Noonan-like phenotype in monozygotic twins with a duplication-deficiency of the long arm of chromosome 18 resulting from a maternal paracentric inversion

We report on newborn monozygotic twins with a Noonan-like phenotype, and multiple congenital anomalies due to a monocentric recombinant chromosome 18. The mother carried a paracentric inversion of the long arm of chromosome 18, inv(18)(q21.1q22.3). Cytogenetic, fluorescent in situ hybridization, comparative genomic hybridization and DNA marker analyses allowed the delineation of the deleted (18q22.3-qter) and duplicated (18q12.1-q21.1) chromosomal regions in the recombinant chromosome 18, and suggest that this duplication-deletion chromosome 18 resulted from breakage of a dicentric recombinant chromosome 18 with subsequent reconstitution of telomeric sequences on the long arm. Marked variability is observed in the phenotypic expression of the same chromosomal anomaly in these monozygotic twins. The clinical findings of these patients are compared with those reported in proximal 18q-duplication and distal 18q-deletion patients. The clinical features of both infants are compatible with Noonan syndrome, suggesting that a locus for this syndrome may be located on the long arm of chromosome 18.

Conserved DNA sequences adjacent to chromosome fragmentation and telomere addition sites in Euplotes crassus

During the formation of a new macronucleus in the ciliate Euplotes crassus, micronuclear chromosomes are reproducibly broken at approximately 10 000 sites. This chromosome fragmentation process is tightly coupled with de novo telomere synthesis by the telomerase ribonucleoprotein complex, generating short linear macronuclear DNA molecules. In this study, the sequences of 58 macronuclear DNA termini and eight regions of the micronuclear genome containing chromosome fragmentation/telomere addition sites were determined. Through a statistically based analysis of these data, along with previously published sequences, we have defined a 10 bp conserved sequence element (E-Cbs, 5'-HATTGAAaHH-3', H = A, C or T) near chromosome fragmentation sites. The E-Cbs typically resides within the DNA destined to form a macronuclear DNA molecule, but can also reside within flanking micronuclear DNA that is eliminated during macronuclear development. The location of the E-Cbs in macronuclear-destined versus flanking micronuclear DNA leads us to propose a model of chromosome fragmentation that involves a 6 bp staggered cut in the chromosome. The identification of adjacent macronuclear-destined sequences that overlap by 6 bp provides support for the model. Finally, our data provide evidence that telomerase is able to differentiate between newly generated ends that contain partial telomeric repeats and those that do not in vivo.

Unusual de novo t(13;15)(q12.1;p13) translocation leading to complex mosaicism including jumping translocation

We report on a patient with neurosensory deafness, cataract and moderate mental retardation showing a constitutional mosaicism with the predominant cell line consisting of a 45,XY,-13,-15,+t(13;15) translocation of the Robertsonian type. By means of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using a panel of acrocentric pericentromeric probes and various banding techniques, the breakpoints in the translocation were determined at 13q12.1 and 15p13 respectively. Five other cell lines were present, at low percentage, one of them showing a t(13;15) tandem translocation. Interstitial telomeric sequences could be detected at the translocation fusion sites in both the Robertsonian and tandem translocations. The mosaicism appears therefore to be a consequence of chromosomal instability involving the t(13;15) fusion region of the predominant cell line, and related to the presence of interstitial telomeric sequences. The present observation suggests that in the pericentromeric 13q12 region, a gene involved in neurosensory deafness may be located.

FISH identifies different types of duplications with 12q13-15 as the commonly involved segment in B-cell lymphoproliferative malignancies characterized by partial trisomy 12

Clinical, cytogenetic, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and Southern blot data of 18 patients with different subtypes of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, cytogenetically characterized by partial trisomy 12, are presented. These chromosomal changes occurred predominantly in clinically progressive chronic lymphocytic leukemia, mixed cell type, and advanced-stage follicle center cell lymphoma at the time of relapse or transformation into diffuse large cell lymphoma. Partial trisomy 12 consistently included the long arm of chromosome 12, either completely or partially, and resulted from dup(12q) or other rearrangements involving chromosome 12. The duplications were cytogenetically identified as dup(12)(q13q23), dup(12)(q13q22), or dup(12)(q13q15) in follicle center cell lymphoma or t(14;18)-positive diffuse large cell lymphoma; dup(12)(q13q22) or dup(12)(q13q24) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia; and dup(12)(q13q21) in a case of t(14;18)-negative diffuse large cell lymphoma. FISH, using library probes and a panel of YAC probes, mapped along the long arm of chromosome 12, confirmed the cytogenetic results in all cases analyzed except for three cases of t(14;18)-positive follicle center lymphoma or diffuse large cell lymphoma with dup(12q). In these cases, FISH showed similar, possibly identical, duplications, which involved a region more centromeric (12q11-21) than assumed by karyotypic analysis (12q13-22 or 12q13-23) and included alphoid DNA sequences, a combination hitherto unknown. In addition, commonly duplicated regions of chromosome 12 could be defined: 12q11-21, including alphoid DNA sequences for follicle center cell lymphoma or t(14;18)-positive diffuse large cell lymphoma, 12q13-22 for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and 12p13-q15 for marginal zone cell lymphoma, all of which overlapped in 12q13-15. Whether these regions, especially 12q13-15, may contain genes which are important in malignant transformation or disease progression of B-cell lymphoproliferative malignancies characterized by complete or partial trisomy 12 remains to be determined.

