Esra Usluer

Dr. Esra Usluer

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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15 March 2023 in American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
AÜAylin Yüksel Ülker
Aylin Yüksel Ülker
DADilek Uludağ Alkaya
Dilek Uludağ Alkaya
AÇAhmet Okay Çağlayan
Ahmet Okay Çağlayan
EUEsra Usluer
Esra Usluer
AAAyça Aykut
Ayça Aykut
BTBeyhan Tüysüz
Beyhan Tüysüz

8 August 2022 in American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
EUEsra Usluer
Esra Usluer
GSGözde Yeşil Sayın
Gözde Yeşil Sayın
NGNilay Güneş
Nilay Güneş
BKBuşra Kasap
Buşra Kasap
BTBeyhan Tüysüz
Beyhan Tüysüz


23 September 2025 in Genes
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
BYBurcu Yeter
Burcu Yeter
YKYasemin Kendir-Demirkol
Yasemin Kendir-Demirkol
EUEsra Usluer
Esra Usluer
IKİpek Görüşen Kavak
İpek Görüşen Kavak
SESena Gjota Ergin
Sena Gjota Ergin
NENursel Elcioglu
Nursel Elcioglu
Background/Objectives: Autosomal recessive primary microcephaly is a rare and genetically heterogeneous disorder characterized by congenital non-syndromic microcephaly, with at least 28 causative genes identified to date. Biallelic variants in the CDK5RAP2 gene, an ultra-rare cause of autosomal recessive primary microcephaly, lead to Primary Autosomal Recessive Microcephaly 3 (MCPH3). Methods: We present seven patients from six families diagnosed with MCPH3 in light of clinical and molecular findings using whole-exome sequencing (WES). Furthermore, we investigated the effects of the identified intronic variants on splicing through RNA analysis. Results: Almost all patients had severe microcephaly, mild to moderate intellectual disability, speech delay, and cutaneous pigmentary abnormalities. Four patients presented with postnatal short stature, and two showed weight deficiency. Dysmorphic evaluation revealed that the most prominent features included brachycephaly, hypertelorism, epicanthus, high-arched eyebrows, prominent nasal bridge, and micrognathia. We identified five distinct homozygous CDK5RAP2 variants in our patients, including four novel variants. Segregation analysis verified that the parents were carriers. Two of these variants were intronic (c.3148+5G>C and c.383+4dupA), two were frameshift (c.3168del), and one was a nonsense variant (c.1591C>T). Both intronic variants disrupted splicing, generating a premature stop codon and resulting in a truncated protein. Conclusions: This study broadens the mutational landscape of CDK5RAP2. We also sought to demonstrate the functional consequences of the CDK5RAP2 intronic variants on gene function using RNA analysis. The identification of four novel variants underscores the importance of molecular diagnostics in patients with primary microcephaly and provides valuable data for genetic counseling and future functional studies.

14 May 2026 in Developmental Neurobiology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
EUEsra Usluer
Esra Usluer
AÜAylin Yüksel Ülker
Aylin Yüksel Ülker
IKİbRahim Kaplan
İbRahim Kaplan