Severe Noonan syndrome phenotype associated with a germline Q71R MRAS variant: a recurrent substitution in RAS homologs in various cancers

Activation of the RAS pathway through either the activation of genes that accelerate the pathway or the suppression of genes that inhibit the pathway leads to a group of disorders collectively referred to as RASopathies. The key molecules of the RAS pathway are KRAS, HRAS, and NRAS. Mutations in these three RAS homolog genes have been shown to be associated with RASopathies. Recently, two patients with a Noonan syndrome phenotype were shown to carry mutations in the yet another RASopathy gene, MRAS (muscle RAS oncogene homolog). Here, we report a patient with a severe Noonan syndrome phenotype associated with a germline Q71R MRAS variant, which represents a recurrent substitution in RAS homologs in various cancers. The patient's dysmorphic features included relative macrocephaly, a down-slanted palpebral fissure, hypertelorism, a depressed nasal bridge, and low-set ears with thick lobes; these facial features are strongly associated with RASopathy. We confirmed that the MRAS gene represents a causative gene for RASopathy.