Faculty Collaboration Database

Variants in ZFX are associated with an X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder with recurrent facial gestalt. Am J Hum Genet 2024 Mar 07;111(3):487-508

Date

02/08/2024

Pubmed ID

38325380

Pubmed Central ID

PMC10940019

DOI

10.1016/j.ajhg.2024.01.007

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85186221721 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)

Abstract

Pathogenic variants in multiple genes on the X chromosome have been implicated in syndromic and non-syndromic intellectual disability disorders. ZFX on Xp22.11 encodes a transcription factor that has been linked to diverse processes including oncogenesis and development, but germline variants have not been characterized in association with disease. Here, we present clinical and molecular characterization of 18 individuals with germline ZFX variants. Exome or genome sequencing revealed 11 variants in 18 subjects (14 males and 4 females) from 16 unrelated families. Four missense variants were identified in 11 subjects, with seven truncation variants in the remaining individuals. Clinical findings included developmental delay/intellectual disability, behavioral abnormalities, hypotonia, and congenital anomalies. Overlapping and recurrent facial features were identified in all subjects, including thickening and medial broadening of eyebrows, variations in the shape of the face, external eye abnormalities, smooth and/or long philtrum, and ear abnormalities. Hyperparathyroidism was found in four families with missense variants, and enrichment of different tumor types was observed. In molecular studies, DNA-binding domain variants elicited differential expression of a small set of target genes relative to wild-type ZFX in cultured cells, suggesting a gain or loss of transcriptional activity. Additionally, a zebrafish model of ZFX loss displayed an altered behavioral phenotype, providing additional evidence for the functional significance of ZFX. Our clinical and experimental data support that variants in ZFX are associated with an X-linked intellectual disability syndrome characterized by a recurrent facial gestalt, neurocognitive and behavioral abnormalities, and an increased risk for congenital anomalies and hyperparathyroidism.

Author List

Shepherdson JL, Hutchison K, Don DW, McGillivray G, Choi TI, Allan CA, Amor DJ, Banka S, Basel DG, Buch LD, Carere DA, Carroll R, Clayton-Smith J, Crawford A, Dunø M, Faivre L, Gilfillan CP, Gold NB, Gripp KW, Hobson E, Holtz AM, Innes AM, Isidor B, Jackson A, Katsonis P, Amel Riazat Kesh L, Genomics England Research Consortium, Küry S, Lecoquierre F, Lockhart P, Maraval J, Matsumoto N, McCarrier J, McCarthy J, Miyake N, Moey LH, Németh AH, Østergaard E, Patel R, Pope K, Posey JE, Schnur RE, Shaw M, Stolerman E, Taylor JP, Wadman E, Wakeling E, White SM, Wong LC, Lupski JR, Lichtarge O, Corbett MA, Gecz J, Nicolet CM, Farnham PJ, Kim CH, Shinawi M

Author

Donald Basel MD Chief, Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Animals
Female
Humans
Hyperparathyroidism
Intellectual Disability
Male
Mutation, Missense
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Phenotype
Transcription Factors
Zebrafish