1
|
Abstract
Three points of interest lie in considering how Alzheimer, and more significantly Perusini, struggled to throw light on the cause of this devastating disease. There is a stimulating possibility that Perusini believed presenile forms of Alzheimer's disease described the same disease as senile forms. If so this would anticipate current opinion, and reveal Perusini to dissent from Kraepelin. In addition, Perusini may have understood the pathological relationship between neuritic plaques and vascular changes, once more foreseeing the modern view of Alzheimer's disease. Finally, Perusini and Alzheimer disagreed with Jung's view concerning the relationship between neuropathology and clinical psychiatry. This point highlights the major change occurring at that time from classical neurology to the psychoanalytic era. In his last work (1911) Alzheimer quoted his Italian disciple many times, even speaking of 'Perusini's cases' (Perusinischen Fälle). This article is an attempt to change the eponym of Alzheimer's disease into the Alzheimer-Perusini disease. This is a brief history of a master and his disciple, whose scientific lives were, by events, divided.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Macchi
- Istituto Neurologia, Catholic University, School of Medicine "A. Gemelli", Rome, Italy
| | - C Brahe
- Istituto Genetica Medica, Catholic University, School of Medicine "A. Gemelli", Rome, Italy
| | - M Pomponi
- Istituto Chimica e Chimica Clinica, Catholic University, School of Medicine "A. Gemelli", Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
|
3
|
Bizzarro A, Guglielmi V, Lomastro R, Valenza A, Lauria A, Marra C, Silveri MC, Tiziano FD, Brahe C, Masullo C. BuChE K variant is decreased in Alzheimer's disease not in fronto-temporal dementia. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2010; 117:377-83. [PMID: 20058037 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-009-0358-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2009] [Accepted: 12/08/2009] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by a significant reduction in AcetylCholinesterase and an increase in ButyrylCholinesterase (BuChE) activity. The existence of polymorphic regions on the BuChE gene has been previously described; the most frequently found polymorphism is the so-called K variant, which leads to a 30% decreased enzymatic activity. Different studies reported a positive association between K variant and AD, strongest among late-onset AD and Apolipoprotein E (APOE) e4 carriers. We analyzed APOE and BuChE polymorphisms in 167 AD and 59 fronto-temporal dementia (FTD) patients compared with 129 healthy controls (HC). We reported a significantly lower frequency of the BuChE K variant in AD compared with HC and FTD and a significant increased frequency of the K variant in FTD. These results are in agreement with the known increase of the BuChE activity in AD and support the evidence of different molecular pathways involved in the pathogenesis of AD and FTD.
Collapse
|
4
|
Serra A, Bova R, Neri G, Colapietro M, Brahe C. Pericentric Inversion of Chromosome 9: A Microdensitometric Study. Clin Genet 2008. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0004.1978.tb02193.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
5
|
Angelozzi C, Borgo F, Tiziano FD, Martella A, Neri G, Brahe C. Salbutamol increases SMN mRNA and protein levels in spinal muscular atrophy cells. J Med Genet 2007; 45:29-31. [PMID: 17932121 DOI: 10.1136/jmg.2007.051177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an inherited neuromuscular disorder caused by homozygous absence of the survival motor neuron gene (SMN1). All patients have at least one, usually two to four copies of the related SMN2 gene which, however, produce insufficient levels of functional SMN protein due to the exclusion of exon 7 in the majority of SMN2 transcripts. Here, we show that salbutamol, a beta2-adrenoceptor agonist, determines a rapid and significant increase in SMN2-full length mRNA and SMN protein in SMA fibroblasts, predominantly by promoting exon 7 inclusion in SMN2 transcripts. These data, together with previous clinical findings, provide a strong rationale to investigate further the clinical efficacy of salbutamol in SMA patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Angelozzi
- Istituto di Genetica Medica, Universitè Cattolica, Largo Francesco Vito, 1, I-00168 Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ghezzo A, Tiziano D, Lodi R, Tonon C, Brahe C, Pini A. G.P.2.16 Valproate, acetylcarnitine, folic acid and vitamin B12 in spinal muscular atrophy: Preliminary data of an open-label study in children. Neuromuscul Disord 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2007.06.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
|
7
|
Tiziano FD, Bertini E, Messina S, Angelozzi C, Pane M, D'Amico A, Alfieri P, Fiori S, Battini R, Berardinelli A, Boffi P, Bruno C, Cini C, Minetti C, Mongini T, Morandi L, Orcesi S, Pelliccioni M, Pini A, Villanova M, Vita G, Locatelli M, Mercuri E, Brahe C. The Hammersmith functional score correlates with the SMN2 copy number: a multicentric study. Neuromuscul Disord 2007; 17:400-3. [PMID: 17433677 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2007.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2006] [Revised: 02/06/2007] [Accepted: 02/11/2007] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies showed that SMN2 copy number correlates inversely with the disease severity. Our aim was to evaluate SMN2 copy numbers and the Hammersmith functional motor scale in 87 patients with SMA II in order to establish whether, within SMAII, the number of copies correlates with the severity of functional impairment. Our results showed a relative variability of functional scores, but a significant correlation between the number of SMN2 genes and the level of function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- F D Tiziano
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Mercuri E, Bertini E, Messina S, Solari A, D'Amico A, Angelozzi C, Battini R, Berardinelli A, Boffi P, Bruno C, Cini C, Colitto F, Kinali M, Minetti C, Mongini T, Morandi L, Neri G, Orcesi S, Pane M, Pelliccioni M, Pini A, Tiziano FD, Villanova M, Vita G, Brahe C. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of phenylbutyrate in spinal muscular atrophy. Neurology 2006; 68:51-5. [PMID: 17082463 DOI: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000249142.82285.d6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy of phenylbutyrate (PB) in patients with spinal muscular atrophy in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 10 Italian centers. METHODS One hundred seven children were assigned to receive PB (500 mg/kg/day) or matching placebo on an intermittent regimen (7 days on/7 days off) for 13 weeks. The Hammersmith functional motor scale (primary outcome measure), myometry, and forced vital capacity were assessed at baseline and at weeks 5 and 13. RESULTS Between January and September 2004, 107 patients aged 30 to 154 months were enrolled. PB was well tolerated, with only one child withdrawing because of adverse events. Mean improvement in functional score was 0.60 in the PB arm and 0.73 in placebo arm (p = 0.70). Changes in the secondary endpoints were also similar in the two study arms. CONCLUSIONS Phenylbutyrate was not effective at the regimen, schedule, and duration used in this study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E Mercuri
