Using whole exome sequencing and bioformatics in the molecular autopsy of a sudden unexplained death syndrome (SUDS) case. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Chun; Duan, Shan; Lv, Guoli; Lai, Xiaoping; Chen, Rui; Lin, Hanguang; Qiu, Shengyuan; Tang, Jianpin; Kuang, Wenjian; Xu, Chuanchao
• Is Part Of: Forensic science international. Volume 257(2015)
• Page Start: e20
• Page End: e25
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Forensic science -- Forensic bioinformatics -- Sudden unexplained death syndrome (SUDS) -- Second-generation sequencing -- Exome -- Disease mutations; Medical jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Forensic -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine légale -- Périodiques; Chimie légale -- Périodiques; Gerechtelijke geneeskunde; Gerechtelijke chemie; Gerechtelijke psychiatrie; Chemistry, Forensic; Medical jurisprudence; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 614.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.08.022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0379-0738

Abstract

Highlights: A G643S mutation in the KCNQ1 gene was identified in one case of sudden unexplained death (SUDS). A putative disease-causing variant was identified quickly by whole exome sequencing. Molecular autopsy is an effective method to interpret the cause of death of SUDS. Abstract: Whole exome sequencing (WES) and bioinformatics analysis were used to investigate potential disease-causing gene mutations in a sudden unexplained death syndrome (SUDS) case after autopsy and pathology tests failed to suggest an obvious disease mechanism. Following whole exome sequencing, a 3-step bioinformatics filtering procedure was carried out to identify possible pathogenic genomic features. Single nucleotide variations (SNVs) were analyzed and ranked by likely mutation impact using various open online tools. After screening, we identified G643S as a putative causative heterozygous mutation in the KCNQ1 gene. This mutation has been reported in abnormalities consistent with SUDS, such as IKs in cardiac myocytes, a condition that predisposes for arrhythmias. Our work demonstrates the application of sequencing technology at the whole exome level for determining potential causes of an otherwise unexplained death.