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Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Targeted Next-generation Sequencing and Bioinformatics Pipeline to Evaluate Genetic Determinants of Constitutional Disease
Published on: April 4, 2018
R352Q mutation of the DHCR7 gene is common among Japanese Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome patients
Yoshiyuki Matsumoto1, Ken-Ichi Morishima1, Akira Honda2
1Department of Radiation Biology, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan.
Abstract:
Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS) is an autosomal recessive malformation syndrome characterized by microcephaly, syndactyly of toes, ambiguous genitalia, and mental retardation. The underlying DHCR7 gene has been identified and a wide variety of distinct mutations were reported in USA and European SLOS patients. A significant difference has been suggested in the frequency of SLOS among different ethnic populations. Here, we report mutational analysis of seven Japanese SLOS patients. Five mutations, R352Q, R242H, G303R, X476Q, and S192F, were identified, and R352Q appeared most frequent, since nine out of the 13 mutations of Japanese origin were the same R352Q. These results suggest that R352Q is a predominant founder mutation in Japanese SLOS patients.
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