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Recurrence mutation in RBBP8 gene causing non-syndromic autosomal recessive primary microcephaly; geometric simulation approach for insight into predicted computational models

Abstract

Primary microcephaly is a rare, congenital, and genetically heterogeneous disorder in which occipitofrontal head circumference is reduced by a minimum of three standard deviations (SDs) from average because of the defect in fetal brain development.

Objective

Mapping of RBBP8 gene mutation that produce autosomal recessive primary microcephaly. Insilco RBBP8 protein models prediction and analysis.

Methods

Consanguineous Pakistani family affected with non-syndromic primary microcephaly was mapped a biallelic sequence variant (c.1807_1808delAT) in the RBBP8 gene via whole-exome sequencing. The deleted variant in the RBBP8 gene in affected siblings (V:4, V:6) of primary microcephaly was confirmed by sanger sequencing.

Results

Identified variant c.1807_1808delAT that truncated the protein translation p. Ile603Lysfs*7 and impaired the functioning of RBBP8 protein. This sequence variant was only reported previously in Atypical Seckel syndrome and Jawad syndrome, while we mapped it in the non-syndromic primary microcephaly family. We predicted 3D protein models by using Insilco tools like I TASSER, Swiss model, and phyre2 of wild RBBP8 protein of 897 amino acids and 608 amino acids of the mutant protein. These models were validated through the online SAVES server and Ramachandran plot and refined by using the Galaxy WEB server. A predicted and refined wild protein 3D model was deposited with accession number PM0083523 in Protein Model Database. A normal mode-based geometric simulation approach was used through the NMSim program, to find out the structural diversity of wild and mutant proteins which were evaluated by RMSD and RMSF. Higher RMSD and RMSF in mutant protein reduced the stability of the protein.

Conclusion

The high possibility of this variant results in nonsense-mediated decay of mRNA, leading to the loss of protein functioning which causes primary microcephaly.

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Fig. 1: Genetic, phenotypic, and variant facts of affected family.
Fig. 2: Genic and detailed information of RBBP8 Protein.
Fig. 3: Insilico analysis of RBBP8 protein.

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Acknowledgements

We pay our gratitude to all members of the affected family included in this study for their cooperation and voluntary participation.

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Correspondence to Saba Irshad.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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The study plan was approved by the ethical committee of the University of the Punjab letter No. 12 36-02.

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Written informed consents were taken from the parent/guardian of affected family members that they have no objection to collecting blood or obtaining photographs for research and publication purposes.

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Batool, T., Irshad, S., Riaz, M. et al. Recurrence mutation in RBBP8 gene causing non-syndromic autosomal recessive primary microcephaly; geometric simulation approach for insight into predicted computational models. J Hum Genet 68, 469–475 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s10038-023-01132-6

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