A novel PTC mutation in the BTB domain of KLHL7 gene in two patients with Bohring-Opitz syndrome-like features

The bric-a-brac, tramtrack and broad complex (BTB) superfamily of conserved proteins are involved in ubiquitin-proteasome system that contains the Kelch-like (KLHL) gene family. Kelch-like family member 7 (KLHL7), one of the KLHL gene family, consists of one BTB/POZ domain, one BACK domain and five or six Kelch motifs. Numerous variants in KLHL7 gene domains have been reported with Crisponi syndrome/cold-induced sweating syndrome type 1 (CS/CISS1)-like features and retinitis pigmentosa 42, and have recently been identified as causing Bohring-Opitz syndrome (BOS)-like features. We report two siblings with BOS-like phenotype with healthy parents and living in Qazvin province (Central Iran). We performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) on the older patient and Sanger sequencing was carried out for validation of potential causative variants in the close family. A novel homozygous frameshift mutation, p.(Phe83Leufs*3), was identified in the BTB domain of KLHL7 that caused a premature translation-termination codon (PTC) in the two siblings with severe developmental delay, microcephaly, facial dysmorphism, peripheral retinal and optic disc atrophy and cardiac septal defects. Our findings are in agreement with the clinical spectrum of KLHL7 mutations, which are associated with BOS-like features that reports for first time in our population.