Genes in panel

Skeletal dysplasia

Gene: PRKACA

Green List (high evidence)

PRKACA (protein kinase cAMP-activated catalytic subunit alpha, Ensemblv115)
EnsemblGeneIds (GRCh38): ENSG00000072062
EnsemblGeneIds (GRCh37): ENSG00000072062
OMIM: 601639, ClinGen, DECIPHER
PRKACA is in 8 panels

3 reviews

chirag patel (Genetic Health Queensland)

Green List (high evidence)

Cardioacrofacial dysplasia-1 (CAFD1) is characterized by congenital cardiac defects, primarily common atrium or atrioventricular septal defect; limb anomalies, including short limbs, brachydactyly, and postaxial polydactyly; and dysmorphic facial features.
Created: 6 Aug 2026, 12:26 p.m. | Last Modified: 6 Aug 2026, 12:26 p.m.
Panel Version: 1.4

Mode of inheritance
MONOALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal, NOT imprinted

Phenotypes
Cardioacrofacial dysplasia 1, MONDO:0030876

Publications

Mode of pathogenicity
Loss-of-function variants (as defined in pop up message) DO NOT cause this phenotype - please provide details in the comments

Zornitza Stark (Victorian Clinical Genetics Services)

Green List (high evidence)

Phenotypes
Cardioacrofacial dysplasia 1, MIM# 619142

Konstantinos Varvagiannis (Other)

Green List (high evidence)

[ Please note that PRKACA / PRKACB may be considered in the differential diagnosis of several ciliopathies (polydactyly, narrow chest, heart defects) ]
Created: 25 Oct 2020, 10:03 a.m.
Palencia-Campos et al (2020 - PMID: 33058759) report on the phenotype of 3 individuals heterozygous for PRKACA and 4 individuals heterozygous for PRKACB pathogenic variants.

The most characteristic features in all individuals with PRKACA/PRKACB mutation, included postaxial polydactyly of hands (6/7 bilateral, 1/7 unilateral) and feet (4/7 bilateral, 1/7 unilateral), brachydactyly and congenital heart defects (CHD 5/7) namely a common atrium or AVSD. Two individuals with PRKACA variant who did not have CHD had offspring with the same variant and an AVSD.

Other variably occurring features included short stature, limbs, narrow chest, abnormal teeth, oral frenula, nail dysplasia. One individual with PRKACB variant presented tumors.

Intellectual disability was reported in 2/4 individuals with PRKACB variant (1/4: mild, 1/4: severe). The 3 individuals with PRKACA variant did not present ID.

As the phenotype was overall suggestive of Ellis-van Creveld syndrome (or the allelic Weyers acrofacial dysostosis), although these diagnoses were ruled out following analysis of EVC and EVC2 genes.

WES was carried out in all.

PRKACA : A single heterozygous missense variant was identified in 3 individuals from 3 families (NM_002730.4:c.409G>A / p.Gly137Arg) with 1 of the probands harboring the variant in mosaic state (28% of reads) and having 2 similarly affected offspring. The variant was de novo in one individual and inherited in a third one having a similarly affected fetus (narrow thorax, postaxial polyd, AVSD).

PRKACB : 4 different variants were identified (NM_002731.3: p.His88Arg/Asn, p.Gly235Arg, c.161C>T - p.Ser54Leu). One of the individuals was mosaic for the latter variant, while in all other cases the variant had occurred de novo.

Protein kinase A (PKA) is a tetrameric holoenzyme formed by the association of 2 catalytic (C) subunits with a regulatory (R) subunit dimer. Activation of PKA is achieved through binding of 2 cAMP molecules to each R-subunit, and unleashing(/dissociation) of C-subunits to engage substrates. PRKACA/B genes encode the Cα- and Cβ-subunits while the 4 functionally non-redundant regulatory subunits are encoded by PRKAR1A/1B/2A/2B genes.

The authors provide evidence that the variants confer increased sensitivity of PKA holoenzymes to activation by cAMP (compared to wt).

By performing ectopic expression of wt or mt PRKACA/B (variants studied : PRKACA p.Gly137Arg / PRKACB p.Gly235Arg) in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts, the authors demonstrate that inhibition of hedgehog signaling likely underlyies the developmental defects observed in affected individuals.

As for PRKACA, the authors cite another study where a 31-month old female with EvC syndrome diagnosis was found to harbor the aforementioned variant (NM_001304349.1:c.637G>A:p.Gly213Arg corresponding to NM_002730.4:c.409G>A / p.Gly137Arg) as a de novo event. Without additional evidence at the time, the variant was considered to be a candidate for this subject's phenotype (Monies et al 2019 – PMID: 31130284).
Sources: Literature
Created: 25 Oct 2020, 9:54 a.m.

Mode of inheritance
MONOALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal, imprinted status unknown

Phenotypes
Postaxial hand polydactyly; Postaxial foot polydactyly; Common atrium; Atrioventricular canal defect; Narrow chest; Abnormality of the teeth; Intellectual disability

Publications

Mode of pathogenicity
Loss-of-function variants (as defined in pop up message) DO NOT cause this phenotype - please provide details in the comments

Details

Mode of Inheritance
MONOALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal, imprinted status unknown
Sources
  • Expert Review Green
  • Literature
Phenotypes
  • Cardioacrofacial dysplasia 1, MONDO:0030876
OMIM
601639
ClinGen
PRKACA
DECIPHER
PRKACA
Clinvar variants
Variants in PRKACA
Penetrance
Complete
Publications
Mode of Pathogenicity
Loss-of-function variants (as defined in pop up message) DO NOT cause this phenotype - please provide details in the comments
Panels with this gene

History Filter Activity

Note: This information shows the history of the gene symbol, not the gene entity. Where the gene symbol for a gene has changed, this history may reference a different gene to the entry you are currently viewing.
6 Aug 2026, Gel status: 3

Entity classified by Genomics England curator

chirag patel (Genetic Health Queensland)

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

6 Aug 2026, Gel status: 3

Set Phenotypes

chirag patel (Genetic Health Queensland)

Phenotypes for gene: PRKACA were changed from Cardioacrofacial dysplasia 1, MIM# 619142; Postaxial hand polydactyly; Postaxial foot polydactyly; Common atrium; Atrioventricular canal defect; Narrow chest; Abnormality of the teeth; Intellectual disability to Cardioacrofacial dysplasia 1, MONDO:0030876

6 Aug 2026, Gel status: 3

Set publications

chirag patel (Genetic Health Queensland)

Publications for gene: PRKACA were set to 33058759; 31130284

6 Aug 2026, Gel status: 3

Created, Added New Source, Set mode of inheritance, Set publications, Set Phenotypes, Set penetrance, Set mode of pathogenicity

chirag patel (Genetic Health Queensland)

gene: PRKACA was added gene: PRKACA was added to Skeletal dysplasia. Sources: Expert Review Green,Literature Mode of inheritance for gene: PRKACA was set to MONOALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal, imprinted status unknown Publications for gene: PRKACA were set to 33058759; 31130284 Phenotypes for gene: PRKACA were set to Cardioacrofacial dysplasia 1, MIM# 619142; Postaxial hand polydactyly; Postaxial foot polydactyly; Common atrium; Atrioventricular canal defect; Narrow chest; Abnormality of the teeth; Intellectual disability Penetrance for gene: PRKACA were set to Complete Mode of pathogenicity for gene: PRKACA was set to Loss-of-function variants (as defined in pop up message) DO NOT cause this phenotype - please provide details in the comments