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A missense mutation in PMEL17 is associated with the Silver coat color in the horse.

BACKGROUND: The Silver coat color, also called Silver dapple, in the horse is characterized by dilution of the black pigment in the hair. This phenotype shows an autosomal dominant inheritance. The effect of the mutation is most visible in the long hairs of the mane and tail, which are diluted to a mixture of white and gray hairs. Herein we describe the identification of the responsible gene and a missense mutation associated with the Silver phenotype. RESULTS: Segregation data on the Silver locus (Z) were obtained within one half-sib family that consisted of a heterozygous Silver colored stallion with 34 offspring and their 29 non-Silver dams. We typed 41 genetic markers well spread over the horse genome, including one single microsatellite marker (TKY284) close to the candidate gene PMEL17 on horse chromosome 6 (ECA6q23). Significant linkage was found between the Silver phenotype and TKY284 (theta = 0, z = 9.0). DNA sequencing of PMEL17 in Silver and non-Silver horses revealed a missense mutation in exon 11 changing the second amino acid in the cytoplasmic region from arginine to cysteine (Arg618Cys). This mutation showed complete association with the Silver phenotype across multiple horse breeds, and was not found among non-Silver horses with one clear exception; a chestnut colored individual that had several Silver offspring when mated to different non-Silver stallions also carried the exon 11 mutation. In total, 64 Silver horses from six breeds and 85 non-Silver horses from 14 breeds were tested for the exon 11 mutation. One additional mutation located in intron 9, only 759 bases from the missense mutation, also showed complete association with the Silver phenotype. However, as one could expect to find several non-causative mutations completely associated with the Silver mutation, we argue that the missense mutation is more likely to be causative. CONCLUSION: The present study shows that PMEL17 causes the Silver coat color in the horse and enable genetic testing for this trait.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

An amino-terminal DAX1 (NROB1) missense mutation associated with isolated mineralocorticoid deficiency.

CONTEXT: Mutations in DAX1 (dosage-sensitive sex reversal-adrenal hypoplasia congenita critical region on the X chromosome gene 1; NR0B1) cause X-linked adrenal hypoplasia congenita, a disease characterized by primary adrenal failure, testicular dysgenesis, and gonadotropin deficiency. Most DAX1 mutations are deletions, nonsense, or frameshift mutations that markedly impair its transcriptional activity. Missense mutations have been restricted to the carboxy-terminal domain and are associated with more variable clinical phenotypes. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to identify novel clinical phenotypes associated with DAX1 missense mutations. PATIENTS AND DESIGN: We investigated the genetic basis of isolated mineralocorticoid deficiency in a patient who carries a unique missense mutation (W105C) in the amino-terminal region of DAX1. RESULTS: The W105C DAX1 mutation in the proband was present in three asymptomatic hemizygous males, but it was not detected in the general population. Using in vitro studies of DAX1 expression and function in transfected cells, we demonstrate that the mutant DAX1 protein exhibits mild loss of function, whether studied for genes it represses or for genes it activates. Structure-function studies suggest that the W105C and other mutations in the aminoterminus are compensated by the presence of repeated LXXLL motifs that mediate DAX1 interactions with other proteins. CONCLUSIONS: We describe the first missense mutation in the aminoterminus of DAX1 and conclude that mutations in this region may be partially compensated by redundant functional domains. Mild DAX1 mutations may be a cause of isolated mineralocorticoid deficiency.

Cells, Cultured↗

LIS1 missense mutations cause milder lissencephaly phenotypes including a child with normal IQ.

BACKGROUND: Classical lissencephaly is a disorder of neuroblast migration with most patients having mutations of either the LIS1 or DCX genes. Most patients with lissencephaly secondary to LIS1 mutations have a severe malformation consisting of generalized agyria and pachygyria. However, increasing experience suggests that the phenotypic spectrum is wider than previously thought. METHODS: The authors describe the clinical and imaging features and mutation data of the five known patients with missense mutations of the LIS1 gene and emphasize one patient with normal intelligence. RESULTS: Patients with a missense mutation of the LIS1 gene have a wider and milder spectrum of cortical malformations and clinical sequelae compared with patients with other mutation types. CONCLUSION: Milder and more variable phenotypes seen in patients with missense mutations of LIS1 are likely a consequence of suboptimal function of the mutant LIS1 protein, rather than complete loss of function of this protein. The authors suggest that the few patients found thus far with missense mutations of LIS1 results from an underascertainment of patients with more subtle malformations and that abnormalities of the LIS1 gene may account for a greater spectrum of neurologic problems in childhood than has previously been appreciated.

