AGTR2 in brain development and function.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Virginie S Vervoort.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Muscle-eye-brain disease (MEB), is caused by mutations in the POMGnT1 gene. We describe a white family with two siblings affected with congenital hypotonia early-onset glaucoma, and psychomotor delays. Brain magnetic resonance images (MRIs) showed hydrocephalus, bilateral frontal polymicrogyria, abnormal cerebellum, and characteristic flattened dystrophic pons. We identified novel POMGnT1 gene alterations in this family. Both affected siblings were found to be compound hetrozygotes and carried two missense changes inherited from their mother and one missense change (p.R442C) inherited from their father. Our findings further define the phenotypic spectrum of MEB and its occurrence in the US population.
EYA1 mutations cause branchio-oto-renal (BOR) syndrome. These mutations include single nucleotide transitions and transversions, small duplications and deletions, and complex genomic rearrangements. The last cannot be detected by coding sequence analysis of EYA1. We sought to refine the clinical diagnosis of BOR syndrome by analyzing phenotypic data from families segregating EYA1 disease-causing mutations. Based on genotype-phenotype analyses, we propose new criteria for the clinical diagnosis of BOR syndrome. We found that in approximately 40% of persons meeting our criteria, EYA1 mutations were identified. Of these mutations, 80% were coding sequence variants identified by SSCP, and 20% were complex genomic rearrangements identified by a semiquantitative PCR-based screen. We conclude that genetic testing of EYA1 should include analysis of the coding sequence and a screen for complex rearrangements.
Two angiotensin II (Ang II)-specific receptors, AGTR1 and AGTR2, are expressed in the mammalian brain. Ang II actions on blood pressure regulation, water electrolyte balance, and hormone secretion are primarily mediated by AGTR1. The function of AGTR2 remains unclear. Here, we show that expression of the AGTR2 gene was absent in a female patient with mental retardation (MR) who had a balanced X;7 chromosomal translocation. Additionally, 8 of 590 unrelated male patients with MR were found to have sequence changes in the AGTR2 gene, including one frameshift and three missense mutations. These findings indicate a role for AGTR2 in brain development and cognitive function.
Branchio-Oto-Renal (BOR) syndrome is transmitted as an autosomal dominant disorder, affects an estimated 2% of profoundly deaf children, and is caused by mutations in the human EYA1 gene. However, in up to half of the reported cases, EYA1 mutation screening is negative. This finding has been taken as evidence of genetic heterogeneity. Mutation screening of the coding region of EYA1 in a panel of families linked to chromosome 8 was conducted using SSCP and direct sequencing. Only one point mutation in five probands was detected. However, complex rearrangements, such as inversions or large deletions, were discovered in the other four patients using Southern blot analysis. These data suggest that more complex rearrangements may remain undetected in EYA1 since SSCP and sequencing were commonly used to detect mutations in this gene.