- Department of Paediatric Neurology, Catholic University, Largo Gemelli, 00168 Rome, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Tiziano F, Bertini E, Angelozzi C, Messina S, d’Amico A, Battini R, Berardinelli A, Boffi P, Bruno C, Morandi L, Pane M, Pini A, Villanova M, Mercuri E, Brahe C. N.P.2 01 Spinal muscular atrophy: correlation between the number of SMN2 genes and functional ability. Neuromuscul Disord 2006. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2006.05.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
|
10
|
Bizzarro A, Marra C, Acciarri A, Valenza A, Tiziano FD, Brahe C, Masullo C. Apolipoprotein E epsilon4 allele differentiates the clinical response to donepezil in Alzheimer's disease. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2005; 20:254-61. [PMID: 16103669 DOI: 10.1159/000087371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/02/2005] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The existence of an association between apolipoprotein E (APOE) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been reported in several studies. The possession of an ApoE epsilon4 allele is now considered a genetic risk factor for sporadic AD. There has been a growing agreement about the role exerted by the ApoE epsilon4 allele on the neuropsychological profile and the rate of cognitive decline in AD patients. However, a more controversial issue remains about a possible influence of the APOE genotype on acetylcholinesterase inhibitor therapy response in AD patients. In order to address this issue, 81 patients diagnosed as having probable AD were evaluated by a complete neuropsychological test battery at the time of diagnosis (baseline) and after 12-16 months (retest). Patients were divided into two subgroups: (1) treated with donepezil at a dose of 5 mg once a day (n = 41) and (2) untreated (n = 40). Donepezil therapy was started after baseline evaluation. The APOE genotype was determined according to standardized procedures. We evaluated the possible effect of the APOE genotype on the neuropsychological tasks in relation to donepezil therapy. The statistical analysis of the results showed a global worsening of cognitive performances for all AD patients at the retest. Differences in the clinical outcome were analysed in the four subgroups of AD patients for each neuropsychological task. ApoE epsilon4 carriers/treated patients had improved or unchanged scores at retest evaluation for the following tasks: visual and verbal memory, visual attention and inductive reasoning and Mini Mental State Examination. These results indicate an effect of donepezil on specific cognitive domains (attention and memory) in the ApoE epsilon4 carriers with AD. This might suggest an early identification of AD patients carrying at least one epsilon4 allele as responders to donepezil therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Bizzarro
- Institutes of Neurology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, School of Medicine, University Hospital A. Gemelli, IT-00168 Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Brahe C, Tassone F, Millington-Ward A, Serra A, Gardiner K. Potential gene sequence isolation and regional mapping in human chromosome 21. Am J Med Genet Suppl 2005; 7:120-4. [PMID: 2127361 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.1320370724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The transcription start sites of many genes are associated with CpG-rich DNA regions (CpG islands) containing clusters of rare cutting, methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme sites [Bird, 1986]. To detect gene sequences from human chromosome 21, we have screened cloned DNA fragments from a chromosome 21-specific cosmid library for the presence of such restriction sites. Several DNA fragments containing rare cutter sites, including Sac II, were isolated and five of them partially characterized. The average insert size of the fragments was 38.4 kb. By using a panel of somatic cell hybrids, one insert was assigned to the distal part of region 21q21, three fragments to the region 21q22.1, and one sequence to the segment 21q22.2-22.3. Restriction mapping showed clusters of rare cutter sites in at least three of the cloned fragments, suggesting the presence of CpG islands. These fragments are thus good candidates for carriers of coding sequences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Brahe
- Institute of Human Genetics, A. Gemelli School of Medicine, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Serra A, Brahe C, Millington-Ward A, Neri G, Tedeschi B, Tassone F, Bova R. Pericentric inversion of chromosome 9: prevalence in 300 Down syndrome families and molecular studies of nondisjunction. Am J Med Genet Suppl 2005; 7:162-8. [PMID: 1981475 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.1320370733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The incidence of Down syndrome (DS) families where one of the parents is an heterozygous carrier of pericentric inversion of the heterochromatic region of chromosome 9-inv(9) (qh) - was determined in 3 independent groups of 100 families each. The total number of 17 such families found in the sample is significantly greater than the expected number of 5.73 for a sample of non-DS families of equal size. Consequently, the statistical association of the presence of inv (9) (qh) in one parent with the birth of a DS offspring, and the correlative 3-fold increased risk of a DS child for such families, seem to be demonstrated. A study of the origin of nondisjunction, using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) segregation analysis with a sufficient number of chromosome 21 specific probes, has provided complete information in 7 of 8 available families. Although the statistical interpretation of the results is not straightforward, due to the small size of the sample, the observed data do not contradict the assumption that the presence of inv (9) (qh) in a parent increases, by a factor of about 3, the chance that the offspring will inherit an extra chromosome 21 from that parent. Nevertheless, gathering further data appears desirable because stronger evidence would have relevance both for clinical implications and for the understanding of the function of heterochromatin, particularly with respect to meiotic and mitotic processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Serra
- Istituto di Genetica Umana, Facoltà di Medicina A. Gemelli, U.C.S.C., Roma, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Brahe C, Tassone F, Moscetti A, Millington-Ward A, Bova R, Serra A. Molecular study of parental origin of extra chromosome 21 in regular and de novo translocation trisomies. Am J Med Genet Suppl 2005; 7:125-8. [PMID: 2149938 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.1320370725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The parental origin of the extra chromosome 21 (or extra 21q) was determined in seven informative families with a Down syndrome (DS) child by using molecular polymorphisms. Five DS patients had regular trisomy, one a de novo 14/21 translocation and another a de novo 21/21 translocation or isochromosome 21q. In four families with regular trisomy, the extra chromosome was of maternal origin, and in one family it was paternally derived. In the two families with a de novo aberration, both the 14/21 translocation and 21/21 rearrangement originated during maternal meiosis. For a better evaluation of the stage of meiotic error and the occurrence of crossovers between nondisjoined chromosomes, the regional map position of four of the nine informative DNA markers, used in this study, was refined, leading to useful localizations in both centromeric and distal regions. Recombination events were found in two families with regular trisomy, one occurring between chromosomes 21 that failed to disjoin at maternal meiosis I, the other prior to a paternal meiosis II nondisjunction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Brahe
