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The clinical, genetic and dystrophin characteristics of Becker muscular dystrophy. II. Correlation of phenotype with genetic and protein abnormalities.

We have correlated a detailed clinical assessment of 67 patients with proven Becker muscular dystrophy with the results from genetic and protein analyses. There was an overall deletion frequency of 80%, rising to 92.6% in the large group of patients defined on clinical grounds as being of "typically" mild severity. The deletions in this group were all clustered in the region of the gene between exons 45 and 59; the most common deletion was of exons 45-47 and all but one started at exon 45. No similar deletions were seen in the patients with more severe disease, in whom the diverse genetic defects included a duplication and a very large deletion. Dystrophin patterns in the "typical" group were also very characteristic, and in both groups were as predicted from the genetic defect, the size of deletions being inversely proportional to the size of the protein produced.

Adolescent↗

Mutagenesis at the ad-3A and ad-3B loci in haploid UV-sensitive strains of Neurospora crassa. VI. Genetic characterization of ad-3 mutants provides evidence for qualitative differences in the spectrum of genetic alterations between wild-type and nucleotide excision-repair-deficient strains.

Genetic characterization of ad-3B mutants induced in wild-type and UV-sensitive strains has revealed qualitative differences between the spectra of genetic alterations at the molecular level. Ad-3B mutants induced in the two nucleotide excision-repair-deficient strains upr-1 and uvs-2 (Worthy and Epler, 1973) had significantly lower frequencies of nonpolarized complementation patterns and higher frequencies of noncomplementing mutants than ad-3B mutants induced in the wild-type strain in samples induced by either UV, gamma-rays, 4NQO or MNNG. In these same samples ad-3B mutants induced in uvs-4, uvs-5 or uvs-6 did not differ significantly from those induced in the wild-type strain. After ICR-170 treatment, ad-3B mutants induced in the UV-sensitive strains did not differ significantly from those induced in wild-type. The comparisons in the present and previous studies demonstrate that the process of mutation-induction in the ad-3 region is under the control of other loci that not only alter mutant recovery quantitatively (de Serres, 1980; Schüpbach and de Serres, 1981; Inoue et al., 1981a, b) but also qualitatively. These data have important implications for comparative chemical mutagenesis, since the spectrum of genetic alterations produced by a given agent can be modified markedly as a result of defects in DNA repair.

4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide↗

Genetic duplications in bacteria and their relevance for genetic toxicology.

Tandem genetic duplications of various lengths occur at high frequency and at many chromosomal locations in bacteria. Most duplications are formed and lost by recombinational mechanisms. Since they readily give rise to haploid segregants, duplications are characteristically unstable. Various selection procedures permit measurements of duplication frequencies, and several mutagens have been shown to induce the formation of duplications in haploid bacteria and the loss of duplications from merodiploid bacteria. Although the data base is not extensive, it includes agents that interact with DNA by a variety of molecular mechanisms. Grounds on which the induction of genetic duplications in bacteria can be relevant for genetic toxicology are discussed.

Bacteria↗

The load of genetic and partially genetic disease in man. IV. Severe visual handicaps and profound childhood deafness in Hungarian school-age children.

In Hungary, the school-age prevalences of severe visual handicaps and of profound childhood deafness have been estimated to be about 6/10(4) and 10/10(4), respectively. Most of these conditions have onset at birth or in early childhood and are aetiologically heterogeneous. Severe visual handicaps are grouped under 11 aetiological categories, their relative contributions to the prevalence being: perinatal damage syndrome (20%; half of this is due to retinopathy of premature infants), cataracts (15%), choroidoretinal degenerations (15%), congenital abnormalities of the eye (15%), syndromes (10%), high myopia +/- retinal detachment (7%), postnatal causes (5%), nystagmus (5%), optic atrophy (4%), bilateral retinoblastoma (2%) and prenatal causes (2%). Overall, Mendelian conditions (included under many of the above) account for about 50% with relatively more autosomal dominant than autosomal recessive and sex-linked entities, and acquired causes account for about 40% of the cases studied. No aetiology could be assigned in 10% of the cases. For profound childhood deafness, the rank order of the aetiological categories is: autosomal recessive entities (34%), postnatal causes (22%), perinatal causes (19%), autosomal dominant entities (17%), prenatal causes (5%) and unknown causes (3%). Severe childhood visual handicaps are responsible for about 60 years of loss of life per 10(4) live births and about 400 years of impaired life per 10(4) live births. Genetic causes account for one-quarter of lost life years and three-quarters of impaired life years. The comparable estimates for profound childhood deafness are: about 240 years of life loss per 10(4) live births (again, about one-quarter due to genetic causes) and about 640 years of impaired life per 10(4) live births (about one-half due to genetic causes). In all these calculations, it has been assumed that the average life expectancy at birth for an individual in the population is 70 years.

