A novel DES L115F mutation identified by whole exome sequencing is associated with inherited cardiac conduction disease

Inherited cardiac conduction disease (CCD) is rare; it is caused by a large number of mutations in genes encoding cardiac ion channels and cytoskeletal proteins. Recently, whole-exome sequencing has been successfully used to identify causal mutations for rare monogenic Mendelian diseases. We used trio-based whole-exome sequencing to study a Chinese family with multiple family members affected by CCD, and identified a heterozygous missense mutation (c.343C>T, p.Leu115Phe) in the desmin (DES) gene as the most likely candidate causal mutation for the development of CCD in this family. The mutation is novel and is predicted to affect the conformation of the coiled-coil rod domain of DES according to structural model prediction. Its pathogenicity in desmin protein aggregation was further confirmed by expressing the mutation, both in a cellular model and a CRISPR/CAS9 knock-in mouse model. In conclusion, our results suggest that whole-exome sequencing is a feasible approach to identify candidate genes underlying inherited conduction diseases.