Nucleotide metabolism disorders
Gene: PAICS
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
Update of MONDO terminology - Phosphoribosylaminoimidazole carboxylase deficiency (PAICS deficiency)Created: 28 Jan 2026, 5:39 p.m.
Phenotypes
PAICS deficiency MONDO:0859003
Two sibs from single family reported with homozygous missense variant. Functional data to demonstrate effect on protein function.
Sources: LiteratureCreated: 25 Apr 2020, 4:56 p.m.
Mode of inheritance
BIALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal
Phenotypes
Polyhydramnios; multiple congenital abnormalities
Publications
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