EEC (Ectrodactyly, Ectodermal dysplasia, Clefting) syndrome: heterozygous mutation in the p63 gene (R279H) and DNA-based prenatal diagnosis

Background Germline mis-sense mutations in the DNA-binding domain of the p63 gene have recently been established as the molecular basis for the autosomal dominant EEC (Ectrodactyly, Ectodermal dysplasia, Clefting) syndrome. Objectives To examine genomic DNA from a 36-year-old woman, her 58-year-old father and her 11-year-old son, all with the EEC syndrome, to determine the inherent p63 mutation and, after genetic counselling, to use knowledge of the mutation to undertake a first-trimester DNA-based prenatal diagnosis in a subsequent pregnancy. Methods Fetal DNA was extracted from chorionic villi and used to amplify exon 7 of p63 containing the potential mutation. Direct sequencing and restriction endonuclease digestion (loss of AciI site on mutant allele) were used for DNA-based prenatal diagnosis. Results We identified a heterozygous arginine to histidine p63 mutation, R279H. in all three affected individuals. Prenatal diagnosis demonstrated a homozygous wild-type sequence predicting an unaffected child: a healthy boy was subsequently born at full-term. Conclusions These data expand the p63 gene mutation database and provide the first example of a DNA-based prenatal test in this ectodermal dysplasia syndrome.