1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase↗

Six missense mutations of the epithelial sodium channel beta and gamma subunits in Japanese hypertensives.

Liddle's syndrome is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by sodium-sensitive early hypertension and mutations in either the beta- or gamma-subunit of the amiloride-sensitive epithelial sodium channel encoded by SCNN1B and SCNN1G. We sequenced the 381 bp-coding regions in exon 13 of SCNN1B and the 381 bp-coding regions in exon 12 of SCNN1G in 948 and 953 Japanese patients with hypertension, respectively. In the SCNN1B gene, we identified three missense mutations, P592S (n=3), T594M (n=2), and E632K (n=1) in a heterozygous state in addition to four synonymous ones, Ile515 (n=1), Ser520 (n=19), Ser533 (n=1), and Thr594 (n=11). In the SCNN1G gene, we identified three missense mutations, A578V (n=1), P603S (n=1), and L609F (n=1) in a heterozygous state in addition to two synonymous ones, Ile550 (n=1) and Leu649 (n= 91, heterozygous; n=2, homozygous). We did not identify the same mutations previously reported in Liddle's syndrome kindreds. Two of the six hypertensive patients with missense mutation in the SCNN1B gene showed atypical renin and aldosterone levels, though one of them was diagnosed with renovascular hypertension. One patient with T594M in the SCNN1B gene was resistant to hypertension. The roles of these missense mutations in the SCNN1B or SCNN1G gene identified in hypertensive patients are not clear in the pathogenesis of hypertension and the regulation of electrolytes. Thus, further investigation of these mutations, including functional analyses, will be needed.

Aged↗

A family of MEN1 with a novel germline missense mutation and benign polymorphisms.

The gene responsible for multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) has recently been cloned, and its germline mutations were identified in patients with this syndrome. The majority of the mutations, frameshift or nonsense mutations, are expected to result in a loss of function of the gene product menin. Since the consequence of less common missense or in-frame deletion mutations is not clear, careful judgment is necessary regarding the role(s) of such mutations in MEN1 disease. Here we describe a large multigenerational MEN1 family with a novel germline missense mutation and three benign polymorphisms. The proband was a man with hyperparathyroidism and thymic carcinoid. We performed biochemical studies and DNA analyses of the MEN1 gene simultaneously and independently as family screening studies. Seven patients including the proband were identified, and all of them carried a heterozygous germline missense mutation E45G, but 5 members with normal biochemical results did not. This mutation was not observed in 50 normal volunteers. This novel missense mutation is therefore almost conclusively responsible for the disease. Although all of the mutant gene carriers in the present study already had clinical diseases, an MEN1 gene analysis in younger individuals at risk would be very useful in identifying carriers before the onset of the symptoms.

Adult↗

Functional evaluation of PTEN missense mutations using in vitro phosphoinositide phosphatase assay.

The tumor suppressor gene PTEN is frequently mutated in diverse human cancers and in autosomal dominant cancer predisposition disorders. Recent studies have shown that the lipid phosphatase activity of PTEN is critical for its tumor suppressor function and that PTEN negatively regulates the phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase-protein kinase B pathway. Although more than half of PTEN mutations result in protein truncation, a significant fraction of PTEN mutations are missense mutations. To examine whether tumor-derived and germ-line-derived missense mutations inactivate PTEN lipid phosphatase function, we constructed 42 distinct types of PTEN missense mutations and expressed them in Escherichia coli. The purified (His)6-tagged PTEN proteins were tested for their ability to dephosphorylate inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-triphosphate. In addition, we examined the effect of mutant PTENs on the ability of PTEN to bind to the phospholipid membrane. The results revealed that the majority of PTEN missense mutations [38 of 42 (90%)] eliminated or reduced phosphatase activity and that all of the mutations examined had no effect on the membrane binding activity of PTEN. Our study indicated that phosphoinositide phosphatase activity is important for the tumor suppressor function of PTEN and that there may be other mechanisms of PTEN inactivation that are not monitored by in vitro phosphatase assay and in vitro membrane binding assay.

Escherichia coli↗

Null missense ABCR (ABCA4) mutations in a family with stargardt disease and retinitis pigmentosa.

