Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J L Mandel

Publications and source records attributed to J L Mandel.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

New informative polymorphism at the DXS304 locus, a close distal marker for the fragile X locus.

The polymorphic DNA marker DXS304 detected by probe U6.2 has recently been shown to be closer to the fragile X locus than previously available markers. Its usefulness has however been limited by its relatively low heterozygosity. We have isolated, by cosmid cloning, a 67 kilobase region around probe U6.2 and have characterized a new probe (U6.2-20E) that detects BanI and BstEII restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs). The BanI RFLP has a heterozygosity of 0.49 and is in partial linkage disequilibrium with the previously described polymorphism, with a combined heterozygosity of 0.63. Furthermore, we have found that the U6.2 original probe, which probably detects an insertion-deletion polymorphism, is also informative in BanI digests. Thus, the two informative RFLPs at the DXS304 locus can be conveniently tested in a single hybridization with a single digest. An updated linkage analysis confirms that DXS304 is distal to the fragile X locus. This informative locus can now be used effectively for genetic mapping of the Xq27-q28 region, and for diagnostic applications in fragile X or Hunter syndrome families.

Blotting, Southern↗

An informative polymorphism detectable by polymerase chain reaction at the 3' end of the dystrophin gene.

A fragment that contains a (CA)n sequence from the 3' untranslated region of the dystrophin gene can be amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and shows length polymorphism in a Caucasian population. The two common alleles differ by 4bp. This new genetic marker has a heterozygosity of about 35% and is typed more rapidly than a conventional restriction fragment length polymorphism. Its localisation at the 3' end of the dystrophin gene makes it a useful tool for diagnostic applications in families with Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy, and for the analysis of intragenic recombination.

Base Sequence↗

A 195-kb cosmid walk encompassing the human Xq28 color vision pigment genes.

By using cosmid walking, we have cloned a 195-kb region from chromosome band Xq28 that encompasses the red and green color pigment genes and 85 kb of flanking sequences. This has allowed us to confirm that the color pigment genes are within very homologous units arranged in tandem array. Each unit contains two BssHII sites and one NruI site that are frequently methylated in male leukocyte DNA. A NotI and an EagI site are present 6 kb upstream from the red pigment gene promoter; the NotI site was shown to be unmethylated in the active X chromosome in leukocytes and may represent a CpG island for the whole cluster. We have identified another CpG island, 61 kb 3' from the last green pigment gene, that is unmethylated in leukocytes on the active X chromosome, but methylated on the inactive X. This island is flanked by sequences conserved in evolution and may thus correspond to an expressed gene. We also describe an informative three-allele restriction fragment length polymorphism within the pigment gene cluster.

Biological Evolution↗

Additional polymorphisms at marker loci D9S5 and D9S15 generate extended haplotypes in linkage disequilibrium with Friedreich ataxia.

The gene for Friedreich ataxia (FA), a severe recessive neurodegenerative disease, has previously been shown to be tightly linked to the polymorphic markers D9S15 and D9S5 on human chromosome 9. In addition, the observation of linkage disequilibrium suggested that D9S15 is within 1 centimorgan (cM) of the disease locus, FRDA. Although D9S5 did not show recombination with FRDA, its localization was less precise (0-5 cM) due to its lower informativeness. We have now identified additional polymorphisms at both marker loci. Two cosmids spanning 50 kilobases around D9S5 were isolated, and a probe derived from one of them detects an informative three-allele polymorphism. We have found a highly polymorphic microsatellite sequence at D9S15 which is rapidly typed by the DNA polymerase chain reaction. The polymorphism information contents at the D9S5 and D9S15 loci have been increased from 0.14 to 0.60 and from 0.33 to 0.74, respectively. With the additional polymorphisms the lod (log10 odds ratio) score for the D9S15-FRDA linkage is now 48.10 at recombination fraction theta = 0.005 and for D9S5-FRDA, the lod score is 27.87 at theta = 0.00. We have identified a recombinant between D9S15 and FRDA. However, due to the family structure, it will be of limited usefulness for more precise localization of FRDA. The linkage disequilibrium previously observed between D9S15 and FRDA is strengthened by analysis of the haplotypes using the microsatellite polymorphism, while weaker but significant disequilibrium is found between D9S5 and FRDA. Extended haplotypes that encompass D9S5 and D9S15 show a strikingly different distribution between chromosomes that carry the FA mutation and normal chromosomes. This suggests that both marker loci are less than 1 cM from the FRDA gene and that a small number of mutations account for the majority of FA cases in the French population studied. D9S5 and D9S15 are thus excellent start points to isolate the disease gene.

Cell Line↗

Physical and genetic mapping of polymorphic loci in Xq28 (DXS15, DXS52, and DXS134): analysis of a cosmid clone and a yeast artificial chromosome.

