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Biomedical subjects

M Rocchi

Publications and source records attributed to M Rocchi.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Assignment of human coagulation factor XII (fXII) to chromosome 5 by cDNA hybridization to DNA from somatic cell hybrids.

Human coagulation factor XII (fXII), a serine protease synthesized in liver and active in plasma, is involved in a wide variety of functions, including blood coagulation, fibrinolysis, bradykinin and complement activation. A complementary DNA (597 bp) encoding amino acid -16 to amino acid 183 of fXII protein was used to determine the chromosomal location of the fXII gene. DNAs from hamster-human somatic cell hybrids were digested with restriction enzymes and hybridized with the fXII cDNA. By the Southern method it was shown that restriction fragments able to hybridize to fXII cDNA are present only in DNA extracted from clones retaining human chromosome 5.

Animals↗

Relationship between the number and function of human ribosomal genes.

The relative number of ribosomal RNA genes of the acrocentric chromosomes in one individual was measured by counting grains after in situ hybridization of 3H-labeled human 18S rDNA to fixed metaphase chromosomes. The relative amount of ribosomal RNA gene activity of each of the same chromosomes was estimated by determining the frequency with which the chromosome's nucleolus organizer region (NOR) was silver stained, the size of the silver-stained region, and how often the chromosome was found in satellite association. Results were similar in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated T-lymphocytes, Epstein-Barr virus transformed lymphoblasts, and fibroblasts. One chromosome 21 had few gene copies and low activity. One chromosome 22 had many gene copies but low activity. Both chromosomes 14 had few gene copies but high activity. The level of expression that can be achieved by rRNA gene clusters can, therefore, be determined by factors other than the number of gene copies.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Mapping of the Emery-Dreifuss gene through reconstruction of crossover points in two Italian pedigrees.

Two unrelated pedigrees, which show recurrence of Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD) in three generations, have been studied using 13 X-linked DNA polymorphisms and somatic cell hybrids to establish the phase of the corresponding alleles in some obligate carriers. The reconstruction of cross-over points on the X chromosomes carrying the EDMD gene excludes from mapping most regions of the X chromosome except for the terminal portion of Xq. Pooled linkage data from the two pedigrees confirm the linkage previously reported with locus DXS15. A cross-over in a carrier female suggests that the EDMD gene is probably located distally to DXS15. In addition the recombinant meioses from one of the two pedigrees suggest the following order for some Xq polymorphic loci: DXS1 (DXYS1-DXS178) DXS42 (F9-DXS15).

Chromosome Mapping↗

Chromosome and blood marker studies in families of patients affected by xeroderma pigmentosum and trichothiodystrophy.

Chromosome and blood marker studies were performed in the families of 4 patients in which the association of 2 rare recessive Mendelian disorders, xeroderma pigmentosum (XP-D) and trichothiodystrophy (TTD), was present. Blood genotypes did not indicate any linkage with the pathologic condition, nor any segregation anomaly. Cytogenetic analysis using high-resolution banding techniques showed a normal karyotype both in the heterozygous and in the homozygous individuals. These findings lead us to exclude a cytologically detectable chromosome rearrangement, such as a microdeletion, as a possible cause of the association of XP-D and TTD in our patients.

Blood Group Antigens↗

Chromosomal assignments of human type I and type II cytokeratin genes to different chromosomes.

The chromosomal location of representative members of the type I and type II subfamilies of the cytokeratin multigene family was determined using specific cDNA probes in Southern blot hybridization with DNA from somatic cell hybrids. Our results show that the gene encoding human type II cytokeratin 4 resides on chromosome 12 and that encoding type I cytokeratin 15 is located on chromosome 17. The results indicate that cytokeratins are not concentrated in only one cluster. The possibility of the existence of separate type I and type II cytokeratin gene clusters is discussed.

Blotting, Southern↗

Increased chloride efflux in fibroblasts from X-linked muscular dystrophies and clones from Duchenne carriers.

Previous studies have suggested an increased chloride membrane permeability in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) fibroblasts. We report that an increased chloride efflux with respect to controls is present not only in fibroblasts from DMD, but also from two other X-linked muscular dystrophies, Becker and Emery-Dreifuss, as well as in clones from DMD carrier females. The latter observation suggests that, at least in DMD, the increased chloride efflux phenotype might be subject to lyonization.

Cells, Cultured↗

High-frequency reactivation of X-linked genes in Chinese hamster X human hybrid cells.

Three genes on the human inactive X chromosome retained in the Chinese hamster X human hybrid cell line X8/6T2 have been reactivated using the demethylating agent, 5-azacytidine (5-aza-CR). Pulse-labeling and histochemical methods permitted detection and measurement of reactivation rates of the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (Hpt) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6pd) genes within 48 h of treatment. About 50% of the cells became active for these genes, which represents a reactivation rate some 30-fold greater than previously reported in similar systems. The phosphoglycerate kinase (Pgk) gene was not reactivated as frequently as the Hpt or G6pd genes. Segregation analysis of progeny of treated cells showed that enzyme-positive and enzyme-negative cells were produced in proportions supporting the notion that 5-aza-CR causes demethylation by replicative loss and that demethylation leads to reactivation.

