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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 v3.500 MPP5 Konstantinos Varvagiannis gene: MPP5 was added
gene: MPP5 was added to Intellectual disability. Sources: Literature
Mode of inheritance for gene: MPP5 was set to MONOALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal, imprinted status unknown
Publications for gene: MPP5 were set to 33073849
Phenotypes for gene: MPP5 were set to Global developmental delay; Intellectual disability; Delayed speech and language development; Developmental regression; Behavioral abnormality
Penetrance for gene: MPP5 were set to unknown
Review for gene: MPP5 was set to GREEN
Added comment: Sterling et al (2020 - PMID: 33073849) provide information on the phenotype of 3 individuals with de novo MPP5 variants.

Common features included global developmental delay, intellectual disability (3/3 - severe in 2/3), speech delay/regression (the latter in at least 2) and behavioral abnormalities. Variable other features were reported, among others microcephaly (1/3), abnormal vision (1/3 : CVI, retinal dystrophy, nystagmus), brain MRI abnormalities (2/3), late-onset seizures (1/3). These subjects displayed variable and non-specific dysmorphic features.

All were investigated by exome sequencing (previous tests not mentioned).

One subject was found to harbor a de novo mosaic (5/25 reads) stopgain variant, further confirmed by Sanger sequencing [NM_022474.4:c.1555C>T - p.(Arg519Ter). The specific variant is reported once in gnomAD (1/251338). Two de novo missense variants were identified in the remaining individuals [c.1289A>G - p.Glu430Gly / c.974A>C - p.His325Pro).

All variants had in silico predictions in favor of a deleterious effect (CADD score >24).

The authors comment that MPP5 encodes an apical complex protein with asymmetric localization to the apical side of polarized cells. It is expressed in brain, peripheral nervous system and other tissues. MPP5 is a member of the membrane-associated guanylate kinase family of proteins (MAGUK, p55 subfamily), determining cell polarity at tight junctions.

Previous animal models suggest that complete Mpp5(Pals1) KO in mice leads to near absence of cerebral cortical neurons. Htz KO mice display reduction in size of cerebral cortex and hippocampus. The gene is expressed in proliferating cell populations of cerebellum and important for establishment cerebellar architecture. Conditional KO of Mpp5(Pals1) in retinal progenitor cells mimics the retinal pathology observed in LCA. [Several refs. provided]

The authors studied a heterozygous CNS-specific Mpp5 KO mouse model. These mice presented microcephaly, decreased cerebellar volume and cortical thickness, decreased ependymal cells and Mpp5 at the apical surface of cortical vertrical zone. The proportion of cortical cells undergoing apoptotic cell death was increased. Mice displayed behavioral abnormalities (hyperactivity) and visual deficits, with ERG traces further suggesting retinal blindness.

Overall the mouse model was thought to recapitulate the behavioral abnormalities observed in affected subjects as well as individual rare features such as microcephaly and abnormal vision.

Haploinsufficiency (rather than a dominant negative effect) is favored as the underlying disease mechanism. This is also in line with a dose dependent effect observed in mice.
Sources: Literature
Intellectual disability v3.3 TRPM1 Zornitza Stark reviewed gene: TRPM1: Rating: RED; Mode of pathogenicity: None; Publications: ; Phenotypes: Night blindness, congenital stationary (complete), 1C, autosomal recessive, MIM# 613216; Mode of inheritance: BIALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal
Intellectual disability v2.1046 PMPCA Konstantinos Varvagiannis gene: PMPCA was added
gene: PMPCA was added to Intellectual disability. Sources: Literature,Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen
Mode of inheritance for gene: PMPCA was set to BIALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal
Publications for gene: PMPCA were set to 25808372; 26657514; 27148589; 30617178
Phenotypes for gene: PMPCA were set to Spinocerebellar ataxia, autosomal recessive 2 (MIM 213200)
Penetrance for gene: PMPCA were set to Complete
Review for gene: PMPCA was set to GREEN
gene: PMPCA was marked as current diagnostic
Added comment: Biallelic pathogenic PMPCA variants cause Spinocerebellar ataxia, autosomal recessive 2 (SCAR2 - MIM 213200). More than 20 individuals from several unrelated families have been reported. At least 6 different pathogenic variants have been identified. Loss of PMPCA function is the suggested mechanism. ID is a feature of the disorder.