Sequences corresponding to the Xq28 loci DXS15, DXS52, DXS134, and DXS130 were shown to be present in a 140-kb yeast artificial chromosome (YAC XY58, isolated by Little et al.). This YAC clone appears to contain a faithful copy of this genomic region, as shown by comparison with human DNA and with a cosmid clone that contains probes St14c (part of the DXS52 sequences) and cpX67 (DXS134). cpX67 and St14c are contained in 11 kb and detect the same MspI RFLP polymorphism. A comparison of the YAC restriction map and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis data leads us to propose the following order of loci: DXS52(VNTR)-DXS33-DXF22S3-DXS130-DXS134 -DXS52-DXS15-DXS52, this whole cluster being comprised within 575 kb. The physical proximity of the DXS15, DXS52, and DXS134 loci led us to reinvestigate recombination events that had been reported between these loci in families from the Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humain. Our results do not support the assumption that this region shows increased recombination.

Chromosomes, Fungal↗

Germ-line mosaicism simulates genetic heterogeneity in Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (IMD2) is an X-linked recessive immunodeficiency. Initial linkage studies mapped the disease locus on the proximal short arm of the X chromosome, a localization which was further refined to the interval framed by DXS7 and DXS14. We have recently shown that a novel hypervariable locus, DXS255, is very closely linked to the disease gene and is likely to be, at present, the marker closest to the disease gene. The analysis of one family, however, displayed conflicting linkage results, as all of the informative markers situated in the Xp11-q22 region appeared to recombine with the disease locus in two "phase-known" meioses. We have shown by X-inactivation studies that the segregation of the disease through three obligate carrier females in this family originates from a grandpaternal mosaicism, which accounts for the apparent recombinations. This shows that germ-line mosaicism can simulate genetic heterogeneity in linkage studies.

Blotting, Southern↗

The Friedreich ataxia gene is assigned to chromosome 9q13-q21 by mapping of tightly linked markers and shows linkage disequilibrium with D9S15.

Chamberlain et al. have assigned the gene for Friedreich ataxia (FA), a recessive neurodegenerative disorder, to chromosome 9, and have proposed a regional localization in the proximal short arm (9p22-cen), on the basis of linkage to D9S15 and to interferon-beta (IFNB), the latter being localized in 9p22. We confirmed more recently the close linkage to D9S15 in another set of families but found much looser linkage to IFNB. We also reported another closely linked marker, D9S5. Additional families have now been studied, and our updated lod scores are z = 14.30 at theta = .00 for D9S15-FA linkage and z = 6.30 at theta = .00 for D9S5-FA linkage. Together with the recent data of Chamberlain et al., this shows that D9S15 is very likely within 1 cM of the FA locus. We have found very significant linkage disequilibrium (delta Std = .28, chi 2 = 9.71, P less than .01) between FA and the D9S15 MspI RFLP in French families, which further supports the very close proximity of these two loci. No recombination between D9S5 and D9S15 was found in the FA families or Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humain families (z = 9.30 at theta = .00). Thus D9S5, D9S15, and FA define a cluster of tightly linked loci. We have mapped D9S5 by in situ hybridization to 9q13-q21, and, accordingly, we assign the D9S5, D9S15, and FA cluster to the proximal part of chromosome 9 long arm, close to the heterochromatic region.

Alleles↗

The red-green visual pigment gene region in adrenoleukodystrophy.

Although recent data established that a specific very-long-chain fatty acyl-CoA synthetase is defective in X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), the ALD gene is still unidentified. The ALD locus has been mapped to Xq28, like the red and green color pigment genes. Abnormal color vision has been observed in 12 of 27 patients with adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN), a milder form of ALD. Furthermore, rearrangements of the color vision gene cluster were found in four of eight ALD kindreds. This led us to propose that a single DNA rearrangement could underlie both ALD and abnormal color vision in these patients. Study of 34 French ALD patients failed to reveal a higher than expected frequency of green/red visual pigment rearrangements 3' to the red/green color vision gene complex. The previous report of such rearrangements was based on small numbers and lack of knowledge that the frequency of "abnormal" color vision arrays on molecular analysis was twice as high as expected on the basis of the frequency of phenotypic color vision defects. The red/green color pigment (R/GCP) region was studied by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis in 14 of these patients, and we did not find any fragment size difference between the patients and normal individuals who have the same number of pigment genes. The R/GCP region was also analyzed in 29 French and seven North American ALD patients by using six genomic DNA probes, isolated from a cosmid walk, that flank the color vision genes. No deletions were found with probes that lie 3' of the green pigment genes. One of the eight previously reported ALD individuals has a long deletion 5' of the red pigment gene, a deletion causing blue cone monochromacy. This finding and the previous findings of a 45% frequency of phenotypic color vision defects in patients with AMN may suggest that the ALD/AMN gene lies 5' to the red pigment gene and that the frequent phenotypic color vision anomalies owe their origin to deleted DNA that includes regulatory genes for color vision. It is possible, however, that phenotypic color vision anomalies in AMN may be phenocopies secondary to retinal or neural involvement by the disease. The single case of blue cone monochromacy may therefore be a fortuitous coincidence of two diseases.