- Institute of Human Genetics, A. Gemelli School of Medicine, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Andreassi C, Patrizi AL, Brahe C, Eboli ML. Excitatory amino acid stimulation of the survival of rat cerebellar granule cells in culture is associated with an increase in SMN, the spinal muscular atrophy disease gene product. Amino Acids 2001; 18:299-304. [PMID: 10901626 DOI: 10.1007/s007260050026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Excitatory amino acids which promote the survival of cerebellar granule cells in culture, also promote the expression of the survival of motor neuron (SMN) protein. Immunolocalization studies using SMN monoclonal antibody showed that SMN is decreased in cultures grown in low K+ or chemically defined medium with respect to cultures grown in high K+ medium and that an increase of SMN can be induced by treatment of low K+ cultures with glutamate or N-methyl-D-aspartate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Andreassi
- Institute of General Pathology Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Sossi V, Giuli A, Vitali T, Tiziano F, Mirabella M, Antonelli A, Neri G, Brahe C. Premature termination mutations in exon 3 of the SMN1 gene are associated with exon skipping and a relatively mild SMA phenotype. Eur J Hum Genet 2001; 9:113-20. [PMID: 11313744 DOI: 10.1038/sj.ejhg.5200599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2000] [Revised: 09/29/2000] [Accepted: 10/10/2000] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Autosomal recessive spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a common motor neuron disease caused by absence or mutation in the survival motor neuron (SMN1) gene. SNM1 and a nearly identical copy, SMN2, encode identical proteins, but SMN2 only produces a little full length protein due to alternative splicing. The level of functional SMN protein and the number of SMN2 genes correlate with the clinical phenotype ranging from severe to very mild. Here, we report on premature termination mutations in SMN1 exon 3 (425del5 and W102X) which induce skipping of the mutated exon. The novel nonsense mutation W102X was detected in two patients with a relatively mild phenotype who had only two copies of the SMN2 gene, a number that has previously been found associated with the severe form of SMA. We show that the shortened transcripts are translated into predicted in frame protein isoforms. Aminoglycoside treatment suppressed the nonsense mutation in cultured cells and abolished exon skipping. Fibroblasts from both patients show a high number of nuclear structures containing SMN protein (gems). These findings suggest that the protein isoform lacking the exon 3 encoded region contributes to the formation of the nuclear protein complex which may account for the milder clinical phenotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V Sossi
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Sertié AL, Sossi V, Camargo AA, Zatz M, Brahe C, Passos-Bueno MR. Collagen XVIII, containing an endogenous inhibitor of angiogenesis and tumor growth, plays a critical role in the maintenance of retinal structure and in neural tube closure (Knobloch syndrome). Hum Mol Genet 2000; 9:2051-8. [PMID: 10942434 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/9.13.2051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 185] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Knobloch syndrome (KS) is an autosomal recessive disorder defined by the occurrence of high myopia, vitreoretinal degeneration with retinal detachment, macular abnormalities and occipital encephalocele. The KS causative gene had been assigned to a 4.3 cM interval at 21q22.3 by linkage analysis of a large consanguineous Brazilian family. We reconstructed the haplotypes of this family with ten additional markers (five were novel) and narrowed the candidate interval to a region of <245 kb, which contains 24 expressed sequence tags, the KIAA0958 gene and the 5' end of the COL18A1 gene. We identified a homozygous mutation at the AG consensus acceptor splice site of COL18A1 intron 1 exclusively among the 12 KS patients, which was not found among 140 control chromosomes. This mutation predicts the creation of a stop codon in exon 4 and therefore the truncation of the alpha1(XVIII) collagen short form, which was expressed in human adult retina. These findings provide evidence that KS is caused by mutations in COL18A1 which, therefore, has a major role in determining the retinal structure as well as in the closure of the neural tube. Therefore, we show for the first time that the absence of a collagen isoform impairs embryonic cell proliferation and/or migration as a primary or secondary effect.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A L Sertié
- Department of Biology, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Affiliation(s)
- C Brahe
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Catholic University, Largo F. Vito, 1, 00168, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Vitali T, Sossi V, Tiziano F, Zappata S, Giuli A, Paravatou-Petsotas M, Neri G, Brahe C. Detection of the survival motor neuron (SMN) genes by FISH: further evidence for a role for SMN2 in the modulation of disease severity in SMA patients. Hum Mol Genet 1999; 8:2525-32. [PMID: 10556301 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/8.13.2525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a common autosomal recessive neuromuscular disorder which presents with various clinical phenotypes ranging from severe to very mild. All forms are caused by the homozygous absence of the survival motor neuron ( SMN1 ) gene. SMN1 and a nearly identical copy ( SMN2 ) are located in a duplicated region at 5q13 and encode identical proteins. The genetic basis for the clinical variability of SMA remains unclear, but it has been suggested that the copy number of SMN2 could influence the disease severity. We have assessed the number of SMN2 genes in patients with different clinical phenotypes by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using as SMN probe a mixture of small specific DNA fragments. Gene copy number was established by FISH on interphase nuclei, but the presence of two SMN2 genes on the same chromosome could also be revealed by FISH on metaphase spreads. All patients had at least two SMN2 genes. We found two or three copies of SMN2 in severely affected type I patients, three copies in intermediately affected type II patients, generally four copies in mildly affected type III patients and four or eight copies in patients with very mild adult-onset SMA. No alterations of the genes were detected by Southern blot and sequence analysis, suggesting that all gene copies of SMN2 were intact. These data provide additional evidence that the SMN2 genes modulate the disease severity and suggest that knowledge of the gene copy number could be of some prognostic value.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T Vitali