Adolescent↗

The medical utility of genomics data in neuropsychiatry: mutational genetics versus association genetics.

The long anticipated 'genetic revolution' in neuropsychiatry has yet to have an impact on the practice of clinical medicine. Excitement in the 1980s over major genetic breakthroughs in schizophrenia and manic depression, for example, has been replaced in the late 1990s by the sobering realization that most common neuropsychiatric disorders are multifactorial. Despite considerable effort and resources, no 'causative' genetic variation has been identified that plays a definitive major role in any common neuropsychiatric disorder.

Biological Psychiatry↗

The genetics and molecular genetics of terpene and sterol origami.

Terpenes and sterols are complex molecules synthesized by equally complex biosynthetic pathways. Recent progress in using the tools of genetics, molecular genetics and genetic engineering to dissect triterpene metabolism in the cytosol, and terpene metabolism in the plastids, has opened up new strategies and avenues of investigation. Most importantly, these studies have enhanced our appreciation of the biological significance of these compounds for plants, and have revealed new secrets of this intriguing biochemistry for practical applications in agriculture and medicine.

Carbon↗

Interaction of apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 with other genetic and non-genetic risk factors in late onset Alzheimer disease: problems facing the investigator.

The Apolipoprotein E4 allele (Apo-epsilon4) is the major susceptibility gene for late onset Alzheimer Disease (AD) but epidemiological data suggest that the effect of this allele is modified in different individuals by genetic or environmental factors. Age and head injury are major non-genetic factors modifying the Apo-epsilon4 risk. There is conflicting data as to whether alleles of other chaperon proteins (such as alpha-1-antichymotrypsin (ACT)) or Apo-epsilon4 receptors (such as the VDRL receptor) modify the Apo-epsilon4 risk for AD. We analyze problems posed by genetic association studies including those of multiple comparisons and selection of controls, the latter problem exacerbated by the wide variations in Apolipoprotein E allele frequencies observed in different groups and localities.

Alzheimer Disease↗

The genetics of obesity: what have genetic studies told us about the environment.

Genetic studies have shown that both childhood and adult body mass index are substantially heritable. The evidence for shared family environmental influences is largely absent, even though there are clear indications that secular changes in energy expenditure have brought about a significant increase in the prevalence of obesity. This apparent inconsistency may be explained by the dual phenomena of the near-universality of access to environments that facilitate reductions in energy expenditure (e.g., TV as a recreational pastime), together with heritable individual differences in the response to or utilization of these environments. The impact of changes in nonshared environments on body weight can be estimated from biometrical genetical studies and is found to be both small and relatively short-lived. Genetic and environmental results from longitudinal studies are consistent with what is known about the changing distribution of adiposity during adulthood and clinical experience of the difficulty of maintaining behavioral-induced weight loss.

Adolescent↗

Comparison of genetic profiles between primary melanomas and their metastases reveals genetic alterations and clonal evolution during progression.

