Differences of Sex Development
Gene: EMX2
PMID: 25577462 Lin et al 2014 - novel, heterozygous EMX2 PTC variant (p.E142X) identified in an XX female with didelphic uterus, variant inheritance unknown. Western blot and functional studies indicated formation of a truncated protein with dominant-negative effect. Variant was identified through direct sequencing of EMX2 in a cohort of 517 patients with incomplete Mullerian fusion.
PMID: 33434492 Chen et al 2021 AJHG, identified a novel, heterozygous EMX2 PTC variant (p.Tyr120ter) in a female with type I MKHS (inheritance unknown). Identified through exome-sequencing in an MKHS cohort.
PMID: 34829455 Miclea et al 2021 (Diagnostic) - large panel sequencing performed in a DSD cohort. Novel missense (inheritance unknown) - p.Arg205Gln - identified in a 4 yo XY male with hypospadius, GDD/ID, Pierre-robin sequence, hydrocephalus. Variant located in the DNA binding domain, classified as VUS.
PMID: 41765865 Stamou et al 2026 (Genetics in Medicine) performed trio WES on an idiopathic hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism cohort. 3 de novo CNVs detected in individuals with DSD and developmental delay - 18 genes including EMX2 in the minimal critical region. In addition, x2 unrelated individuals with DSD, dev delay, hearing loss had a heterozygous de novo p.Lys199Gln missense variant located in the DNA binding domain. x1 individual identified with crytorchidism and a heterozygous Ser111Ter variant (inheritance unknown).
Based on the current evidence:
- Green for hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism and DSD
- Amber for ID - based on 3 unrelated individuals with dev delay and variants in the DNA binding domain (p.Arg205Gln, p.Lys199Gln)
- Red for Pierre-Robin sequenceCreated: 12 Apr 2026, 2:04 p.m. | Last Modified: 12 Apr 2026, 2:16 p.m.
Panel Version: 1.50
Mode of inheritance
MONOALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal, NOT imprinted
Phenotypes
Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, MONDO:0015770, EMX2-related; 46,XX or XY DSD, EMX2-related
Publications
Publications for gene: EMX2 were set to 8528262; 9359037; 9153481; 9153481; 18409201
Phenotypes for gene: EMX2 were changed from Schizencephaly, MIM# 269160 to Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, MONDO:0015770, EMX2-related; 46,XX or XY DSD, EMX2-related
Gene: emx2 has been classified as Green List (High Evidence).
Gene: emx2 has been classified as Red List (Low Evidence).
gene: EMX2 was added gene: EMX2 was added to Differences of Sex Development. Sources: Expert Review Red,Victorian Clinical Genetics Services disputed tags were added to gene: EMX2. Mode of inheritance for gene: EMX2 was set to MONOALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal, NOT imprinted Publications for gene: EMX2 were set to 8528262; 9359037; 9153481; 9153481; 18409201 Phenotypes for gene: EMX2 were set to Schizencephaly, MIM# 269160