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Catholic University, Largo F. Vito 1, I-00168 Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Patrizi AL, Tiziano F, Zappata S, Donati MA, Neri G, Brahe C. SMN protein analysis in fibroblast, amniocyte and CVS cultures from spinal muscular atrophy patients and its relevance for diagnosis. Eur J Hum Genet 1999; 7:301-9. [PMID: 10234506 DOI: 10.1038/sj.ejhg.5200286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive neuromuscular disorder caused by the homozygous absence of the telomeric copy of the survival motor neuron (SMNt) gene, due to deletion, gene conversion or point mutation. SMNt and its homologous centromeric copy (SMNc) encode the SMN protein, which is diffusely present in the cytoplasm and in dot-like structures, called gems, in the nucleus. We have studied the SMN protein in different cell cultures, including fibroblasts, amniocytes and CVS cells from SMA individuals and controls. By immunofluorescence analysis we found a marked reduction in the number of gems in fibroblasts, amniocytes and chorionic villus cells of all SMA patients and foetuses, independent of the type of the genetic defect. We also show that immunolocalisation of the SMN protein may be a useful tool for the characterisation of particular patients of uncertain molecular diagnosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A L Patrizi
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Mirabella M, Servidei S, Broccolini A, Gandolfi N, Ricci E, Neri G, Tonali P, Brahe C. The drastic reduction of SMN protein in SMA I spinal cord motor neurons is not due to inefficient transcription. Neurogenetics 1999; 2:97-100. [PMID: 10369885 DOI: 10.1007/s100480050059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is caused by homozygous absence of the telomeric copy of the survival motor neuron (SMNt) gene. SMNt and its homologous centromeric copy (SMNc) encode the SMN protein, which is markedly reduced in SMA I patients. We have performed SMN transcript and protein studies on spinal cord sections of an SMA I patient using in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence. While the amount of protein was negligible, the level of transcripts was comparable with that of controls. These findings suggest that the reduced protein level is not caused by a deficient transcription of the SMNc gene.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Mirabella
- Department of Neurology, Catholic University, Largo F. Vito, 1, I-00168 Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Cole SE, Wiltshire T, Rue EE, Morrow D, Hieter P, Brahe C, Fisher EM, Katsanis N, Reeves RH. High-resolution comparative physical mapping of mouse chromosome 10 in the region of homology with human chromosome 21. Mamm Genome 1999; 10:229-34. [PMID: 10051316 DOI: 10.1007/s003359900978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Comparative mapping of human and mouse chromosomes can be used to predict locations of homologous loci between the species, provides the substrate to examine the process of chromosomal evolution, and facilitates the continuing development of mouse genetic models for human disorders. A YAC contig of the region of mouse Chromosome (Chr) 10 (MMU10) that demonstrates conserved linkage with the distal portion of human Chr 21 (HSA21) has been constructed. The contig contains all known genes mapped in both species, defines the proximal region of homology between MMU10 and HSA22, and contains the evolutionary junction between HSA21 and HSA22 on MMU10. It consists of 23 YACs and 2 PACs, and covers 3.2 Mb of MMU10. The average marker density for this region is 1 marker/69 kb. Nine of 22 expressed sequences are mapped here for the first time in mouse, and two are newly characterized expressed sequences. The contig also contains 12 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and 16 YAC and PAC endclone markers. YAC fragmentation analysis was used to create a physical map for the proximal 2.2 Mb of the contig. Cloning of the corresponding region of HSA21 has proven difficult, and the mouse contig includes segments absent from previously described sequence ready maps of HSA21.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S E Cole
- Department of Physiology, 205, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 725 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Korenberg JR, Aaltonen J, Brahe C, Cabin D, Creau N, Delabar JM, Doering J, Gardiner K, Hubert RS, Ives J, Kessling A, Kudoh J, Lafrenière R, Murakami Y, Ohira M, Ohki M, Patterson D, Potier MC, Quackenbush J, Reeves RH, Sakaki Y, Shimizu N, Soeda E, Van Broeckhoven C, Yaspo ML. Report and abstracts of the Sixth International Workshop on Human Chromosome 21 Mapping 1996. Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA. May 6-8,1996. Cytogenet Cell Genet 1998; 79:21-52. [PMID: 9533011 DOI: 10.1159/000134681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J R Korenberg
- Medical Genetics Birth Defects Center, UCLA School of Medicine 90048, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Lapenta V, Sossi V, Gosset P, Vayssettes C, Vitali T, Rabatel N, Tassone F, Blouin JL, Scott HS, Antonarakis SE, Créau N, Brahe C. Construction of a 2.5-Mb integrated physical and gene map of distal 21q22.3. Genomics 1998; 49:1-13. [PMID: 9570943 DOI: 10.1006/geno.1997.5185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The gene-rich telomeric region of 21q harbors several loci relevant to human diseases including autoimmune polyglandular disease type I, nonsyndromic deafness, Knobloch syndrome, holoprosencephaly, and bipolar affective disorder. A contig of genomic clones in this region would facilitate the isolation of these genes. However, distal 21q22.3 has yet been poorly mapped, presumably due to the presence of sequences that are underrepresented in yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) libraries. We generated a framework of YACs and used these clones as starting points for the isolation of a combination of bacterial artificial chromosome clones, P1-derived artificial chromosome clones, and cosmid clones by chromosome walking procedures. These studies resulted in the construction of a high-resolution contig map spanning the 2.5-Mb region from PFKL to the telomere, approximately 2 Mb of which are covered by ready-to-sequence contigs. Within this map we determined the location and relative distance of 21 markers. These include 9 established genetic markers, the order of which is cen-PFKL-D21S154-D21S170-D21S171-D21S1903- D21S1897- D21S112-D21S1446-D21S1575-tel. Moreover, we established the precise map position of 13 genes and 4 ESTs including the recently isolated genes C21ORF2, SMT3H1, RNA editing deaminase 1 (ADARB1), folate transporter (SLC19A1), COL18A1, lanosterol synthase (LSS-PEN), pericentrin (PCNT), and arginine methyltransferase (HRMT1L1). This integrated map provides a useful resource for the mapping and isolation of disease genes and for the construction of a complete transcription map of distal 21q as well as for large-scale sequencing efforts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V Lapenta
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
24
|
Serra A, Bova R, Bellanova G, Chindemi A, Zappata S, Brahe C. Partial 9p monosomy in a girl with a tdic(9p23;13p11) translocation, minor anomalies, obesity, and mental retardation. Am J Med Genet 1997; 71:139-43. [PMID: 9217211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
We report on a case with a partial monosomy for the regions 9p23 --> pter and 13p11 --> pter as a result of a de novo translocation (9p23;13p11). The patient, a 16-year-old girl, has mental deficiency, obesity, and minor anomalies, including trigonocephaly, hypertelorism and a short, broad neck. Cytogenetic and microsatellite marker analysis allowed us to assign the breakpoint to the chromosomal region 9p23, flanked by the markers D9S144 and D9S157. In an attempt to establish a phenotype-genotype correlation, the clinical manifestations present in our patient are compared to those with partial 9p monosomy and breakpoint in p23, referred to in the literature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Serra
