Genes and Variants in Human Rare Genetic Diseases

A special issue of Genes (ISSN 2073-4425). This special issue belongs to the section "Human Genomics and Genetic Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2024 | Viewed by 540

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
2. IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
Interests: molecular genetics; clinical genetics; next generation sequencing (NGS); molecular karyotyping; prenatal diagnosis; neurogenomics; oncogenomics; bioinformatics
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Rare diseases (RDs) affect more than 300–400 million people worldwide, often causing chronic illness, severe disability, and premature death. In a large portion of cases, people with an undiagnosed disease incur in the so-called “diagnostic odyssey”. An accurate diagnosis of an RD can result in better clinical management, the identification of potential therapeutics, and the avoidance of unnecessary treatments that may have non-negligible side effects. In the last decade, the advent of NGS (next-generation sequencing) and omics sciences, such as genomics, transcriptomics, and methylomics, has completely revolutionized the approach to RDs.

This Special Issue aims to highlight the contribution of these novel approaches to unravel the pathogenetic mechanisms, discover novel disease genes, and depict the genetic architecture underlying RDs. Original articles, case series, reviews, and descriptions of new methodologies in the field of RDs are welcome to contribute to this Special Issue. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following: novel diagnostic approaches, genotype–phenotype correlations, disease gene discovery, multi-omics data integration, genetic pleiotropy, and phenotypic expansion.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Edoardo Errichiello
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • rare disease
  • multi-omics
  • exome
  • genome
  • transcriptome
  • methylome
  • next-generation sequencing

Published Papers (1 paper)

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15 pages, 3590 KiB  
Case Report
Characterization of a New Variant in ARHGAP31 Probably Involved in Adams–Oliver Syndrome in a Family with a Variable Phenotypic Spectrum
by Carlo Santaniello, Alice Faversani, Luigi Corsaro, Giulia Melloni, Silvia Motta, Elena Mandorino, Davide Sacco, Sabine Stioui, Fulvio Ferrara, Davide Barteselli, Dario De Vita, Debora Manuelli and Lucy Costantino
Genes 2024, 15(5), 536; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15050536 (registering DOI) - 24 Apr 2024
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Abstract
Adams–Oliver syndrome is a rare inherited condition characterized by scalp defects and limb abnormalities. It is caused by variants in different genes such as ARHGAP31. Here, we used an interdisciplinary approach to study a family with lower limb anomalies. We identified a [...] Read more.
Adams–Oliver syndrome is a rare inherited condition characterized by scalp defects and limb abnormalities. It is caused by variants in different genes such as ARHGAP31. Here, we used an interdisciplinary approach to study a family with lower limb anomalies. We identified a novel variant in the ARHGAP31 gene that is predicted to result in a truncated protein with a constitutively activated catalytic site due to the loss of 688 amino acids involved in the C-terminal domain, essential for protein auto-inhibition. Pathogenic variants in ARHGAP31 exon 12, leading to a premature protein termination, are associated with Adams–Oliver syndrome. Bioinformatic analysis was useful to elucidate the impact of the identified genetic variant on protein structure. To better understand the impact of the identified variant, 3D protein models were predicted for the ARHGAP31 wild type, the newly discovered variant, and other pathogenetic alterations already reported. Our study identified a novel variant probably involved in Adams–Oliver syndrome and increased the evidence on the phenotypic variability in patients affected by this syndrome, underlining the importance of translational research, including experimental and bioinformatics analyses. This strategy represents a successful model to investigate molecular mechanisms involved in syndrome occurrence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genes and Variants in Human Rare Genetic Diseases)
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