PMPCA encodes the α-subunit of mitochondrial processing peptidase (αMPP), a heterodimeric enzyme responsible for the cleavage of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial precursor proteins after import in the mitochondria (summary by Jobling et al and OMIM).

Arguments for involvement of the gene include the highly similar phenotype, segregation studies, expression of the gene in fetal and relevant adult tissues (in brain/cerebellum/cerebellar vermis), lower protein levels demonstrated for some variants, abnormal processing of frataxin (in line with the role of αMPP) demonstrated in most cases, rescue of the maturation defect upon transduction of wt PMPCA cDNA, disruption of REDOX balance in patient cells, etc.

Relevant studies are summarized below.

PMPCA is included in gene panels for ID offered by several diagnostic laboratories (incl. Radboud UMC, GeneDx, etc) and listed as a confirmed ID gene in SysID. It is not associated with any phenotype in G2P.

As a result, this gene can be considered for inclusion in the current panel probably as green (or amber).

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[1] - Jobling et al. (2015 - PMID: 25808372) described the phenotype of 17 individuals from 4 families, all presenting with non-progressive cerebellar ataxia and the majority with ID of variable severity (15/17 - relevant to the current panel). Individuals from 3 of the families - all of Lebanese origin - were homozygous for NM_015160.3:c.1129G>A (p.Ala377Thr). A further similarly affected subject was compound heterozygous for c.287C>T (p.Ser96Leu) and c.1543G>A (p.Gly515Arg).

The homozygous variant in the first family was found within a 2.85 Mb linkage region on chr 9q34. An additional variant within this region (in CAMSAP1) was discarded following results in other families of the same origin.

Semi-quantitative RT-PCR demonstrated fetal expression of the PMPCA as well as relatively higher expression in adult brain, cerebellum and cerebellar vermis.

As for Ala377Thr, protein levels were shown to be lowest in affected individuals (LCLs, fibroblasts) and low - though somewhat higher - in carrier parents (LCL) compared to controls. RT-PCR on total RNA from LCLs did not show evidence of abnormal transcripts/additional splicing defect. Localization of mutant protein and morphology of mitochondrial reticulum was similar to controls. Maturation of frataxin - the protein depleted in Friedreich ataxia - was shown to be abnormal in patient lymphoblasts, compatible with the role of αMPP. In line with abnormal mitochondrial function, REDOX balance was increased in patient cells.

[2] - Choquet et al. (2016 - PMID: 26657514) reported on 2 sibs - born to distantly related parents. The authors noted a phenotype corresponding to SCAR2 although the presentation was somewhat milder, intellectual disability was not a feature (despite some learning difficulties in one) and ataxia was progressive. WES demonstrated homozygosity for NM_015160:c.766G>A (p.Val256Met). Western blot in patient lymphoblasts showed αMPP levels similar to carriers and controls. Abnormal maturation (accumulation of specific isoforms) was shown for frataxin.

[3] - Joshi et al. (2016 - PMID: 27148589) described the phenotype of 2 cousins belonging to a large Lebanese pedigree. Presentation in both was compatible with multisystem involvement incl. profound global DD, severe hypotonia, weakness, respiratory insufficiency, blindness suggestive of mitochondrial disorder. mtDNA, analyses of mitochondrial focused nuclear gene panel and aCGH were non-diagnostic. Both subjects were compound heterozygous for NM_015160.3:c.1066G>A (p.Gly356Ser) and c.1129G>A (p.Ala377Thr) following WES, with compatible segregation studies within the family. Western blot revealed PMPCA levels similar to control. Reduction of PMPCA staining and abnormally enlarged mitochondria were observed upon immunofluorescence in patient fibroblasts. Frataxin processing was abnormal. Lentiviral transduction of patient fibroblasts with wt PMPCA cDNA, led to increased PMPCA levels and correction of frataxin processing.

