2. Academic Validation
  3. Mutations in TUBG1, DYNC1H1, KIF5C and KIF2A cause malformations of cortical development and microcephaly

Mutations in TUBG1, DYNC1H1, KIF5C and KIF2A cause malformations of cortical development and microcephaly

  • Nat Genet. 2013 Jun;45(6):639-47. doi: 10.1038/ng.2613.
Karine Poirier 1,  Nicolas Lebrun,  Loic Broix,  Guoling Tian,  Yoann Saillour,  Cécile Boscheron,  Elena Parrini,  Stephanie Valence,  Benjamin Saint Pierre,  Madison Oger,  Didier Lacombe,  David Geneviève,  Elena Fontana,  Franscesca Darra,  Claude Cances,  Magalie Barth,  Dominique Bonneau,  Bernardo Dalla Bernadina,  Sylvie N'guyen,  Cyril Gitiaux,  Philippe Parent,  Vincent des Portes,  Jean Michel Pedespan,  Victoire Legrez,  Laetitia Castelnau-Ptakine,  Patrick Nitschke,  Thierry Hieu,  Cecile Masson,  Diana Zelenika,  Annie Andrieux,  Fiona Francis,  Renzo Guerrini,  Nicholas J Cowan,  Nadia Bahi-Buisson,  Jamel Chelly
Affiliations

Affiliation

  • 1 Institut Cochin, Université Paris-Descartes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique CNRS, UMR 8104, Paris, France.
PMID: 23603762 DOI: 10.1038/ng.2613
Abstract

The genetic causes of malformations of cortical development (MCD) remain largely unknown. Here we report the discovery of multiple pathogenic missense mutations in TUBG1, DYNC1H1 and KIF2A, as well as a single germline mosaic mutation in KIF5C, in subjects with MCD. We found a frequent recurrence of mutations in DYNC1H1, implying that this gene is a major locus for unexplained MCD. We further show that the mutations in KIF5C, KIF2A and DYNC1H1 affect ATP hydrolysis, productive protein folding and microtubule binding, respectively. In addition, we show that suppression of mouse Tubg1 expression in vivo interferes with proper neuronal migration, whereas expression of altered γ-tubulin proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae disrupts normal microtubule behavior. Our data reinforce the importance of centrosomal and microtubule-related proteins in cortical development and strongly suggest that microtubule-dependent mitotic and postmitotic processes are major contributors to the pathogenesis of MCD.

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