Bi-allelic loss-of-function variants inBCAS3cause a syndromic neurodevelopmental disorder
Date
2021-06-03
Authors
Balousha, Ghassan
Et. al.
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Abstract
BCAS3 microtubule-associated cell migration factor (BCAS3) is a large, highly conserved cytoskeletal protein previously proposed to becritical in angiogenesis and implicated in human embryogenesis and tumorigenesis. Here, we establishedBCAS3loss-of-function vari-ants as causative for a neurodevelopmental disorder. We report 15 individuals from eight unrelated families with germline bi-allelic loss-of-function variants inBCAS3. All probands share a global developmental delay accompanied by pyramidal tract involvement, micro-cephaly, short stature, strabismus, dysmorphic facial features, and seizures. The human phenotype is less severe compared with theBcas3knockout mouse model and cannot be explained by angiogenic defects alone. Consistent with being loss-of-function alleles, weobserved absence of BCAS3 in probands’ primary fibroblasts. By comparing the transcriptomic and proteomic data based on probands’fibroblasts with those of the knockout mouse model, we identified similar dysregulated pathways resulting from over-representationanalysis, while the dysregulation of some proposed key interactors could not be confirmed. Together with the results from a tissue-spe-cificDrosophilaloss-of-function model, we demonstrate a vital role for BCAS3 in neural tissue development.