Microduplication of BTRC detected in a Chinese family with split hand/foot malformation type 3

Split hand/foot malformation (SHFM) is a clinically heterogeneous genetic disorder, which is mainly characterized by median clefts of the hand/feet due to the absence of the central digital rays. Several subgroups of SHFM have been identified, including SHFM1 to SHFM6. SHFM3 is an autosomal dominant disease, which has been identified to associate with a 500 kb microduplication at 10q24. The duplication involved several genes, including LBX1, BTRC, POLL, FBXW4, and so forth. In the study, using trio clinical exome sequencing, a 120 kb microduplication containing only BTRC were identified in a Chinese family affected with SHFM3. Further confirmation was performed using qRT-PCR assay, which showed that the 120 kb duplication was co-segregated with SHFM phenotypes in the family. It is the smallest duplication which has ever been reported relating to SHFM3. Furthermore, the transcription levels of BTRC mRNA in lymphocyte of the proband was significantly higher than that in the healthy control. The study provided evidence for the limb malformation caused by abnormal BTRC expression, and suggested that next generation sequencing could provide more precise diagnosis to SHFM3 patients.