Identification of a compound heterozygous missense mutation in LAMA2 gene from a patient with merosin-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy type 1A.

Abstract

BACKGROUND\nMerosin-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy type 1A (MDC1A) is occurred by mutations in LAMA2\xa0gene that encodes the laminin α2 chain (merosin). MDC1A is a predominant subtype of congenital muscular dystrophy. Herein, we identified two missense mutations in LAMA2\xa0gene in compound heterozygous status in an Iranian patient with MDC1A using whole-exome sequencing (WES).\n\n\nMETHODS\nIn the present study, we evaluated genetic alterations in an Iranian 35-month-old boy with MDC1A and his healthy family using WES method. The identified mutations further confirmed by Sanger sequencing method. Finally, in silico analysis was conducted to further evaluation of molecular function of the identified genetic variants.\n\n\nRESULTS\nWe identified two potentially pathogenic missense mutations in compound heterozygous state (c.7681G>A p.Gly2561Ser and c.4840A>G p.Asn1614Asp) in LAMA2\xa0gene as contributing to the MDC1A phenotype. The healthy parents of our proband are single heterozygous for identified mutations. These variants were found to be pathogenic by in silico analysis.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nIn general, we successfully identified LAMA2\xa0gene mutations in an Iranian patient with MDC1A using WES. The identified mutations in LAMA2\xa0gene can be useful in genetic counseling, prenatal diagnosis, and predicting prognosis of MDC1A.