We applied whole-exome sequencing (WES) and MND and ataxia-related genes filtering strategies to discover the genetic factors in a Chinese adult-onset PLS family. Sanger sequencing was used in the cosegregation analysis in the affected family members.
A mutation (c.2219A>G/p.Y740C) in exon 17 of SPG7 was identified in an adult-onset PLS patient and cosegregated with the affected members in this family. Meanwhile, the mutation was predicted to be deleterious by 3 bioinformatics programs (Polymorphism phenotyping-2, sorting intolerant from tolerant and MutationTaster). This variant may cause the structure changes of paraplegin protein.
We employed WES to detect a missense mutation of SPG7 gene in a PLS family. This finding expands the spectrum of known SPG7 mutations, and it may contribute to novel approaches to genetic diagnosis and counseling of families with PLS.