Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 6, 2026

A Novel Strategy Combining Array-CGH, Whole-exome Sequencing and In Utero Electroporation in Rodents to Identify Causative Genes for Brain Malformations
08:22

A Novel Strategy Combining Array-CGH, Whole-exome Sequencing and In Utero Electroporation in Rodents to Identify Causative Genes for Brain Malformations

Published on: December 1, 2017

A novel de novo SCN1A missense mutation in Severe Myoclonic Epilepsy Borderland

Nicola Specchio1, Marina Trivisano, Martina Balestri

  • 1Division of Neurology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy. nicola.specchio@opbg.net

Acta Neurologica Belgica
|December 1, 2010
PubMed

Insights

A novel SCN1A gene mutation was identified in a patient with Severe Myoclonic Epilepsy Borderland (SMEB). This discovery advances understanding of the genetic basis of this rare epilepsy syndrome.

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Neurology
  • Epilepsy Research

Background:

  • Severe Myoclonic Epilepsy Borderland (SMEB) is a rare epilepsy syndrome.
  • Genetic mutations in the SCN1A gene are implicated in various epilepsy forms.

Observation:

  • A 3.5-year-old female presented with prolonged febrile seizures, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, atonic seizures, and atypical absences.
  • Clinical presentation was suggestive of SMEB, with normal cognitive and motor development.

Findings:

  • A novel de novo missense mutation, c.4183 G>T (p.D1396Y), was identified in exon 21 of the SCN1A gene.
  • This mutation involves a heterozygous replacement of guanine with thymine.

Implications:

  • This finding contributes to the growing list of SCN1A mutations associated with SMEB.
  • Further research is needed to establish definitive genotype-phenotype correlations for SCN1A-related epilepsies, considering potential involvement of other factors.

More Related Videos

A Strategy to Identify de Novo Mutations in Common Disorders such as Autism and Schizophrenia05:51

A Strategy to Identify de Novo Mutations in Common Disorders such as Autism and Schizophrenia

Published on: June 15, 2011

Targeted Next-generation Sequencing and Bioinformatics Pipeline to Evaluate Genetic Determinants of Constitutional Disease09:34

Targeted Next-generation Sequencing and Bioinformatics Pipeline to Evaluate Genetic Determinants of Constitutional Disease

Published on: April 4, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Huntington Disease l: Introduction01:21

Huntington Disease l: Introduction

Huntington disease or HD is a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disorder inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern.PathophysiologyIt is caused by expansion of the CAG trinucleotide repeat in the HTT gene on chromosome 4 (4p16.3), producing an abnormal huntingtin protein with an expanded polyglutamine tract. This misfolded protein disrupts cellular function, leading to neuronal death. Normal alleles have ≤26 repeats, 27–35 are intermediate (risk of expansion), 36–39 show reduced penetrance,...
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms-SNPs01:05

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms-SNPs

A single nucleotide polymorphism or SNP is a single nucleotide variation at a specific genomic position in a large population. It is the most prevalent type of sequence variation found in the human genome. Point mutations that occur in more than 1% of the population qualify as SNPs. These are present once every 1000 nucleotides on an average in the human genome. Replacement of a purine with another purine (A/G) or a pyrimidine with another pyrimidine (C/T) is known as a transition. In contrast,...
Sex-linked Disorders01:43

Sex-linked Disorders

Like autosomes, sex chromosomes contain a variety of genes necessary for normal body function. When a mutation in one of these genes results in biological deficits, the disorder is considered sex-linked.
Point and Frameshift Mutations01:30

Point and Frameshift Mutations

Point mutations are genetic alterations involving the change of a single nucleotide base pair in DNA. Depending on how the alteration affects protein synthesis, they can lead to various consequences.Point mutations fall into the following types:Silent mutations occur when a nucleotide change does not alter the amino acid sequence due to the redundancy of the genetic code. For instance, changing ACC to ACA still encodes threonine, leaving the protein function unaffected. This occurs because...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein01:20

Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein

Antiepileptic drugs, such as levetiracetam (Keppra) and brivaracetam (Briviact), have emerged as crucial tools in managing epilepsy. These medications exert their therapeutic effects by targeting the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A, a transmembrane glycoprotein primarily found in the brain.
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...
Animal Mitochondrial Genetics02:59

Animal Mitochondrial Genetics

Among all the organelles in an animal cell, only mitochondria have their own independent genomes. Animal mitochondrial DNA is a double-stranded, closed-circular molecule with around 20,000 base pairs. Mitochondrial DNA is unique in that one of its two strands, the heavy, or H, -strand is guanine rich, whereas the complementary strand is cytosine rich and called the light, or L, -strand. Compared to nuclear DNA, mitochondrial DNA has a very low percentage of non-coding regions and is marked by...