 14660671). Targeted knockout in another mouse model resulted also in ataxic gait, seizure susceptibility and cerebellar anomalies/degeneration (PMID: 15331424).

[Please consider inclusion in other relevant panels eg. for cerebellar anomalies / ataxia].
Sources: Literature
Intellectual disability v2.468 USP9X Louise Daugherty Source Victorian Clinical Genetics Services was added to USP9X.