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MAP3K20Split Hand-Foot Malformation

Split hand-foot malformation (SHFM) is a congenital limb defect characterized by median ray deficiencies and variable expressivity with incomplete penetrance. In a Brazilian cohort of five SHFM patients, one individual harbored a recurrent heterozygous variant in MAP3K20, presenting with split foot, hand syndactyly and ectodermal features, expanding the phenotypic spectrum of MAP3K20-related SHFM (1/5 probands) (PMID:39648035). No additional familial segregation or de novo confirmation was reported.

To date, no functional studies have evaluated the impact of MAP3K20 variants on limb development. Separate work on MAP3K20 (ZAK) loss-of-function demonstrates a recessive myofibrillar myopathy in homozygous individuals and animal models, indicating divergent mechanistic effects distinct from SHFM (PMID:37427997). This suggests haploinsufficiency or dominant-negative effects in SHFM remain uncharacterized.

References

  • Clinical genetics • 2025 • Split Hand-Foot Malformations-Unveiling Unique Molecular Diagnosis From a Brazilian Cohort. PMID:39648035
  • Human molecular genetics • 2023 • Myofibrillar myopathy hallmarks associated with ZAK deficiency. PMID:37427997

Evidence Based Scoring (AI generated)

Gene–Disease Association

Limited

Single heterozygous proband with MAP3K20 variant; no segregation; functional data lacking

Genetic Evidence

Limited

One proband with heterozygous MAP3K20 variant; no segregation or de novo confirmation

Functional Evidence

Limited

Absence of functional assays for limb development; MAP3K20 LoF linked to unrelated myopathy indicating divergent mechanisms