Targeted next generation sequencing identified novel loss-of-function mutations in MERTK gene in Chinese patients with retinitis pigmentosa

Background: Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is one of the major types of hereditary retinal dystrophies with extreme genotypic heterogeneity. To date, more than 80 genes have been identified to be associated with RP in human.

Method: Here, we presented a clinical genetic study of three Chinese man manifested with night vision blindness and complete loss of midperipheral visual field. All of these three probands have been identified with loss of both central vision and far peripheral visual field. Gradual loss of rod cells followed by subsequent loss of cone cells have been identified in these probands. Targeted next generation sequencing and Sanger sequencing have been performed to understand the pathogenic variants underlying the disease phenotype in these three unrelated Chinese probands.

Results: Targeted next generation sequencing and Sanger sequencing identified three homozygous novel mutations (c.1880C>A; c.1459_1460delGA, and c.392G>A) in the MERTK gene in these three unrelated Chinese proband. In the first proband, the identified mutation (c.1880C>A) leads to the formation of a premature stop codon followed by the formation of a truncated mer-tyrosine kinase (MERTK) protein (p.Ser627*) product which predicted to be disease causing. In the second proband, the identified deletion (c.1459_1460delGA) leads to the formation of a frameshift which also finally results in the formation of a truncated MERTK protein (p.Asp487Leufs*57) product which also predicted to be disease causing. In the third proband, the identified mutation (c.392G>A) leads to the formation of a premature stop codon followed by the formation of a truncated MERTK protein (p.Trp131*) product which also predicted to be disease causing. Hence, these three mutations are loss-of-function mutations. These three mutations were absent in unaffected family members and in 100 normal healthy controls.

Conclusion: Our present study also demonstrates the significance of targeted next generation sequencing in determining the genetic basis of RP.