To examine for the genetic basis of metastatic progression in cutaneous melanoma, we have compared loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of several selected chromosome regions that are implicated in the initiation and progression of melanoma, and alterations of the p16INK4a gene in 14 pairs of primary tumor and synchronous or asynchronous metastasis excised from the same patients. The most frequent genetic alteration during metastatic progression detected was the loss of p16INK4a protein expression (four of 14 cases), whereas no somatic p16INK4a gene mutations were found in any primary or metastatic tumors. LOH analyses showed that most of the chromosome losses including 6q, 8p, 9p, 9q, and 18q were shared between primary tumors and their metastases. Nevertheless, LOH of 6q and 11q and LOH of 7q not detected in primary tumors were, respectively, observed in two lymph node metastases. These results suggest that loss of p16INK4a protein expression (but not p16INK4a gene mutation) and the losses of chromosome arms 6q, 7q, and 11q play an important role in the acquisition of metastatic potential in sporadic melanoma. Furthermore, comparison of genetic profiles between the primary tumor and its metastasis revealed in several cases that heterogenous tumor cell populations might already exist at the early stage of tumorigenesis and evolve independently in the primary tumor and its metastasis, strongly suggesting that metastatic progression of sporadic melanoma is not accounted for by a linear progression model.

Adult↗

Genetics of somatic mammalian cells: biochemical genetics of Chinese hamster cell mutants with deviant purine metabolism.

Studies are presented on the biochemical genetics of 30 adenine-requiring mutants of the Chinese hamster ovary cell which were induced by mutagenesis and selected by the BrdU-visible light technique. Representative experiments conducted with these mutants include: hybridization with each other; hybridization with normal human cells; nutritional analysis; biochemical analysis with radioactively labeled intermediates; and measurement of reversion frequencies to wild-type phenotype occurring spontaneously and under the influence of selected mutagens. All mutants behave as if having point mutations. These experiments provide information relevant to the determination of dominant-recessive relationships, resolution into different complementation classes, localization of the human chromosomes which carry human genes required by the individual mutants, determination of the point of metabolic block for different mutants, and elucidation of the nature of the underlying DNA changes. These experiments illustrate the range of biochemical-genetic studies now possible with such a family of somatic mammalian cell mutants in vitro. Possible application to problems of human genetic disease are indicated.

Adenine↗

Genetic control of immune response to myoglobin. Ir gene function in genetic restriction between T and B lymphocytes.

We studied the genetic restrictions on the interaction between T cells, B cells, and antigen-presenting cells (APC) involved in the H-2-linked Ir gene control of the in vitro secondary antibody response to sperm whale myoglobin (Mb) in mice. The B cells in this study were specific for Mb itself, rather than for a hapten unrelated to the Ir gene control, as in many previous studies. Low responder mice immunized in vivo with Mb bound to an immunogenic carrier, fowl gamma globulin (F gamma G), produced B cells competent to secrete anti-Mb antibodies in vitro if they received F gamma G-specific T cell help. However, (high-responder X low responder) F1 T cells from Mb-immune mice did not help these primed low responder (H-2k or H-2b) B cells in vitro, even in the presence of various numbers of F1 APC that were demonstrated to be component to reconstitute the response of spleen cells depleted by APC. Similar results were obtained with B6 leads to B6D2F1 radiation bone marrow chimeras. Genotypic low responder (H-2b) T cells from these mice helped Mb-primed B6D2F1B cells plus APC, but did not help syngeneic chimeric H-2b B cells, even in the presence of F1 APC. In contrast, we could not detect any Ir restriction on APC function during these in vitro secondary responses. Moreover, in the preceding paper, we found that low responder mice neonatally tolerized to higher responder H-2 had competent Mb-specific helper T cells capable of helping high responder but not low responder B cells and APC. Therefore, although function Mb-specific T cells and B cells both exist in low responder mice, the Ir gene defect is a manifestation of the failure of syngeneic collaboration between these two cell types. This genetic restriction on the interaction between T cells and B cells is consistent with the additional new finding that Lyb-5-negative B cells are a major participant in ths vitro secondary response because it is this Lyb-5-negative subpopulation of B cells that have recently been shown to require genetically restricted help. The Ir gene defect behaves operationally as a failure of low responder B cells to receive help from any source of Mb-specific T cells either high responder, low responder, or F1. The possible additional role of T cell-APC interactions, either during primary immunization in vivo or in the secondary culture is discussed.