PURPOSE: To determine the type of ABCR mutations that segregate in a family that manifests both Stargardt disease (STGD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP), and the functional consequences of the underlying mutations. METHODS: Direct sequencing of all 50 exons and flanking intronic regions of ABCR was performed for the STGD- and RP-affected relatives. RNA hybridization, Western blot analysis, and azido-adenosine triphosphate (ATP) labeling was used to determine the effect of disease-associated ABCR mutations in an in vitro assay system. RESULTS: Compound heterozygous missense mutations were identified in patients with STGD and RP. STGD-affected individual AR682-03 was compound heterozygous for the mutation 2588G-->C and a complex allele, [W1408R; R1640W]. RP-affected individuals AR682-04 and-05 were compound heterozygous for the complex allele [W1408R; R1640W] and the missense mutation V767D. Functional analysis of the mutation V767D by Western blot and ATP binding revealed a severe reduction in protein expression. In vitro analysis of ABCR protein with the mutations W1408R and R1640W showed a moderate effect of these individual mutations on expression and ATP-binding; the complex allele [W1408R; R1640W] caused a severe reduction in protein expression. CONCLUSIONS: These data reveal that missense ABCR mutations may be associated with RP. Functional analysis reveals that the RP-associated missense ABCR mutations are likely to be functionally null. These studies of the complex allele W1408R; R1640W suggest a synergistic effect of the individual mutations. These data are congruent with a model in which RP is associated with homozygous null mutations and with the notion that severity of retinal disease is inversely related to residual ABCR activity.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗

The relationship between twenty missense ATM variants and breast cancer risk: the Multiethnic Cohort.

Deficiencies in tasks of detecting and repairing DNA damage lead to mutations and chromosomal abnormalities, a hallmark of cancer. The gene mutated in ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), ATM, is a proximal component in performing such tasks. Studies of A-T families have suggested an increased risk of breast cancer among obligate female heterozygous carriers of ATM mutations. Paradoxically, studies of sporadic and familial breast cancer have failed to demonstrate an elevated prevalence of mutations among breast cancer cases. We characterized the prevalence and distribution of 20 ATM missense mutations/polymorphisms in a population-based case-control study of 854 African-American, Latina, Japanese, and Caucasian women aged >/==" BORDER="0">45 years participating in the Multiethnic Cohort Study. The study population included 428 incident breast cancer cases and 426 controls. The prevalence of variants ranged from 0% to 13.6% among controls and varied by ethnicity (0-32.5%). Overall, these data provide little support for an association of ATM missense mutations with breast cancer among older women. We observed only one sequence variation (L546V), common among African-American women, to be overrepresented among all high-stage breast cancer cases (odds ratio, 3.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.27-8.84). After correction for multiple comparisons, this observed risk modification did not attain statistical significance. The distribution of ATM missense mutations and polymorphisms varied widely across the four ethnic groups studied. Although a single missense variant (L546V) appeared to act as a modest predictor of risk, the remaining variants were no more common in breast cancer cases as compared with controls.

Black or African American↗

ASA E382K disrupts a potential exonic splicing enhancer and causes exon skipping, but missense mutations in ASA are not associated with ESEs.

Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the arylsulfatase A (ASA) gene. We identified a Thai boy with typical late-infantile MLD and found that he was a compound heterozygote for a novel mutation, g.IVS3-2A>G causing c.679-696del inherited from his father, and a previously reported missense mutation, g.1144G>A causing c.1102-1204del inherited from his mother. The g.1144G>A mutation was located in the middle of exon 7 and previously assumed to be deleterious by causing an amino acid change, E382K. We, herein, found that its actual pathogenic effect was splicing-related by disrupting a potential exonic splicing enhancer (ESE) and causing a complete exon 7 skipping. This is the first missense mutation in the ASA gene that is deleterious from disrupting a potential ESE. The results prompted us to investigate pathogenic effects of other reported missense mutations in the ASA gene. Unlike pathogenic missense mutations in some other genes, those in the ASA gene do not colocalize with ESE sites suggesting that pathogenic effects of majority of them are not splicing-related.

Alternative Splicing↗

Missense mutations of BRCA1 gene affect the binding with p53 both in vitro and in vivo.

