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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Jeremy Parr
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Specific language impairment (SLI), an unexpected failure to develop appropriate language skills despite adequate non-verbal intelligence, is a heterogeneous multifactorial disorder with a complex genetic basis. We identified a homozygous microdeletion of 21,379 bp in the ZNF277 gene (NM_021994.2), encompassing exon 5, in an individual with severe receptive and expressive language impairment. The microdeletion was not found in the proband's affected sister or her brother who had mild language impairment. However, it was inherited from both parents, each of whom carries a heterozygous microdeletion and has a history of language problems. The microdeletion falls within the AUTS1 locus, a region linked to autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs). Moreover, ZNF277 is adjacent to the DOCK4 and IMMP2L genes, which have been implicated in ASD. We screened for the presence of ZNF277 microdeletions in cohorts of children with SLI or ASD and panels of control subjects. ZNF277 microdeletions were at an increased allelic frequency in SLI probands (1.1%) compared with both ASD family members (0.3%) and independent controls (0.4%). We performed quantitative RT-PCR analyses of the expression of IMMP2L, DOCK4 and ZNF277 in individuals carrying either an IMMP2L DOCK4 microdeletion or a ZNF277 microdeletion. Although ZNF277 microdeletions reduce the expression of ZNF277, they do not alter the levels of DOCK4 or IMMP2L transcripts. Conversely, IMMP2L_DOCK4 microdeletions do not affect the expression levels of ZNF277. We postulate that ZNF277 microdeletions may contribute to the risk of language impairments in a manner that is independent of the autism risk loci previously described in this region.
Author(s): Ceroni F, Simpson NH, Francks C, Baird G, Conti-Ramsden G, Clark A, Bolton PF, Hennessy ER, Donnelly P, Bentley DR, Martin H, IMGSAC, SLI Consortium, WGS500 Consortium, Parr J, Pagnamenta AT, Maestrini E, Bacchelli E, Newbury DF, Fisher SE
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: European Journal of Human Genetics
Year: 2014
Volume: 22
Issue: 10
Pages: 1165-1171
Print publication date: 01/10/2014
Online publication date: 12/02/2014
Acceptance date: 18/12/2013
Date deposited: 05/03/2015
ISSN (print): 1018-4813
ISSN (electronic): 1476-5438
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ejhg.2014.4
DOI: 10.1038/ejhg.2014.4
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