Chromosome Breakage Disorders
Gene: SMC6
ESHG 2026
17 affected individuals from 2 families (1 consanguineous family with 16 individuals) with biallelic variants in SMC6 (3 missense) which segregated with disease. Phenotype included microcephaly (1 family), short stature, DD/ID (1 family), dysmorphism (Seckel like), haematological anomalies (1 family), and lung disease (1 family).
SMC5/6 complex is a highly conserved multi-subunit protein complex essential for repairing DNA damage and preventing replication stress. SMC5 has been associated with a developmental disorder. SMC6 patient-derived cell lines display a shared cellular phenotype (to SMC5) typified by chromosome instability with elevated replication stress and genome instability, exacerbated when exposed to genotoxins that stabilise G-quadruplex structures. Zebrafish models showed microcephaly and reduced length.
Sources: OtherCreated: 17 Aug 2026, 10:45 a.m.
Mode of inheritance
BIALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal
Phenotypes
Neurodevelopmental disorder, MONDO:0700092, SMC6-related
Gene: smc6 has been classified as Amber List (Moderate Evidence).
gene: SMC6 was added gene: SMC6 was added to Chromosome Breakage Disorders. Sources: Expert Review Amber,Other Mode of inheritance for gene: SMC6 was set to BIALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal Phenotypes for gene: SMC6 were set to Neurodevelopmental disorder, MONDO:0700092, SMC6-related