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Mutations of AKT3 are associated with a wide spectrum of developmental disorders including extreme megalencephaly

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posted on 2023-06-09, 08:06 authored by Diana AlcantaraDiana Alcantara, Andrew E Timms, Karen Gripp, Laura Baker, Kaylee Park, Sarah Collins, Chi Cheng, Fiona Stewart, Sarju G Mehta, Anand Saggar, László Sztriha, Melinda Zombor, Oana Caluseriu, Ronit Mesterman, Margot I Van Allen, Adeline Jacquinet, Sofia Ygberg, Jonathan A Bernstein, Aaron M Wenger, Harendra Guturu, Gill Bejerano, Natalia Gomez-Ospina, Anna Lehman, Enrico Alfei, Chiara Pantaleoni, Valerio Conti, Renzo Guerrini, Ute Moog, John M Graham Jr., Robert Hevner, William B Dobyns, Mark O'DriscollMark O'Driscoll, Ghayda M Mirzaa
Mutations of genes within the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT-MTOR pathway are well known causes of brain overgrowth (megalencephaly) as well as segmental cortical dysplasia (such as hemimegalencephaly, focal cortical dysplasia and polymicrogyria). Mutations of the AKT3 gene have been reported in a few individuals with brain malformations, to date. Therefore, our understanding regarding the clinical and molecular spectrum associated with mutations of this critical gene is limited, with no clear genotype–phenotype correlations. We sought to further delineate this spectrum, study levels of mosaicism and identify genotype–phenotype correlations of AKT3-related disorders. We performed targeted sequencing of AKT3 on individuals with these phenotypes by molecular inversion probes and/or Sanger sequencing to determine the type and level of mosaicism of mutations. We analysed all clinical and brain imaging data of mutation-positive individuals including neuropathological analysis in one instance. We performed ex vivo kinase assays on AKT3 engineered with the patient mutations and examined the phospholipid binding profile of pleckstrin homology domain localizing mutations. We identified 14 new individuals with AKT3 mutations with several phenotypes dependent on the type of mutation and level of mosaicism. Our comprehensive clinical characterization, and review of all previously published patients, broadly segregates individuals with AKT3 mutations into two groups: patients with highly asymmetric cortical dysplasia caused by the common p.E17K mutation, and patients with constitutional AKT3 mutations exhibiting more variable phenotypes including bilateral cortical malformations, polymicrogyria, periventricular nodular heterotopia and diffuse megalencephaly without cortical dysplasia. All mutations increased kinase activity, and pleckstrin homology domain mutants exhibited enhanced phospholipid binding. Overall, our study shows that activating mutations of the critical AKT3 gene are associated with a wide spectrum of brain involvement ranging from focal or segmental brain malformations (such as hemimegalencephaly and polymicrogyria) predominantly due to mosaic AKT3 mutations, to diffuse bilateral cortical malformations, megalencephaly and heterotopia due to constitutional AKT3 mutations. We also provide the first detailed neuropathological examination of a child with extreme megalencephaly due to a constitutional AKT3 mutation. This child has one of the largest documented paediatric brain sizes, to our knowledge. Finally, our data show that constitutional AKT3 mutations are associated with megalencephaly, with or without autism, similar to PTEN-related disorders. Recognition of this broad clinical and molecular spectrum of AKT3 mutations is important for providing early diagnosis and appropriate management of affected individuals, and will facilitate targeted design of future human clinical trials using PI3K-AKT pathway inhibitors.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Brain

ISSN

0006-8950

Publisher

Oxford Academic

Issue

10

Volume

140

Page range

2610-2622

Department affiliated with

  • Sussex Centre for Genome Damage Stability Publications

Research groups affiliated with

  • Genome Damage and Stability Centre Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2017-09-26

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2018-09-07

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2017-09-26

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