Recessive SMC5 Variants in a Family with Near-Tetraploidy/Mosaic Variegated Aneuploidy
<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Mosaic variegated aneuploidy (MVA) is a rare chromosomal instability disorder. Biallelic variants in SMC5, a core component of the DNA repair machinery, cause Atelis Syndrome, characterized by severe growth failure and multi-system abnormalities. This study aimed to identify the genetic cause in a patient with MVA and a distinct, milder phenotype. <b>Methods:</b> We conducted comprehensive clinical and cytogenetic assessments, chromosomal karyotyping, and trio-based exome sequencing on a proband with hypospadias and chromosomal instability. Identified variants were validated by Sanger sequencing and assessed for pathogenicity using ACMG/AMP guidelines. <b>Results:</b> Cytogenetic analysis revealed near-tetraploidy (9.7%) and MVA (46.9%). Exome sequencing identified novel compound heterozygous SMC5 variants, a nonsense c.2221G>T (p.Glu741Ter) and a missense c.3065A>G (p.Asn1022Ser), both predicted to disrupt SMC5/6 complex function. The proband presented with hypospadias and mild developmental delay but lacked the severe neurological, cardiac, or hematological manifestations typical of Atelis Syndrome. Karyotype analysis showed a distinct pattern of chromosomal abnormalities, including a high frequency of marker chromosomes. <b>Conclusions:</b> This report expands the genotypic and phenotypic spectrum of SMC5-related disorders, confirming its association with MVA/near-tetraploidy and describing a novel attenuated clinical presentation. The findings highlight distinct cytogenetic patterns potentially differentiating DNA repair-defective MVA from other subtypes.
Authors
- Sha Zhao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2032-1554)
- Yongjia Yang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8673-1589)
- Cheng Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3143-7104)
- Nian Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3253-2565)
- Yu Zheng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6324-8148)
- Hua Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0217-8358)
- Zhao Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9043-3410)
- Songting Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3835-4790)
- Ming Tu
- Fang Shen
Institutions
- Central South University (CN)
- Hunan Children's Hospital (CN)
- University of South China (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Diagnostics
- Published
- 2025-11-27
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15233022
- Primary Topic
- Genomic variations and chromosomal abnormalities
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00