Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

N K Spurr

Publications and source records attributed to N K Spurr.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Germline BRCA2 mutations in men with breast cancer.

Breast cancer in men is rare and is clearly due in some cases to an inherited predisposition. A total of 28 male breast cancer patients were tested for BRCA2 mutations; two frameshifts and one putative missense mutation were identified. One of the frameshifts was detected in the same position as a mutation estimated to be responsible for 40% of all male breast cancer cases in Iceland.

BRCA2 Protein↗
PubMed1997

Report on the Fifth International Workshop on Chromosome 9 held at Eynsham, Oxfordshire, UK, September 4-6, 1996.

The Fifth International workshop on chromosome 9 comprised a gathering of 36 scientists from seven countries and included a fairly even distribution of interests along chromosome 9 as well as a strong input from more global activities and from comparative mapping. At least eight groups had participated in the goal set at the previous workshop which was to improve the fine genetic mapping in different regions of chromosome 9 by meiotic breakpoint mapping in allocated regions and this has resulted in some greatly improved order information. Excellent computing facilities were available and all contributed maps were entered not only into SIGMA (and thence submitted to GDB) but also into a dedicated version of ACEDB which can be accessed on the Web in the form of one of 28 slices into which the chromosome has been arbitrarily divided. It was generally agreed that the amount of data is now overwhelming and that the integration and validation of all data is not only unrealistic in a short meeting but probably impossible until the whole chromosome has been sequenced and fully annotated. Sequence-ready contigs presented at the meeting totalled about 3 MB which is about one fiftieth of the estimated length. The single biggest barrier to integration of maps is the problem of non-standard nomenclature of loci. In the past 2 workshops efforts have been made to compare traditional 'consensus' maps made by human insight (still probably best for small specific regions) with those generated with some computer assistance (such as SIGMA) and those generated objectively by defined computer algorithms such as ldb. Since no single form of map or representation is entirely satisfactory for all purposes the maps reproduced in the published version of the report are confined to one of the genetic maps, in which Genethon and older markers have been incorporated, a Sigma map of the genes as symbols together with a listing of known 'disease' genes on chromosome 9, and a revised assessment of the mouse map together with a list of mouse loci predicted to be on human chromosome 9. One of the 28 ACEDB slices is also shown to illustrate strengths and weaknesses of this approach. Workshop files include not only all maps available at the time but also details of loci and details of the meiotic breakpoints in the CEPH families (http:/(/)www.gene.ucl.ac.uk/scw9db.shtml) .

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Germline mutations of the CDKN2 gene in UK melanoma families.

Germline mutations in CDKN2 on chromosome 9p21, which codes for the cyclin D kinase inhibitor p16, and more rarely, mutations in the gene coding for CDK4, the protein to which p16 binds, underlie susceptibility in some melanoma families. We have sequenced all exons of CDKN2 and analysed the CDK4 gene for mutations in 27 UK families showing evidence of predisposition to melanoma. Five different germline mutations in CDKN2 were found in six families. Three of the mutations (Met53Ile, Arg24Pro and 23ins24) have been reported previously. We have identified two novel CDKN2 mutations (88delG and Ala118Thr) which are likely to be associated with the development of melanoma, because of their co-segregation with the disease and their likely functional effect on the CDKN2 protein. In binding assays the protein expressed from the previously described mutation, Met53Ile, did not bind to CDK4/CDK6, confirming its role as a causal mutation in the development of melanoma. Ala118Thr appeared to be functional in this assay. Arg24Pro appeared to bind to CDK6, but not to CDK4. No mutations were detected in exon 2 of CDK4, suggesting that causal mutations in this gene are uncommon. The penetrance of these mutant CDKN2 genes is not yet established, nor is the risk of non-melanoma cancer to gene carriers.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

A first-generation whole genome-radiation hybrid map spanning the mouse genome.

We have assembled a first-generation anchor map of the mouse genome using a panel of 94 whole-genome-radiation hybrids (WG-RHs) and 271 sequence-tagged sites (STSs). This is the first genome-wide RH anchor map of a model organism. All of the STSs have been previously localized on the genetic map and are located 8.8 Mb apart on average. This mouse WG-RH panel, known as T31, has an average retention frequency of 27.6% and an estimated potential resolution of 145 kb, making it a powerful resource for efficient large-scale expressed sequence tag mapping. [All of the mapping data for the maps presented here have been deposited at the Research Genetics, Inc., web site and can be freely accessed and downloaded at http://www.resgen.com/.]

