Investigation of Pogz Gene Variants in Non-Syndromic Autism Spectrum Disorder

Introduction: Genetic factors play an important role in the etiopathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The Pogo Transposable Element with ZNF Domain protein (POGZ) gene (MIM*614787) has been reported to be one of the most frequently mutated genes associated with ASD. This study aims to analyze the exonic regions of the POGZ gene in individuals diagnosed with non-syndromic ASD. Methods: Fifty-one non-syndromic cases diagnosed with ASD according to the DSM-V diagnostic criteria, aged 2-18 years, were included in the study. The healthy control group consisted of 50 children of similar age groups without neurodevelopmental problems. Amplicons produced using deep intronic primers covering the mRNA-encoded regions of the POGZ gene from at least 50 base pairs were sequenced by Next Generation Sequencing Analysis. Results: No pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants reported in open-access databases (ClinVar, HGMD, etc.) were detected in the case group. In the ASD and healthy control groups, rs113396244, rs11204811, rs779479223, rs772352054, rs3831142, rs112072925, rs227453 and rs142860188 variants were determined. The rs3831142, rs112072925, rs2274535, rs142860188 variants were found statistically significant in the ASD group. The distribution of the cases with detected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) according to gender was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The variants identified as statistically significant within the patient group are situated in regions that encompass both the HP1-ZNF and DDE domains of the protein. Given the crucial role that the DDE domain plays, particularly in fetal brain development and neurogenesis, these four variants may potentially possess modifying and/or predisposing effects in the context of ASD.Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder, next generation sequencing, POGZABSTRACTrisk architecture due to de novo mutations as well as epigenetic and environmental factors (8). Despite the remarkable heterogeneity of ASD, most genetic variants linked to the disorder are found in genes evaluated within specific functional networks, including synaptic function, neuronal activity, neuronal cell adhesion, Wnt signalling during neurogenesis and chromatin remodelling (9-11). Previous studies have highlighted a correlation between pogo transposable element with ZNF domain Highlights center dot The POGZ gene is one of the most frequently mutated genes in ASD.center dot Variants rs3831142, rs112072925, rs2274535, rs142860188 in POGZ are different in ASD.center dot The variants identified in POGZ are in the sequence encoding functional regions.Kaynak 3, 4 ve 31 kontrol edilmeli. Yanl & imath;& scedil; de & gbreve;il ama & ouml;nemli de & gbreve;i & scedil;iklik var (YO)39 numaral & imath; kaynak 404 hatas & imath; veriyor/ula & scedil;& imath;lam & imath;yor.