title: Whole-exome sequencing identifies a de novo TUBA1A mutation in a patient with sporadic malformations of cortical development: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Owing to the number of genetic mutations that contribute to malformations of cortical development, identification of causative mutations in candidate genes is challenging. To overcome these challenges, we performed whole-exome sequencing in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Japanese patient presented with microcephaly and severe developmental delay. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed the presence of colpocephaly associated with lateral ventricle dilatation and the presence of a simplified gyral pattern. Hypoplasia of the corpus callosum and cerebellar vermis were also noted. Because Sanger sequencing is expensive, laborious, and time-consuming, whole-exome sequencing was performed and a de novo missense mutation in TUBA1A (E27Q) was identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The novel mutation identified in this study was located in the genetic region that encodes the N-terminal domain of TUBA1A, a region of TUBA1A with few reported mutations. Retrospective assessment of the clinical and radiological features of this patient-i.e., microcephaly, lissencephaly (pachygyria) with cerebellar hypoplasia, and corpus callosum hypoplasia-indicated that the TUBA1A mutation did not lead to any contradictions. Because rapid and comprehensive mutation analysis by whole-exome sequencing is time- and cost-effective, it might be useful for genetic counseling of patients with sporadic malformations of cortical development.
authors: Keiko
authors: K
authors: Shimojima
authors: Aya
authors: A
authors: Narita
authors: Yoshihiro
authors: Y
authors: Maegaki
authors: Akira
authors: A
authors: Saito
authors: Toru
authors: T
authors: Furukawa
authors: Tokyo Women's Medical University Institute for Integrated Medical Sciences, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan. yamamoto.toshiyuki@twmu.ac.jp.
authors: Toshiyuki
authors: T
authors: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D061085:Agenesis of Corpus Callosum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D059472:Exome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D020547:Lateral Ventricles / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology; D008831:Microcephaly / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009154:Mutation; D009421:Nervous System Malformations / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014404:Tubulin / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C533522:TUBA1A protein, human; D014404:Tubulin