Abstract
Background-Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is the most common cardiac channelopathy with 15 elucidated LQTSsusceptibility genes. Approximately 20% of LQTS cases remain genetically elusive. Methods and Results-We combined whole-exome sequencing and bioinformatic/systems biology to identify the pathogenic substrate responsible for nonsyndromic, genotype-negative, autosomal dominant LQTS in a multigenerational pedigree, and we established the spectrum and prevalence of variants in the elucidated gene among a cohort of 102 unrelated patients with "genotype-negative/phenotype-positive" LQTS. Whole-exome sequencing was used on 3 members within a genotype-negative/phenotype-positive family. Genomic triangulation combined with bioinformatic tools and ranking algorithms led to the identification of a CACNA1C mutation. This mutation, Pro857Arg-CACNA1C, cosegregated with the disease within the pedigree, was ranked by 3 disease-network algorithms as the most probable LQTS-susceptibility gene and involves a conserved residue localizing to the proline, gltamic acid, serine, and threonine (PEST) domain in the II-III linker. Functional studies reveal that Pro857Arg-CACNA1C leads to a gain of function with increased I Ca,L and increased surface membrane expression of the channel compared to wild type. Subsequent mutational analysis identified 3 additional variants within CACNA1C in our cohort of 102 unrelated cases of genotype-negative/phenotype-positive LQTS. Two of these variants also involve conserved residues within Cav1.2's PEST domain. Conclusions-This study provides evidence that coupling whole-exome sequencing and bioinformatic/systems biology is an effective strategy for the identification of potential disease-causing genes/mutations. The identification of a functional CACNA1C mutation cosegregating with disease in a single pedigree suggests that CACNA1C perturbations may underlie autosomal dominant LQTS in the absence of Timothy syndrome.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 279-289 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics |
Volume | 6 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 2013 |
Keywords
- Arrhythmia
- Calcium
- Genetics
- Ion channel
- Long QT syndrome
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Genetics
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
- Genetics(clinical)