Unraveling MECP2 structural variants in previously elusive Rett syndrome cases through IGV interpretation

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder, with MECP2 mutations accounting for 90–95% of classic and 50–70% of atypical cases. However, many clinically diagnosed RTT patients remain without molecular diagnoses. While point mutations and large rearrangements in MECP2 are well studied, the role of small-intermediate structural variants (SVs) remains mostly elusive. Using standard short-read whole genome sequencing, we identified novel de novo SVs in three out of three previously unresolved RTT cases: a complex SV with two deletions (~ 5Kbp and ~60Kbp) and a ~105Kbp inversion; a ~200Kbp translocation; and a ~3Kbp deletion. These findings suggest that such elusive SVs might be a common cause for “MECP2-negative” RTT. Incorporating SV detection into routine genetic testing through bioinformatic analysis of short-read sequencing or manual review using IGV could improve diagnostic rates and expand our understanding of RTT and similar disorders.