FB2026_01 , released March 12, 2026
FB2026_01 , released March 12, 2026
Human Disease Model Report: microcephaly 1, primary, autosomal recessive
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General Information
Name
microcephaly 1, primary, autosomal recessive
FlyBase ID
FBhh0000327
Overview

This report describes microcephaly 1, primary, autosomal recessive (MCPH1), which is a subtype of primary microcephaly. The human gene implicated in this disease is Microcephalin 1 (MCPH1), which encodes a DNA damage response protein. There is a single fly ortholog, Dmel\MCPH1, for which for RNAi-targeting constructs and alleles caused by insertional mutagenesis have been generated.

The human MCPH1 gene has not been introduced into flies.

Animals that are homozygous for a loss-of-function allele of Dmel\MCPH1 are female sterile due to an early maternal-effect lethal phenotype in which abnormal nuclear division is observed at the earliest embryonic stages, including cell cycle arrest in a metaphase-like stage; normal nuclear migration to form the syncytial blastoderm does not occur. Genetic interactions for Dmel\MCPH1 have been described; see the gene report for MCPH1.

[updated June 2016 by FlyBase; FBrf0222196]

Disease Summary Information
Parent Disease Summary: microcephaly, primary
Symptoms and phenotype

Primary microcephaly (MCPH) refers to the clinical finding of a head circumference less than 3 standard deviations below the age- and sex-related mean, present at birth. Primary microcephaly is a static developmental anomaly, distinguished from secondary microcephaly, which refers to a progressive neurodegenerative condition. Microcephaly is a disorder of fetal brain growth; individuals with microcephaly have small brains and almost always have mental retardation; additional clinical features may include short stature or mild seizures (review by Woods et al., 2005; pubmed:15806441). [from MIM:251200; 2016.06.16]

Specific Disease Summary: microcephaly 1, primary, autosomal recessive
OMIM report

[MICROCEPHALY 1, PRIMARY, AUTOSOMAL RECESSIVE; MCPH1](https://omim.org/entry/251200)

Human gene(s) implicated

[MICROCEPHALIN 1; MCPH1](https://omim.org/entry/607117)

Symptoms and phenotype

See general description of primary microcephaly, above.

Genetics

MCPH1 is caused by homozygous mutation in the gene encoding microcephalin; MCPH1 is the symbol for both the disease and the gene. [from MIM:251200; 2016.06.16]

Cellular phenotype and pathology
Molecular information

Microcephalin 1 (MCPH1) encodes a DNA damage response protein that may play a role in G2/M checkpoint arrest. [Gene cards, MCPH1; 2016.06.21]

The MCPH1 gene encodes a regulator of chromosome condensation (Trimborn et al., 2004; pubmed:15199523). [from MIM:607117; 2016.06.16]

External links
Disease synonyms
MCPH1
primary microcephaly 1
Ortholog Information
Human gene(s) in FlyBase
    Human gene (HGNC)
    D. melanogaster ortholog (based on DIOPT)
    Comments on ortholog(s)

    One to one: 1 human to 1 Drosophila.

    Other mammalian ortholog(s) used
      D. melanogaster Gene Information (1)
      Gene Snapshot
      Microcephalin (MCPH1) encodes a BRCT domain-containing protein that acts in genome stability and cell cycle regulation. It is required to co-ordinate centrosome and nuclear division during rapid syncitial embryonic cell divisions. [Date last reviewed: 2019-02-28]
      Molecular function (GO)
        Cellular component (GO)
        Gene Groups / Pathways
          Comments on ortholog(s)

          Ortholog of human MCPH1 (1 Drosophila to 1 human). Dmel\MCPH1 shares 24% identity and 40% similarity with human MCPH1.

          Orthologs and Alignments from DRSC
          DIOPT - DRSC Integrative Ortholog Prediction Tool - Click the link below to search for orthologs in Humans
          Other Genes Used: Viral, Bacterial, Synthetic (0)
            Summary of Physical Interactions (0 groups)
            Alleles Reported to Model Human Disease (Disease Ontology) (2 alleles)
            Models Based on Experimental Evidence ( 2 )
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            Disease
            Evidence
            References
            Modifiers Based on Experimental Evidence ( 0 )
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            Disease
            Interaction
            References
            Alleles Representing Disease-Implicated Variants
            Genetic Tools, Stocks and Reagents
            Sources of Stocks
            Contact lab of origin for a reagent not available from a public stock center.
            Bloomington Stock Center Disease Page
            Related mammalian, viral, bacterial, or synthetic transgenes
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            Transgene
            Publicly Available Stocks
            Selected Drosophila transgenes
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            Publicly Available Stocks
            RNAi constructs available
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            Publicly Available Stocks
            Selected Drosophila classical alleles
            Allele
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            Publicly Available Stocks
            P-element activity
            References (11)