Description of a novel TUBA1A mutation in Arg-390 associated with asymmetrical polymicrogyria and mid-hindbrain dysgenesis

Abstract

Mutations of TUBA1A gene were first identified as causing a distinctive neuroradiologic phenotype characterized by cortical abnormalities ranging from classical lissencephaly to perisylvian pachygyria with dysgenetic corpus callosum, brainstem and cerebellum. We describe the clinical and neuroradiological features of a 3 years old girl carrying a novel missense TUBA1A mutation associated with asymmetrical polymicrogyria and provide structural data about the mutation. Our case confirm that the spectrum of tubulin-related cortical phenotypes is wide and that the screening of these genes should be implemented in patients with mid-hindbrain dysgenesis, partial of complete corpus callosum agenesis and varying degrees of cortical abnormalities.