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Early onset or syndromic epilepsy v3.30 SLC38A3 Arina Puzriakova Tag Q3_22_rating was removed from gene: SLC38A3.
Early onset or syndromic epilepsy v3.29 SLC38A3 Arina Puzriakova reviewed gene: SLC38A3: Rating: GREEN; Mode of pathogenicity: ; Publications: ; Phenotypes: ; Mode of inheritance:
Early onset or syndromic epilepsy v3.28 SLC38A3 Arina Puzriakova Source Expert Review Green was added to SLC38A3.
Source NHS GMS was added to SLC38A3.
Rating Changed from Amber List (moderate evidence) to Green List (high evidence)
Early onset or syndromic epilepsy v2.556 SLC38A3 Catherine Snow Phenotypes for gene: SLC38A3 were changed from Infantile axial hypotonia; Global developmental delay; Intellectual disability; Seizures; Spasticity; Microcephaly; Cerebral atrophy; Cerebellar atrophy; Abnormality of the corpus callosum; Dysphagia; Constipation; Increased serum lactate; Hyperammonemia to Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 102, 619881
Early onset or syndromic epilepsy v2.555 SLC38A3 Catherine Snow Classified gene: SLC38A3 as Amber List (moderate evidence)
Early onset or syndromic epilepsy v2.555 SLC38A3 Catherine Snow Gene: slc38a3 has been classified as Amber List (Moderate Evidence).
Early onset or syndromic epilepsy v2.554 SLC38A3 Catherine Snow Tag Q3_22_rating tag was added to gene: SLC38A3.
Early onset or syndromic epilepsy v2.554 SLC38A3 Catherine Snow reviewed gene: SLC38A3: Rating: GREEN; Mode of pathogenicity: None; Publications: ; Phenotypes: Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 102, 619881; Mode of inheritance: BIALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal
Early onset or syndromic epilepsy v2.504 SLC38A3 Konstantinos Varvagiannis gene: SLC38A3 was added
gene: SLC38A3 was added to Genetic epilepsy syndromes. Sources: Literature,Other
Mode of inheritance for gene: SLC38A3 was set to BIALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal
Publications for gene: SLC38A3 were set to 34605855
Phenotypes for gene: SLC38A3 were set to Infantile axial hypotonia; Global developmental delay; Intellectual disability; Seizures; Spasticity; Microcephaly; Cerebral atrophy; Cerebellar atrophy; Abnormality of the corpus callosum; Dysphagia; Constipation; Increased serum lactate; Hyperammonemia
Penetrance for gene: SLC38A3 were set to Complete
Review for gene: SLC38A3 was set to GREEN
Added comment: Marafi et al (2021 - PMID: 34605855) describe the phenotype of 10 individuals, belonging to 7 families (6/7 consanguineous), harboring biallelic deleterious SLC38A3 variants. One subject (from fam3) was previously reported in the context of a larger cohort of consanguineous families investigated with exome sequencing (2017, PMID: 31130284).

The phenotype overall corresponded to a DEE and features included axial hypotonia (10/10), severe global DD or ID (10/10), seizures (8/10, onset : 1w-15m, NOT observed in 2/10 aged 1y3m and 4y | s. types: tonic-clonic in 3/8, tonic 2/8, focal 2/8 with secondary generalization, myoclonic 1/8, gelastic 1/8 | EEG burst-suppression, hypsarrhythmia in few). Microcephaly was observed in (8/10) and was more commonly postnatal and/or progressive. Variable abnormalities were observed upon brain imaging incl. cerebral (5/10) or cerebellar atrophy (2/10) and abnormal CC (6/10), abnormal myelination for age (6/10). Other phenotypes included visual impairment (9/10), peripheral hypertonia (8/9) constipation (8/9) and dysphagia (7/9), FTT (4/8), movement disorder (3/10). Metabolic studies indicated (transient) elevation of lactate (7/8 - also pyruvate in 2) and elevated plasma ammonia (4/7).

