Novel ASCC1 mutations causing prenatal-onset muscle weakness with arthrogryposis and congenital bone fractures

The activating signal cointegrator 1 (ASC-1) complex acts as a transcriptional coactivator for a variety of transcription factors and consists of four subunits: ASCC1, ASCC2, ASCC3 and TRIP4. A single homozygous mutation in ASCC1 has recently been reported in two families with a severe muscle and bone disorder.

We aim to contribute to a better understanding of the ASCC1-related disorder.

Here, we provide a clinical, histological and genetic description of three additional ASCC1 families.

All patients presented with severe prenatal-onset muscle weakness, neonatal hypotonia and arthrogryposis, and congenital bone fractures. The muscle biopsies from the affected infants revealed intense oxidative rims beneath the sarcolemma and scattered remnants of sarcomeres with enlarged Z-bands, potentially representing a histopathological hallmark of the disorder. Sequencing identified recessive nonsense or frameshift mutations in ASCC1, including two novel mutations.

Overall, this work expands the ASCC1 mutation spectrum, sheds light on the muscle histology of the disorder and emphasises the physiological importance of the ASC-1 complex in fetal muscle and bone development.