- Medical Genetics Service, Miulli Hospital, Acquaviva delle Fonti, Bari, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Trikka D, Davis T, Lapenta V, Brahe C, Kessling AM. Human COL6A1: genomic characterization of the globular domains, structural and evolutionary comparison with COL6A2. Mamm Genome 1997; 8:342-5. [PMID: 9107679 DOI: 10.1007/s003359900436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The alpha1(VI) and alpha2(VI) chains of type VI collagen (nonfibrillar) are highly similar and are encoded by single-copy genes in close proximity on human Chromosome (Chr) 21q22.3, a gene-rich region that has proved refractory to cloning. For the alpha1(VI) chain, only the regions encoding the triple-helical and the promoter have been characterized hitherto.To facilitate our study of the role of this gene in the phenotype of Down syndrome, we have cloned and sequenced the amino- and carboxyl-terminal globular domains of COL6A1. The amino-terminal domain consists of seven exons and the carboxyl-terminal globular domain of nine exons. Together with the exons of the triple-helical domain, COL6A1 is encoded by a total of 36 exons spanning approximately 30 kb. Comparison of the genomic organization of COL6A1 and COL6A2 revealed that despite the similarity within their triple-helical domains, the intron-exon structures of their globular domains differ markedly. Conservation is limited to the exons encoding amino acids immediately adjacent to the triple-helical region, including the cysteine residues essential for the structure of mature collagen VI. The intron-exon structures of these two genes are highly similar to the collagen VI genes of chicken. These data suggest that COL6A1 and COL6A2 arose from a gene duplication before the divergence of the reptilian and mammalian lineages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Trikka
- Academic Unit of Medical and Community Genetics (Imperial College School of Medicine), Kennedy Galton Centre, Level 8V, Northwick Park and St Mark's NHS Trust, Harrow HA1 3UJ, England, UK
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Lapenta V, Chiurazzi P, van der Spek P, Pizzuti A, Hanaoka F, Brahe C. SMT3A, a human homologue of the S. cerevisiae SMT3 gene, maps to chromosome 21qter and defines a novel gene family. Genomics 1997; 40:362-6. [PMID: 9119407 DOI: 10.1006/geno.1996.4556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
cDNA selection was used to isolate coding sequences from cosmids mapping to the gene-rich telomeric region of human chromosome 21q. A novel cDNA, termed SMT3A, was isolated and mapped between the loci PFKL and D21S171, about 2.2 Mb proximal to the telomere. The predicted protein of 103 amino acids appears to be a homologue of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae SMT3 protein, whose gene was previously isolated as a suppressor of mutations in the MIF2 gene. The yeast MIF2 gene encodes an essential centromeric protein and shows homology to mammalian CENP-C, an integral component of active kinetochores. SMT3A was found to be highly homologous to two other recently isolated human genes, suggesting the presence of a new gene family. Homologous sequences were also found in protozoa, metazoa, and plants. Moreover, all predicted proteins show significant homology to ubiquitin. The proposed role of yeast SMT3 as centromeric protein and the strong evolutionary conservation of the SMT3A gene suggest an involvement of the encoded protein in the function and/or structure of the eukaryotic kinetochore.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V Lapenta
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Brahe C, Clermont O, Zappata S, Tiziano F, Melki J, Neri G. Frameshift mutation in the survival motor neuron gene in a severe case of SMA type I. Hum Mol Genet 1996; 5:1971-6. [PMID: 8968751 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/5.12.1971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, a spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) determining gene, termed survival motor neuron (SMN) gene, has been isolated from the 5q13 region and found deleted in most patients. A highly homologous copy of this gene has also been isolated and located in a centromeric position. We have analyzed 158 patients (SMA types I-IV) and found deletions of SMN exon 7 in 96.8%. Mutations other than gross deletions seem to be extremely rare. In one of the undeleted SMA type I patients, a newborn who survived for only 42 days, we detected a maternally inherited 5 bp microdeletion in exon 3, resulting in a premature stop codon. By RT-PCR and long range PCR amplification we were able to show that the deletion belongs to the SMN gene, rather than to the centromeric copy, and that the proposita had no paternal SMN gene. Analysis of the neuronal apoptosis inhibitor protein (NAIP) gene, which maps close to SMN and has been proposed as a SMA modifying gene, suggests the presence of at least one full-length copy. Haplotype analysis of closely linked polymorphic markers suggests that the proposita also lacks the maternally derived copy of the centromeric homologue of SMN supporting the hypothesis that the severity of the phenotype might depend on the reduced number of centromeric genes in addition to the frameshift mutation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Brahe
- Istituto di Genetica Medica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia A. Gemelli, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophies (SMA) are a group of motor neuron diseases characterized by degeneration of anterior horn cells of the spinal cord and by muscular atrophy. Childhood-onset SMA is one of the most frequent autosomal recessive diseases and a leading cause of infant mortality. The underlying biochemical defect of SMA is unknown. Recently two genes have been isolated from the critical region at 5q13, the survival motor neuron (SMN) gene and the neuronal apoptosis inhibitor protein (NAIP) gene. Both genes are frequently deleted in SMA patients. NAIP is deleted in at least 45% of severely affected patients but less frequently in the milder forms. Homozygous deletions of exon 7 of SMN are found in approximately 95% of patients independently of clinical severity. A few point mutations and microdeletions in SMN have also been reported. This high frequency of deletions makes SMN analysis an important molecular diagnostic tool for childhood-onset SMA and greatly facilitates prenatal diagnosis. SMN analysis has also proven useful for the diagnosis of adult-onset SMA and variant forms. Although questions such as phenotype-genotype correlation must still be solved, the isolation of SMN and adjacent genes constitutes an important step towards the understanding of the molecular basis of the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Brahe
- Institute of Medical Genetics, A. Gemelli School of Medicine, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
