Summary: Researchers have identified 107 mutations in the RNA helicase DDX3X that cause cortical malformations in the developing brain. As the DDX3X gene is carried by the X chromosome, the associated developmental problems are more likely to occur in females. In severe cases, the functional changes in DDX3X resulted in a smaller or missing corpus callosum. Almost all of the mutations occurred de novo, meaning they happened during early development rather than being inherited from a parent. Researchers say the malfunction can now be considered to be a development disability syndrome.
Source: Duke University
An international team of researchers that pooled genetic samples from developmentally disabled patients from around the world has identified dozens of new mutations in a single gene that appears to be critical for brain development.
“This is important because there are a handful of genes that are recognized as ‘hot spots’ for mutations causing neurodevelopmental disorders,” said lead author Debra Silver, an associate professor of molecular genetics and microbiology in the Duke School of Medicine. “This gene, DDX3X, is going to be added to that list now.”
An analysis led by the Elliott Sherr lab at the University of California-San Francisco found that half of the DDX3X mutations in the 107 children studied caused a loss of function that made the gene stop working altogether, but the other half caused changes predicted to disrupt the function of the gene.
The DDX3X gene is carried by the X chromosome, which occurs twice in females and only once in males. Only three of the children in the study were male, indicating that an aberrant copy of the gene is probably most often a lethal problem for males who only have a single copy of X.
In humans, this syndrome often results in smaller brains and intellectual disability. Understanding how and why DDX3X mutations lead to developmental issues provides insight into how the gene functions normally.

With the finding that DDX3X was a common element in the developmental disabilities of these children, Silver’s team “used a set of experimental tricks to see how it would lead to disease.” In mice, her team manipulated levels of the gene to see how development of the cerebral cortex would be altered.
Changes in the gene led to fewer neurons being produced in a dosage-dependent manner, Silver said.
In the most severe cases, Sherr’s team showed that functional changes in DDX3X resulted in a smaller or even completely missing corpus collosum, the broad communications structure between the two halves of the brain. In some cases, identical genetic spelling errors that occurred in several children also led to polymicrogyria, an abnormal folding pattern on the surface of the brain.
“Not every mutation acts the same,” Silver said.
The collaborative team also tested how ‘missense’ mutations, in which the protein is made but somehow defective, would impair brain development. In the most severe missense mutations, the way protein was made was affected, leading to the formation of ‘clumps’ of RNA-protein aggregates in neural stem cells, similar to the protein clumps found in Alzheimer’s disease, Silver said.
Together, these issues point to a role for DDX3X in the genesis of developing neurons as the brain grows. “The way neurons are made and organized is disrupted,” Silver said. “We know that this gene is required for early brain development which can cause a whole host of developmental problems.”
Almost all of the mutations seen in the study children were ‘de novo,’ meaning they happened during the child’s early development, rather than being inherited from a parent.
Parents of the children with these mutations have established the DDX3X Foundation to pursue better understanding of what causes the disease, identify therapies, and provide a supportive community for families.
Funding: This work was supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (R01NS083897, R21NS098176, R01NS110388, F31NS0933762, F32NS112566, R25, 1R01NS058721, 5R01NS050375, DP2GM132932); Australia National Health and Medical Research Council, (GNT1126153, GNT1120615); California Tobacco-Related Disease Research Grants Program 27KT-0003; HUGODIMS consortium (RC14_0107); Dandy-Walker Alliance; DDX3X Foundation; Duke Regeneration Next Initiative; French Ministry of Health and the Health Regional Agency from Poitou-Charentes; and Frédérique Allaire from the Health Regional Agency of Poitou-Charentes; Holland-Trice Foundation; Sandler Foundation; UCSF Program for Breakthrough Biomedical Research.
Neuroscience News would like to thank Stephanie Berger for submitting this article for inclusion on the website.
Source:
Duke University
Media Contacts:
Karl Leif Bates – Duke University
Image Source:
The image is credited to Silver Lab, Duke University.
Original Research: Closed access
“Pathogenic DDX3X Mutations Impair RNA Metabolism and Neurogenesis During Fetal Cortical Development”. Ashley Lennon, Mariah Hoye, Debra Silver, Elliott Sherr.
Neuron doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2020.01.042.
Abstract
Pathogenic DDX3X Mutations Impair RNA Metabolism and Neurogenesis During Fetal Cortical Development
Highlights
• Discovery of 107 mutations in the RNA helicase DDX3X causing cortical malformations
• Clinical severity is linked to reduced helicase activity and RNA-protein granules
• Ddx3x is required in neural progenitors to produce cortical neurons during development
• Severe missense mutations cause polymicrogyria and impair translation of targets
Summary
De novo germline mutations in the RNA helicase DDX3X account for 1%–3% of unexplained intellectual disability (ID) cases in females and are associated with autism, brain malformations, and epilepsy. Yet, the developmental and molecular mechanisms by which DDX3X mutations impair brain function are unknown. Here, we use human and mouse genetics and cell biological and biochemical approaches to elucidate mechanisms by which pathogenic DDX3X variants disrupt brain development. We report the largest clinical cohort to date with DDX3X mutations (n = 107), demonstrating a striking correlation between recurrent dominant missense mutations, polymicrogyria, and the most severe clinical outcomes. We show that Ddx3x controls cortical development by regulating neuron generation. Severe DDX3X missense mutations profoundly disrupt RNA helicase activity, induce ectopic RNA-protein granules in neural progenitors and neurons, and impair translation. Together, these results uncover key mechanisms underlying DDX3X syndrome and highlight aberrant RNA metabolism in the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disease.