De Novo Variants in the ATPase Module of MORC2 Cause a Neurodevelopmental Disorder with Growth Retardation and Variable Craniofacial Dysmorphism

MORC2 encodes an ATPase that plays a role in chromatin remodeling, DNA repair, and transcriptional regulation. Heterozygous variants in MORC2 have been reported in individuals with autosomal-dominant Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2Z and spinal muscular atrophy, and the onset of symptoms ranges from infancy to the second decade of life. Here, we present a cohort of 20 individuals referred for exome sequencing who harbor pathogenic variants in the ATPase module of MORC2. Individuals presented with a similar phenotype consisting of developmental delay, intellectual disability, growth retardation, microcephaly, and variable craniofacial dysmorphism.

Source: The American Journal of Human Genetics - July 19, 2020 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Maria J. Guillen Sacoto, Iva A. Tchasovnikarova, Erin Torti, Cara Forster, E. Hallie Andrew, Irina Anselm, Kristin W. Baranano, Lauren C. Briere, Julie S. Cohen, William J. Craigen, Cheryl Cytrynbaum, Nina Ekhilevitch, Matthew J. Elrick, Ali Fatemi, Jamie Tags: Report Source Type: research