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The brain serotonergic system has an essential role in the physiological functions of the central nervous system and dysregulation of serotonin (5-HT) homeostasis has been implicated in many neuropsychiatric disorders. The tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (TPH2) gene is the rate-limiting enzyme in brain 5-HT synthesis, and thus is an ideal candidate gene for understanding the role of dysregulation of brain serotonergic homeostasis. Here, we characterized a common, but functional single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP rs1386493) in the TPH2 gene, which decreases efficiency of normal RNA splicing, resulting in a truncated TPH2 protein (TPH2-TR) by alternative splicing. TPH2-TR, which lacks TPH2 enzyme activity, dominant-negatively affects full-length TPH2 function, causing reduced 5-HT production. The predicted mRNA for TPH2-TR is present in postmortem brain of rs1386493 carriers. The rs13864923 variant does not appear to be overrepresented in either global or multiplex depression cohorts. However, in combination with other gene variants linked to 5-HT homeostasis, this variant may exhibit important epistatic influences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fumonisins are mycotoxins produced by the fungus F. verticillioides, a common contaminant of maize (corn) worldwide. Maternal consumption of fumonisin Bl-contaminated maize during early pregnancy has recently been associated with increased risk for neural tube defects (NTDs) in human populations that rely heavily on maize as a dietary staple. Experimental administration: of purified fumonisin to mice early in gestation also results in an increased incidence of NTDs in exposed offspring. Fumonisin inhibits the enzyme ceramide synthase in de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis, resulting in an elevation of free sphingoid bases and depletion of downstream glycosphingolipids. Increased sphingoid base metabolites (i.e., sphinganine-l-phosphate) may perturb signaling cascades involved in embryonic morphogenesis by functioning as ligands for sphingosine-1-P (S1P) receptors, a family of G-proteincoupled receptors that regulate key biological processes such as cell survival/proliferation, differentiation and migration. Fumonisininduced depletion of glycosphingolipids impairs expression and function of the GPI-anchored folate receptor (Folr1), which may also contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes. NTDs appear to be multifactorial in origin, involving complex gene-nutrientenvironment interactions. Vitamin supplements containing folic acid have been shown to reduce the occurrence of NTDs, and may help protect the developing fetus from environmental teratogens. Fumonisins appear to be an environmental risk factor for birth defects, although other aspects of maternal nutrition and genetics play interactive roles in determining pregnancy outcome. Minimizing exposures to mycotoxins through enhanced agricultural practices, identifying biomarkers of exposure, characterizing mechanisms of toxicity, and improving maternal nutrition are all important strategies for reducing the NTD burden in susceptible human populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cystic fibrosis is the commonest autosomal recessive genetic disorder among northern Europeans and their descendants. Recently, investigators have mapped the gene for cystic fibrosis to chromosome 7. We report the results of DNA linkage analysis in a consanguineous family with mild cystic fibrosis. The probes used in this study were pmet D. pmet H, XV-2c, KM.19, and pJ3.11. Linkage to the identified cystic fibrosis locus of 7q22 was established with a peak logarithm of the odds (lod) score of 3.00 at a recombination fraction theta =0.00 using the tightly linked marker KM.19. In addition, we found the D haplotype, which is not commonly associated with cystic fibrosis, to be segregating in this family. The D haplotype is composed of the 1.4-kb allele detectable by XV-2c and the 6.6-kb allele detectable by KM.19. The three patients with cystic fibrosis who had consanguineous parents were homozygous DD, were among the least severely affected, and had no pancreatic insufficiency. The five patients with unrelated parents were heterozygous for the D haplotype and the commoner B haplotype, except one patient who was homozygous DD. All affected persons with pancreatic insufficiency had the DB genotype. These DNA linkage studies provide additional evidence for the existence of a cystic fibrosis allele that is associated with mild disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genotype-based likelihood-ratio tests (LRT) of association that examine maternal and parent-of-origin effects have been previously developed in the framework of log-linear and conditional logistic regression models. In the situation where parental genotypes are missing, the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm has been incorporated in the log-linear approach to allow incomplete triads to contribute to the LRT. We present an extension to this model which we call the Combined_LRT that incorporates additional information from the genotypes of unaffected siblings to improve assignment of incompletely typed families to mating type categories, thereby improving inference of missing parental data. Using simulations involving a realistic array of family structures, we demonstrate the validity of the Combined_LRT under the null hypothesis of no association and provide power comparisons under varying levels of missing data and using sibling genotype data. We demonstrate the improved power of the Combined_LRT compared with the family-based association test (FBAT), another widely used association test. Lastly, we apply the Combined_LRT to a candidate gene analysis in Autism families, some of which have missing parental genotypes. We conclude that the proposed log-linear model will be an important tool for future candidate gene studies, for many complex diseases where unaffected siblings can often be ascertained and where epigenetic factors such as imprinting may play a role in disease etiology.

