UCLA

mRNA decay is an essential and active process that allows cells to continuously adapt gene expression to internal and environmental cues. There are two mRNA degradation pathways: 3 to 5 and 5 to 3. The DCPS protein is the scavenger mRNA decapping enzyme which functions in the last step of the 3 end mRNA decay pathway. We have identified a DCPS pathogenic mutation in a large family with three affected individuals presenting with a novel recessive syndrome consisting of craniofacial anomalies, intellectual disability and neuromuscular defects. Using patients primary cells, we show that this homozygous splice mutation results in a DCPS loss-of-function allele. Diagnostic biochemical analyses using various m7G cap derivatives as substrates reveal no DCPS enzymatic activity in patients cells. Our results implicate DCPS and more generally RNA catabolism, as a critical cellular process for neurological development, normal cognition and organismal homeostasis in humans.