ClinVar

Description

p.Pro321Ser (CCA>TCA): c.961 C>T in exon 4 of the BAG3 gene (NM_004281.3). A variant of unknown significance has been identified in the BAG3 gene. The P321S variant has not been published as a mutation, nor has it been reported as a benign polymorphism to our knowledge. P321S was not observed with any significant frequency in 6503 individuals of European and African American descent in the NHLBI Exome Sequencing Project. Missense mutations in nearby residues have not been reported indicating this region of the protein may tolerate change. However, the P321S variant is a non-conservative amino acid substitution, which is likely to impact secondary protein structure as these residues differ in polarity, charge, size and/or other properties. In silico analysis is inconsistent in its predictions as to whether or not the variant is damaging to the protein structure/function. Mutations in BAG3 account for approximately 2.5% of familial DCM cases (Hershberger RE and Morales A, 2013). Mutations in BAG3 may also cause myofibrillar myopathy type 6, which is characterized by early-onset, severe, progressive, diffuse muscle weakness associated with cardiomyopathy, severe respiratory insufficiency and spine rigidity (Hershberger RE and Morales A, 2013). Therefore, based on the currently available information, it is unclear whether this variant is a pathogenic mutation or a rare benign variant. The variant is found in CARDIOMYOPATHY panel(s).