Optimised molecular genetic diagnostics of Fanconi anaemia by whole exome sequencing and functional studies

Abstract

We identified 93.3% of mutated alleles including large deletions. We determined the pathogenicity of three FANCA missense variants and demonstrated that two <i>FANCA</i> variants reported in mutations databases as 'affecting functions' are SNPs. Deep analysis of sequencing data revealed patients' true mutations, highlighting the importance of functional analysis. In one patient, no pathogenic variant could be identified in any of the 22 known FA genes, and in seven patients, only one deleterious variant could be identified (three patients each with FANCA and FANCD2 and one patient with FANCE mutations) CONCLUSION: WES and proper bioinformatics analysis are sufficient to effectively characterise patients with FA regardless of the rarity of their complementation group, type of mutations, mosaic condition and DNA source.