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NR5A1 gene variants repress the ovarian‐specific WNT signaling pathway in 46,XX disorders of sex development patients
Author(s) -
Knarston Ingrid M.,
Robevska Gorjana,
den Bergen Jocelyn A,
Eggers Stefanie,
Croft Brittany,
Yates Jason,
Hersmus Remko,
Looijenga Leendert H. J.,
Cameron Fergus J.,
Monhike Klaus,
Ayers Katie L.,
Sinclair Andrew H.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
human mutation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.981
H-Index - 162
eISSN - 1098-1004
pISSN - 1059-7794
DOI - 10.1002/humu.23672
Subject(s) - biology , wnt signaling pathway , missense mutation , disorders of sex development , gene , steroidogenic factor 1 , genetics , gonadal dysgenesis , bioinformatics , endocrinology , mutation , nuclear receptor , transcription factor
Several recent reports have described a missense variant in the gene NR5A1 (c.274C>T; p.Arg92Trp) in a significant number of 46,XX ovotesticular or testicular disorders of sex development (DSDs) cases. The affected residue falls within the DNA‐binding domain of the NR5A1 protein, however the exact mechanism by which it causes testicular development in 46,XX individuals remains unclear. We have screened a cohort of 26 patients with 46,XX (ovo)testicular DSD and identified three unrelated individuals with this NR5A1 variant (p.Arg92Trp), as well as one patient with a novel NR5A1 variant (c.779C>T; p.Ala260Val). We examined the functional effect of these changes, finding that while protein levels and localization were unaffected, variant NR5A1 proteins repress the WNT signaling pathway and have less ability to upregulate the anti‐testis gene NR0B1 . These findings highlight how NR5A1 variants impact ovarian differentiation across multiple pathways, resulting in a switch from ovarian to testis development in genetic females.