Exome sequencing identifies novel missense and deletion variants in RTN4IP1 associated with optic atrophy, global developmental delay, epilepsy, ataxia, and choreoathetosis

Am J Med Genet A. 2021 Jan;185(1):203-207. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.61910. Epub 2020 Oct 9.

Abstract

Inherited optic neuropathies (IONs) are neurodegenerative disorders characterized by optic atrophy with or without extraocular manifestations. Optic atrophy-10 (OPA10) is an autosomal recessive ION recently reported to be caused by mutations in RTN4IP1, which encodes reticulon 4 interacting protein 1 (RTN4IP1), a mitochondrial ubiquinol oxydo-reductase. Here we report novel compound heterozygous mutations in RTN4IP1 in a male proband with developmental delay, epilepsy, optic atrophy, ataxia, and choreoathetosis. Workup was notable for transiently elevated lactate and lactate-to-pyruvate ratio, brain magnetic resonance imaging with optic atrophy and T2 signal abnormalities, and a nondiagnostic initial genetic workup, including chromosomal microarray and mitochondrial panel testing. Exome sequencing identified a paternally inherited missense variant (c.263T>G, p.Val88Gly) predicted to be deleterious and a maternally inherited deletion encompassing RTN4IP1. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a non-single nucleotide pathogenic variant associated with OPA10. This case highlights the expanding phenotypic spectrum of OPA10, the association between "syndromic" cases and severe RTN4IP1 mutations, and the importance of nonbiased genetic testing, such as ES, to analyze multiple genes and variants types, in patients suspected of having genetic disease.

Keywords: OPA10; RTN4IP1; epilepsy; exome sequencing; optic atrophy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Ataxia / diagnostic imaging
  • Ataxia / genetics
  • Ataxia / pathology
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • Carrier Proteins / ultrastructure
  • Child, Preschool
  • Developmental Disabilities / diagnostic imaging
  • Developmental Disabilities / genetics*
  • Developmental Disabilities / pathology
  • Epilepsy / diagnostic imaging
  • Epilepsy / genetics*
  • Epilepsy / pathology
  • Exome / genetics
  • Exome Sequencing
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Genetic Testing / methods
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / genetics*
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / ultrastructure
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Optic Atrophy / diagnostic imaging
  • Optic Atrophy / genetics*
  • Optic Atrophy / pathology
  • Pedigree
  • Protein Conformation
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • RTN4IP1 protein, human