First de novo ANK3 nonsense mutation in a boy with intellectual disability, speech impairment and autistic features

Eur J Med Genet. 2017 Sep;60(9):494-498. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2017.07.001. Epub 2017 Jul 4.

Abstract

Ankyrin-G, encoded by ANK3, plays an important role in neurodevelopment and neuronal function. There are multiple isoforms of Ankyrin-G resulting in differential tissue expression and function. Heterozygous missense mutations in ANK3 have been associated with autism spectrum disorder. Further, in three siblings a homozygous frameshift mutation affecting only the longest isoform and a patient with a balanced translocation disrupting all isoforms were documented. The latter four patients were affected by a variable degree of intellectual disability, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism. Here, we report on a boy with speech impairment, intellectual disability, autistic features, macrocephaly, macrosomia, chronic hunger and an altered sleeping pattern. By trio-whole-exome sequencing, we identified the first de novo nonsense mutation affecting all ANK3 transcripts. Thus, our data expand the phenotype of ANK3-associated diseases and suggest an isoform-based, phenotypic continuum between dominant and recessive ANK3-associated pathologies.

Keywords: ANK3; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Autism spectrum disorder; Intellectual disability; Speech impairment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Ankyrins / genetics*
  • Autistic Disorder / diagnosis
  • Autistic Disorder / genetics*
  • Child
  • Codon, Nonsense*
  • Humans
  • Intellectual Disability / diagnosis
  • Intellectual Disability / genetics*
  • Male
  • Phenotype
  • Speech Disorders / diagnosis
  • Speech Disorders / genetics*
  • Syndrome

Substances

  • ANK3 protein, human
  • Ankyrins
  • Codon, Nonsense