Journal Article

Genetic analysis and functional assessment of a TGFBR2 variant in micrognathia and cleft palate

Michaels, JES-Rite, Husami, Ammar, Iyyanar, Paul P. R., Stottmann, Rolf W., Vontell, Andrew M., Brugmann, Samantha A.

2025

Overview

Cleft lip and cleft palate are among the most common congenital anomalies and are the result of incomplete fusion of embryonic craniofacial processes or palatal shelves, respectively. We know that genetics play a large role in these anomalies but the list of known causal genes is far from complete. As part of a larger sequencing effort of patients with congenital craniofacial anomalies, we identified a rare candidate variant in transforming growth factor beta receptor 2 ( TGFBR2 ). This variant alters a highly conserved amino acid and is predicted to be pathogenic by a number of metrics. The family history and population genetics suggest that this specific variant would be incompletely penetrant, but this gene has been convincingly implicated in craniofacial development. In order to test the hypothesis this might be a causal variant, we used genome editing to create the orthologous variant in a new mouse model. Surprisingly, Tgfbr2 V387M mice did not exhibit craniofacial anomalies or have reduced survival, suggesting Tgfbr2 V387M is not a causal variant for cleft palate/ micrognathia. The discrepancy between in silico predictions and mouse phenotypes highlights the complexity of translating human genetic findings to mouse models. We expect these findings will aid in interpretation of future variants seen in TGFBR2 from ongoing sequencing of patients with congenital craniofacial anomalies.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Amino acids / Animal models / Animals / Biology and life sciences / Birth defects / Causes of / Cell growth / Cleft lip/palate / Cleft palate / Cleft Palate - genetics / Congenital anomalies / Congenital defects / Congenital diseases / Craniofacial abnormalities / Craniofacial dysostosis / Craniofacial growth / Disease Models, Animal / Families & family life / Female / Genetic analysis / Genetic aspects / Genetic disorders / Genetics / Genome editing / Growth factors / Health aspects / Humans / Kinases / Ligands / Male / Medicine and Health Sciences / Mice / Micrognathism - genetics / Pediatrics / Phenotype / Phenotypes / Phosphorylation / Physiological aspects / Population genetics / Postpartum period / Proteins / Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II - genetics / Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta - genetics / Research and Analysis Methods / Transforming growth factors