INTS8 mutations cause severe neurodevelopmental syndrome

Integrator (INT) is an RNA polymerase II (RNAPII)-associated complex that was recently identified to have a broad role in both RNA processing and transcription regulation. INT has at least 14 subunits, but INT germline mutations causing human disease have not been reported. We identified mutations in the Integrator Complex Subunit 8 gene (INTS8) causing a rare neurodevelopmental syndrome. In patient cells we identified significant disturbance of gene expression and RNA processing. Also, we show that injection of ints8 oligonucleotide morpholinos into zebrafish embryos leads to prominent underdevelopment of the head demonstrating the evolutionary conserved requirement of INTS8 in brain development.