Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40361155›Full record

ArticleBMC medical genomics2025

Exome sequencing revealed a novel homozygous variant in TRMT61 A in a multiplex family with atypical Cornelia de Lange Syndrome from Rwanda.

Esther Uwibambe, Abdoulaye Yalcouyé, Elvis Twumasi Aboagye, Lettilia Xhakaza, Kalinka Popel, Norbert Dukuze, Thashi Bharadwaj, Carmen de Kock, Isabelle Schrauwen, Suzanne M Leal and 2 more

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medical genomics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Esther UwibambeCenter for Human Genetics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda.
Abdoulaye YalcouyéMckusick Nathans Institute and Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
Elvis Twumasi AboagyeDivision of Human Genetics, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Lettilia XhakazaDivision of Human Genetics, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Kalinka PopelDivision of Human Genetics, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Norbert DukuzeCenter for Human Genetics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda.
Thashi BharadwajCenter for Statistical Genetics, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, and Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Carmen de KockDivision of Human Genetics, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Isabelle SchrauwenDepartment of Translational Neurosciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine -Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA.
Suzanne M LealCenter for Statistical Genetics, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, and Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Leon MutesaCenter for Human Genetics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda.
Ambroise WonkamDivision of Human Genetics, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. awonkam1@jhmi.edu.

Funding

Identification of Nonsyndromic Hearing Impairment GenesR01DC003594 · NIDCD · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · PI SUZANNE M LEAL · 2004 to 2026
$7.7M
Identification and Functional Evaluation of Autosomal Recessive Nonsyndromic Hearing Impairment Genes in sub-Saharan AfricansR01DC016593 · NIDCD · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · PI LEAL, SUZANNE M · 2018 to 2022
$2.7M
NIDCD NIH HHS R01 DC003594NIDCD NIH HHS R01 DC016593NIH HHS R01 DC01165, R01 DC003594, and R01 DC016593 to SMNIH HHS U01MH127692 and U01-HG-009716 to AWThe Wellcome Trust 107755Z/15/Z and H3A/18/001 , to AW
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn 30% of patients who exhibit the clinical profile of Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS), the genetic cause remains undetermined. This proportion tends to be higher in low-resource settings including Africa. We performed a molecular characterization of CdLS in a multiplex Rwandan family.

methodsAfter a clinical evaluation of two affected siblings, DNA isolated from peripheral whole blood of the affected patients and their parents underwent Exome Sequencing (ES). Sanger sequencing validated the variant segregating with CdLS. In silico predictive tools, protein modelling, and cell-based experiments using HEK293T cells were used to investigate the pathogenicity of the variant found.

resultsWe identified a family with two parents and their two offspring (male and female), who were referred for hearing impairment. The 17-year-old female presented bilateral profound hearing impairment with moderate hypertelorism, progressive visual impairment, and secondary amenorrhea. The 14-year-old male displayed intellectual disability and a bilateral profound hearing impairment with no noticeable facial dysmorphism. Following exome sequencing (ES) of DNA samples obtained from the four family members, we found that the siblings harbored a novel likely pathogenic homozygous missense variant in the TRMT61 A gene [NM_152307.3:c.665C > T p.(Ala222Val)] inherited from both heterozygous parents. In silico analysis suggested that the variant substitutes a highly conserved amino acid, and 2-D structure modelling revealed a significant decrease in the stability of the protein. Cell-based experiment in HEK293T showed that the variant significantly affected the TRMT61 A protein localization which is thought to impact the mitochondrial and cytosolic functions.

conclusionWe reported a novel biallelic variant in TRMT61 A, [NM_152307.3:c.665C > T p.(Ala222Val)], which is associated with autosomal recessive atypical CdLS in a multiplex Rwandan family, the first report from Africa, and the second globally. The study emphasizes the need to expand the availability of ES for molecular characterization of rare diseases for the understudied genetically diverse population of Africa.

Indexed as

De Lange SyndromeExome SequencingHomozygoteAdolescentFemaleHEK293 CellsHumansMaleMutation, MissensePedigreeRwandaCornelia de Lange SyndromeTRMT61 AWhole exome sequencing

Identifiers

PMID40361155
PMCPMC12070710

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.