A novel splicing mutation in the SEDL gene causes spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda in a large Chinese pedigree

The X-linked form of spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda (SEDT, OMIM# 313400) is a rare osteochondrodysplasia caused by mutations in the SEDL (TRAPPC2, OMIM# 300202) gene. It is clinically characterized by disproportionate short stature, barrel-shaped chests and early development of degenerative joint disease. We report here a novel mutation in the intron 3 splice-donor site (c. 93 + 5G > C) segregated in an X-link pattern in a large Chinese family with SEDT. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis revealed that the mutation causes an aberrant splicing of exon 3, resulting in the elimination of 31 codons in the exon and a considerable loss function of the SEDL protein. This mutation was not detected in the 100 healthy controls. This novel mutation adds to the spectrum of previously-identified disease-causing mutations. Pre-symptomatic molecular diagnosis and prenatal diagnosis of the pregnant carriers could be helpful to families with SEDT.