PRIM1
protein-codingDNA primase subunit 1
Gene summary
The replication of DNA in eukaryotic cells is carried out by a complex chromosomal replication apparatus, in which DNA polymerase alpha and primase are two key enzymatic components. Primase, which is a heterodimer of a small subunit and a large subunit, synthesizes small RNA primers for the Okazaki fragments made during discontinuous DNA replication. The protein encoded by this gene is the small, 49 kDa primase subunit. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]
MANE transcript
Inheritance
ClinVar variants
Top phenotype
gnomAD constraint
Max pathogenic AF
Genomic locus
External References & Databases
Transcript & Mutation Effects
hg38 • Region Span ~21.9 kbGenCC Phenotypes & Disease Associations
Curated gene-disease validity assertions and inheritance patterns
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0859276
Submitter: Ambry Genetics
Inheritance Pattern: Unknown
Disease ID:MONDO:0859276
Submitter: Labcorp Genetics (formerly Invitae)
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0859276
Submitter: ClinGen
PRIM1 was first reported in relation to autosomal recessive primordial dwarfism-immunodeficiency-lipodystrophy (PDIL) syndrome in 2020 (Parry DA et al., PMID: 33060134). PDIL syndrome is characterized by unique facial features, prenatal and postnatal growth restriction, immunodeficiency disorder (recurrent infections, low IgM, low IgA, or B cell deficiency), chronic respiratory syndrome, and hepatic dysfunction. A total of 4 variants (3 splicing and 1 missense) have been reported in eight probands from six families in two publications that were included in this curation (PMIDs: 33060134, 38773012). Evidence supporting this gene-disease relationship includes case-level data, segregation data, and experimental data. Since 2020, there has been one splicing variant recurrently reported in six probands: four of them were from the same country and all were homozygous for this variant (PMIDs: 33060134, 38773012). A different splicing variant was reported in the compound heterozygous state alongside a missense variant in one proband (PMID: 33060134). In 2024, a third novel splicing variant was reported in the homozygous state in one proband with a relatively mild clinical phenotype but pronounced B cell lymphopenia (normal T cell count) and no evidence of developmental issues or liver disease (PMID: 38773012). The genetic evidence score reached 9 after variant scores were curated with incorporation of experimental evidence that suggests the two canonical splicing variants resulting in in-frame insertion proteins are hypomorphic. In all reported cases, parents who carry a heterozygous PRIM1 variant are clinically unaffected. This gene-disease relationship is also supported by experimental evidence (e.g. expression, in vitro functional assays, yeast models, etc.) (PMIDs: 33060134, 38773012). Partial loss of PRIM1 protein was demonstrated on immunoblotting of lymphoid and fibroblast cells from patients with the recurrent homozygous splicing variant (PMIDs: 33060134, 38773012). In one of the patients carrying the identical recurrent homozygous splicing variant, doubling time in their fibroblasts appeared increased compared to controls and impaired efficiency of DNA replication was observed in BrdU-DNA content flow cytometry (PMID: 33060134). To investigate the effect of the missense variant, a non-patient cell functional assay was performed and demonstrated partial loss of PRIM1 protein likely due to misfolding and/or disturbance of the catalytic site (PMID: 33060134). To further investigate the same missense variant, a yeast model study was complete and found defects in DNA synthesis which resulted in lethality for yeast (PMID: 33060134). For the other splicing variant reported in 2020, in vitro functional assay exemplified evidence of lower PRIM1 protein levels, consistent with the partial loss of function (PMID: 33060134). In the cells of the patient reported in 2024 with a similar novel splicing variant and more pronounced B cell lymphopenia phenotype but less clinical severity, a partial loss of PRIM1 protein was observed (PMID: 38773012). PRIM1 is involved in DNA synthesis alike POLE which has also been associated with immunodeficiency (PMID: 24043831). In summary, there is moderate evidence to support this gene-disease relationship. While more evidence is needed to establish this relationship definitively, no convincing contradictory evidence has emerged. This classification was approved by the ClinGen SCID-CID GCEP on the meeting date March 20, 2025 (SOP Version 11).
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0859276
Submitter: G2P
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0859276
Submitter: PanelApp Australia
Clinical Genomic Database (CGD)
Manifestation: Allergy/Immunology/Infectious; Craniofacial; Gastrointestinal; Hematologic; Musculoskeletal; Neurologic; Pulmonary
Intervention: Allergy/Immunology/Infectious
Rationale: Among other findings, the condition can include immunodeficiency, and antiinfectious prophylaxis and early and aggressive treatment of infections may be beneficial
ClinVar Associated Diseases & Phenotypes
Reported disease conditions connected to PRIM1 variants in ClinVar
ClinVar Variants & Pathogenicity by Type
Statistics based on transcript NM_000946.3. Only rare variants are included.
