title: Mutations in the FOG2/ZFPM2 gene are associated with anomalies of human testis determination.
abstract: In recent years, considerable advances have been made in our understanding of genetics of mammalian gonad development; however, the underlying genetic aetiology in the majority of patients with 46,XY disorders of sex development (DSD) still remains unknown. Based on mouse models, it has been hypothesized that haploinsufficiency of the Friend of GATA 2 (FOG2) gene could lead to 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis on specific inbred genetic backgrounds. Using whole exome sequencing, we identified independent missense mutations in FOG2 in two patients with 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis. One patient carried a non-synonymous heterozygous mutation (p.S402R), while the other patient carried a heterozygous p.R260Q mutation and a homozygous p.M544I mutation. Functional studies indicated that the failure of testis development in these cases could be explained by the impaired ability of the mutant FOG2 proteins to interact with a known regulator of early testis development, GATA4. This is the first example of mutations in the coding sequence of FOG2 associated with 46,XY DSD in human and adds to the list of genes in the human known to be associated with DSD.
authors.affiliation: Human Developmental Genetics, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France anu.bashamboo@pasteur.fr.
authors.forename: Anu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bashamboo
authors.affiliation: Université Paris Descartes and Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild, Paris 75940, France.
authors.forename: Raja
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brauner
authors.affiliation: Human Developmental Genetics, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Joelle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bignon-Topalovic
authors.affiliation: Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Service de chirurgie viscérale pédiatrique, Paris 75743, France.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lortat-Jacob
authors.affiliation: Human Developmental Genetics, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Karageorgou
authors.affiliation: Human Developmental Genetics, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lourenco
authors.affiliation: Genomnia srl, via Nerviano, 31-20020 Lainate, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guffanti
authors.affiliation: Human Developmental Genetics, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McElreavey
mesh_terms: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D058490:Disorder of Sex Development, 46,XY / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D059472:Exome; D005260:Female; D050991:GATA4 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008958:Models, Molecular; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D010375:Pedigree; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013737:Testis / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050991:GATA4 Transcription Factor; C484170:GATA4 protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors; C117427:ZFPM2 protein, human