Osteogenesis Imperfecta and Osteoporosis

Gene: UNC45A

Green List (high evidence)

UNC45A (unc-45 myosin chaperone A)
EnsemblGeneIds (GRCh38): ENSG00000140553
EnsemblGeneIds (GRCh37): ENSG00000140553
OMIM: 611219, ClinGen, DECIPHER
UNC45A is in 4 panels

3 reviews

Chirag Patel (Genetic Health Queensland)

Green List (high evidence)

6 individuals from 5 families with biallelic variants in UNC45A gene (4 missense, 1 frameshift, 1 nonsense). All had severe diarrhoea, 4 had cholestasis, 1 had hearing loss, and 3 had bone fragility as evidenced by fractures.

Knock out of UNC45A in Caco-2 cells resulted in abnormal lumen formation, apical brush border abnormalities, and abnormalities in actin organization. Studies in UNC45A-knockout iPSCs and patient-derived iPSCs that were differentiated into intestinal organoids demonstrated signs of microvillus inclusions, mislocalization of RAB11, and loss of apical expression of Na+ transporters and CFTR.
Created: 12 Nov 2025, 2:48 p.m. | Last Modified: 12 Nov 2025, 2:48 p.m.
Panel Version: 1.8

Mode of inheritance
BIALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal

Phenotypes
Osteootohepatoenteric syndrome, MIM# 619377

Publications

Zornitza Stark (Victorian Clinical Genetics Services)

I don't know

Mode of inheritance
BIALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal

Phenotypes
Osteootohepatoenteric syndrome, MIM# 619377

Bryony Thompson (Royal Melbourne Hospital)

I don't know

Comment on list classification: Not enough evidence currently to determine bone fragility is a prominent feature of the condition.
Created: 1 Apr 2020, 9:18 p.m. | Last Modified: 1 Apr 2020, 9:18 p.m.
Panel Version: 0.4
Bone fragility is present in 3 cases from two families and is not present in another case with biallelic variants. In vitro functional assays suggest loss-of-function mechanism of disease. In vivo zebrafish assays demonstrate defects in gut development and bone fragility doesn't appear to be assessed.
Created: 1 Apr 2020, 9:16 p.m. | Last Modified: 1 Apr 2020, 9:16 p.m.
Panel Version: 0.3

Mode of inheritance
BIALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal

Phenotypes
cholestasis; congenital diarrhea; impaired hearing; bone fragility

Publications

Details

Mode of Inheritance
BIALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal
Sources
  • Expert Review Green
  • Victorian Clinical Genetics Services
Phenotypes
  • Osteootohepatoenteric syndrome, MIM# 619377
  • cholestasis
  • congenital diarrhea
  • impaired hearing
  • bone fragility
OMIM
611219
ClinGen
UNC45A
DECIPHER
UNC45A
Clinvar variants
Variants in UNC45A
Penetrance
None
Publications
Panels with this gene

History Filter Activity

12 Nov 2025, Gel status: 3

Entity classified by Genomics England curator

Chirag Patel (Genetic Health Queensland)

Gene: unc45a has been classified as Green List (High Evidence).

11 Jun 2021, Gel status: 2

Set Phenotypes

Zornitza Stark (Victorian Clinical Genetics Services)

Phenotypes for gene: UNC45A were changed from cholestasis; congenital diarrhea; impaired hearing; bone fragility to Osteootohepatoenteric syndrome, MIM# 619377; cholestasis; congenital diarrhea; impaired hearing; bone fragility

13 Jul 2020, Gel status: 2

Entity classified by Genomics England curator

Bryony Thompson (Royal Melbourne Hospital)

Gene: unc45a has been classified as Amber List (Moderate Evidence).

13 Jul 2020, Gel status: 2

Set Phenotypes

Bryony Thompson (Royal Melbourne Hospital)

Phenotypes for gene: UNC45A were changed from to cholestasis; congenital diarrhea; impaired hearing; bone fragility

13 Jul 2020, Gel status: 2

Set publications

Bryony Thompson (Royal Melbourne Hospital)

Publications for gene: UNC45A were set to

13 Jul 2020, Gel status: 2

Set mode of inheritance

Bryony Thompson (Royal Melbourne Hospital)

Mode of inheritance for gene: UNC45A was changed from Unknown to BIALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal

1 Apr 2020, Gel status: 2

Entity classified by Genomics England curator

Bryony Thompson (Royal Melbourne Hospital)

Gene: unc45a has been classified as Amber List (Moderate Evidence).

17 Nov 2019, Gel status: 3

Created, Added New Source, Set mode of inheritance

Zornitza Stark (Victorian Clinical Genetics Services)

gene: UNC45A was added gene: UNC45A was added to Osteogenesis imperfecta_VCGS. Sources: Expert Review Green,Victorian Clinical Genetics Services Mode of inheritance for gene: UNC45A was set to Unknown