M. Oldridge et al., GENOTYPE-PHENOTYPE CORRELATION FOR NUCLEOTIDE SUBSTITUTIONS IN THE IGII-IGIII LINKER OF FGFR2, Human molecular genetics, 6(1), 1997, pp. 137-143
Dominantly acting, allelic mutations of the fibroblast growth factor r
eceptor 2 (FGFR2) gene have been described in five craniosynostosis sy
ndromes, In Apert syndrome, characterised by syndactyly of the hands a
nd feet, recurrent mutations of a serine-proline dipeptide (either Ser
252Trp or Pro253Arg) in the linker between the IgII and IgIII extracel
lular immunoglobulin-like domains, have been documented in more than 1
60 unrelated individuals. We have identified three novel mutations of
this dipeptide, associated with distinct phenotypes. A C-->T mutation
that predicts a Ser252Leu substitution, ascertained in a boy with mild
Crouzon syndrome (craniosynostosis with normal limbs) is also present
in three clinically normal members of his family, A CG-->TT mutation
that predicts a Ser252Phe substitution results in a phenotype consiste
nt with Apert syndrome, Finally, a CGC-->TCT mutation that predicts a
double amino acid substitution (Ser252Phe and Pro253Ser) causes a Pfei
ffer syndrome variant with mild craniosynostosis, broad thumbs and big
toes, fixed extension of several digits, and only minimal cutaneous s
yndactyly. The observation that the Ser252Phe mutation causes Apert sy
ndrome, whereas the other single or double substitutions are associate
d with milder or normal phenotypes, highlights the exquisitely specifi
c molecular pathogenesis of the limb and craniofacial abnormalities as
sociated with Apert syndrome. Ser252Phe is the first noncanonical muta
tion to be identified in this disorder, its rarity being explained by
the requirement for two residues of the serine codon to be mutated. Th
e description of independent, complex nucleotide substitutions involvi
ng identical nucleotides is unprecedented, and we speculate that this
may result from functional selection of FGFR mutations in sperm.