Whole-genome sequencing, as a powerful diagnostic tool in hearing loss, reveals novel variants in PTPRQ missed by whole-exome sequencing

Abstract Background/objectives Hearing loss (HL) is one of the most common congenital disorders, affecting 1-2 in 1,000 newborns. Modern genetic diagnostics using large gene panels and/or whole exome analysis (WES) can identify disease-causing mutations in 25-50 % of patients, with higher solve rate...

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Main Authors: Daniel Bengl, Asuman Koparir, Wahyu Eka Prastyo, Christian Remmele, Marcus Dittrich, Sophie Flandin, Waafa Shehata-Dieler, Clemens Grimm, Thomas Haaf, Michaela A. H. Hofrichter
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Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:BMC Medical Genomics
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12920-025-02122-7
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author Daniel Bengl
Asuman Koparir
Wahyu Eka Prastyo
Christian Remmele
Marcus Dittrich
Sophie Flandin
Waafa Shehata-Dieler
Clemens Grimm
Thomas Haaf
Michaela A. H. Hofrichter
author_facet Daniel Bengl
Asuman Koparir
Wahyu Eka Prastyo
Christian Remmele
Marcus Dittrich
Sophie Flandin
Waafa Shehata-Dieler
Clemens Grimm
Thomas Haaf
Michaela A. H. Hofrichter
author_sort Daniel Bengl
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background/objectives Hearing loss (HL) is one of the most common congenital disorders, affecting 1-2 in 1,000 newborns. Modern genetic diagnostics using large gene panels and/or whole exome analysis (WES) can identify disease-causing mutations in 25-50 % of patients, with higher solve rates in individuals with earlier onset. Results Here, we used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to reanalyze 14 index patients/families who remained without genetic diagnosis by WES. We were able to identify the genetic cause of HL in 6 families ( $$\sim$$ ∼ 43 %). Two families were diagnosed with DFNB84A caused by compound heterozygous recessive mutations in PTPRQ. Three of the four underlying variants, including a structural variant, a deep intronic variant, and a splice variant, escaped detection by WES. Minigene assays confirmed the pathogenicity of the intronic and the splice variants. In addition, we used protein 3D structure prediction and rigid ligand docking to study the pathogenicity of variants that escape nonsense-mediated decay. Conclusion In our study, we present four novel variants in PTPRQ, three of which were detected only by WGS. To our knowledge, we report here the first pathogenic deep intronic PTPRQ variant causing HL. Our results suggest that the mutational spectrum of PTPRQ is not well covered by standard WES and that PTPRQ-associated hearing loss may be more frequent than previously thought. WGS provides an additional layer of information in the diagnostics of HL.
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spelling doaj-art-db0d35bfaab74418a64af94452fd7eba2025-08-20T02:25:41ZengBMCBMC Medical Genomics1755-87942025-03-0118111410.1186/s12920-025-02122-7Whole-genome sequencing, as a powerful diagnostic tool in hearing loss, reveals novel variants in PTPRQ missed by whole-exome sequencingDaniel Bengl0Asuman Koparir1Wahyu Eka Prastyo2Christian Remmele3Marcus Dittrich4Sophie Flandin5Waafa Shehata-Dieler6Clemens Grimm7Thomas Haaf8Michaela A. H. Hofrichter9Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians UniversityInstitute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians UniversityInstitute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians UniversityInstitute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians UniversityInstitute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians UniversityDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Comprehensive Hearing Center, Würzburg University HospitalDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Comprehensive Hearing Center, Würzburg University HospitalChair of Biochemistry, Theodor-Boveri-Institute at the Biocentre University of WürzburgInstitute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians UniversityInstitute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians UniversityAbstract Background/objectives Hearing loss (HL) is one of the most common congenital disorders, affecting 1-2 in 1,000 newborns. Modern genetic diagnostics using large gene panels and/or whole exome analysis (WES) can identify disease-causing mutations in 25-50 % of patients, with higher solve rates in individuals with earlier onset. Results Here, we used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to reanalyze 14 index patients/families who remained without genetic diagnosis by WES. We were able to identify the genetic cause of HL in 6 families ( $$\sim$$ ∼ 43 %). Two families were diagnosed with DFNB84A caused by compound heterozygous recessive mutations in PTPRQ. Three of the four underlying variants, including a structural variant, a deep intronic variant, and a splice variant, escaped detection by WES. Minigene assays confirmed the pathogenicity of the intronic and the splice variants. In addition, we used protein 3D structure prediction and rigid ligand docking to study the pathogenicity of variants that escape nonsense-mediated decay. Conclusion In our study, we present four novel variants in PTPRQ, three of which were detected only by WGS. To our knowledge, we report here the first pathogenic deep intronic PTPRQ variant causing HL. Our results suggest that the mutational spectrum of PTPRQ is not well covered by standard WES and that PTPRQ-associated hearing loss may be more frequent than previously thought. WGS provides an additional layer of information in the diagnostics of HL.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12920-025-02122-7WGSHearing lossPTPRQAlphafoldDeep intronic variant
spellingShingle Daniel Bengl
Asuman Koparir
Wahyu Eka Prastyo
Christian Remmele
Marcus Dittrich
Sophie Flandin
Waafa Shehata-Dieler
Clemens Grimm
Thomas Haaf
Michaela A. H. Hofrichter
Whole-genome sequencing, as a powerful diagnostic tool in hearing loss, reveals novel variants in PTPRQ missed by whole-exome sequencing
BMC Medical Genomics
WGS
Hearing loss
PTPRQ
Alphafold
Deep intronic variant
title Whole-genome sequencing, as a powerful diagnostic tool in hearing loss, reveals novel variants in PTPRQ missed by whole-exome sequencing
title_full Whole-genome sequencing, as a powerful diagnostic tool in hearing loss, reveals novel variants in PTPRQ missed by whole-exome sequencing
title_fullStr Whole-genome sequencing, as a powerful diagnostic tool in hearing loss, reveals novel variants in PTPRQ missed by whole-exome sequencing
title_full_unstemmed Whole-genome sequencing, as a powerful diagnostic tool in hearing loss, reveals novel variants in PTPRQ missed by whole-exome sequencing
title_short Whole-genome sequencing, as a powerful diagnostic tool in hearing loss, reveals novel variants in PTPRQ missed by whole-exome sequencing
title_sort whole genome sequencing as a powerful diagnostic tool in hearing loss reveals novel variants in ptprq missed by whole exome sequencing
topic WGS
Hearing loss
PTPRQ
Alphafold
Deep intronic variant
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12920-025-02122-7
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