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We have previously reported significant linkage between markers on 11q13.5 and Usher syndrome type 1 (USH1B) in a large Samaritan kindred. USH1B is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by profound congenital sensorineural deafness, vestibular dysfunction and progressive visual loss. A unique haplotype found only in all USH1B carriers and affected individuals implied that the disease-causing mutation probably entered the community from a single founder. Screening for mutations in a gene called GARP, which was mapped to the same genetic interval as USH1B, revealed a base substitution in the coding region of the gene, in a homozygous state in all affected individuals. This base substitution, which results in an arginine to tryptophane change, is not found in control individuals and occurs at an amino acid residue that is conserved across species, including mouse, gorilla, chimpanzee and macaque. This study emphasizes the strength of using an isolated inbred population for efficient identification of the primary linkage and for narrowing the disease interval, but also demonstrates its limitations in distinguishing between mutations causing the disease and those representing unique and private polymorphisms. KEY WORDS consanguineous families; linkage; recessive deafness; Samaritan isolate

We characterized microsatellite marker haplotypes and identified mutations in members of 19 ethnically diverse Israeli families affected by Wilson disease (WD). Eighteen unique haplotypes were derived from allelic combinations for four marker loci spanning the WD gene, ATP7B, at chromosome 13q14.3: D13S133, D13S296, D13S301 and D13S295. Most of these haplotypes are population specific and vary among and even within different ethnic groups. Intrafamilial variability of WD haplotypes was observed in two large consanguineous families in which a single origin of WD was expected. In contrast, some WD haplotypes were identified in more than one group. Five novel and four previously described mutations were detected in our sample. The novel mutations include two deletions (845delT and 1639delC) and three missense mutations (E1064A, M645R, and G1213V). Mutations were identified for 11 of the 18 WD haplotypes, suggesting that other mutations may reside in noncoding regions of the ATP7B gene. Identification of all WD mutations will undoubtedly increase our understanding of the normal function of ATP7B as well as lead to more accurate prognosis and genetic counseling.

Usher syndrome is a group of autosomal recessive disorders associated with congenital sensorineural deafness and progressive visual loss due to retinitis pigmentosa. Sixteen members of the small inbred Samaritan isolate with autosomal recessive deafness were studied in 10 related sibships. DNA samples from 59 individuals including parents and affected and nonaffected sibs were typed for markers on chromosomes 1q and 11q for which linkage has recently been established for Usher syndrome types II and I. Statistically significant linkage was observed with four markers on 11q (D11S533, D11S527, OMP, and INT2) with a maximum six-point location score of 11.61 at the D11S533 locus. Analysis of haplotypes supports the notion that the mutation arose only once in an ancestral chromosome carrying a specific haplotype. The availability of markers closely linked to the disease locus allows indirect genotype analysis and identifies all carriers of the gene within the community. Furthermore, the detection of complete linkage disequilibrium between the D11S533 marker and the Usher gene suggests that these loci are either identical or adjacent and narrows the critical region to which physical mapping efforts are currently directed.

CGS 8216 is a novel nonbenzodiazepine that inhibited 3H-flunitrazepam (3H-FLU) binding to rat synaptosomal membranes in vitro at subnanomolar concentrations. It prevented the in vivo labeling of brain benzodiazepine receptors by 3H-FLU with the same potency as diazepam when given orally to mice. Pharmacologic tests showed that it was devoid of benzodiazepine-like activity but it antagonized the actions of diazepam in these tests. It did not interact with alpha- or beta- adrenergic, H1-histaminergic or GABA receptors but it inhibited adenosine-activation of cyclic AMP formation. Studies with 3H-CGS 8216 demonstrated that it bound specifically and with high affinity to rat forebrain membranes and was displaced by drugs with an order of potencies similar to that observed when 3H-diazepam and 3H-FLU were used as radioligands. The regional distribution of 3H-CGS 8216 binding sites in the brain was also similar to that of 3H-FLU. Dissociation of 3H-CGS 8216 binding was slow at 0 degrees C but increased with temperature and was almost complete within 1 min at 37 degrees C. Scatchard analyses were linear, yielding KD values of 0.044, 0.11 and 0.18 nM at 0, 25 and 37 degrees C, respectively; the Bmax value did not change appreciably with temperature and was approximately 1000 fmoles/mg protein. Using 3H-FLU, the value for Bmax as well as for the KD increased with temperature. The total number of binding sites determined for 3H-FLU was greater than that for 3H-CGS 8216 at each temperature. CGS 8216 exhibited mixed-type inhibition of 3H-FLU binding. GABA did not stimulate 3H-CGS 8216 binding whereas it enhanced 3H-FLU binding. CGS 8216 may be a useful ligand for probing the antagonist properties of the benzodiazepine receptor and is likely to exhibit interesting therapeutic effects.

Octanoate is avidly incorporated into triglycerides by isolated rat adipocytes in the presence of glucose via direct esterification without prior beta-oxidation to acetyl CoA. This was shown by separation of the products formed from (1-14C) octanoate into lipid classes using Florisil columns, and after alkaline hydrolysis of the triglyceride fraction, by cochromatogrpahy with authentic fatty acids on reverse-phase Celite columns. The relative contribution of (U-14C) glucose and (1-14C) octanoate to triglyceride synthesis and CO2 formation were studied under a variety of conditions. Concentrations of octanoate below 0.5 mM have a stimulatory effect on the conversion of (U-14C) glucose to CO2, triglycerides and esterified fatty acids. However, a marked depression of fatty acid synthesis from (U-14C) glucose was observed in the presence of millimolar concentrations of octanoate. Octanoate had no effect on the esterification of palmitate, but palmitate strongly depressed the ability of rat adipocytes to esterify octanoate.

The mutagenesis of Salmonella typhimurium TA100 and covalent binding in vitro of photoactivated aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), aflatoxin B2 (AFB2), aflatoxin G1 (AFG1) and aflatoxin G2 (AFG2) were investigated. Covalent binding levels of 1140, 225, 330 and 8 pmol aflatoxin per mumol nucleotide phosphate were obtained for AFB1, AFG1, AFB2 and AFG2, respectively, at 50 microM mycotoxin after 2 h of irradiation. Mutant frequencies to histidine prototrophy wre 97, 19, 49 and 0 x 10(-6) for AFB1, AFG1, AFB2 and AFG2 respectively, after 2 h irradiation at 100 microM mycotoxin in the surviving fraction of the mutagenized cultures. Toxicity to Salmonella was 0.59, 0.03, 0.31 and 0 lethal hits under the conditions specified for mutagenesis for AFB1, AFG1, AFB2 and AFG2, respectively.

Salmonella typhimurium TA 100 was mutagenized with photoactivated aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and AFB2. Levels of mutagenesis induced by AFB1 correlated with levels of in vitro covalent binding of [3H]AFB1 to calf thymus DNA. The same phenomenon was observed with AFB2. Photoactivated AFB1 induced lethality in the mutagenized cultures, and AFB2 failed to do so. Extraction of nucleic acids from cultures mutagenized by photoactivated or metabolically activated [3H]AFB1 revealed that: (a) in situ levels of [3H]AFB1 binding to DNA were proportional to induction of mutational and lethal events in both cases; (b) mammalian metabolism and photoactivation produced AFB1:DNA lesions possessing comparable lethality and mutagenicity; and (c) [3H]AFB1 binding levels to bacterial RNA did not correlate with mutagenesis and lethality.