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy is a disease of skeletal muscle, with symptoms including both facial and shoulder girdle weakness and progression to involve the pelvic girdle and extremities in the majority of cases. For most cases of FSHD, the molecular basis of the disease can be identified as a partial deletion of the D4Z4 repeat array on the end of the long arm of chromosome 4. However, in up to 5% of FSHD families there is no linkage to 4q35. These cases are designated as FSHD1B. Proteins have been identified that bind to the D4Z4 repeats of chromosome 4q35. The genes encoding D4Z4 binding proteins YY1, HMGB2, NCL, and MYOD1 were investigated as candidate genes for FSHD1B. Coding sequences and promoter region were analyzed for HMBG2 and no sequence variations were detected. For YY1, all five exons were analyzed and a polymorphism was detected in both the unaffected and affected populations. In nucleolin (NCL), several SNPs were identified, including a SNP causing the non-synonymous change P515H; however, all polymorphisms either occurred in control samples or were previously reported. A novel polymorphism was also detected in MYOD1, but did not represent a disease-specific variation. These results suggest that HMBG2, YY1, NCL, and MYOD1 are unlikely to represent the genes responsible for FSHD in these families.

Here we report on a male patient with sacral dysgenesis (SD) and constitutional pericentric inversion of chromosome 6 (p11.2;q23.3). SD is a heterogeneous group of congenital anomalies with complex genetic etiology. Previously, a patient with sacral abnormalities and an interstitial deletion of 6q23-->q25 region has been described. We speculated that a susceptibility gene for SD lies in 6q23.3 region (disrupted in both patients), and therefore, cloning of the breakpoint in our patient would lead to the identification of the disrupted gene. We performed FISH analysis followed by Southern blot analysis and inverse PCR to clone the breakpoint. The 6p11.2 breakpoint mapped very close to the centromere, and the 6q23.3 breakpoint localized in the ninth intron of the MAP7 gene. We then evaluated the involvement of MAP7 in SD by further screening of the gene in several patients with a similar phenotype. Two nucleotide changes causing Ile257Asn and Glu571Ala substitutions in the protein, both affecting amino acid residues conserved in the mouse homolog, were identified in two patients. Both changes are either very rare polymorphisms or true mutations, since they were not detected in 167 normal individuals nor found in the SNP database. Therefore, our study suggests MAP7 as a candidate gene for SD. However, we were unable to detect any sacral defects in the MAP7 knockout mice., (Copyright 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel)

Objectives: To characterize clinically and molecularly a large, non-chromosome 4-linked facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHMD) family., Methods: Neurological evaluations of affected (N = 55) and at-risk (N = 48) individuals were performed along with selected laboratory analyses, including creatine kinase testing, muscle biopsy, p13E-11 fragment analysis, and cytogenetic studies. Genetic analyses of the scapuloperoneal muscular dystrophy and scapuloperoneal muscular atrophy regions on chromosome 12 were performed using genetic markers flanking the intervals of interest and parametric LOD score analyses., Results: Clinically, the FSHMD in individuals in this family is indistinguishable from that observed in chromosome 4-linked FSHMD. Fragment analysis with p13E-11 showed no small fragment segregating with the family and no evidence for 4:10 translocation or deletion of the p13E-11 binding site. Linkage analysis excluded the loci for autosomal-dominant scapuloperoneal muscular dystrophy and scapuloperoneal muscular atrophy., Conclusions: This family is clinically similar to patients with the chromosome 4-linked FSHMD. These data support our previous hypothesis of genetic heterogeneity within FSHMD.

Venous malformations are a common abnormality of the vasculature that may occur sporadically or, more rarely, as an autosomal dominant trait. One familial form of venous malformations has previously been linked to chromosome 9p. Mutations in the gene encoding Tie2, an endothelial specific receptor tyrosine kinase, have been identified in four different families. Glomangiomas are a subtype of venous malformations with glomus cell involvement. These cutaneous lesions can be inherited as an autosomal dominant disease with reduced penetrance and variable expressivity. We present evidence of linkage to chromosome 1p21-1p22 using four new glomangioma families, with a combined maximum two-point lod score of 7.32 at marker D1S2804. Markers D1S2129 and D1S2881 define the 24-cM linkage interval determined by recombination within affected individuals. A recent report also showed linkage of the glomangioma locus to chromosome 1p. A total of 9 families now map to this region, suggesting a decreased likelihood of locus heterogenity in familial glomangiomas. Investigation of candidate genes within the interval should provide new insights into lesion formation in inherited venous malformations., (Copyright 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

A multiple analytic approach may be useful for analyzing complex traits since different methods extract both similar and distinct, but complementary pieces of information from genome screen data on extended pedigrees. We examined the usefulness of combining p-values both across methods and across adjacent markers, taking into account the observed correlation structure among these p-values. To this end, we employed the recently proposed truncated product method [Zaykin et al., Genet Epidemiol, in press]. It appears that this approach is helpful for visualizing priority regions for follow-up analysis and reducing the number of false-positive linkage signals.