Interstitial telomeric sequences at the junction site of a jumping translocation

The mechanism(s) for the origin of jumping translocations (JTs) are unknown. To assess the possible involvement of telomeric sequences in the jumping process, metaphases of a patient with hydrops fetalis having a JT were analyzed for the presence of interstitial telomeres. Telomere DNA sequences were detected at the junction sites of the donor and the recipient chromosomes. Interstitial telomeric sequences have so far only been detected in JTs involving chromosome 15q in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome. Our finding of interstitial telomeric sequences in a JT with a chromosome different from chromosome arm 15q in a patient without Prader-Willi syndrome implies that telomere sequences may be common to all telomeric JTs. The possible role of telomeric sequences as a cause of the observed chromosomal mosaicism is discussed.

The human peroxisomal multifunctional protein involved in bile acid synthesis: activity measurement, deficiency in Zellweger syndrome and chromosome mapping

The dehydrogenation of 24R,25R-varanoyl-CoA, the physiological intermediate formed during the peroxisomal breakdown of the bile acid intermediate trihydroxycoprostanic acid, was studied in human liver. The reaction appeared to be catalyzed by two different enzymes. A first one, present in the cytosol, did not discriminate between the four possible varanoyl-CoA isomers and did not require the CoA moiety. The second enzymic activity was associated with peroxisomes and acted only on the 24R,25R-isomer, in which the 24-hydroxy group possesses the D-configuration. The D-specific dehydrogenase is part of a 79 kDa protein which represents the human counterpart of a recently discovered second multifunctional protein in rat liver peroxisomes, named multifunctional protein 2 (MFP-2). Human MFP-2, like its rat counterpart, is also responsible for the formation (by hydratation) of 24R,25R-varanoyl-CoA. A deficiency of MFP-2 in Zellweger liver could be demonstrated immunologically by using antibodies against the rat enzyme and enzymically -- after removal of the cytosol -- by using 24R,25R-varanoyl-CoA. The gene coding for MFP-2 was mapped to chromosome 5q2.3.

Trisomy 15 rescue with jumping translocation of distal 15q in Prader-Willi syndrome

We report a patient with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and mosaicism for a de novo jumping translocation of distal chromosome 15q, resulting in partial trisomy for 15q24-qter. A maternal uniparental heterodisomy for chromosome 15 was present in all cells, defining the molecular basis for the PWS in this patient. The translocated distal 15q fragment was of paternal origin and was present as a jumping translocation, involving three different translocation partners, chromosomes 14q, 4q, and 16p. The recipient chromosomes appeared cytogenetically intact and interstitial telomere DNA sequences were present at the breakpoint junctions. This strongly suggests that the initial event leading to the translocation of distal 15q was a non-reciprocal translocation, with fusion between the 15q24 break-point and the telomeres of the recipient chromosomes. These observations are best explained by a partial zygotic trisomy rescue and comprise a previously undescribed mechanism leading to partial trisomy.

The IL-9 receptor gene, located in the Xq/Yq pseudoautosomal region, has an autosomal origin, escapes X inactivation and is expressed from the Y

All human X-linked genes known so far, except for the Xp/Yp pseudoautosomal genes, are conserved as a single linkage group on the murine X chromosome. We show that the interleukin-9 (IL-9) receptor gene (IL9R), which is located within the human Xq/Yq homology region, maps to the murine chromosome 11. The Xq/Yq pseudoautosomal region (Xq PAR) thus represents a second region on the human X chromosome which is not X linked in mice. Furthermore, we show that IL9R is absent on the Y of great apes. IL9R is thus exceptional among X/Y genes in that it is X linked in some mammals, but autosomal or pseudoautosomal in others. Genes located on the X and the Y generally escape X inactivation. An exception to this rule is SYBL1, a gene located in Xq PAR. SYBL1 is X inactivated and is inactive on the Y chromosome. In contrast, we show that IL9R expression does occur from the Y, the active and the inactive X chromosomes. This finding raises the question of how the transcriptional regulation of genes within Xq PAR occurs and how the X inactivation status of IL9R has evolved following the autosome to X and the X to X/Y translocation. The evolutionary analysis of the IL9R gene, which is located at 10 kb from the telomere, and its pseudogenes at several telomeres, also provides insight into the evolution of these loci and of subtelomeric regions in general.