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Mutations and alternative splicing of the BRCA1 gene in UK breast/ovarian cancer families.

BRCA1 is a tumour suppressor gene located on chromosome band 17q21. It is estimated that mutations in the BRCA1 gene account for approximately 45% of the breast cancer families and almost all of the breast/ovarian cancer families. We have used single strand conformation polymorphism analysis, direct sequencing, allele specific oligonucleotide hybridisation, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to look for mutations in the BRCA1 gene in 49 breast or breast/ovarian cancer families. Five distinct mutations, three novel and two previously observed, were detected in seven families. Each novel mutation was identified in one family: 3896delT in exon 11, a splicing mutation in the intron 9-exon 10 junction, and an inferred regulatory mutation. The 185delAG in exon 2 was found in three families sharing the same haplotype, but this haplotype is different from that shared by the Ashkenazi Jewish families, suggesting that the 185delAG in our families may have arisen independently. Another previously reported mutation, the 3875del4 in exon 11, was identified in one family. Of the 49 families examined, linkage analyses for both the BRCA1 and the BRCA2 regions were performed on 33 families, and mutations in the BRCA1 gene were identified in all but one family that have a lod score above 0.8 for BRCA1. All of the mutations cause either a truncated BRCA1, or loss of a BRCA1 transcript, thus are likely to be functionally disruptive. In addition, we found that alternative splicing is a common phenomenon in the processing of the BRCA1 gene. Seven variant BRCA1 transcripts were identified by RT-PCR; all but one maintained the BRCA1 open reading frame. We believe that alternative splicing may play a significant role in modulating the physiological function of BRCA1.

Alternative Splicing↗
PubMed1996

Construction of a radiation hybrid map of chromosome 9p.

A radiation hybrid panel has been constructed for chromosome 9 using the somatic cell hybrid GM10611 as the donor cell line fused to the hamster cell line A23. The hybrid GM10611 was characterized by fluorescence in situ hybridization and reverse painting onto spreads of normal human metaphase chromosomes; it contains human chromosome 9 as the only cytogenetically detectable human material. GM10611 was irradiated with 6000 rads of X rays prior to fusion, a total of 93 independent clones were selected, and frozen stocks and DNA were prepared from each clone. These clones were screened by PCR amplification with oligonucleotide primers for sequence-tagged sites specific for 50 single-copy loci mapping to the short arm of chromosome 9. The average retention frequency of these hybrids was approximately 23%. The markers were ordered into a framework map by analyzing coretention patterns, minimizing the number of obligatory chromosome breaks, and finally confirming the order by maximum likelihood methods. A framework map ordering 27 markers with odds greater than 1000:1 was constructed. A further 16 markers that could not be uniquely placed on the map with the required support were positioned within a range of adjacent intervals.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

A novel dystrophin/utrophin-associated protein is an enzymatically inactive member of the phosphoglucomutase superfamily.

A 60-kDa protein localised in adherens-type cellular junctions, and previously called aciculin, has been found to interact with the cytoskeletal proteins dystrophin and utrophin [Belkin, A. M. & Burridge, K. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 6328-6337]. In this study, we report the complete sequence of this protein, and show that it is a novel member of the phosphoglucomutase (PGM) family of proteins. The PGM-related protein (PGM-RP), which contains 506 amino acids (55.6 kDa), is smaller than PGM1 (566 amino acids, 61 kDa). The active site consensus sequences of prokaryotic and eukaryotic mutases are not conserved in PGM-RP, a finding consistent with the lack of enzymatic activity of PGM-RP in vitro, and the absence of a phosphorylated intermediate in vivo. The organisation of the PGM-RP gene is essentially identical to that of PGM1. We propose that the PGM-RP gene, which we have mapped to human chromosome 9qcen-q13, evolved from the PGM1 gene, and encodes a protein with a structural rather than an enzymatic role. PGM-RP is expressed predominantly in muscle with the highest levels in smooth muscle. The significance of the interaction between dystrophin/utrophin and an increasing number of cytoplasmic proteins including PGM-RP remains to be explored.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Chromosomal assignment of 79 cDNAs from a range of human tissues.