We have identified a mutation in the myotilin gene in a large North American family of German descent expressing an autosomal dominant form of limb girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD1A). We have previously mapped this gene to 5q31. Symptoms of this adult onset disease are progressive weakness of the hip and shoulder girdles, as well as a distinctive dysarthric pattern of speech. Muscle of affected individuals shows degeneration of myofibers, variations in fiber size, fiber splitting, centrally located myonuclei and a large number of autophagic vesicles. Affected muscle also exhibits disorganization and streaming of the Z-line similar to that seen in nemaline myopathy. We have identified a C450T missense mutation in the myotilin gene that is predicted to result in the conversion of residue 57 from threonine to isoleucine. This mutation has not been found in 396 control chromosomes. The mutant allele is transcribed and normal levels of correctly localized myotilin protein are seen in LGMD1A muscle. Myotilin is a sarcomeric protein that binds to alpha-actinin and is localized in the Z-line. The observed missense mutation does not disrupt binding to alpha-actinin.

Paget disease of the bone is a common skeletal disorder. Recently, a gene for Paget disease was localized to 18q with subsequent evidence for linkage heterogeneity. We report the identification and clinical characterization of a large pedigree of Paget disease and demonstrate that the Paget disease gene in this pedigree is not linked to the region on 18q, thus confirming linkage heterogeneity., (Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

A single G1679E mutation in the amino-terminal globular domain N2 of the alpha3 chain of type VI collagen was found in a large family affected with Bethlem myopathy. Recombinant production of N2 ( approximately 200 residues) in transfected mammalian cells has now been used to examine the possibility that the mutation interfered with protein folding. The wild-type form and a G1679A mutant were produced at high levels and shown to fold into a stable globular structure. Only a small amount of secretion was observed for mutants G1679E and G1679Q, which apparently were efficiently degraded within the cells. Homology modeling onto the related von Willebrand factor A1 structure indicated that substitution of G1679 by the bulky E or Q cannot be accommodated without considerable changes in the folding pattern. This suggests protein misfolding as a molecular basis for this particular mutation in Bethlem myopathy, in agreement with radioimmunoassay data showing reduced levels of domain N2 in cultured fibroblasts from two patients.

In several reports the authors have suggested occasional familial aggregation of syringomyelia and/or Chiari 1 malformation (CM1). Familial aggregation is one characteristic of traits that have an underlying genetic basis. The authors provide evidence for familial aggregation of CM1 and syringomyelia (CM1/S) in a large series of families, establishing that there may be a genetic component to CM1/S in at least a subset of families. The authors observed no cases of isolated familial syringomyelia in their family studies, suggesting that familial syringomyelia is more accurately classified as familial CM1 with associated syringomyelia. These data, together with the cosegregation of the trait with known genetic syndromes, support the authors' hypothesis of a genetic basis for some CM1/S cases.

A large Filipino-American family with progressive matrilineal hearing loss, premature graying, depigmented patches, and digital anomalies was ascertained through a survey of a spina bifida clinic for neural crest disorders. Deafness followed a matrilineal pattern of inheritance and was associated with the A1555G mutation in the 12S rRNA gene (MTRNR1) in affected individuals as well as unaffected maternal relatives. Several other malformations were found in carriers of the mutation. The proband had a myelocystocele, Arnold-Chiari type I malformation, cloacal exstrophy, and severe early-onset hearing loss. Several family members had premature graying, white forelock, congenital leukoderma with or without telecanthus, somewhat suggestive of a Waardenburg syndrome variant. In addition to the patient with myelocystocele, two individuals had scoliosis and one had segmentation defects of spinal vertebrae. The syndromic characteristics reported here are novel for the mitochondrial A1555G substitution, and may result from dysfunction of mitochondrial genes during early development. However, the mitochondrial A1555G mutation is only rarely associated with neural tube defects as it was not found in a screen of 218 additional individuals with spina bifida, four of whom had congenital hearing loss., (Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Experimental embryological models have suggested that the morphology and quantity of neural tube defects may be governed by their position along the anteroposterior axis of the embryo. Inductive interactions and genetic regulation during axis development may play a role in the patterning of neural tube defects. A major challenge in the study of human neural tube defects is determining whether the spectrum of developmental neural tube anomalies found in individuals and their families mirror experimental models and are regulated by similar processes. We have found that the various neural tube defect phenotypes can be clustered according to their position along the anteroposterior axis. The findings correlate well to the pattern of early genes expression, inductive models of the embryonic axis, and mutant NTD animal models. We suggest that NTD should be studied by their location along the anteroposterior axis and that specific mutant genes may be identified by the observed pattern of NTD in an individual or a family.

Neural tube defects (NTD) are one of the most common birth defects and are caused by both environmental and genetic factors. The approach to identifying the genes predisposing to NTD, through linkage analysis and candidate gene analysis, is reviewed along with characteristics of a large, nationally ascertained cohort of families. Results from specific assessments of p53, PAX3 and MTHFR failed to suggest that these genes play a major role in NTD development in these families. Advances in genetic laboratory and statistical techniques have made this a prime opportunity for investigation into the causes of complex disorders, such as NTD. However, traditional approaches may prove to be challenging due to the difficulty of ascertaining samplable multiplex families., (Copyright 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel)