- Comment in:
-
Science. 2008 Feb 8;319(5864):732-3.
Mutations in the pericentrin (PCNT) gene cause primordial dwarfism.
Rauch A,
Thiel CT,
Schindler D,
Wick U,
Crow YJ,
Ekici AB,
van Essen AJ,
Goecke TO,
Al-Gazali L,
Chrzanowska KH,
Zweier C,
Brunner HG,
Becker K,
Curry CJ,
Dallapiccola B,
Devriendt K,
Dörfler A,
Kinning E,
Megarbane A,
Meinecke P,
Semple RK,
Spranger S,
Toutain A,
Trembath RC,
Voss E,
Wilson L,
Hennekam R,
de Zegher F,
Dörr HG,
Reis A.
Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany. Anita.Rauch@humgenet.uni-erlangen.de
Fundamental processes influencing human growth can be revealed by studying extreme short stature. Using genetic linkage analysis, we find that biallelic loss-of-function mutations in the centrosomal pericentrin (PCNT) gene on chromosome 21q22.3 cause microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type II (MOPD II) in 25 patients. Adults with this rare inherited condition have an average height of 100 centimeters and a brain size comparable to that of a 3-month-old baby, but are of near-normal intelligence. Absence of PCNT results in disorganized mitotic spindles and missegregation of chromosomes. Mutations in related genes are known to cause primary microcephaly (MCPH1, CDK5RAP2, ASPM, and CENPJ).
PMID: 18174396 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]