Differences in the distribution and nature of the interstitial telomeric (TTAGGG)n sequences in the chromosomes of the Giraffidae, okapai (Okapia johnstoni), and giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis): evidence for ancestral telomeres at the okapi polymorphic rob(5;26) fusion site

Intrachromosomal telomeric sequences (TTAGGG)n were analyzed in the two members of the family Giraffidae, the giraffe and the okapi. The giraffe has a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 30, whereas the okapi chromosome number varies from 2n = 46 to 2n = 45 and 2n = 44 due to a "recent" Robertsonian fusion event. The interstitial telomeres that we detected in these species are of two types: (1) In the okapi, a long interstitial telomeric element is present at the fusion site of the rob(4;26). The nature of this interstitial telomeric element suggests that it is a remnant of the telomeres of the ancestral chromosomes that participated in the fusion event. (2) In the giraffe, short stretches or degenerate telomeric sequences which are part of the satellite DNA are present at intrachromosomal sites. The results of this study provide insights into the origin of interstitial telomeric sequences in the Giraffidae.

The IL-9 receptor gene (IL9R): genomic structure, chromosomal localization in the pseudoautosomal region of the long arm of the sex chromosomes, and identification of IL9R pseudogenes at 9qter, 10pter, 16pter, and 18pter

Cosmids containing the human IL-9 receptor (R) gene (IL9R) have been isolated from a genomic library using the IL9R cDNA as a probe. We have shown that the human IL9R cDNA as a probe. We have shown that hte human IL9R gene is composed of 11 exons and 10 introns, stretching over approximately 17 kb, and is located within the pseudoautosomal region of the Xq and Yq chromosome, in the vicinity of the telomere. Analysis f the 5' flanking region revealed multiple transcription initiation sites as well as potential binding motifs for AP1, AP2, AP3, Sp1, and NF-kB, although this region lacks a TATA box. Using the human IL9R cosmid as a probe to perform fluorescence in situ hybridization, additional signals were identified in the subtelomeric regions of chromosomes 9q, 10p, 16p, and 18p. IL9R homologs located on chromosomes 16 and 10 were completely sequenced. Although they are similar to the IL9R gene (approximately 90% identity), none of these copies encodes a functional receptor: none of them contains sequences homologous to the 5' flanking region or exon 1 of the IL9R gene, and the remaining ORFs have been inactivated by various point mutations and deletions. Taken together, our results indicate that the IL9R gene is located at Xq28 and Yq12, in the long arm pseudoautosomal region, and that four IL9R pseudogenes are located on 9q34, 10p15, 16p13.3, and 18p11.3, probably dispersed as the result of translocations during evolution.

Accumulation of telomerase RNA and telomere protein transcripts during telomere synthesis in Euplotes

In the ciliate Euplotes crassus a complex series of developmental events lead to formation of a new macronucleus. Millions of telomeres are synthesized during this process. We have shown that transcript levels are tightly regulated throughout Euplotes conjugation and macronuclear development. Thus, expression of gene products needed for macronuclear development and telomere synthesis appears to be controlled at the level of RNA abundance. To learn more about the role played by telomerase and the Euplotes telomere protein during telomere synthesis, we have correlated changes in the abundance of telomerase RNA and telomere protein mRNA transcript with specific developmental events. Telomerase RNA levels increase steadily during the early stages of macronuclear development and reach a peak just after telomere addition. The telomere protein transcript rises and falls twice during conjugation and then rises again at the time of telomere addition. The increases in transcript levels during conjugation parallel micronuclear division suggesting that the telomere protein is synthesized at this time and hence may have a micronuclear function.

Telomeric DNA sequence and structure following de novo telomere synthesis in Euplotes crassus

To learn more about the mechanism of de novo telomere synthesis, we have characterized the sequence and structure of newly synthesized telomeres from Euplotes crassus. E. crassus is a particularly useful organism for studying telomere synthesis because millions of telomeres are made in each cell at a well-defined time during the sexual stage of the life cycle. These newly synthesized telomeres are approximately 50 bp longer than mature macronuclear telomeres. We have investigated the structure of the newly synthesized telomeres and have found that they are much more heterogeneous in length than mature telomeres. Most of the heterogeneity is present on the G-rich strand, indicating that the length of this strand is rather loosely controlled. In contrast, the length of the C-rich strand is much less variable, suggesting that synthesis of this strand is the more precisely regulated step in telomere addition. The G-rich strand exhibits variability both in the total number of G4T4 repeats and in the identity of the terminal nucleotide. In most cases, the G-rich strnd extends beyond the C-rich strand to leave a 3' overhang. While the size of this overhang is variable, the median length is 10 nucleotides. This research provides the first detailed picture of a newly synthesized telomere and has allowed us to formulate a model to describe the various steps involved in de novo telomere synthesis.

Telomere processing in Euplotes

In Euplotes crassus millions of telomeres are synthesized during the sexual phase of the life cycle. Since these newly synthesized telomeres are longer than normal macronuclear telomeres, they must be trimmed to the mature size. We have examined the timing and mechanism of this trimming step. We have shown that a sudden decrease in telomere length takes place at a specific time during macronuclear development. The decrease in telomere length is not caused by incomplete replication of the most terminal DNA sequences; rather it is the result of an active processing event that occurs independently of DNA replication. The developmentally regulated telomere shortening that takes place in Euplotes is reminiscent of the sudden reductions in telomere length which have been observed in other eukaryotes.