We include only reliable ClinVar variants with their consequences to MANE Select, MANE Plus Clinical transcripts, or transcripts with TSL equal to 1. Click a count to filter the variants table below.
Slight differences between displayed counts and ClinVar may occur due to a different transcript/consequence chosen by our variant effect predictor, or because we classify Benign/Likely benign as Likely benign and Pathogenic/Likely pathogenic as Likely pathogenic.
| Effect | PathogenicP | Likely pathogenicLP | VUS | Likely benignLB | BenignB | Sum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| synonymous | 3 | 3 | ||||
| missense | 1 | 39 | 5 | 45 | ||
| nonsense | 4 | 4 | ||||
| start loss | 0 | |||||
| frameshift | 1 | 1 | ||||
| splice donor/acceptor (+/-2bp) | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | ||
| Total | 2 | 1 | 48 | 8 | 0 | 59 |
Highest pathogenic variant AF is 0.0000027856083
Transcript Catalog
Annotated transcript isoforms across RefSeq and Ensembl databases
| Transcript ID | Source | Protein ID | Coding Exons | MANE Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RefSeq | NP_000937.1 | 13 | MANE Select | |
| Ensembl | ENSP00000350491.5 | 13 | MANE Select | |
| Ensembl | ENSP00000449806.1 | 5 | Standard | |
| Ensembl | ENSP00000450185.1 | 9 | Standard |
Model Organisms & Knockout Phenotypes
Observed phenotypic effects in mouse and zebrafish models
| Gene / Model | Organism | Observed Phenotype |
|---|---|---|
| prim1 | Danio rerio | Structure: cranial cartilage Quality: morphology abnormal |
Gene Ontology (GO) Annotations & Pathways
Biological processes, molecular functions, cellular components and pathways
Pathways ConsensusPathDB
- Pyrimidine metabolism - Homo sapiens (human)
- DNA replication - Homo sapiens (human)
- Purine metabolism - Homo sapiens (human)
- miR-targeted genes in lymphocytes - TarBase
- Retinoblastoma (RB) in Cancer
Biological Process
- G1/S transition of mitotic cell cycle
- DNA replication, synthesis of RNA primer
- telomere maintenance via semi-conservative replication
Molecular Function
- single-stranded DNA binding
- DNA primase activity
- metal ion binding
Cellular Component
- nucleoplasm
- alpha DNA polymerase:primase complex
- membrane
gnomAD Constraint
Source:
- Gene type
- protein_coding
- Transcript type
- protein_coding
- Transcript
- ENST00000338193
- Coding exons
- 13
- Length
- 20778
- Individuals with no LoFs
- 124653
- Homozygous LoFs
- 0
- Heterozygous LoFs
- 17
- Defined
- 124670
- p
- 0.0000682
| Z-Score | Observed | Expected | Observed/Expected | Mutation Rate | Total Possible | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missense | 2.05 | 122 | 204 | 0.597 | 0.0000103 | 2788 |
| Missense (PolyPhen) | 28 | 62.372 | 0.44892 | 801 | ||
| Synonymous | 0.741 | 57 | 64.6 | 0.883 | 0.00000310 | 677 |
| Loss of Function | 2.67 | 9 | 22.8 | 0.395 | 0.00000104 | 314 |
Population LoF Frequency
| Population | CAF | p-value | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| African | 0 | 0.0 | absent |
| Latino/Admixed American | 0.000058 | 0.000058 | rare |
| Ashkenazi Jewish | 0.00041 | 0.00040 | rare |
| East Asian | 0.000056 | 0.000056 | rare |
| Finnish | 0.000093 | 0.000093 | rare |
| European (Non-Finnish) | 0.000078 | 0.000071 | rare |
| South Asian | 0 | 0.0 | absent |
| Other | 0 | 0.0 | absent |
dbNSFP Gene Annotations
Source:
- Function
- FUNCTION: DNA primase is the polymerase that synthesizes small RNA primers for the Okazaki fragments made during discontinuous DNA replication.;
Intolerance Scores
- LoFtool
- 0.636
- RVIS EVS
- 0.04
- RVIS percentile EVS
- 56.92
Essentials
- Essential (CRISPR)
- E
- Essential (CRISPR2)
- E
- Essential (gene trap)
- E
- Indispensability pred.
- E
- Indispensability score
- 0.871
Gene Damage Prediction
| All | Recessive | Dominant | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mendelian | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Primary Immunodeficiency | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Cancer | Medium | Medium | Medium |