A novel FAM20C mutation causes a rare form of neonatal lethal Raine syndrome

Am J Med Genet A. 2019 Sep;179(9):1866-1871. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.61291. Epub 2019 Jul 11.

Abstract

Raine syndrome is a rare, autosomal recessive, osteosclerotic bone dysplasia due to pathogenic variants in FAM20C. The clinical phenotype is characterized by generalized osteosclerosis affecting all bones, cerebral calcifications, and craniofacial dysmorphism. Most cases present during the neonatal period with early lethality due to pulmonary hypoplasia and respiratory compromise while only few affected individuals have been reported to survive into adulthood. FAM20C is a ubiquitously expressed protein kinase that contains five functional domains including a catalytic domain, a binding pocket for FAM20A and three distinct N-glycosylation sites. We report a newborn infant with a history of prenatal onset fractures, generalized osteosclerosis, and craniofacial dysmorphism and early lethality. The clinical presentation was highly suggestive of Raine syndrome. A homozygous, novel missense variant in exon 5 of FAM20C (c.1007T>G; p.Met336Arg) was identified by targeted Sanger sequencing. Following in silico analysis and mapping of the variant on a three-dimensional (3D) model of FAM20C it is predicted to be deleterious and to affect N-glycosylation, protein folding, and subsequent secretion of FAM20C. In addition, we reviewed all published FAM20C mutations and observed that most pathogenic variants affect functional regions within the protein establishing evidence for an emerging genotype-phenotype correlation.

Keywords: FAM20C; Raine syndrome; osteosclerosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abnormalities, Multiple / genetics*
  • Abnormalities, Multiple / physiopathology
  • Adult
  • Casein Kinase I / genetics*
  • Casein Kinase I / ultrastructure
  • Catalytic Domain / genetics
  • Cleft Palate / genetics*
  • Cleft Palate / physiopathology
  • Craniofacial Abnormalities / genetics*
  • Craniofacial Abnormalities / physiopathology
  • Exophthalmos / genetics*
  • Exophthalmos / physiopathology
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / genetics*
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / ultrastructure
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / genetics
  • Glycosylation
  • Homozygote
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Microcephaly / genetics*
  • Microcephaly / physiopathology
  • Mutation, Missense / genetics
  • Osteosclerosis / genetics*
  • Osteosclerosis / physiopathology
  • Phenotype
  • Protein Binding / genetics
  • Protein Folding
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins
  • Casein Kinase I
  • FAM20C protein, human

Supplementary concepts

  • Raine syndrome