ZSWIM7 is associated with human female meiosis and familial primary ovarian insufficiency.

Background Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) affects 1% of women and is associated with significant medical consequences. A genetic cause for POI can be found in up to 30% of women, elucidating key roles for these genes in human ovary development. Objective We aimed to identify the genetic mechanism underlying early-onset POI in two sisters from a consanguineous pedigree. Methods Genome sequencing and variant filtering using an autosomal recessive model was performed in the two affected sisters and their unaffected family members. Quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) and RNA sequencing were used to study the expression of key genes at critical stages of human fetal gonad development (Carnegie Stage (CS) 22/23, 9 weeks post conception (wpc), 11wpc, 15/16wpc, 19/20wpc) and in adult tissue. Results Only one homozygous variant co-segregating with the POI phenotype was found: a single nucleotide substitution in ZSWIM7, NM_001042697.2: c.173C>G; resulting in predicted loss-of-function p.(Ser58*). qRT-PCR demonstrated higher expression of ZSWIM7 in the 15/16wpc ovary compared to testis, corresponding to peak meiosis in the fetal ovary. RNA sequencing of fetal gonad samples showed that ZSWIM7 has a similar temporal expression profile in the developing ovary to other homologous recombination genes. Main conclusions Disruption of ZSWIM7 is associated with POI in humans. ZSWIM7 is likely to be important for human homologous recombination and these findings expand the range of genes associated with POI in women.