A novel GLI3 mutation affecting the zinc finger domain leads to preaxial-postaxial polydactyly-syndactyly complex

BACKGROUND: Polydactyly is a highly common congenital limb defect. Extra digits may appear as an isolated anomaly or as a part of a syndrome. Mutations in GLI3 have been shown to cause Greig cephalopolysyndactyly, Pallister-Hall syndrome and non-syndromic polydactyly. Genotype-phenotype correlation studies of GLI3 mutations suggest a model by which mutations in the zinc-finger domain (ZFD) of GLI3 likely lead to syndromic polydactyly. Here we describe a rare case of autosomal dominant heterozygous missense mutation in the ZFD of GLI3 leading to a variable polydactyly-syndactyly complex. CASE PRESENTATION: A large Jewish Moroccan family presented with apparently autosomal dominant heredity of bilateral thumb polydactyly in hands and feet combined with post-axial polydactyly type B or type A. Syndactyly was evident in most patients’ hands and feet. Apart from head circumference beyond 90(th) percentile in some of the affected individuals, none had craniofacial dysmorphism. A novel GLI3 c.1802A > G (p.His601Arg) mutation was found in all affected individuals. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate that a mutation in the ZFD domain of GLI3 leads to phenotypic variability, including an isolated limb phenotype. Thus, the variability in phenotypes caused by mutations in this master developmental regulator is more profound than has been previously suggested. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12881-014-0110-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.