Women with BRCA1 gene mutations have an increased risk for breast and ovarian cancer (BOC). Classification of missense variants as neutral or disease causing is still a challenge and has major implications for genetic counseling. BRCA1 is organized in an N-terminal ring-finger domain and two BRCT (breast cancer C-terminus) domains, involved in protein-protein interaction. The integrity of the C-terminal, BRCT repeat region is also critical for BRCA1 tumor suppressor function. Several molecular partners of BRCA1 have so far been identified; among them, the tumor suppressor protein p53 seems to play a major role. This study was aimed at evaluating the impact of two missense mutations, namely the W1837R and the S1841N, previously identified in BOC patients and located in the BRCT domain of the BRCA1 gene, on the binding capacity of this protein to p53. Co-immunoprecipitation assays of E. coli-expressed wild-type and mutated BRCTs challenged with a HeLa cell extract revealed, for the S1841N variant a significant reduction in the binding activity to p53, while the W1837R mutant showed an inverse effect. Furthermore, a clonogenic soft agar growth assay performed on HeLa cells stably transfected with either wild-type or mutant BRCA1 showed a marked decrease of the growth in wild-type BRCA1-overexpressing cells and in BRCA1S1841N-transfected cells, while no significant changes were detected in the BRCA1W1837R-transfected cells. These results demonstrate that: i) distinct single nucleotide changes in the BRCT domain of BRCA1 affect binding of this protein to the tumor suppressor p53, and ii) the two missense mutations here described are likely to play a role in breast tumorigenesis. We suggest that in vitro/in vivo experiments testing the effects of unclassified BRCA1 gene variants should therefore be taken in to consideration and that increased surveillance should be adopted in individuals bearing these two BRCA1 missense alterations.

Agar↗

Missense mutations in the PAX6 gene in aniridia.

PURPOSE: Aniridia is caused by a mutation of the PAX6 gene. Haploinsufficiency of the gene product is thought to result in the aniridia phenotype, because most mutations thus far detected have been large deletions encompassing the entire gene and nonsense, frameshift, or splice errors that result in premature translational termination on one of the alleles. Only two missense mutations have been detected in aniridia pedigrees, each of which occurs in its paired domain or homeodomain. In this study, four novel missense mutations were found in three aniridia pedigrees. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis and sequencing of the PAX6 gene were performed using genomic DNA of three aniridia pedigrees and more than 100 healthy control subjects. RESULTS: Three mutations occurred in the N-terminal subdomain of the paired domain, namely N17S, I29V, and R44Q, the first two of which were detected on the same allele of one patient. The other mutation (Q178H) was in the linking portion of the paired domain and homeodomain. CONCLUSIONS: These missense mutations give rise to haploinsufficiency by another route, because the missense mutations presented here resulted in an aniridia phenotype indistinguishable from that caused by a heterozygous deletion of the entire PAX6 gene.

Adult↗

p21WAF1/CIP1 and MDM2 expression in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and their relationship to p53 status: a p53+, MDM2-, p21-immunophenotype associated with missense p53 mutations.

p53 is a tumour suppressor gene which is often found to be inactivated in most types of human cancer. p53 is a transcription factor, the inactivation of which may lead to significant variations in the levels of p53 downstream proteins, such as p21WAF1/CIP1 and MDM2. In view of the significance of p21WAF1/CIP1 and MDM2 as wild-type (wt) p53 targets, this study was undertaken to monitor the varying expression of these proteins in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs) in relation to p53 gene status. A total of 57 cases of different histological types of NHL were included in this study. Proteins p53, p21WAF1/CIP1, and MDM2 were analysed by immunohistochemical techniques, taking the levels expressed in reactive lymphoid tissues as reference points. p53 gene point mutations (exons 5-8) were looked for using the PCR-SSCP technique and direct sequencing. Fifteen of the 57 cases studied showed 16 mutations at the p53 gene: 12 missense, one nonsense, two silent mutations, and one frameshift deletion. Most missense mutations were associated with high levels of p53 protein, while the nonsense mutations and frameshift deletion did not induce detectable levels of p53. All cases with mutation at the p53 gene (15) showed null or low levels of p21WAF1/CIP1 and MDM2 proteins, suggesting that null or missense mutations at this gene give rise to a protein that is unable to transactivate the p21WAF1/CIP1 and MDM2 genes. The association between missense p53 mutation and dissociate immunophenotype (p53+, MDM2-, p21-) was statistically significant (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.0024). This anomalous p53+, MDM2-, p21- phenotype was also found in a small group of five cases with wt p53; this could indicate that in these cases p53 transactivation capacity has been abrogated by a mechanism other than p53 mutation. Most cases with the wt p53 gene show simultaneous immunohistochemical expression of all three proteins and often display higher levels than those found in reactive lymphoid tissue. There is a tendency for EBV-positive cases to harbour high levels of p53+ and p21+, suggesting that EBV could be involved in the nuclear accumulation of p53 and p21WAF1/CIP1 in NHL.

Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21↗

Dual Aberrant Splicing Caused by an Apparently Missense CHD7 Variant, c.5273A>G (p.Asp1758Gly), in CHARGE Syndrome.

CHARGE syndrome is a rare congenital disorder primarily attributed to heterozygous pathogenic variants of the CHD7 gene. Most pathogenic CHD7 variants are loss-of-function (LoF) variants, whereas the interpretation of missense variants remains challenging in the absence of functional evidence for their pathogenicity. We report a female infant presenting with clinical features characteristic of CHARGE syndrome. Targeted sequencing identified a heterozygous CHD7 variant (NM_017780.4:c.5273A>G), initially annotated as a missense substitution p.Asp1758Gly. This variant has been previously reported and registered with conflicting pathogenicity classifications; however, its transcript-level consequences remain unclear. Long-PCR-based RNA sequencing of total RNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells revealed two aberrant splicing patterns associated with the variant: a predominant transcript carrying a 28-bp deletion due to cryptic donor splice-site activation, and a minor transcript with partial intron 24 retention. Both transcripts were predicted to result in premature termination codons. These findings demonstrate that c.5273A>G functions as a LoF variant through dual aberrant splicing rather than a simple missense substitution. This case underscores the importance of RNA-level splicing analysis for the accurate interpretation and classification of CHD7 missense variants.

CHD7↗

Systematic mRNA analysis for the effect of MLH1 and MSH2 missense and silent mutations on aberrant splicing.

A substantial proportion of MLH1 and MSH2 gene mutations in hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer syndrome (HNPCC) families are characterized by nucleotide substitutions, either within the coding sequence (missense or silent mutations) or in introns. The question of whether these mutations affect the normal function of encoding mismatch DNA repair proteins and thus lead to the predisposition to cancer is determinant in genetic testing. Recent studies have suggested that some nucleotide substitutions can induce aberrant splicing by disrupting cis-transcription elements such as exonic enhancers (ESEs). ESE disruption has been proposed to be the mechanism that underlies the presumed pathological missense mutations identified in HNPCC families. To investigate the prevalence of aberrant splicing resulting from nucleotide substitutions, and its relevance to predicted ESEs, we conducted a systematic RNA screening of a series of 60 patients who carried unrelated exonic or intronic mutations in MLH1 or MSH2 genes. Aberrant splicing was found in 15 cases, five of which were associated with exonic mutations. We evaluated the link between those splicing mutations and predicted putative ESEs by using the computational tools ESEfinder and RESCUE-ESE. Our study shows that the algorithm-based ESE prediction cannot be definitely correlated to experimental observations from RNA screening. By using minigene constructs and in vitro transcription assay, we demonstrated that nucleotide substitutions are the direct cause of the splicing defect. This is the first systematic screening for the effect of missense and silent mutations on splicing in HNPCC patients. The pathogenic splicing mutations identified in this study will contribute to the assessment of "unclassified variants" in genetic counseling. Our results also suggest that one must use caution when determining the pathogenic effect of a missense or silent mutation using ESE prediction algorithms. Analysis at the RNA level is therefore necessary.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Missense mutations that inactivate Escherichia coli lac permease.

Although missense mutations that inactivate integral membrane proteins cause a variety of diseases, the mechanisms by which they act are poorly understood. To establish a model for investigating this issue, we identified 51 missense mutations arising in vivo that inactivate Escherichia coli lac permease, a well-characterized membrane transport protein. The mutants were isolated using a genetic screening procedure which eliminates mutations that block expression of the lac permease gene, such as nonsense and frameshift mutations. The majority of the 51 missense mutations caused highly non-conservative changes in membrane-spanning sequences, such as the introduction of charged residues. Nevertheless, the greatest clustering of substitutions occurred in the two regions of lac permease thought to be most important for transport function. The existence of this clustering indicates that even highly non-conservative substitutions may cause relatively localized structural defects. Conservative inactivating substitutions were scattered throughout lac permease and may affect residues that make contacts required for normal folding. Two unexpected phenotypes were observed in the collection of mutants: about 20% of the substitutions led to cold-sensitive lactose utilization, and one substitution made the mutant lac permease toxic to cells. This relatively unbiased collection of mutants should provide a resource for further studies of how missense mutations inactivate membrane proteins in vivo.