van der Steege G, Grootscholten PM, Cobben JM, Zappata S, Scheffer H, den Dunnen JT, van Ommen GJ, Brahe C, Buys CH. Apparent gene conversions involving the SMN gene in the region of the spinal muscular atrophy locus on chromosome 5. Am J Hum Genet 1996; 59:834-8. [PMID: 8808598 PMCID: PMC1914786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The survival motor neuron (SMN) gene has been described as a determining gene for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). SMN has a closely flanking, nearly identical copy (cBCD541). Gene and copy gene can be discriminated by sequence differences in exons 7 and 8. The large majority of SMA patients show homozygous deletions of at least exons 7 and 8 of the SMN gene. A minority of patients show absence of SMN exon 7 but retention of exon 8. This is explained by results of our present analysis of 13 such patients providing evidence for apparent gene-conversion events between SMN and the centromeric copy gene. Instead of applying a separate analysis for absence or presence of SMN exons 7 and 8, we used a contiguous PCR from intron 6 to exon 8. In every case we found a chimeric gene with a fusion of exon 7 of the copy gene and exon 8 of SMN and absence of a normal SMN gene. Similar events, including the fusion counterpart, were observed in a group of controls, although in the presence of a normal SMN gene. Chimeric genes as the result of fusions of parts of SMN and cBCD541 apparently are far from rare and may partly explain the frequently observed SMN deletions in SMA patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G van der Steege
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Guglielmo GD, Brahe C, Di Muzio A, Uncini A. Benign monomelic amyotrophies of upper and lower limb are not associated to deletions of survival motor neuron gene. J Neurol Sci 1996; 141:111-3. [PMID: 8880702 DOI: 10.1016/0022-510x(96)00154-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Benign monomelic amyotrophies (BMAs) are rare conditions in which neurogenic atrophy is restricted either to the upper or lower limb. BMAs are usually sporadic, have insidious onset and slow progression followed by stabilization, are clinically confined for many years to a single limb and lack of sensory, bulbar, and pyramidal signs. Although the aetiology and pathogenesis of BMAs are unknown they are considered variants of spinal muscular atrophy with focal emphasis and a benign course. We studied 7 patients with BMAs to investigate whether they present alterations of the survival motor neuron gene (SMN) which has been found deleted or disrupted in proximal spinal muscular atrophy. All 7 patients showed the presence of both exon 7 and 8 of SMN gene. These findings indicate that deletions at the SMN locus are not present in BMA of upper and lower limb and suggest that these disorders are not only clinically but also genetically separate entities from proximal spinal muscular atrophies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G D Guglielmo
- Center for Neuromuscular Diseases University of Chieti, Italy
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Sebastio G, Perone L, Guzzetta V, Sebastio L, Vicari L, Della Casa R, Gurrieri F, Zappata S, Pomponi MG, Mazzei A, Neri G, Andria G, Brahe C. Molecular and cytogenetic characterization of a recurrent unbalanced translocation (4;21)(p16.3;q22.1): relevance to the Wolf-Hirschhorn and Down syndrome critical regions. Am J Med Genet 1996; 63:366-72. [PMID: 8725787 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-8628(19960517)63:2<366::aid-ajmg8>3.0.co;2-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
We report on an aneuploidy syndrome due to the unbalanced segregation of a familial translocation (4;21)(p16.3;q22.1) causing a partial 4p monosomy and a partial 21q trisomy. The three affected children presented with severe failure to thrive, short stature, microcephaly, profound hypotonia, and mental retardation. The face, very similar in the three children, is characterized by frontal bossing, upslanting of the palpebral fissures, short nose, and deep set ears, giving the overall appearance of the Down syndrome. The molecular study has defined the aneuploid segment on both 4p and 21q. Most of the Down syndrome critical region was found to the trisomic, while only part of the candidate Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome critical region was deleted, suggesting that this region is not critical for the major malformations characteristic for WHS.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Abnormalities, Multiple/genetics
- Abnormalities, Multiple/physiopathology
- Cells, Cultured
- Child, Preschool
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 4
- Down Syndrome/genetics
- Female
- Humans
- In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
- Infant
- Male
- Monosomy
- Pedigree
- Recurrence
- Syndrome
- Translocation, Genetic
- Trisomy
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Sebastio
- Dipartimento di Pediatria, Università Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Abstract
Recently, a gene determining spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), termed survival motor neuron (SMN) gene, has been isolated from the 5q13 region. This gene has been found to be deleted in most patients with childhood-onset SMA. We have studied the SMN gene in a clinically heterogeneous family, including one patient affected by infantile chronic SMA and three subjects with mild adult-onset muscle weakness. Deletions in the SMN gene were detected in all of these patients, indicating that the childhood and adult SMAs are genetically homogeneous in this family. Genotyping of the family members established that the three mildly affected individuals were homozygous for the same haplotype from the SMA region, whereas the more severely affected patient was heterozygous with one different haplotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Zappata
- Institute of Medical Genetics, ¿A. Gemelli¿ School of Medicine, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Brahe C, Zappata S, Bertini E. Presymptomatic diagnosis of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) III confirmed by deletion analysis of the survival motor neuron gene. Am J Med Genet 1995; 59:101-2. [PMID: 8849000 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.1320590121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
|
34
|
Abstract
Molecular diagnosis of childhood proximal spinal muscular atrophy has been enhanced by the discovery of the survival motor neuron (SMN) gene, which is absent or truncated in 98.6% of patients. To determine whether deletion analysis of the SMN gene may also be diagnostic for adult-onset disease, we studied six patients and found deletions in all. This finding will facilitate the diagnosis of adult-onset spinal muscular atrophy, and provides evidence for genetic homogeneity between the clinically diverse adult and childhood forms of the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Brahe
- Institute of Medical Genetics, A Gemelli School of Medicine, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
van der Steege G, Draaijers TG, Grootscholten PM, Osinga J, Anzevino R, Velonà I, Den Dunnen JT, Scheffer H, Brahe C, van Ommen GJ. A provisional transcript map of the spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) critical region. Eur J Hum Genet 1995; 3:87-95. [PMID: 7552146 DOI: 10.1159/000472281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
YACs from the region containing the spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) locus at 5q12 have been used as probes in a direct screening of cDNA libraries to isolate 8 cDNAs, mapped to different YAC fragments. Three clones showed complete identity to the genes for cyclin B1 (CCNB1), the p44 subunit of the transcription factor BTF2 (BTF2p44), and cofilin (CFL). Two clones showed partial identity to the beta-glucuronidase gene (GLCB) and a rat integral membrane glycoprotein gene (RNINMEGLA). CFL turned out to have been identified by a pseudogene sequence. Related sequences occurred on other chromosomes. CCNB1 and BTF2p44 were given an exact location. The GLCB-like gene and the RNINMEGLA-like gene detected loci on both 5q and 5p. The remaining three cDNA clones were localized to the SMA region only. Their sequences did not show identity to any gene for which a function is already known. Two of them have now turned out to be identical to recently reported candidate genes for SMA.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Actin Depolymerizing Factors