Animals↗

Isolation and characterization of a steroid sulfatase cDNA clone: genomic deletions in patients with X-chromosome-linked ichthyosis.

We have isolated several cDNA clones from a lambda gt11 expression library by screening with antibodies prepared against the microsomal enzyme steroid sulfatase, which is deficient in classical X-chromosome-linked ichthyosis patients. One of these clones (p422) has been assigned by mapping with a somatic cell hybrid panel and by in situ hybridization to Xp22.3. Clone p422 therefore has a coincident localization with the previously identified locus for steroid sulfatase expression in the region of the X chromosome escaping from inactivation. Twelve steroid sulfatase-deficient patients, including eight cases of classical ichthyosis, were found to be deleted for genomic sequences detected by the clone.

Chromosome Deletion↗

Comparison of cytologic and genetic distances between long arm subtelomeric markers of human autosome 14 suggests uneven distribution of crossing-over.

The analysis of two rodent X human somatic cell hybrids, carrying different inborn translocations of the human chromosome 14 long arm, has permitted us to narrow down the localization of the structural locus for alpha-1-antitrypsin (PI) to band 14q32.1, proximally to the highly polymorphic DNA locus D14S1 which has been localized by previous studies between 14q32.1 and 14q32.2. These data, evaluated in conjunction with other published information, suggest that the D14S1 locus is cytologically equidistant from both the PI locus and the complex locus for the immunoglobulin heavy chains (IGH) but, genetically, it appears much closer to the latter since the recombination frequency reported between the IGH complex and PI is six times greater than that between the IGH complex and D14S1 (lod score peaks respectively at 26% and 4% with narrow fiducial limits). The present report adds further strength to the frequently proposed hypothesis of a nonlinear relationship between cytologic and genetic distances of human genes. The possibility that this phenomenon may be a feature of frequent occurrence throughout the entire human genome is discussed.

Animals↗

X-linked mental retardation. I. Martin-Bell syndrome (report of 18 families).

Eighteen families with X-linked mental retardation (MR) with or without macroorchidism, fragile-X positive at Xq27 (Martin-Bell syndrome) have been studied clinically and cytogenetically. All 58 affected males presented variable degrees of MR, fra(X) (q27) of their peripheral lymphocytes, macroorchidism in all adult patients with the exceptions of one with microorchidism as 47,XXY sex chromosome complement and the other with borderline testes, and characteristic facial appearance. The expression of the marker X in the heterozygotes seems to be more related to the mental development rather than the age of the individual. In two families the transmission of the syndrome through unaffected males seems probable.

Adolescent↗

X-linked mental retardation. II. Renpenning syndrome and other types (report of 14 families).

Fourteen families with X-linked mental retardation (XMR) have been studied clinically and cytogenetically. All affected males failed to show a fragile site (FS) on Xq of their peripheral lymphocytes. Five families may be considered examples of Renpenning syndrome while the remaining may be divided in two groups: one of seven (type I) and one of two (type II). The seven families of type I had some physical features of the Martin-Bell syndrome but with normal to large sized testes whence the name of X-linked MR with slight macroorchidism (XMR +/- MO). The two families of type II showed unremarkable facial appearance, mild to moderate degree of MR and a certain microorchidism whence the possible name of X-linked MR with different degree of microorchidism (XMR +/- MiO).

Adolescent↗

Rett syndrome: lack of association with fragile site Xp22 and strategy for genetic mapping of X-linked new mutations.

The hypothesis of X-linked new mutations which might cause early abortions of hemizygous male fetuses and a dominant phenotype in heterozygous females seems the most likely genetic explanation of the Rett syndrome. This hypothesis can be reconciled with the normal sex ratio observed in sibships of patients and with the rare recurrence of this disorder in sibs or half-sibs. The latter observation can be explained by germinal mosaicism in one of the two parents. Since in 14 patients no association was found with any particular fragile site or chromosome rearrangement, we propose to map the mutated gene (or loci) on the X through a strategy based on the reconstruction of X-linked haplotypes consisting of DNA polymorphisms, and on the identification of possible crossovers in affected sisters.

Cell Line↗

Mapping through somatic cell hybrids and cDNA probes of protein C to chromosome 2, factor X to chromosome 13, and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein to chromosome 9.

The previously unassigned gene coding for the anti-coagulatory protein C has been mapped on chromosome 2 using a cDNA probe and genomic blots from a human-hamster somatic cell hybrid panel. The assignments of the genes coding for the coagulation factor X to chromosome 13, and for alpha 1-acid glycoprotein to chromosome 9 have been confirmed using a similar direct approach.

Animals↗