Search PubMedSearch

Biomedical subjects

D R Cox

Publications and source records attributed to D R Cox.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Medical genetics.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Genetic Diseases, Inborn

Genetic linkage analysis of bipolar affective disorder in an Old Order Amish pedigree.

We have used genetic linkage analysis in an effort to identify a gene responsible for bipolar affective disorder (BAD) in an Old Order Amish pedigree. The initial study of this pedigree showed strong evidence for linkage of the chromosome 11p15 markers HRAS1 and the insulin gene (INS) to BAD, whereas a second report found no evidence for linkage. We have independently determined the INS and HRAS1 genotypes from 81 individuals in this pedigree. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was used to score INS alleles that are difficult to distinguish from one another by conventional agarose gel electrophoresis. In addition, we used four separate diagnostic models to score individuals with psychiatric illness as either affected or unaffected. No evidence of significant linkage between BAD and the markers was found with either two-point or multipoint analysis regardless of which diagnostic model was used. However, exclusion of the region of chromosome 11 between INS and RAS1 as a possible location for the BAD gene in this family depended on the diagnostic model. Further genetic linkage studies with additional DNA markers that span the genome are necessary to determine the chromosomal location of the BAD gene in this family.

Base Sequence

A radiation hybrid map of the region on human chromosome 22 containing the neurofibromatosis type 2 locus.

We describe a high-resolution radiation hybrid map of the region on human chromosome 22 containing the neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) gene. Eighty-five hamster-human somatic cell hybrids generated by X-irradiation and cell fusion were used to generate the radiation hybrid map. The presence or absence of 18 human chromosome 22-specific markers was determined in each hybrid by using Southern blot hybridization. Sixteen of the 18 markers were distinguishable by X-ray breakage in the radiation hybrids. Analysis of these data using two different mathematical models and two different statistical methods resulted in a single framework map consisting of 8 markers ordered with odds greater than 1000:1. The remaining nonframework markers were all localized to regions consisting of two adjoining intervals on the framework map with odds greater than 1000:1. Based on the RH map, the NF2 region of chromosome 22, defined by the flanking markers D22S1 and D22S28, is estimated to span a physical distance of approximately 6 Mb and is the most likely location for 9 of the 18 markers studied: D22S33, D22S41, D22S42, D22S46, D22S56, LIF, D22S37, D22S44, and D22S15.

Animals

Cloning of the Huntington disease region in yeast artificial chromosomes.

The gene responsible for Huntington disease has been localized to a 2.5 million base pair (Mb) region between the loci D4S10 and D4S168 on the short arm of chromosome 4. As part of a strategy to clone the HD gene on the basis of its chromosomal location, we isolated genomic DNA from the HD region as a set of overlapping yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones. Twenty-eight YAC clones were identified by screening human YAC libraries with twelve PCR-based sequence-tagged sites (STSs) from the region. We assembled the YAC clones into overlapping sets by hybridizing them to a large number of DNA probes from the HD region, including the STSs. In addition, we isolated the ends of the human DNA inserts of most of the YAC clones to assist in the construction of the contig. Although almost half of the YACs appear to contain chimeric inserts and several contain internal deletions or other rearrangements, we were able to obtain over 2.2 Mb of the HD region in YACs, including one continuous segment of 2.0 Mb covering the region that most likely contains the HD gene. Ten of the twenty eight YAC clones comprise a minimal set spanning the 2.2 Mb. These clones provide reagents for the complete characterization of this region of the genome and for the eventual isolation of the HD gene.

Base Sequence

Recombination of 4p16 DNA markers in an unusual family with Huntington disease.

The Huntington disease (HD) mutation has been localized to human chromosome 4p16, in a 6-Mb region between the D4S10 locus and the 4p telomere. In a report by Robbins et al., a family was identified in which an affected individual failed to inherit three alleles within the 6-Mb region originating from the parental HD chromosome. To explain these results, it was suggested that the HD locus (HD) lies close to the telomere and that a recombination event took place between HD and the most telomeric marker examined, D4S90. As a test of this telomere hypothesis, we examined six members of this family, five of whom are affected with HD, for the segregation of 12 polymorphic markers from 4p16, including D4S169, which lies within 80 kb of the 4p telomere. We separated, in somatic cell hybrids, the chromosomes 4 from each family member, to determine the phase of marker alleles on each chromosome. We excluded nonpaternity by performing DNA fingerprint analyses on all six family members, and we found no evidence for chromosomal rearrangements when we used high-resolution karyotype analysis. We found that two affected siblings, including one of the patients originally described by Robbins et al., inherited alleles from the non-HD chromosome 4 of their affected parents, throughout the 6-Mb region. We found that a third affected sibling, also studied by Robbins et al., inherited alleles from the HD chromosome 4 of the affected parent, throughout the 6-Mb region. Finally, we found that a fourth sibling, who is likely affected with HD, has both a recombination event within the 6-Mb region and an additional recombination event in a more centromeric region of the short arm of chromosome 4. Our results argue against a telomeric location for HD and suggest that the HD mutation in this family is either associated with DNA predisposed to double recombination and/or gene conversion within the 6-Mb region or is in a gene that is outside this region and that is different from that mutated in most other families with HD.

Adult

Analysis of chromosome 22 deletions in neurofibromatosis type 2-related tumors.

The neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) gene has been hypothesized to be a recessive tumor suppressor, with mutations at the same locus on chromosome 22 that lead to NF2 also leading to sporadic tumors of the types seen in NF2. Flanking markers for this gene have previously been defined as D22S1 centromeric and D22S28 telomeric. Identification of subregions of this interval that are consistently rearranged in the NF2-related tumors would aid in better defining the disease locus. To this end, we have compared tumor and constitutional DNAs, isolated from 39 unrelated patients with sporadic and NF2-associated acoustic neuromas, meningiomas, schwannomas, and ependymomas, at eight polymorphic loci on chromosome 22. Two of the tumors studied revealed loss-of-heterozygosity patterns, which is consistent with the presence of chromosome 22 terminal deletions. By using additional polymorphic markers, the terminal deletion breakpoint found in one of the tumors, an acoustic neuroma from an NF2 patient, was mapped within the previously defined NF2 region. The breakpoint occurred between the haplotyped markers D22S41/D22S46 and D22S56. This finding redefines the proximal flanking marker and localizes the NF2 gene between markers D22S41/D22S46 and D22S28. In addition, we identified a sporadic acoustic neuroma that reveals a loss-of-heterozygosity pattern consistent with mitotic recombination or deletion and reduplication, which are mechanisms not previously seen in studies of these tumors. This finding, while inconsistent with models of tumorigenesis that invoke single deletions and their gene-dosage effects, lends further support to the recessive tumor-suppressor model.

Blotting, Southern

Cloning of a candidate gene for ataxia-telangiectasia group D.

Transfection, with a human cosmid clone library, of an ataxia-telangiectasia (AT) cell line (AT5BIVA) from complementation group D previously resulted in the isolation of a cell line (1B3) with partially restored resistance to ionizing radiation. We rescued the integrated cosmid sequences within 1B3 and obtained two cosmid clones that contained overlapping DNA from chromosomal region 11q23, previously shown to be the region containing the AT gene(s) from three complementation groups. Isolation of an apparently full-length 3.0-kb cDNA from a HeLa cell library demonstrated a previously unidentified gene (ATDC) within these cosmid clones. The transfected copy of the ATDC gene in 1B3 is truncated at the 3' end but is a complete transcription unit, because of the presence of SV40 termination sequences within the adjacent cosmid DNA. After further screening of cosmid clones from a chromosome 11 library, we identified contiguous DNA that contained the missing portion of the gene. Southern blot analysis indicated that the ATDC gene is present in a single copy in the human genome; however, RNA blot analysis revealed mRNA of several sizes (1.8, 2.6, 3.0, 4.7, and 5.7 kb) that varied among different cell lines. Because no large rearrangements were detected in AT5BIVA cells by Southern or RNA blot analysis, any alteration in the ATDC gene in this cell line would involve a point mutation or a small rearrangement. Transfection of the AT5BIVA cell line with one of the cosmids partially restored radioresistance. Analysis of 100 X-radiation hybrid cell lines containing various fragments from the chromosomal region 11q23 showed that the ATDC gene is closely linked to THY1. The ATDC gene therefore lies outside the linkage region predicted to contain the AT gene(s) for complementation groups A and C, indicating a separate locus for the AT complementation group D gene.

