De novo KCNB1 mutations in epileptic encephalopathy

• DOI: 10.1002/ana.24263
• Publication Date: 2014-08-28T08:39:47Z
• Authors: Ali Torkamani; Kevin Bersell; Benjamin S. Jorge; Robert L. Bjork; Jennifer R. Friedman; Cinnamon S. Bloss; Julie Cohen; Siddharth Gupta; Sakkubai Naidu; Carlos G. Vanoye; Alfred L. George; Jennifer A. Kearney
• Keywords: Male; 0301 basic medicine; Epilepsy; Patch-Clamp Techniques; Developmental Disabilities; Mutation, Missense; CHO Cells; Transfection; 3. Good health; Membrane Potentials; 03 medical and health sciences; Cricetulus; Phenotype; Shab Potassium Channels; Child, Preschool; Animals; Humans; Biotinylation; Female; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Child

ObjectiveNumerous studies have demonstrated increased load of de novo copy number variants or single nucleotide variants in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, including epileptic encephalopathies, intellectual disability, and autism.MethodsWe searched for de novo mutations in a family quartet with a sporadic case of epileptic encephalopathy with no known etiology to determine the underlying cause using high‐coverage whole exome sequencing (WES) and lower‐coverage whole genome sequencing. Mutations in additional patients were identified by WES. The effect of mutations on protein function was assessed in a heterologous expression system.ResultsWe identified a de novo missense mutation in KCNB1 that encodes the KV2.1 voltage‐gated potassium channel. Functional studies demonstrated a deleterious effect of the mutation on KV2.1 function leading to a loss of ion selectivity and gain of a depolarizing inward cation conductance. Subsequently, we identified 2 additional patients with epileptic encephalopathy and de novo KCNB1 missense mutations that cause a similar pattern of KV2.1 dysfunction.InterpretationOur genetic and functional evidence demonstrate that KCNB1 mutation can result in early onset epileptic encephalopathy. This expands the locus heterogeneity associated with epileptic encephalopathies and suggests that clinical WES may be useful for diagnosis of epileptic encephalopathies of unknown etiology. Ann Neurol 2014;76:529–540