Individuals from the 1st family were investigated with ES, and the SLC38A3 splice site variant (NM_006841.6:c.855+1G>T) was the most likely candidate, additional SNVs not contributing to the NDD phenotype. Other affected subjects were ascertained through GeneMatcher/collaborations.

In total, 3 different missense and 4 pLoF (1 fs, 2 nonsense, 1 splicing) variants were identified with individuals from 2 families being hmz or cmd htz for missense variants. Variants were absent/ultrarare with no homozygotes in public/in-house databases with several in silico predictions in favor of a deleterious effect. Regions of AOH (around SLC38A3/total) are provided for some individuals/families.

Sanger sequencing was used for confirmation and segregation studies (apart from carrier parents in 7/7 fam, 11 unaffected sibs tested in 6/7 fam).

The solute carrier (SLC) superfamily of transmembrane transporters - highly expressed in mammalian brain - is involved in exchange of amino-acids (AAs), nutrients, ions, neurotransmitters and metabolites etc across biological membranes with >100 SLC-encoding genes associated with NDDs.

SLC38A3 specifically encodes SNAT3, a sodium-coupled neutral amino-acid transporter, principal transporter of Asn, His, Gln (precursor for GABA and glutamate), expressed in brain, liver, kidney, retina and pancreas. In the brain, it localizes to peri-synaptic astrocytes playing an important role in glutamate/GABA-glutamine cycle.

While the pLoF variants are predicted to undergo NMD or result in non-functional protein, protein modelling suggested that missense ones affect protein activity or stability.

Biochemical and metabolic screening was carried out for several individuals with plasma AAs reported normal (10/10), urinary OAs normal in 9/9, CSF AAs (incl. GABA/glutamine) normal in 2 sibs, CSF lactate normal in 1 indiv. studied. As discussed above plasma ammonia was elevated in 4/7 (2 fam), and 7/10 had elevated lactate and/or pyruvate (2/7).

Untargeted metabolomic profiles performed in biofluids (plasma from 3 subjects, CSF:1, urine:1) were suggestive of altered AA and nitrogen metabolism. In particular, alterations in levels of AA known to be transported by SNAT3 were found. 676 molecules overall showed deviation in plasma samples, 630 in urine and 241 in CSF (albeit with no consistent pattern). Perturbations in several biochemical pathways were shown to occur (incl. Gln-,Asn- and His- pathways).

Slc38a3-/- mice have reductions in brain glutamate and GABA neurotransmitters in homogenized brain tissue (GABA analytes being normal in plasma samples or the single CSF sample available from affected subjects). Snat3-deficient mice had elevation of plasma urea and normal ammonia levels (urea was low in all human samples and ranged from -2 to -3.5 SD in plasma, ammonia was elevated in 4/7). Slc38a3-/- mice have impaired growth, lethargy and ataxic gait, altered plasma AAs, normal glutamine in plasma with abundance in brain and exhibit early lethality. Plasma AAs were normal in 4 affected individuals, impaired growth observed in 4 and gait impairment was observed in 9/10. Hypoglycemia, previously reported in Slc38a3-/- mice, was not observed in any of the patients although this is presumably explained by diet/feeding intervals with abnormalities in pentose phosphate pathway in one individual hypothesized to be reflective of abn. glucose metabolism. The human phenotypes of microcephaly and seizures were not observed in mice. For mouse studies PMIDs cited by the authors : 27362266, 26490457.

There is currently no SLC38A3-related phenotype reported in OMIM. In G2P this gene is incl. in the DD panel (biallelic, confidence: strong, SLC38A3-associated epileptic encephalopathy). SLC38A3 is listed among the primary ID genes in SysID. In PanelApp Australia, SLC38A3 is included with green rating in the epilepsy, ID and microcephaly panels.

Consider inclusion with green rating (10 individuals, 7 families, 7 variants, role of SLCs and SLC38A3, alterations in AA/nitrogen metabolism etc) or amber rating (if discordances with mouse model considered).

Please consider inclusion in other panels e.g. for microcephaly, CC abnormalities, metabolic disorders, etc.
Sources: Literature, Other