# Reporting a Homozygous Case of Neurodevelopmental Disorder Associated With a Novel PRPF8 Variant

## TL;DR

This study reports the first case of a homozygous PRPF8 variant linked to neurodevelopmental disorders in a family.

## Contribution

The study identifies a novel homozygous PRPF8 variant associated with neurodevelopmental disorders for the first time.

## Key findings

- A novel homozygous PRPF8 c.257G>T, p.R86M variant was found in two sisters with NDDs.
- Protein modeling suggests the variant disrupts PRPF8 structure and function, contributing to NDDs.
- This is the first evidence linking PRPF8 variants to neurodevelopmental phenotypes.

## Abstract

While recently identified heterozygous PRPF8 variants have been linked to various human diseases, their role in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) remains ambiguous. This study investigates the potential association between homozygous PRPF8 variants and NDDs. Most PRPF8 variants are primarily associated with retinal diseases; however, we analyze a family with multiple members diagnosed with NDDs.

Using exome sequencing (ES), the cause of behavioral problems and intellectual disabilities (IDs) of two sisters from a consanguineous parents was solved, and the results confirmed by direct sanger sequencing method likewise protein modeling to assess the structural impact of the identified variant on the PRPF8 protein has been done.

ES identified a novel homozygous variant, PRPF8 c.257G>T, p.R86M. To the best of our knowledge at the time of writing this manuscript, the mentioned variant has not been reported in relation to NDDs. Protein modeling provided another line of evidence proving the pathogenicity of the novel variant.

Our findings indicate that the p.R86M variant may disrupt normal protein function by changing its structure and probably its interaction, potentially leading to the observed neurodevelopmental phenotypes. This study highlights the first link between the PRPF8 variant and NDDs, suggesting a distinct role for specific PRPF8 variants in the etiology of NDDs. These results warrant further investigation into the mechanisms by which PRPF8 variants contribute to NDDs, emphasizing the need for comprehensive genetic screening in families with unexplained neurodevelopmental conditions.

First report of a homozygous case of neurodevelopmental disorder associated with a novel PRPF8 variant. A family identified with a novel homozygous variant, PRPF8 c.257G>T, p.R86M diagnosed with NDDs.