Apparent Missense Mutation in COL7A1 Causes a Severe Form of Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa via Effects on Splicing

Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa is an inherited skin disorder characterized by fragile skin that is prone to blistering. We report here a consanguineous Pakistani family with two siblings, in whom a severe recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa was suspected. Using whole-exome sequencing for one sibling, the homozygous base substitution c.7249C>G in COL7A1 was identified, and could be confirmed in the other sibling by Sanger sequencing. In our exome data, this mutation was annotated as a missense substitution (p.Gln2417Glu), but in silico tools indicated a possible effect on splicing. Using the ExonTrap vector it was verified that the mutation leads to activation of a cryptic donor splice site, which leads to loss of 26 nucleotides, and a frameshift event predicted to result in a truncated protein (p.Q2417Sfs*57). The present report describes an apparent COL7A1 missense substitution with an unexpected consequence on splicing that leads to a severe recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa phenotype.