Novel KCND3 Variant Underlying Nonprogressive Congenital Ataxia or SCA19/22 Disrupt K(V)4.3 Protein Expression and K+ Currents with Variable Effects on Channel Properties

KCND3 encodes the voltage-gated potassium channel K(V)4.3 that is highly expressed in the cerebellum, where it regulates dendritic excitability and calcium influx. Loss-of-function K(V)4.3 mutations have been associated with dominant spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA19/22). By targeted NGS sequencing, we identified two novel KCND3 missense variants of the K(V)4.3 channel: p.S347W identified in a patient with adult-onset pure cerebellar syndrome and p.W359G detected in a child with congenital nonprogressive ataxia. Neuroimaging showed mild cerebellar atrophy in both patients. We performed a two-electrode voltage-clamp recording of K(V)4.3 currents in Xenopus oocytes: both the p.G345V (previously reported in a SCA19/22 family) and p.S347W mutants exhibited reduced peak currents by 50%, while no K+ current was detectable for the p.W359G mutant. We assessed the effect of the mutations on channel gating by measuring steady-state voltage-dependent activation and inactivation properties: no significant alterations were detected in p.G345V and p.S347W disease-associated variants, compared to controls. K(V)4.3 expression studies in HEK293T cells showed 53% (p.G345V), 45% (p.S347W) and 75% (p.W359G) reductions in mutant protein levels compared with the wildtype. The present study broadens the spectrum of the known phenotypes and identifies additional variants for KCND3-related disorders, outlining the importance of SCA gene screening in early-onset and congenital ataxia.