HAND2 loss-of-function mutation causes familial dilated cardiomyopathy

As two members of the basic helix-loop-helix family of transcription factors, HAND1 and HAND2 are both required for the embryonic cardiogenesis and postnatal ventricular structural remodeling. Recently a HAND1 mutation has been reported to cause dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). However, the association of a HAND2 mutation with DCM is still to be ascertained. In this research, the coding regions and splicing junction sites of the HAND2 gene were...