AUTHOR=Tian Qi , Cao Yang , Shu Li , Chen Yongjun , Peng Ying , Wang Yaqin , Chen Yuanyuan , Wang Hua , Mao Xiao 

TITLE=Case Report: Compound Heterozygous Variants in MOCS3 Identified in a Chinese Infant With Molybdenum Cofactor Deficiency

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Genetics

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2021.651878

DOI=10.3389/fgene.2021.651878

ISSN=1664-8021

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> The molybdenum cofactor (Moco) deficiency in humans results in the inactivity of molybdenum-dependent enzymes and is caused by pathogenic variants in <italic>MOCS1</italic> (<italic>Molybdenum cofactor synthesis 1</italic>), <italic>MOCS2</italic> (<italic>Molybdenum cofactor synthesis 2</italic>), and <italic>GPHN</italic> (<italic>Gephyrin</italic>). These genes along with <italic>MOCS3</italic> (<italic>Molybdenum cofactor synthesis 3</italic>) are involved in Moco biosynthesis and providing cofactors to Moco-dependent enzymes. Until now, there was no study to confirm that <italic>MOCS3</italic> is a causative gene of Moco deficiency.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Detailed clinical information was collected in the pedigree. The Whole-exome sequencing (WES) accompanied with Sanger sequencing validation were performed.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> We described the clinical presentations of an infant, born to a non-consanguineous healthy family, diagnosed as having <italic>MOCS3</italic> variants caused Moco deficiency and showing typical features of Moco deficiency including severe neurologic symptoms and cystic encephalomalacia in the brain MRI, resulting in neonatal death. Compound heterozygous variants in the <italic>MOCS3</italic> gene were identified by WES. Positive sulfite and decreased levels of uric acid in plasma and urine were detected.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> To our knowledge, this is the first case of <italic>MOCS3</italic> variants causing Moco deficiency. Our study may contribute to genetic diagnosis of Moco deficiency and future genetic counseling.</p>