- Blotting, Northern
- Chromosome Mapping
- Chromosomes, Artificial, Yeast
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 5
- Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein
- Cyclins/genetics
- DNA Helicases/genetics
- DNA, Complementary
- Humans
- Microfilament Proteins
- Muscular Atrophy, Spinal/genetics
- Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics
- Neuronal Apoptosis-Inhibitory Protein
- Organ Specificity
- RNA, Messenger/analysis
- RNA-Binding Proteins
- Restriction Mapping
- SMN Complex Proteins
- Transcription Factor TFIIH
- Transcription Factors/genetics
- Transcription Factors, TFII
- Transcription, Genetic
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G van der Steege
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
van der Steege G, Cobben JM, Brahe C, Osinga J, Zappata S, Scheffer H, Neri G, van Ommen GJ, ten Kate LP, Buys CH. Identification of key recombinants in multiplex SMA families. Genomics 1994; 22:219-22. [PMID: 7959774 DOI: 10.1006/geno.1994.1367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Recent reports have provided evidence that a major gene for autosomal recessive proximal spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) resides in a small genetic interval in bands q12-q13 of chromosome 5, a 4-cM region proximally flanked by D5S125 (EF(TG/AG)n) and distally by MAP1B/D5S112 or a 0.7-cM interval (range 0.1-2.1 cM) flanked by D5S435 proximally and MAP1B/D5S112 distally. We present the identification of key recombinants between SMA and the closest flanking DNA-markers in an analysis of Dutch and Italian SMA families. These crossovers may serve as reference points for new markers in this region and may thus be instrumental in a further refined mapping of the SMA gene. Two markers, D5S351 (I105) and D5S357 (Mfd151), could be mapped distally to SMA in the interval SMA-D5S112.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G van der Steege
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Brahe C, Velonà I, van der Steege G, Zappata S, van de Veen AY, Osinga J, Tops CM, Fodde R, Khan PM, Buys CH. Mapping of two new markers within the smallest interval harboring the spinal muscular atrophy locus by family and radiation hybrid analysis. Hum Genet 1994; 93:494-501. [PMID: 8168823 DOI: 10.1007/bf00202811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The locus responsible for the childhood-onset proximal spinal muscular atrophies (SMA) has recently been mapped to an area of 2-3 Mb in the region q12-q13.3 of chromosome 5. We have used a series of radiation hybrids (RHs) containing distinct parts of the SMA region as defined by reference markers. A cosmid library was constructed from one RH. Thirteen clones were isolated and five of these were mapped within the SMA region. Both RH mapping and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis showed that two clones map in the region between loci D5S125 and D5S351. One of the cosmids contains expressed sequences. Polymorphic dinucleotide repeats were identified in both clones and used for segregation analysis of key recombinant SMA families. One recombination between the SMA locus and the new marker 9Ic (D5S685) indicates that 9Ic is probably the closest distal marker. The absence of recombination between the SMA locus and marker Fc (D5S684) suggests that Fc is located close to the disease gene. These new loci should refine linkage analysis in SMA family studies and may facilitate the isolation of the disease gene.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Brahe
- Institute of Medical Genetics, A. Gemelli School of Medicine, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Zappata S, Petersen MB, König U, Blaschak J, Chakravarti A, Tassone F, Serra A, Antonarakis SE, Brahe C. Highly polymorphic repeat marker within the beta-amyloid precursor protein gene. Hum Genet 1994; 93:85-6. [PMID: 8270262 DOI: 10.1007/bf00218922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
We have identified a polymorphic compound dinucleotide repeat sequence in intron 1 of the beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene on chromosome 21. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the locus, designated APPivs1, we detected 13 alleles in the CEPH family members (heterozygosity = 0.69). Lod score analysis showed complete linkage of the marker to the loci D21S210 and D21221.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Zappata
- Institute of Medical Genetics, A. Gemelli School of Medicine, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Velonà I, Zappata S, Tops CM, Fodde R, Khan PM, Neri G, Brahe C. Dinucleotide repeat polymorphism proximal to the spinal muscular atrophy region at the D5S524 locus. Hum Mol Genet 1993; 2:829. [PMID: 8353514 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/2.6.829-a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- I Velonà
- Institute of Medical Genetics, A. Gemelli School of Medicine, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
McInnis MG, Chakravarti A, Blaschak J, Petersen MB, Sharma V, Avramopoulos D, Blouin JL, König U, Brahe C, Matise TC. A linkage map of human chromosome 21:43 PCR markers at average intervals of 2.5 cM. Genomics 1993; 16:562-71. [PMID: 8325627 DOI: 10.1006/geno.1993.1231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
A genetic linkage map of human chromosome 21q (HC21q) containing 43 markers genotyped by the polymerase chain reaction in the CEPH pedigrees is presented. The markers placed on this map are highly polymorphic with an average heterozygosity of 61%. The average interval size of the markers localized at 1000:1 odds is 2.5 cM. The map has a total length of 65.5 cM, with male and female lengths of 47.7 and 83.3 cM, respectively. The genotypes used in the construction of this map were subjected to rigorous error checking, which is reflected in the shorter map length compared to previous maps; the estimated error rate in genotyping is less than 0.04%. As noted in previous linkage maps there is increased recombination in females on proximal HC 21q and in the male in a region near the telomere. This map of HC 21 represents a highly informative and dense meiotic linkage map and will be useful in linking disease phenotypes to loci on this chromosome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M G McInnis
- Center for Medical Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287-3914
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
Abstract
Linkage analysis and prenatal prediction in families segregating autosomal recessive spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) has become feasible since the assignment of the locus responsible for type I-III SMA to region 5q12-q13.3. We have performed a segregation study of SMA in Italian families using molecular probes and highly informative PCR-based polymorphic markers. In one family, a 7-year-old boy affected with type III SMA and an 8-year-old apparently healthy brother had identical haplotypes. These findings prompted us to reexamine the apparently unaffected child. His neurological exam was normal. However, the electromyography (EMG) showed a pattern consistent with chronic SMA. To our knowledge this is the first example of presymptomatic diagnosis of SMA based on genotype analysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Brahe
