De Novo Mutations in Protein Kinase Genes CAMK2A and CAMK2B Cause Intellectual Disability

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CAMK2) is one of the first proteins shown to be essential for normal learning and synaptic plasticity in mice, but its requirement for human brain development has not yet been established. Through a multi-center collaborative study based on a whole-exome sequencing approach, we identified 19 exceedingly rare de novo CAMK2A or CAMK2B variants in 24 unrelated individuals with intellectual disability. Variants were assessed for their effect on CAMK2 function and on neuronal migration.

Source: The American Journal of Human Genetics - November 2, 2017 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: S ébastien Küry, Geeske M. van Woerden, Thomas Besnard, Martina Proietti Onori, Xénia Latypova, Meghan C. Towne, Megan T. Cho, Trine E. Prescott, Melissa A. Ploeg, Stephan Sanders, Holly A.F. Stessman, Aurora Pujol, Ben Distel, Laurie A. Robak, Jonatha Tags: Article Source Type: research