Ataxia Telangiectasia

Radiation hybrid mapping.

A theory is developed to predict marker retention and conditional retention or loss in radiation hybrids. Applied to multiple pairwise analysis of a human chromosome 21 data set, this theory fits much better than proposed alternatives and gives a physical map consistent with other evidence and robust with respect to errors to typing. Radiation hybrids have great promise to provide order and physical location at two levels of resolution, spanning the techniques of linkage and restriction fragments and not limited to polymorphic loci.

Centromere

A novel and rapid method for isolating sequences adjacent to rare cutting sites and their use in physical mapping.

We describe a simple PCR based technique which can be used to isolate sequences adjacent to rare cutter sites and can subsequently be employed for the construction of long range physical maps. The method involves the ligation of an adaptor to rare cutter sequences and its use as a target for forward priming in PCR. Primers to Alu repeat elements initiate synthesis of the reverse strand. Using this technique any rare cutter site which has a repeat element within amplification range can be cloned. We have isolated six unique sequences around NotI sites from an irradiation reduced hybrid containing a fragment of human chromosome 22 and are using these for physical mapping around the Ewing's sarcoma translocation breakpoint on chromosome 22.

Base Sequence

TaqI RFLP at D21S137.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21

Identification of polymorphisms by genomic denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis: application to the proximal region of human chromosome 21.

Genomic Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (gDGGE) provides an alternative to the standard method of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis for identifying polymorphic sequence variation in genomic DNA. For gDGGE, genomic DNA is cleaved by restriction enzymes, separated in a polyacrylamide gel containing a gradient of DNA denaturants, and then transferred by electroblotting to nylon membranes. Unlike other applications of DGGE, gDGGE is not limited by the size of the probe and does not require probe sequence information. gDGGE can be used in conjunction with any unique DNA probe. Here we use gDGGE with probes from the proximal region of the long arm of human chromosome 21 to identify polymorphic DNA sequence variation in this segment of the chromosome. Our screening panel consisted of DNA from nine individuals, which was cleaved with five restriction enzymes and submitted to electrophoresis in two denaturing gradient conditions. We detected at least one potential polymorphism for nine of eleven probes that were tested. Two polymorphisms, one at D21S4 and one at D21S90, were characterized in detail. Our study demonstrates that gDGGE is a fast and efficient method for identifying polymorphisms that are useful for genetic linkage analysis.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21

Deletion of chromosome 21 and normal intelligence: molecular definition of the lesion.

Application of a method for the fine structure analysis of unbalanced chromosomal rearrangements using quantitative Southern blot analysis has established that an individual of normal intelligence and largely normal appearance has a significant interstitial deletion of chromosome 21. Using high resolution cytogenetic analysis and molecular analysis with five single copy DNA sequences unique to chromosome 21 and a probe for human SOD1 (CuZn, superoxide dismutase), we find that the deletion extends to the border of bands 21q11.1-11.2. and extends to the border of bands 21q21.2-q21.3. The latter border is established molecularly by the presence of two copies of SOD1, previously mapped to band 21q22.1, and of four single copy sequences known to be located distal to this region. The presence of SOD1 was confirmed by enzyme dosage analysis. These findings demonstrate that deletion of close to 20,000 kb of autosomal material is compatible with normal intelligence. Further, they suggest that chromosome 21 may include a large region of relative developmental neutrality whose molecular basis may now be investigated. Because of the limits of even high resolution cytogenetic analysis, fine structure molecular analyses of this type will be necessary to reliably detect and define similar small chromosomal deletions or insertions. The molecular definition of such aneuploidy provides the basis for increasing the resolution of the human physical genetic map.

