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Biallelic loss of TRAPPC9 function links vesicle trafficking pathway to autosomal recessive intellectual disability

Journal of Human Genetics volume 67, pages 279–284 (2022)Cite this article

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Abstract

Background

The trafficking protein particle (TRAPP) complex subunit 9 (C9) protein is a member of TRAPP-II complexes and regulates vesicle trafficking. Biallelic mutations in the TRAPPC9 gene are responsible for intellectual disability with expanded developmental delay, epilepsy, microcephaly, and brain atrophy. TRAPPC9-related disease list is still expanding, however, the functional effects of only a limited fraction of these have been studied.

Methods

In a patient with a pathological variant in TRAPPC9, clinical examination and cranial imaging findings were evaluated. Whole-exome sequencing, followed by Sanger sequencing was performed to detect and verify the variant. To confirm the functional effect of the mutation; variant mRNA and protein expression levels were evaluated by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Immunostaining for TRAPPC9 and lipid droplet accumulation were examined.

Results

We have identified a novel homozygous c.696C>G (p.Phe232Leu) pathogenic variant in TRAPPC9 (NM_031466.6) gene as a cause of severe developmental delay. Functional characterization of the TRAPPC9 variant resulted in decreased mRNA and protein expression. The intracellular findings showed that TRAPPC9 protein build-up around the nucleus in mutant type while there was no specific accumulation in the control cell line. This disrupted protein pattern affected the amount of neutral lipid-carrying vesicles and their homogenous distribution at a decreasing level.

Conclusion

Biallelic variants in the TRAPPC9 gene have been reported as the underlying cause of intellectual disability. This study provides functional evidence of the novel variant in TRAPPC9 We demonstrated that the loss of function variant exclusively targeting TRAPPC9 may explicate the neurological findings through vesicle trafficking.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the patient and his family for their participation in the study.

Funding

This study was supported by the Research Fund of the Bezmialem Vakif University, project number of 42019/20.

Author information

Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Ayca Dilruba Aslanger, Beyza Goncu.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Ayca Dilruba Aslanger & Gozde Yesil

  2. Experimental Research Center, Bezmialem Vakıf University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Beyza Goncu & Omer Faruk Duzenli

  3. Vocational School of Health Services, Department of Medical Services and Techniques, Bezmialem Vakıf University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Beyza Goncu

  4. Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Emrah Yucesan

  5. Department of Pediatric Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Bezmialem Vakıf University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Esma Sengenc

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  1. Ayca Dilruba Aslanger
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Correspondence to Ayca Dilruba Aslanger.

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Aslanger, A.D., Goncu, B., Duzenli, O.F. et al. Biallelic loss of TRAPPC9 function links vesicle trafficking pathway to autosomal recessive intellectual disability. J Hum Genet 67, 279–284 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s10038-021-01007-8

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