A SEPSECS mutation in a 23-year-old woman with microcephaly and progressive cerebellar ataxia

J Inherit Metab Dis. 2018 Sep;41(5):897-898. doi: 10.1007/s10545-018-0151-x. Epub 2018 Feb 20.

Abstract

Mutations in the SEPSECS gene are associated with pontocerebellar hypoplasia type 2D. Pontocerebellar hypoplasia (PCH) is a heterogeneous group of rare autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorders, mainly affecting pons and cerebellum. Patients have severe motor and cognitive impairments and often die during infancy. Here, we report a 23-year-old woman with slowly progressive cerebellar ataxia and cognitive impairment, in whom a homozygous missense mutation in the SEPSECS gene (c.1321G>A; p.Gly441Arg) was identified with whole exome sequencing. Our findings underline that defects in selenoprotein synthesis can also result in milder cerebellar atrophy presenting at a later age.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases / genetics*
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Cerebellar Ataxia / etiology*
  • Cerebellar Diseases / genetics
  • Cerebellar Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / etiology
  • Exome Sequencing
  • Female
  • Homozygote
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Microcephaly / etiology*
  • Mutation, Missense
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases
  • O-phosphoseryl-tRNA:selenocysteinyl-tRNA synthase, human

Supplementary concepts

  • Pontocerebellar Hypoplasia