Missense Variants in RHOBTB2 Cause a Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy in Humans, and Altered Levels Cause Neurological Defects in Drosophila

Straub J, Konrad E, Grüner J, Toutain A, Bok LA, Cho MT, Crawford HP, Dubbs H, Douglas G, Jobling R, Johnson D, Krock B, Mikati MA, Nesbitt A, Nicolai J, Phillips M, Poduri A, Ortiz-Gonzalez XR, Powis Z, Santani A, Smith L, Stegmann APA, Stumpel C, Vreeburg M, Fliedner A, Gregor A, Sticht H, Zweier C (2018)


Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2018

Journal

Book Volume: 102

Pages Range: 44-57

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2017.11.008

Abstract

Although the role of typical Rho GTPases and other Rho-linked proteins in synaptic plasticity and cognitive function and dysfunction is widely acknowledged, the role of atypical Rho GTPases (such as RHOBTB2) in neurodevelopment has barely been characterized. We have now identified de novo missense variants clustering in the BTB-domain-encoding region of RHOBTB2 in ten individuals with a similar phenotype, including early-onset epilepsy, severe intellectual disability, postnatal microcephaly, and movement disorders. Three of the variants were recurrent. Upon transfection of HEK293 cells, we found that mutant RHOBTB2 was more abundant than the wild-type, most likely because of impaired degradation in the proteasome. Similarly, elevated amounts of the Drosophila ortholog RhoBTB in vivo were associated with seizure susceptibility and severe locomotor defects. Knockdown of RhoBTB in the Drosophila dendritic arborization neurons resulted in a decreased number of dendrites, thus suggesting a role of RhoBTB in dendritic development. We have established missense variants in the BTB-domain-encoding region of RHOBTB2 as causative for a developmental and epileptic encephalopathy and have elucidated the role of atypical Rho GTPase RhoBTB in Drosophila neurological function and possibly dendrite development.

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APA:

Straub, J., Konrad, E., Grüner, J., Toutain, A., Bok, L.A., Cho, M.T.,... Zweier, C. (2018). Missense Variants in RHOBTB2 Cause a Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy in Humans, and Altered Levels Cause Neurological Defects in Drosophila. American Journal of Human Genetics, 102(1), 44-57. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajhg.2017.11.008

MLA:

Straub, Jonas, et al. "Missense Variants in RHOBTB2 Cause a Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy in Humans, and Altered Levels Cause Neurological Defects in Drosophila." American Journal of Human Genetics 102.1 (2018): 44-57.

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