Nucleotide metabolism disorders

Gene: PAICS

Red List (low evidence)

PAICS (phosphoribosylaminoimidazole carboxylase and phosphoribosylaminoimidazolesuccinocarboxamide synthase, Ensemblv115)
EnsemblGeneIds (GRCh38): ENSG00000128050
EnsemblGeneIds (GRCh37): ENSG00000128050
OMIM: 172439, ClinGen, DECIPHER
PAICS is in 3 panels

3 reviews

Richard Lin (Victorian Clinical Genetics Services)

I don't know

PAICS encodes one of six enzymes used in de novo purine synthesis (DNPS). Biallelic variants in PAICS have been reported in 4 unrelated individuals with significant phenotypic variability with a spectrum of congenital pulmonary, cardiac, ocular and skeletal anomalies along with neurodevelopmental outcomes ranging from normal to severe delay/regression.

PMID: 31600779 - two siblings with multiple malformations (IUGR, polyhydramnios, brachycephaly, short neck, facial dysmorphisms, pulmonary hypoplasia, oesophageal atresia, GU abnormalities, skeletal malformations) resulting in early neonatal death at day2/3 life due to progressive hypotension and hypoxia, found to have homozygous missense mutations in PAICS (c.158A>G; p.Lys53Arg), biparentally inherited, confirmed on sanger. Enzyme activity of PAICS in patient fibroblasts was reduced to 10% in proband, compared to 50% in heterozygous carriers. Reduced purinosome formation in fibroblasts was rescued by wild type but not mutant transcripts.

PMID: 39604553 - two sibs with infantile onset disease including poor appetite and irritability, seizures, developmental delay/regression, microcephaly, truncal hypotonia, peripheral spasticity and hyperreflexia, macular dystrophy, abnormalities on MRI/MRS brain. Found to have compound het variants in PAICS c.535T>C, p.(Ser179Pro);c.1207C>T, p.(Arg403Ter). Elevated dephosphorylated substrates of PAICS substrates (Alr and CAlr) found on plasma and urine testing. Testing of patient fibroblast showed undetectable levels of PAICS protein and enzyme activity. In vitro enzyme activity of PAICS S179P and R403Ter was reduced compared to wild type.

PMID: 39726239 - complex congenital heart disease, vertebral anomalies, aberrant bronchus, congenital distal oesophagus stenosis, normal neurodevelopmental, facial dysmorphisms. Homozygous for previously reported missense in PAICS: c.158A > G, p.(Lys53Arg), no biochemical testing was reported. Possibly affected second pregnancy, however no genetic testing was performed.

PMID: 42569864 - congenital oesophageal atresia without fistula, MRI brain abnormalities, Klippel Feil anomaly, rib anomalies, multiple vascular anomalies (including aberrant right subclavian, common carotid trunk, vertebral artery arising from aortic arch), developmental delay, dysmorphic facial features. Biparental inherited compound heterozygous variants in PAICS: c.843_844del, p.(Cys281*); c.104C>T p.(Ser35Phe), however p.(Ser35Phe) is classified as a VUS. No biochemical or functional data was reported for this case.
Created: 11 Sep 2026, 2:53 p.m. | Last Modified: 11 Sep 2026, 2:53 p.m.
Panel Version: 2.545

Mode of inheritance
BIALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal

Phenotypes
PAICS deficiency, MONDO:0859003; Phosphoribosylaminoimidazole carboxylase deficiency, MIM:619859; Disorders of purine metabolism

Publications

Sangavi Sivagnanasundram (Melbourne Health)

Update of MONDO terminology - Phosphoribosylaminoimidazole carboxylase deficiency (PAICS deficiency)
Created: 28 Jan 2026, 5:39 p.m.

Phenotypes
PAICS deficiency MONDO:0859003

Zornitza Stark (Victorian Clinical Genetics Services)

Red List (low evidence)

Two sibs from single family reported with homozygous missense variant. Functional data to demonstrate effect on protein function.
Sources: Literature
Created: 25 Apr 2020, 4:56 p.m.

Mode of inheritance
BIALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal

Phenotypes
Polyhydramnios; multiple congenital abnormalities

Publications

Details

Mode of Inheritance
BIALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal
Sources
  • Literature
  • Expert Review Red
  • Expert Review Red
  • Literature
Phenotypes
  • PAICS deficiency MONDO:0859003
OMIM
172439
ClinGen
PAICS
DECIPHER
PAICS
Clinvar variants
Variants in PAICS
Penetrance
None
Publications
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.
11 Sep 2026, Gel status: 1

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

Richard Lin (Victorian Clinical Genetics Services)

gene: PAICS was added gene: PAICS was added to Nucleotide metabolism disorders. Sources: Expert Review Red,Literature Mode of inheritance for gene: PAICS was set to BIALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal Publications for gene: PAICS were set to 31600779 Phenotypes for gene: PAICS were set to PAICS deficiency MONDO:0859003