A 1q42 deletion involving DISC1, DISC2, and TSNAX in an autism spectrum disorder.
Individuals with autism spectrum disorders have impairments in social, communicative, and behavior development that are often accompanied by abnormalities in cognitive functioning, learning, attention, and sensory processing. In this report, we describe a 3-year-old male child with an autism spectrum disorder who carries a 2 Mb deletion of chromosome 1q42. Array comparative genome hybridization revealed that this deletion involves at least three genes-DISC1, DISC2, and TSNAX-which have been found to be associated with neuropsychiatric disorders and are likely to play key roles in normal CNS development. Further studies revealed that the deletion was inherited from his unaffected mother. This suggests that other genetic and/or environmental factors, some of which may be sex specific, may modify the phenotypic effects of this deletion. While this case provides evidence for the potential role of DISC1, DISC2, and TSNAX in the development of autism spectrum disorders, it is equally clear that caution must be taken when providing families with prognostic information and genetic counseling regarding such deletions.
Williams
Jaime M
JM
Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Beck
Tyler F
TF
Pearson
David M
DM
Proud
Monica B
MB
Cheung
Sau Wai
SW
Scott
Daryl A
DA
D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000235:genetics*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D002878:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D055028:Comparative Genomic Hybridization; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D012333:RNA, Messenger
C412476:DISC1 protein, human; C448722:DISC2 gene product, human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C498305:TSNAX protein, human