Single-pass DNA sequencing of cDNAs selected at random from a human mixed tissue cDNA library have generated a series of more than 2000 expressed sequence tags. One hundred twenty-eight unique cDNA fragments with little or no known protein or nucleic acid homologies have been selected for further analysis. Oligonucleotide primer pairs have been designed from the cDNAs and used in PCR amplification in combination with genomic DNA from a panel of monochromosomal somatic cell hybrids. This has allowed us to assign 70 of these transcribed genes to a single chromosome, and a further 9 have been located on two or three chromosomes. Additionally, 3 cDNAs contain short tandem repeats that may allow them to be further localized by linkage analysis.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Plectin deficiency results in muscular dystrophy with epidermolysis bullosa.

We report that mutation in the gene for plectin, a cytoskeleton-membrane anchorage protein, is a cause of autosomal recessive muscular dystrophy associated with skin blistering (epidermolysis bullosa simplex). The evidence comes from absence of plectin by antibody staining in affected individuals from four families, supportive genetic analysis (localization of the human plectin gene to chromosome 8q24.13-qter and evidence for disease segregation with markers in this region) and finally the identification of a homozygous frameshift mutation detected in plectin cDNA. Absence of the large multifunctional cytoskeleton protein plectin can simultaneously account for structural failure in both muscle and skin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Close mapping of the focal non-epidermolytic palmoplantar keratoderma (PPK) locus associated with oesophageal cancer (TOC).

Focal non-epidermolytic palmoplantar keratoderma (PPK or palmoplantar ectodermal dysplasia type III) is associated with oesophageal cancer in three families: two large pedigrees located in Liverpool, UK and in the midwestern American states and one smaller family from Germany. In these families, the PPK is inherited as autosomal dominant and has a late onset, usually manifesting between 7 and 8 years of age. The disease is characterised by thickening of the pressure areas of the soles, but is not restricted to the feet and also presents with oral leukokeratosis and follicular hyperkeratosis. The disease locus [previously termed the "tylosis oesophageal cancer gene' (TOC) locus] has been mapped to 17q23-qter by linkage analysis. This region is located telomeric to the keratin 16 gene, in which mutations have been identified in focal PPK families who show no increased cancer risk. We describe the close mapping of this locus to the interval between AFMb054zf9 and D17S1603 using haplotype analysis of additional Généthon markers in the region and show that although the American family is unlikely to be related to either of the other two, the UK and German pedigrees may share a common descent. This work provides a basis for positional cloning and candidate gene analysis in order to identify a gene that may be involved in familial oesophageal cancer.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed1996

Linkage of monilethrix to the trichocyte and epithelial keratin gene cluster on 12q11-q13.

Monilethrix is characterized by beaded or moniliform hair, which results from the periodic thinning of the hair shaft. The beaded hair thus produced is subject to excess weathering and premature fracturing at the internodes. Clinically, monilethrix presents with short, fragile, broken hair. The follicular abnormalities range from subtle perifollicular abnormalities range from subtle perifollicular erythema and hyperkeratosis to horny follicular papule formation. At the ultrastructural level, cytolysis and keratin tonofilament clumping (epidermolysis) are seen in the cortical cells of the bulb of the hair follicle. Microsatellite markers flanking the keratin gene clusters at 17q12-q21 and 12q11-q13 were used to perform linkage analysis in a monilethrix pedigree. This study demonstrates linkage of monilethrix in a pedigree to microsatellite DNA loci mapping to the region on chromosome 12 containing the type II keratin cluster. A major group of structural hair proteins, the basic type II trichocyte keratins, map within this epithelial cytokeratin gene cluster. This study implicates a mutation in a trichocyte keratin gene in the pathogenesis of a structural hair disorder.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12↗
PubMed1996

Isolation and mapping of three new polymorphic markers to chromosomes 3, 20 and 21.

Screening of single human chromosome plasmid libraries using a digoxygenin labelled (AAAT)15 oligonucleotide probe led to the identification of several positive clones. DNA sequence analysis of these was carried out and showed the presence of a number of simple DNA repeats. Oligonucleotide primers were designed from the sequences flanking these repeats and tested in PCR amplification reactions of human genomic DNA. Three of the markers tested were shown to be polymorphic with heterozygosities ranging from 40% to 69%. The markers were assigned to chromosomes using a panel of monochromosomal somatic cell hybrids combined with linkage analysis using DNA from the CEPH panel of families. The markers designated (AAAT)11, (AAAT)12 and (CA)19 were thus assigned to chromosomes 3, 21 and 20 respectively.

Base Sequence↗