Disruption of SPECC1L translation initiation by intragenic deletion: novel pathogenic mechanism in Teebi-hypertelorism syndrome

Missense and loss-of-function variants in SPECC1L are associated with Teebi Hypertelorism Syndrome 1 (TBHS1). Here, we report a novel SPECC1L intragenic deletion encompassing exon 3, which contains the canonical translation start site, in two related individuals with craniofacial features consistent with TBHS1. We use functional overexpression assays to demonstrate that this deletion leads to alternative start codon usage and protein truncation. This is the first report of a SPECC1L intragenic deletion associated with TBHS1. Our findings suggest that deletion of the canonical N-terminal disordered region of SPECC1L contributes to craniofacial anomalies, warranting further investigation into its role in neural crest development.