Frontiers in Genetics (Apr 2024)

Identification of a novel ANK1 gene variant c.1504-9G>A and its mechanism of intron retention in hereditary spherocytosis

  • Ting Xiong,
  • Zhongjin Xu,
  • Qian Wan,
  • Feng Chen,
  • Yao Ye,
  • Hong Wang,
  • Chongjun Wu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2024.1390924
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15

Abstract

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Objective: The objective of this study was to pinpoint pathogenic genes and assess the mutagenic pathogenicity in two pediatric patients with hereditary spherocytosis.Methods: We utilized whole-exome sequencing (WES) for individual analysis (case 1) and family-based trio analysis (case 2). The significance of the intronic mutation was validated through a Minigene splicing assay and supported by subsequent in vitro experiments.Results: Both probands received a diagnosis of hereditary spherocytosis. WES identified a novel ANK1 c.1504-9G>A mutation in both patients, causing the retention of seven nucleotides at the 5′ end of intron 13, as substantiated by the Minigene assay. This variant results in a premature stop codon and the production of a truncated protein. In vitro studies indicated a reduced expression of the ANK1 gene.Conclusion: The novel ANK1 c.1504-9G>A variant is established as the causative factor for hereditary spherocytosis, with the c.1504-9G site functioning as a splicing receptor.

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