METHODS: We describe two siblings who presented with similar clinical features including severe intellectual disability and epilepsy with onset of symptom in early infancy.
RESULTS: The whole exome sequencing results revealed a compound heterozygous novel variant, c.979G > A (p.Glu327Lys) and c.682 + 2 T > C, on TRIT1 exon 8 and intron 5, respectively, which was confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Protein structure analysis revealed that the p.Glu327Lys variant disrupts the conformation and electrostatic charge of the zinc-finger motif in the tRNA isopentenyltransferase (IPT), impairing binding of the mutant IPT to specific DNA sequences.
CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of two Korean siblings with COXPD 35 with two novel variants in TRIT1. This study will help to understand the various phenotypic spectra in patients with COXPD 35 and to expand knowledge on the mechanisms of the disease based on genetic features.