Animals↗

Genetic and genetic expression analyses of clear cell sarcoma of the kidney.

Clear cell sarcoma of the kidney (CCSK) represents a significant diagnostic and clinical challenge. In search of diagnostically useful or biologically significant genetic abnormalities, we screened 30 CCSKs from the National Wilms Tumor Study Group. Genetic gains and losses were analyzed using comparative genomic hybridization; loss of heterozygosity at 11p15 was studied using microsatellite analysis. Loss of imprinting (LOI) was studied using allele-specific expression or methylation analysis at the ApaI polymorphic site for IGF2, AluI and RsaI sites for H19, and Cfo I site for SNRPN. Comparative genomic hybridization analysis revealed quantitative abnormalities in only 4 of 30 CCSKs. Two showed gain of 1q, one also showed loss of 10q, and the other also showed loss of terminal 4p. The other two cases demonstrated chromosome 19 loss and chromosome 19p gain, respectively. All 22 cases informative for 11p15 showed retention of both alleles. Of 14 CCSKs informative for IGF2, six showed biallelic expression; all three CCSKs informative for H19 exhibited monoallelic expression. The normal imprint pattern was present in all six CCSKs analyzed for SNRPN methylation. These data demonstrate an absence of consistent genetic gains or losses in CCSKs using these methods. The high frequency of LOI for IGF2 in CCSKs (43%) is comparable to that reported in Wilms tumors. The retention of imprinting at the SNRPN and H19 loci confirm that LOI is not a ubiquitous epigenetic change. This suggests that IGF2, a potent growth factor, may play a role in the development or progression of CCSK.

Adolescent↗

Analysis of spatial genetic structure in an expanding Pinus halepensis population reveals development of fine-scale genetic clustering over time.

We analysed the change of spatial genetic structure (SGS) of reproductive individuals over time in an expanding Pinus halepensis population. To our knowledge, this is the first empirical study to analyse the temporal component of SGS by following the dynamics of successive cohorts of the same population over time, rather than analysing different age cohorts at a single time. SGS is influenced by various factors including restricted gene dispersal, microenvironmental selection, mating patterns and the spatial pattern of reproductive individuals. Several factors that affect SGS are expected to vary over time and as adult density increases. Using air photo analysis, tree-ring dating and molecular marker analysis we reconstructed the spread of reproductive individuals over 30 years beginning from five initial individuals. In the early stages, genotypes were distributed randomly in space. Over time and with increasing density, fine-scale (< 20 m) SGS developed and the magnitude of genetic clustering increased. The SGS was strongly affected by the initial spatial distribution and genetic variation of the founding individuals. The development of SGS may be explained by fine-scale environmental heterogeneity and possibly microenvironmental selection. Inbreeding and variation in reproductive success may have enhanced SGS magnitude over time.

Biomarkers↗

Clinical methods in psychiatric genetics. III. Environmental stratification may simulate a genetic effect in adoption studies.

In adoption studies, the possibility of inadvertent matching between biological and adoptive parents for some environmental variable (known or unknown) correlated with illness must be considered. We examine such bias quantitatively and show how a genetic effect can be simulated. Existence of a genetic effect which is independent of environmental correlation can be accepted, when the frequency of a disease in adoptees who have a biological parent affected and no adoptive parents affected is significantly greater than the frequency of the disease in adoptees who have an adopted parent affected and no biological parents affected. The published data on schizophrenia, alcoholism, and criminality do not exclude the possibility of undetected environmental correlations simulating a genetic effect, according to this direct criterion.

Adoption↗

Genetic control of the immune response to myoglobin. IX. Overcoming genetic control of antibody response to antigenic sites by increasing the dose of antigen used in immunization.