- Istituto di Genetica Medica, Facoltà di Medicina A. Gemelli, Università Cattolica, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
Patterson D, Hart I, Lai LW, Brahe C, Moscetti A, Tassone F, Raimondi E, Jones C. Molecular and cytogenetic characterization of a Chinese hamster/human hybrid cell line containing a der (21)t(Ypter-->cenY::cen21-->21qter) chromosome. Genomics 1993; 15:177-9. [PMID: 8432530 DOI: 10.1006/geno.1993.1026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Human/rodent somatic cell hybrids have been exceedingly useful in assigning human genes and DNA sequences to specific human chromosomes. As new technologies for analyzing the human chromosome complement of such human/rodent hybrid cells become available, it is of critical importance that these be applied to enhance characterization of existing hybrids. This is particularly important since human chromosomes in such hybrids have been observed to rearrange with time. We report here the use of fluorescence in situ hybridization of DNA probes to metaphase chromosomes to analyze one hybrid designated 72532X6. This analysis shows that the chromosome suspected to be a normal human chromosome 21 in this hybrid is actually a translocation chromosome containing Yp and 21q. In addition, the hybrid contains a fragment of human chromosome 9 translocated to a Chinese hamster chromosome. Analysis of the chromosomes from the human donor indicates that his chromosomes are normal. Thus, this translocation chromosome appears to have arisen after formation of the hybrid.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Patterson
- Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, Denver, Colorado
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Moscetti A, Tassone F, Serra A, Brahe C. D21S170 maps to terminal 21q22.3. Nucleic Acids Res 1990; 18:6178. [PMID: 1978295 PMCID: PMC332470 DOI: 10.1093/nar/18.20.6178-a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- A Moscetti
- Institute of Human Genetics, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
44
|
Arwert F, Porck HJ, Fràter-Schröder M, Brahe C, Geurts van Kessel A, Westerveld A, Meera Khan P, Zang K, Frants RR, Kortbeek HT. Assignment of human transcobalamin II (TC2) to chromosome 22 using somatic cell hybrids and monosomic meningioma cells. Hum Genet 1986; 74:378-81. [PMID: 3466852 DOI: 10.1007/bf00280489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Human transcobalamin II (TC2), a vitamin B12 binding serum protein, is synthesized and secreted into the medium by cells growing in vitro. Mouse-man somatic cell hybrids were analyzed in order to map the locus of TC2. The presence of human TC2 in the culture media was correlated with the results of genetic marker and chromosome analysis of the hybrid cells. Chromosome 22 showed 100% concordancy. However, chromosome 6 (90% concordancy) and chromosome 7 (96% concordancy) were not completely excluded. Meningioma cells obtained from patients heterozygous for TC2 showed a concomitant loss of one chromosome 22 and one of the TC2 alleles, strongly supporting the assignment to chromosome 22.
Collapse
|
45
|
Brahe C, Bannetta P, Meera Khan P, Arwert F, Serra A. Assignment of the catechol-O-methyltransferase gene to human chromosome 22 in somatic cell hybrids. Hum Genet 1986; 74:230-4. [PMID: 3465676 DOI: 10.1007/bf00282539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) plays an important role in the inactivation of catecholamines. It has been demonstrated that erythrocyte COMT activity is genetically determined and controlled by a major autosomal locus with two alleles. The recent development of a method which allows the detection of COMT isozymes directly in autoradiozymograms has provided the means to investigate the chromosome location of the gene by using somatic cell hybrids. We have found that a single form of the COMT enzyme is expressed in several mouse-human fibroblast cell lines. The data obtained from the segregation analysis of the COMT enzyme in these hybrids and their subclones have provided evidence for the location of a major gene for COMT activity on human chromosome 22.
Collapse
|
46
|
Brahe C, Bannetta P, Serra A, Arwert F. The increased COMT activity in Down syndrome patients is not a consequence of dosage effect owing to location of the gene on chromosome 21: further evidence. Am J Med Genet 1986; 24:203-4. [PMID: 2939719 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.1320240127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
|
47
|
Brahe C, Serra A, Morton NE. Erythrocyte catechol-O-methyltransferase activity: genetic analysis in nuclear families with one child affected by Down syndrome. Am J Med Genet 1985; 21:373-84. [PMID: 3160238 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.1320210220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Erythrocyte catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) activity was measured in 142 members of 32 nuclear families in which one child had Down syndrome (DS). The mean activity in subjects with trisomy 21 appears higher than in parents and sibs, though not significantly so. However, this fact does not seem to modify the properties expected for a trait genetically controlled in a diploid population. The commingling analysis of the COMT activity in the whole group, and in each subgroup of relatives, suggests a mixture of two or, more likely, three components, the latter being in agreement with a transmission model of genes without dominance. The most parsimonious hypothesis supported by the mixed model segregation analysis is that of an additive major locus (d = 0.5) with an estimated frequency of 0.40 +/- 0.03 for the COMTH gene, to which a small polygenic effect (H = 0.067) can be added. This hypothesis is supported further by the analysis of family resemblance, r = 0.45 +/- 0.12 being the maximum likelihood estimator of the intraclass correlation among sibs. The higher COMT activity in DS subjects may reflect a situation of general enzyme disorder only indirectly connected with trisomy of chromosome 21.
Collapse
|
48
|
Brahe C, Crosti N, Meera Khan P, Serra A. Catechol-O-methyltransferase: a method for autoradiographic visualization of isozymes in cellogel. Biochem Genet 1984; 22:125-32. [PMID: 6712584 DOI: 10.1007/bf00499292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
An electrophoretic procedure for separating the molecular forms of catechol-O-methyltransferase in cellulose acetate gel is described; the zones of enzyme activity were revealed by autoradiography. The electrophoretic patterns of the enzyme in several tissues and cell lines derived from four different species are presented.
Collapse
|
49
|
Brahe C, Serra A. A simple method for fusing human lymphocytes with rodent cells in monolayer by polyethylene glycol. Somatic Cell Genet 1981; 7:109-15. [PMID: 7013121 DOI: 10.1007/bf01544752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Human lymphocytes were efficiently hybridized with three rodent cell lines growing attached to a substrate, by a procedure similar to the monolayer fusion technique. Lymphocytes in suspension were directly added to the monolayer and cocultured for a few hours. Treatment with polyethylene glycol (PEG) induced close contact between the two cell types, and extensive cell fusion occurred. The rate of hybridization differed markedly for the different cell lines used.
Collapse
|
50
|
Revoltella RP, Brahe C, Procicchiani G. Spontaneous fusion and formation of hybrids between C1300 neuroblastoma cells and lymphoid cells in mixed cultures. Cell Immunol 1979; 47:115-33. [PMID: 228865 DOI: 10.1016/0008-8749(79)90320-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
|