# A de novo missense variant in MIDEAS results in increased deacetylase activity of the MiDAC HDAC complex causing a neurodevelopmental syndrome

**Authors:** Louise Fairall, Kristupas Sirvydis, Robert E. Turnbull, Suzan JG Knottnerus, Oksana Gonchar, Frederick W. Muskett, Rebekah Jukes-Jones, Lonneke van Brussel, Ellen van de Geer, Koen van Gassen, Paul Badenhorst, Diana Johnson, Paulien A. Terhal, Peter M. van Hasselt, Richard H. van Jaarsveld, John WR Schwabe

PMC · DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-65472-x · 2025-11-25

## TL;DR

A mutation in the MIDEAS gene disrupts a regulatory loop, increasing enzyme activity and causing a developmental disorder with multiple symptoms.

## Contribution

Identifies a de novo MIDEAS variant as a cause of a neurodevelopmental syndrome through MiDAC hyperactivity.

## Key findings

- A de novo missense variant in MIDEAS (p.Tyr654Ser) is found in two unrelated individuals with a multisystem disorder.
- The variant is located in an auto-inhibitory loop of the MiDAC complex, leading to increased deacetylase activity.
- Gene expression changes in patient fibroblasts support the hypothesis of MiDAC hyperactivity.

## Abstract

MIDEAS is a scaffold protein that, together with DNTTIP1, mediates assembly of the MiDAC histone deacetylase complex. Mice lacking MiDAC die before birth suggesting a key developmental function. Here, we report two unrelated individuals, with a multisystem disorder characterised by delayed speech development, joint contractures, dysmorphic features and dysmotility of the gut. Both individuals have the same de novo heterozygous missense variant in MIDEAS (p.Tyr654Ser). A cryoEM structure of the MiDAC complex reveals that this amino acid is located in a conserved auto-inhibitory loop that covers the active site of the deacetylase enzyme. We suggest that the variant results in loop displacement leading to elevated deacetylase activity. In support, we observe reciprocal gene expression changes in patient fibroblasts compared with a cell line following rapid MiDAC degradation. Our results establish MIDEAS as a dominant monogenic disease gene and that hyperactivity of the MiDAC complex results in a characteristic multisystem disorder.

The MiDAC complex regulates gene expression through histone deacetylation. Here, the authors identify a recurrent MIDEAS mutation that disrupts an auto-inhibitory loop, elevating deacetylase activity and causing a multisystem developmental disorder.

## Linked entities

- **Genes:** MIDEAS (mitotic deacetylase associated SANT domain protein) [NCBI Gene 91748], DNTTIP1 (deoxynucleotidyltransferase terminal interacting protein 1) [NCBI Gene 116092]
- **Proteins:** HDT4 (histone deacetylase-related / HD-like protein)
- **Species:** Mus musculus (taxon 10090)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** HDAC9 (histone deacetylase 9) [NCBI Gene 9734] {aka HD7, HD7b, HD9, HDAC, HDAC7B, HDAC9B}, MIDEAS (mitotic deacetylase associated SANT domain protein) [NCBI Gene 91748] {aka C14orf117, C14orf43, ELMSAN1, LSR68, c14_5541}, DNTTIP1 (deoxynucleotidyltransferase terminal interacting protein 1) [NCBI Gene 116092] {aka C20orf167, Tdif1, dJ447F3.4}
- **Diseases:** neurodevelopmental syndrome (MESH:D008607), joint contractures (MESH:D003286), multisystem disorder (MESH:D019578), hyperactivity (MESH:D006948), dominant (MESH:C566739), disease (MESH:D004194), dysmorphic features (MESH:D000013), dysmotility of the gut (MESH:D015154)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090]
- **Mutations:** p.Tyr654Ser

## Figures

5 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12647621/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12647621