[4] - Rubegni et al. (2019 - PMID: 30617178) report on a 7-y.o. boy with global DD, spastic-ataxic gait and 'low IQ'. MRI images were suggestive of cerebellar atrophy with hyperintensity in the striatum. The child was homozygous for c.553C>T / p.Arg185Trp (reference not specified, although the variant would be compatible with NM_015160.3).
Sources: Literature, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen
Intellectual disability v2.798 P4HTM Konstantinos Varvagiannis gene: P4HTM was added
gene: P4HTM was added to Intellectual disability. Sources: Literature
Mode of inheritance for gene: P4HTM was set to BIALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal
Publications for gene: P4HTM were set to 30940925; 25078763
Phenotypes for gene: P4HTM were set to Central hypotonia; Muscular hypotonia; Global developmental delay; Intellectual disability; Seizures; Abnormality of the eye; Hypoventilation; Sleep apnea; Dysautonomia
Penetrance for gene: P4HTM were set to Complete
Review for gene: P4HTM was set to GREEN
Added comment: Rahikkala et al. (2019 - PMID: 30940925) report on 13 individuals from 5 families with biallelic pathogenic P4HTM variants. 6 of these individuals from a large consanguineous family from Finland were previously reported by the same group, although studies at the time had revealed a 11.5 Mb region of homozygosity with 3 genes within this interval considered to be candidate for the patients' phenotype (P4HTM, TKT, USP4) [Kaasinen et al. - PMID: 25078763].

Common features included Hypotonia (13/13), DD and ID (the latter present in 12/13 individuals with appropriate age for evaluation) and Eye Abnormalities, reason why the acronym HIDEA is suggested for the disorder. Epilepsy was observed in 10 individuals (10/13). Hypoventilation, sleep apnea and dysautonomia were additional features reported.

Muscle biopsies from 4 individuals had variable findings suggestive of disruption of normal mitochondrial function.

Finnish patients were homozygous for a SNV - possibly a founder variant in this population - predicted to lead to a missense change in the canonical transcript (NM_177938.2:c.1073G>A) but causing an in-frame loss of the complete exon 6 of another transcript (NM_177939.2).

The latter transcript (encoding a 502 aa protein) is the prevalent one in fibroblasts/myoblasts instead of the canonical one (563 aa). It is not known whether the canonical transcript is the prevalent in brain tissue although northern blot analysis in a previous study suggested presence of a 2.3 kb mRNA in brain instead of a 1.8 kb observed in other tissues, a finding which may be suggestive of expression of the canonical transcript. [Reviewer's note: In gnomAD based on the pext values from the GTEx, the noncanonical transcript appears to be prevalent in brain regions - https://gnomad.broadinstitute.org/gene/ENSG00000178467]

All variants reported in affected both transcripts. All 5 variants have been submitted to LOVD ( https://databases.lovd.nl/shared/variants/P4HTM?search_var_status=%3D%22Marked%22%7C%3D%22Public%22 - the first author appearing as the submitter).

Overexpression of wt and 3 mutants (His161Pro, Gln352*and Exon6del) in insect cells followed by analysis with SDS-PAGE and western blot revealed severly reduced/abolished fraction of soluble protein for the 3 studied variants suggesting improper protein folding.

Knockout of the gene in mice leads to retinal defects and/or visual impairment in line with eye abnormalites (nystagmus, strabismus, achromic retinal fundi or cortical blindness) being a prominent feature in affected individuals. Mouse studies suggest that this gene is also important for renal function, although kidney problems were not reported in any affected individual.

Overall loss-of-function is suggested to be the underlying mechanism.

P4HTM is not associated with any phenotype in OMIM, nor in G2P. This gene is not (at least commonly) included in gene panels for ID offered by diagnostic laboratories.

As a result P4HTM can be considered for inclusion in the ID and epilepsy panels probably as green (several affected individuals, degree of ID relevant) or amber.
Sources: Literature
Intellectual disability NDN Sarah Leigh edited their review of NDN
Intellectual disability NDN Sarah Leigh added NDN to panel
Intellectual disability NDN Sarah Leigh reviewed NDN