Adrenoleukodystrophy↗

Close linkage of probe p212 (DXS178) to X-linked agammaglobulinemia.

Segregation analysis was performed in three families affected in X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) with five polymorphic DNA probes linked to the disease locus. In agreement with previous studies, no recombination was observed with either pXG12 (DXS94) or S21 (DXS17). Segregation analysis was also performed with a marker, p212 (DXS178), which has been shown to be closely linked to pXG12 in normal families. No cross-over with XLA was observed in these three families and in five additional families previously analyzed with DXS17 and DXS94 (z = 5.92 at theta = 0). These data provide evidence against genetic heterogeneity in XLA and indicate the value of probe p212 for carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis of XLA. We were able to estimate the carrier status of six females (out of six) in the three previously unreported families.

Agammaglobulinemia↗

A new polymorphic marker very closely linked to DXS52 in the q28 region of the human X chromosome.

We have isolated an X chromosome probe, St35.691 (DXS305), which detects two RFLPs with TaqI and PstI, whose combined heterozygosity is about 60%. This probe has been assigned to Xq28 by physical and genetic mapping and is very closely linked to DXS52, DXS15, and the coagulation factor VIII gene (F8C). The best estimate of the recombination fraction for the DXS52-DXS305 interval is 0.014, with a lod score of 50.1. Multipoint analysis places DXS305 on the same side of F8C as DXS52, but complete ordering of the three loci was not possible with our present data. This highly informative marker should be useful in the precise mapping of the many disease genes that have been assigned to the Xq28 band.

DNA Probes↗

The polymorphic marker DXS304 is within 5 centimorgans of the fragile X locus.

The fragile X syndrome, which is the most common cause of inherited mental retardation, poses important diagnostic problems for genetic counseling. The development of diagnostic strategies based on DNA analysis has been impaired by the lack of polymorphic markers very close to the disease locus. Here we report that the polymorphic probe U6.2 (locus DXS304) is much closer to the fragile X locus than all the previously reported markers. A recombination fraction of 0.02 between DXS304 and the fragile X locus was estimated by multipoint linkage analysis (confidence interval 0.002 to 0.05). Our data suggest that DXS304 is distal to the fragile X locus. This marker thus represents a major improvement for carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis in fragile X families.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Toward a physical map of the Xq28 region in man: linking color vision, G6PD, and coagulation factor VIII genes to an X-Y homology region.

We are using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to establish a physical map of the human Xq28 region. We have identified a new probe 35.239 (DXYS64), localized in Xq28 by somatic hybrid mapping and belonging to a region of greater than 99% homology between the X and the Y chromosomes. PFGE data show that probes 35.239 and the polymorphic locus DXS115 (probe 767) map within a common 300-kb BssHII fragment. Both probes, in addition, hybridize to 575-kb BssHII and 590-kb ClaI fragments that contain the gene coding for coagulation factor VIII (F8C). The order F8C-DXS115-DXYS64 could be determined. Our results also provide evidence for linkage between the red/green color vision locus (RCP,GCP) and probes MD13 and T1.7 (GdX, DXS254) within a 750-kb ClaI fragment. Although the latter two probes are located within 50 kb of the 3' end of the G6PD gene, a G6PD cDNA probe did not hybridize to this fragment. G6PD, on the other hand, could be linked to F8C on a 290-kb BssHII fragment. All these data allow us to propose the order (RCP,GCP)-MD13-GdX-G6PD-F8C-DXS115-DXYS 64. We also linked probes St14 (DXS52), MN12 (DXS33), and DX13 (DXS15) to a member of a small family of X-linked dispersed sequences (DNF22S3) within a 575-kb BssHII fragment. The preliminary physical map presented here should be useful for further fine mapping of disease genes in the Xq28 region and should be helpful in orientating efforts toward the cloning of sequences close to the fragile X syndrome.

Animals↗

Confirmation of linkage of Friedreich ataxia to chromosome 9 and identification of a new closely linked marker.

A linkage analysis with chromosome 9 markers was performed in 33 families with Friedreich ataxia (FA). Linkage with D9S15, previously established by S. Chamberlain et al. (1988, Nature London 334:248-249) was confirmed in our sample (z(theta) = 6.82 at theta = 0.02) while INFB (interferon-beta gene) shows looser linkage. An additional marker, D9S5, was also shown to be closely linked to FA (z(theta) = 5.77 at theta = 0.00).

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9↗