and Variants in Malaysian Neural Tube Defect Families.

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are common birth defects with a complex genetic etiology. Mouse genetic models have indicated a number of candidate genes, of which functional mutations in some have been found in human NTDs, usually in a heterozygous state. This study focuses on - as candidate genes of interest owing to growing evidence of the role of this gene family during neural tube closure in mouse models. - genes were analyzed in 31 Malaysian individuals comprising seven individuals with sporadic spina bifida, 13 parents, one twin-sibling and 10 unrelated controls. Whole exome sequencing analysis and bioinformatic analysis were performed to identify variants in 22 known genes. We reported that three out of seven spina bifida probands and three out of thirteen family members carried a variant in either (rs147977279), (rs780569137) or (rs772228172). Analysis of public databases shows that these variants are rare. In exome datasets of the probands and parents of the probands with - variants, the genotypes of spina bifida-related genes were compared to investigate the probability of the gene-gene interaction in relation to environmental risk factors. We report the presence of - gene variants that are prevalent in a small cohort of spina bifida patients in Malaysian families.