Blotting, Southern

Fine structure physical mapping of the region of mouse chromosome 10 homologous to human chromosome 21.

Comparative mapping of human and mouse DNA for regions of genetic homology between human Chromosome 21 and the mouse genome is of interest because of the possibility of developing mouse models of human trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), understanding chromosome evolution, and isolating novel sequences conserved between the two species. At least two mouse chromosomes are known to carry sequences homologous to those on human Chromosome 21: mouse Chromosome 16 (D21S16h, D21S13h, D21S52h, App, Sod-1, Mx-1, Ets-2, Prgs,Ifnar) and mouse Chromosome 17 (D21S56h, Crya-1, and Cbs). Recently, five additional genes have been mapped within region 21q22 of human Chromosome 21:PFKL, CD18, COL6A1, COL6A2, and S100B. To assign these sequences to specific mouse chromosomes, we used human cDNA probes for COL6A1, COL6A2, CD18, and PFKL and a rat brain cDNA probe for S100B in conjunction with a panel of seven Chinese hamster-mouse somatic cell hybrids segregating mouse chromosomes. The specific chromosome complements of the hybrid cell lines and the presence or absence of hybridizing mouse sequences in their DNAs allow us to assign all five sequences to mouse Chromosome 10, with the assignment of Pfkl reported here for the first time. Analysis of genomic mouse DNA fragments produced by digestion with rare-cutting restriction enzymes and separated using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis allows us to construct a fine-structure physical map of two segments of the region of Chromosome 10 containing these five markers. The five loci span at least 1900 kb of mouse DNA and are consistent with the human order: Pfkl-Cd-18-Col6a-1-Col6a-2-S100b.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

A map of the distal region of the long arm of human chromosome 21 constructed by radiation hybrid mapping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.

We have used radiation hybrid (RH) mapping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to determine the order and positions of 28 DNA markers from the distal region of the long arm of human chromosome 21. The maps generated by these two methods are in good agreement. This study, combined with that of D. R. Cox et al. (1990, Science 250:245-250), results in an RH map that covers the long arm of chromosome 21 (21q). We have used a subtelomeric probe to show that our map includes the telomere and have identified single-copy genes and markers within 200 kbp of the telomere. Comparison of the physical and RH maps with genetic linkage maps shows "hot spots" of meiotic recombination in the distal region, one of which is close to the telomere, in agreement with previous cytogenetic observations of increased recombination frequency near telomeres.

Cell Line

A radiation hybrid map of the proximal long arm of human chromosome 11 containing the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN-1) and bcl-1 disease loci.

We describe a high-resolution radiation hybrid map of the proximal long arm of human chromosome 11 containing the bcl-1 and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN-1) disease gene loci. We used X-ray irradiation and cell fusion to generate a panel of 102 hamster-human somatic cell hybrids containing fragments of human chromosome 11. Sixteen human loci in the 11q12-13 region were mapped by statistical analysis of the cosegregation of markers in these radiation hybrids. The most likely order for these loci is C1NH-OSBP-(CD5/CD20)-PGA-FTH1-COX8-PYGM -SEA-KRN1-(MTC/P11EH/HSTF1/INT2)-GST3- PPP1A. Our localization of the human protooncogene SEA between PYGM and INT2, two markers that flank MEN-1, suggests SEA as a potential candidate for the MEN-1 locus. We map two mitogenic fibroblast growth factor genes, HSTF1 and INT2, close to bcl-1, a mapping that is consistent with previously published data. Our map places the human leukocyte antigen genes CD5 and CD20 far from the bcl-1 locus, indicating that CD5 and CD20 expression is unlikely to be altered by bcl-1 rearrangements. PPP1A, which has been postulated as a MEN-1 candidate tumor suppressor gene, and GST3, a gene transcriptionally active in many human cancers, both map distal to the bcl-1 translocation cluster and the region containing MEN-1, and therefore are unlikely to be directly involved in bcl-1 or MEN-1.

Animals