Previously, it was reported that the immune response to myoglobin (Mg) was under genetic control, with the response to each site being under separate Ir-gene control. Here we have investigated the effect of antigen dose on the control of the antibody response to the five antigenic sites of sperm-whale Mb to determine whether or not the overcoming of genetic control by antigen dose has a uniform effect on all five antigenic sites. The antibody response to sperm whale myoglobin (Mb) and its five antigenic was measured in the following inbred strains of mice, C57BL/6J, AKR and SWR/J. These strains of mice are low responders to Mb following immunization with 50 micrograms, responding only to site 4. After immunization with 200 micrograms Mb: C57BL/6J mice are high responders to Mb and respond to antigenic sites 1, 3, 4 and 5; AKR mice are high responders to Mb and respond to antigenic sites 1 and 4; SWR/J mice are high responders to Mb and respond to all five antigenic sites. It was concluded that the genetic control of the immune response to Mb and its synthetic antigenic sites is dependent on antigen dose. Also, these studies have enabled us for the first time to separate the response to site 1 from the response to site 2 and thus have conclusively established that sites 1 and 2 are controlled by separate Ir-genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Genetic Structure of Acetobacter diazotrophicus Populations and Identification of a New Genetically Distant Group.

A total of 55 isolates of Acetobacter diazotrophicus recovered from diverse sucrose-rich host plants and from mealybugs associated with sugarcane plants were characterized by the electrophoretic mobilities of 12 metabolic enzymes. We identified seven different electrophoretic types (ETs), six of which are closely related within a genetic distance of 0.195 and exhibit high DNA-DNA homology. The seventh ET was largely divergent, separated at a genetic distance of 0.53, and had only 54% DNA homology to the reference strain. Strains corresponding to ET 7 could represent a distinct nitrogen-fixing species of the genus Acetobacter. More genetic diversity was found in isolates from Brazil than in those from Mexico, probably due to the very different crop nitrogen fertilization levels used.

Journal Article↗

Genetic and physiological studies of bacteriophage t5 I. An expanded genetic map of t5.

An expanded genetic map of bacteriophage T5 has been constructed by using a set of amber, rather than temperature-sensitive, mutants that represent 29 cistrons. The map consists of three small groups and one large group of genes; mutants defective in genes that are located in different groups exhibit maximal recombination when crossed with one another. However, it has been possible to establish tentative linkage among these groups by use of a particular mutant that appears to affect recombination. One of the small groups of genes is located in the first-step-transfer or FST segment; the other two small groups represent newly discovered genetic regions. The large group probably includes most or all of the previously published maps of T5. The apparent genetic discontinuities are discussed in relation to certain anatomical and physiological features that are unique to bacteriophage T5.

Journal Article↗

Genetic characterization of new West African simian immunodeficiency virus SIVsm: geographic clustering of household-derived SIV strains with human immunodeficiency virus type 2 subtypes and genetically diverse viruses from a single feral sooty mangabey troop.

It has been proposed that human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) originated from simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIVs) that are natural infections of sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus torquatus atys). To test this hypothesis, SIVs from eight sooty mangabeys, including six new viruses from West Africa, were genetically characterized. gag and env sequences showed that while the viruses of all eight sooty mangabeys belonged to the SIVsm/HIV-2 family, each was widely divergent from SIVs found earlier in captive monkeys at American primate centers. In two SIVs from sooty mangabeys discovered about 100 miles (ca. 161 Km) from each other in rural West Africa, the amino acids of a conserved gag p17-p26 region differed by 19.3%, a divergence greater than that in four of five clades of HIV-2 and in SIVs found in other African monkey species. Analysis of gag region sequences showed that feral mangabeys in one small troop harbored four distinct SIVs. Three of the newly found viruses were genetically divergent, showing as much genetic distance from each other as from the entire SIVsm/HIV-2 family. Sequencing and heteroduplex analysis of one feral animal-derived SIV showed a mosaic genome containing an env gene that was homologous with other feral SIVsm env genes in the troop but having a gag gene from another, distinct SIV. Surprisingly a gag phylogenetic tree based on nucleotide sequences showed that the African relatives closest to all three household-derived SIVs were HIV-2 subtypes D and E from humans in the same West African areas. In one case, the SIV/HIV-2 cluster was from the same village. The findings support the hypothesis that each HIV-2 subtype in West Africans originated from widely divergent SIVsm strains, transmitted by independent cross-species events in the same geographic locations.

Amino Acid Sequence↗