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SMCHD1 mutations associated with a rare muscular dystrophy can also cause isolated arhinia and Bosma arhinia microphthalmia syndrome
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

SMCHD1 mutations associated with a rare muscular dystrophy can also cause isolated arhinia and Bosma arhinia microphthalmia syndrome

Natalie D Shaw, Harrison Brand, Zachary A Kupchinsky, Hemant Bengani, Lacey Plummer, Takako I Jones, Serkan Erdin, Kathleen A Williamson, Joe Rainger, Alexei Stortchevoi, …
Nature genetics, Vol.49(2), pp.238-248
02/2017
DOI: 10.1038/ng.3743
PMCID: PMC5473428
PMID: 28067909
url
https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/publications/820a5de3-1bc5-4a4f-bb25-42d70de0d031View
Open Access

Abstract

Arhinia, or absence of the nose, is a rare malformation of unknown etiology that is often accompanied by ocular and reproductive defects. Sequencing of 40 people with arhinia revealed that 84% of probands harbor a missense mutation localized to a constrained region of SMCHD1 encompassing the ATPase domain. SMCHD1 mutations cause facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 2 (FSHD2) via a trans-acting loss-of-function epigenetic mechanism. We discovered shared mutations and comparable DNA hypomethylation patterning between these distinct disorders. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated alteration of smchd1 in zebrafish yielded arhinia-relevant phenotypes. Transcriptome and protein analyses in arhinia probands and controls showed no differences in SMCHD1 mRNA or protein abundance but revealed regulatory changes in genes and pathways associated with craniofacial patterning. Mutations in SMCHD1 thus contribute to distinct phenotypic spectra, from craniofacial malformation and reproductive disorders to muscular dystrophy, which we speculate to be consistent with oligogenic mechanisms resulting in pleiotropic outcomes.
Phenotype Genetic Predisposition to Disease - genetics Nose - abnormalities Choanal Atresia - genetics Microphthalmos - genetics Humans Child, Preschool Infant Male Muscular Dystrophies - genetics Mutation - genetics Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone - genetics Adolescent Female Child

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