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De novo and inherited variants in DDX39B cause a novel neurodevelopmental syndrome

Authors: 
Booth KTA, Jangam SV, Chui MMC, Treat K, Graziani L, Soldano A, Ruan Y, Wan-Hei Hui J, White K, Christensen CK, Lynnes T, Yamamoto S, Kanca O, Tsang MHY, Lynch SA, Mullegama SV, Batista J, Iancu D, Joss SK, Wong SYY, Mak CCY, Kwong AKY, Bellen HJ, Conboy E, Sanges R, Leung AY, Wangler MF, Chung BHY, Vetrini F
Citation: 
Brain. 2025 Feb 7:awaf035. doi: 10.1093/brain/awaf035. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39918047
Abstract: 
DDX39B is a conserved member of the DEAD-box family of ATP-dependent RNA helicases, critical in mRNA metabolism across eukaryotes. DDX39B is also a core component of the TRanscription-EXport (TREX) super protein complex, which recent studies have highlighted the important role of its subunits in neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we describe six individuals from five families, four harboring de novo missense variants in DDX39B, and one with an inherited splicing variant, presenting with variable developmental delay, congenital hypotonia, epilepsy, short stature, skeletal abnormalities, dysmorphic features and microcephaly in three patients. 3D molecular modeling predicts these variants would alter protein structure. In vitro studies using overexpression of HA-tagged human DDX39B protein in 293FT cells revealed variants p.(Gly92Asp) and c.433-1G>T impaired interaction with DDX39B and other TREX complex members, while variants p.(Gly37Cys), p.(Ser44Arg), and p.(Arg123Gln) did not affect TREX complex assembly. Blood transcriptomics studies demonstrated significantly elevated aberrant splicing events in individuals carrying the p.(Gly37Cys), p.(Arg123Gln), and c.433-1G>T variant, compared to controls, suggesting a mRNA signature of disrupted mRNA splicing and export. To understand variant effects in vivo, we generated Drosophila transgenic DDX39B-reference and variant flies. Human reference DDX39B when overexpressed ubiquitously led to lethality but the patient variants did not, suggesting that the mutants are loss-of-function alleles. Zebrafish anti-sense morpholino knockdown of DDX39B led to reduced head size and body length consistent with the patient phenotypes, and these effects were mitigated by synthesized mRNA, indicating a loss-of-function effect of DDX39B. Collectively, our human genetic data, coupled with in silico, in vitro, and in vivo data supports that DDX39B is a novel candidate gene in a potential group of disorders called TREX-complex-related neurodevelopmental syndrome.
Epub: 
Not Epub
Organism or Cell Type: 
zebrafish
Delivery Method: 
microinjection