Base Sequence↗

Novel missense mutation in cardiac troponin T gene found in Japanese patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a primary cardiomyopathy with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. The disease bearing genes for HCM in HCM families have been identified as beta-myosin heavy chain, alpha-tropomyosin, cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and myosin binding protein-C genes. In the present study, we searched for the mutations in the cTnT gene in Japanese HCM patients. Single-strand conformation polymorphism gel analysis of polymerase chain reaction-amplified product was used to search for the mutations in the exons 8, 9 and 15 of the cTnT gene from 60 familial HCM patients. Clinical studies of the family members were performed and the incidence of sudden or disease-related deaths within the family was also examined. We have identified a novel missense mutation in exon 9 (Ala104Val) of the cTnT gene in a patient with familial HCM. Because the missense mutation was found at the residue conserved through chicken to humans and was not detected in the more than 50 normal controls, it was suggested that this missense mutation is the cause of HCM in this family. Although the affected family members presented moderate hypertrophy of the left ventricular wall, they were symptomatic and there was a high incidence of sudden death in her family members. Among Japanese patients with familial HCM, a novel missense mutation (Ala104Val) in the cTnT gene was identified. Familial HCM is genetically heterogeneous in Japanese HCM patients as observed in Caucasian kindreds. The disease in the kindred was severe and there was a high incidence of sudden or disease-related deaths in the kindred with this mutation.

Adult↗

Determinants of the factor IX mutational spectrum in haemophilia B: an analysis of missense mutations using a multi-domain molecular model of the activated protein.

A multi-domain molecular model of factor IXa was constructed by comparative methods. The quaternary structure of the protein was assembled by docking individual domains through consideration of their shape complementarity, polaric properties and the location of cross-reacting material positive/negative (CRM+/-) variants on domain surfaces. Some 217 different missense mutations in the factor IX (F9) gene were then selected for study. Using maximum likelihood analysis, missense mutations affecting highly conserved amino acid residues of factor IX were shown to be 15-20 times more likely to result in haemophilia B than those affecting non-conserved residues. However, about one quarter of this increase in likelihood of clinical observation could be attributed to the magnitude of the amino acid exchange. Missense mutations in structurally conserved residues were found to be 2.1-fold more likely to come to clinical attention than those in structurally variable residues. Missense mutations in residues whose side chains were inwardly pointing were 3.6-fold more likely to be observed than those in surface residues. These observations imply a complex hierarchy of sequence/structure conservation in the protein. The severity of the clinical phenotype correlated with both the extent of the evolutionary sequence conservation of the residue at the site of mutation and the magnitude of the amino acid exchange. Further, the substitution of residues exhibiting minimal side chain solvent accessibility was associated disproportionately with severe haemophilia compared with that of surface residues. Clusters of CRM+ mutations were observed at factor IX-specific residues on the surface of the molecule. These clusters may reflect factor IX-specific docking interactions. The likelihood that a given factor IX mutation will come to clinical attention is therefore a complex function of the sequence characteristics of the F9 gene, the nature of the amino acid substitution, its precise location and immediate environment within the protein molecule, and its resulting effects on the structure and function of the protein.

Factor IX↗

A germ line mutation within the coding sequence for the putative 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate binding site of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) in a Lesch-Nyhan patient: missense mutations within a functionally important region probably cause disease.

Lesch-Nyhan syndrome caused by a complete deficiency of hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) is the result of a heterogeneous group of germ line mutations. Identification of each mutant gene provides valuable information as to the type of mutation that occurs spontaneously. We report here a newly identified HPRT mutation in a Japanese patient with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. This gene, designated HPRT Tokyo, had a single nucleotide change from G to A, as identified by sequencing cDNA amplified by the polymerase chain reaction. Allele specific oligonucleotide hybridization analysis using amplified genomic DNA showed that the mutant gene was transmitted from the maternal germ line. This mutation would lead to an amino acid substitution of Asp for Gly at the amino acid position 140 located within the putative 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate (PRPP) binding region. Missense mutations in human HPRT deficient patients thus far reported tend to accumulate in this functionally active region. However, a comparison of the data suggested that both missense and synonymous mutations can occur at any coding sequence of the human germ line HPRT gene, but that a limited percentage of all the missense mutations cause disease. The probability that a mutation will cause disease tends to be higher when the missense mutation is within a functionally important sequence.

Amino Acid Sequence↗