Saethre-Chotzen syndrome is a relatively common craniosynostosis disorder w
ith autosomal dominant inheritance. Mutations in the TWIST gene have been i
dentified in patients with Saethre-Chotzen syndrome. The TWIST gene product
is a transcription factor with DNA binding and helix-loop helix domains. N
umerous missense and nonsense mutations cluster in the functional domains,
without any apparent mutational hot spot. Two novel point mutations and one
novel polymorphism are included in this review. Large deletions including
the TWIST gene have been identified in some patients with learning disabili
ties or mental retardation, which are not typically part of the Saethre-Cho
tzen syndrome. Comprehensive studies in patients with the clinical diagnosi
s of Saethre-Chotzen syndrome have demonstrated a TWIST gene abnormality in
about 80%, up to 37% of which may be large deletions [Johnson et al., 1998
]. The gene deletions and numerous nonsense mutations are suggestive of hap
loinsufficiency as the disease-causing mechanism, No genotype phenotype cor
relation was apparent. Hum Mutat 15:150-155, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc
.