CASK-related intellectual disability is a disorder of brain development that has two main forms: microcephaly with pontine and cerebellar hypoplasia (MICPCH), and X-linked intellectual disability (XL-ID) with or without nystagmus. Within each of these forms, males typically have more severe signs and symptoms than do females; the more severe MICPCH mostly affects females, likely because only a small number of males survive to birth.

People with MICPCH often have an unusually small head at birth, and the head does not grow at the same rate as the rest of the body, so it appears that the head is getting smaller as the body grows (progressive microcephaly). Individuals with this condition have underdevelopment (hypoplasia) of areas of the brain called the cerebellum and the pons. The cerebellum is the part of the brain that coordinates movement. The pons is located at the base of the brain in an area called the brainstem, where it transmits signals from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain.

Individuals with MICPCH have intellectual disability that is usually severe. They may have sleep disturbances and exhibit self-biting, hand flapping, or other abnormal repetitive behaviors. Seizures are also common in this form of the disorder.

People with MICPCH do not usually develop language skills, and most do not learn to walk. They have hearing loss caused by nerve problems in the inner ear (sensorineural hearing loss), and most also have abnormalities affecting the eyes. These abnormalities include underdevelopment of the nerves that carry information from the eyes to the brain (optic nerve hypoplasia), breakdown of the light-sensing tissue at the back of the eyes (retinopathy), and eyes that do not look in the same direction (strabismus). Characteristic facial features may include arched eyebrows; a short, broad nose; a lengthened area between the nose and mouth (philtrum); a protruding upper jaw (maxilla); a short chin; and large ears.

Individuals with MICPCH may have weak muscle tone (hypotonia) in the torso along with increased muscle tone (hypertonia) and stiffness (spasticity) in the limbs. Movement problems such as involuntary tensing of various muscles (dystonia) may also occur in this form of the disorder.

XL-ID with or without nystagmus (rapid, involuntary eye movements) is a milder form of CASK-related intellectual disability. The intellectual disability in this form of the disorder can range from mild to severe; some affected females have normal intelligence. About half of affected individuals have nystagmus. Seizures and rhythmic shaking (tremors) may also occur in this form.

CASK-related intellectual disability, as its name suggests, is caused by mutations in the CASK gene. This gene provides instructions for making a protein called calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine protein kinase (CASK). The CASK protein is primarily found in nerve cells (neurons) in the brain, where it helps control the activity (expression) of other genes that are involved in brain development. It also helps regulate the movement of chemicals called neurotransmitters and of charged atoms (ions), which are necessary for signaling between neurons. Research suggests that the CASK protein may also interact with the protein produced from another gene, FRMD7, to promote development of the nerves that control eye movement (the oculomotor neural network).

Mutations in the CASK gene affect the role of the CASK protein in brain development and function, resulting in the signs and symptoms of CASK-related intellectual disability. The severe form of this disorder, MICPCH, is caused by mutations that eliminate CASK function, while mutations that impair the function of this protein cause the milder form, XL-ID with or without nystagmus. Affected individuals with nystagmus may have CASK gene mutations that disrupt the interaction between the CASK protein and the protein produced from the FRMD7 gene, leading to problems with the development of the oculomotor neural network and resulting in abnormal eye movements.

Normal Function

The CASK gene provides instructions for making a protein called calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine protein kinase (CASK). The CASK protein is primarily found in nerve cells (neurons) in the brain, where it helps control the activity (expression) of other genes that are involved in brain development. It also helps regulate the movement of chemicals called neurotransmitters and of charged atoms (ions), which are necessary for signaling between neurons. Research suggests that the CASK protein may also interact with the protein produced from another gene, FRMD7, to promote development of the nerves that control eye movement (the oculomotor neural network).

Health Conditions Related to Genetic Changes

CASK-related intellectual disability

More than 35 CASK gene mutations have been identified in people with CASK-related intellectual disability. This disorder affects brain development and has two main forms: a severe form called microcephaly with pontine and cerebellar hypoplasia (MICPCH), and a milder form called X-linked intellectual disability (XL-ID) with or without nystagmus.

The mutations that cause CASK-related intellectual disability affect the role of the CASK protein in brain development and function. MICPCH is caused by mutations that eliminate CASK function, while mutations that impair the function of this protein cause XL-ID with or without nystagmus. Nystagmus refers to rapid, involuntary back-and-forth eye movements. Affected individuals with nystagmus may have CASK gene mutations that disrupt the interaction between the CASK protein and the protein produced from the FRMD7 gene, leading to problems with the development of the oculomotor neural network and resulting in abnormal eye movements.

FG syndrome

MedlinePlus Genetics provides information about FG syndrome

Other Names for This Gene

• calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine protein kinase (MAGUK family)
• CAMGUK
• CMG
• CSKP_HUMAN
• hCASK
• LIN2
• protein lin-2 homolog
• TNRC8

Genomic Location

• An unusually small head at birth (microcephaly) that does not grow at the same rate as the rest of the body
• Underdevelopment (hypoplasia) of areas of the brain called the cerebellum and the pons
• Intellectual disability, which is usually severe
• Sleep disturbances
• Repetitive behaviors including self-biting and hand flapping
• Seizures
• Vision problems, such as a small (hypoplastic) nerve in the eye (optic nerve), deterioration of the retina of the eye (retinopathy), and strabismus (crossed eyes)
• Hearing loss caused by nerve problems in the inner ear (sensorineural deafness)
• Decreased muscle tone (hypotonia) in the torso, increased muscle tone (hypertonia), and stiffness (spasticity) in the limbs
• Movement problems such as involuntary tensing of various muscles (dystonia)

• Rapid, involuntary eye movements (nystagmus)
• Other eye findings such as strabismus and an abnormal coloration of the optic disc (optic disc pallor)
• Mild to severe intellectual disability (some females having normal intelligence)
• Seizures
• Hypotonia
• Rhythmic shaking (tremors)

CASK-related disorders are inherited in an X-linked dominant manner. This means that the gene responsible for the condition is located on the X chromosome, and having only one mutated copy of the gene is enough to cause the condition.

Because males have only one X chromosome (and one Y chromosome) and females have two X chromosomes, X-linked dominant conditions affect males and females differently. Both males and females can have an X-linked dominant condition. However, because males don't have a second, working copy of the gene (as females do), they usually have more severe disease than females.

If a father has the mutated X-linked gene:

• All of his daughters will inherit the mutated gene (they will all receive his X chromosome)
• None of his sons will inherit the mutated gene (they only inherit his Y chromosome)

If a mother has the mutated X-linked gene, each of her children (both male and female) has a 50% chance to inherit the mutated gene.

Rather than being inherited from a parent, the condition may also be caused by a new mutation that occurs for the first time in an affected person (a de novo mutation).

The prevalence of CASK-related intellectual disability is unknown. More than 50 females with MICPCH have been described in the medical literature, while only a few affected males have been described.

By contrast, more than 20 males but only a few females have been diagnosed with the milder form of the disorder, XL-ID with or without nystagmus. This form of the disorder may go unrecognized in mildly affected females.