Identification of biallelic loss-of-function PREP variants in three individuals with syndromic intellectual...

Neurodevelopmental disorders are one of the most prevalent reasons for genetic testing in childhood. Despite the identification of over 1950 associated genes, many proposed candidate genes lack convincing gene-disease validity. The gene PREP encodes the broadly expressed prolyl endopeptidase whose exact function remains largely unknown. A homozygous PREP variant has been reported once as a candidate gene in two siblings with intellectual disability but no functional studies were conducted.

Exome and trio genome sequencing were performed in two unrelated families as part of larger cohorts. Segregation analysis, RNA sequencing and immunoblots were performed to further examine the pathogenicity of detected PREP variants.

We report three individuals from two unrelated families who presented with intellectual disability, behavioural abnormalities, strabismus, generalised muscular hypotonia, dysmorphic facial features and epilepsy. Exome and genome sequencing identified two different homozygous rare PREP variants: c.1570_1573dup, p.(Asn525Thrfs*5) and c.1839-2A>G, p.?. RNA sequencing confirmed the detected intronic variant to result in two aberrant mRNA isoforms. In patient-derived cells immunoblots showed absence of PREP protein.

Our data suggest PREP deficiency as the underlying cause of a syndromic neurodevelopmental disorder.