Autism
Gene: NRXN1
NRXN1 encodes neurexin-1 which is a pre-synaptic adhesion molecule that plays important roles in synapse formation, maintenance, regulation, and function. Involved in both glutamatergic and GABAergic synapses implying a role in excitatory and inhibitory balance.
MONOALLELIC NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER WITH REDUCED PENETRANCE
A monoallelic disease association has been reported in a number of publications with deletions linked to neurodevelopmental and behavioural phenotypes including intellectual disability, epilepsy, autism, schizophrenia, Tourette's syndrome.
Many affected individuals inherited deletions from presumably unaffected parents, with deletions in the gene also observed in population databases.
This gene disease association has been reported as definitive by Clingen in 2019.
Reduced penetrance has been noted in publications with some quoting 10% penetrance for intellectual disability, others an odds ratio of 7.47.
There are 3 main isoforms in humans - alpha, beta and gamma. Alpha is the longest isoform and 5 prime deletions of NRXN1 correspond to loss of alpha transcript. These deletions have been most extensively described in affected individuals. Supportive functional studies include mouse models, iHuman induced pluripotent stem (hiPS) -derived neurons from affected individuals and zebrafish studies.
Functional studies supporting a deleterious nature of deletions of other isoforms have been published although the mechanism of disease is less clear.Created: 25 Jun 2026, 2:05 p.m. | Last Modified: 25 Jun 2026, 2:05 p.m.
Panel Version: 2.104
Mode of inheritance
MONOALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal, NOT imprinted
Phenotypes
Neurodevelopmental disorder, MONDO:0700092, NRXN1-related
Publications
19896112 - report one individual with compound het variants and Pitt-Hopkins-like syndromic ID (no seizures)
21964664 - report 2 affected siblings with compound het variants and severe early onset epilepsy, profound developmental delay, gastroesophageal reflux disease, constipation, and early onset puberty.
35101781 - report 2 siblings with homozygous exonic deletions. One with infantile spasms and neurodevelopmental disorder. Other with autism spectrum disorder.
22337556 - report one individual with autism, ID and epilepsy and compound het variants
25486015 - report one individual with homozygous exonic deletion and ID/dysmorphic featuresCreated: 28 Mar 2022, 11:07 a.m.
Mode of inheritance
BIALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal
Phenotypes
Pitt-Hopkins-like syndrome 2 - MIM#614325
Publications
Source Victorian Clinical Genetics Services was removed from NRXN1. Mode of inheritance for gene NRXN1 was changed from BIALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal to BOTH monoallelic and biallelic (but BIALLELIC mutations cause a more SEVERE disease form), autosomal or pseudoautosomal Phenotypes for gene: NRXN1 were changed from Pitt-Hopkins-like syndrome 2 - MIM#614325 to Pitt-Hopkins-like syndrome 2 - MIM#614325; Complex neurodevelopmental disorder, MONDO:0100038, NRXN1-related
Gene: nrxn1 has been classified as Green List (High Evidence).
Phenotypes for gene: NRXN1 were changed from to Pitt-Hopkins-like syndrome 2 - MIM#614325
Publications for gene: NRXN1 were set to
Mode of inheritance for gene: NRXN1 was changed from Unknown to BIALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal
gene: NRXN1 was added gene: NRXN1 was added to Autism_VCGS. Sources: Expert Review Green,Victorian Clinical Genetics Services Mode of inheritance for gene: NRXN1 was set to Unknown