A frame-shift mutation in the cystic fibrosis gene.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a common recessive lethal genetic disorder, affecting 1 in 1,600 Caucasians. The disease causes defective regulation of chloride-ion transport in exocrine cells. Although in all CF families the disease is linked to a locus on chromosome 7q31, there is clinical heterogeneity in the severity of the disease and the age at which it is diagnosed. CF is caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. A three-nucleotide deletion (delta F508) causing the loss of a phenylalanine residue in the tenth exon of the CFTR gene has been found on 70% of CF chromosomes. We have now characterized a CF family in which neither parent of the affected individual carries the common mutation, and identified a two-nucleotide insertion in the CF allele of the mother. The mutation introduces a termination codon in exon 13 of the CFTR gene at residue 821, and is predicted to result in the production of a severely truncated nonfunctional protein.     

Localization of cystic fibrosis locus to human chromosome 7cen-q22

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common genetic disease in Caucasian populations, with an incidence of 1 in 2,000 live births in the United Kingdom, and a carrier frequency of approximately 1 in 20. The biochemical basis of the disease is not known, although membrane transport phenomena associated with CF have been described recently. Consanguinity studies have shown that the inheritance of CF is consistent with it being a recessive defect caused by a mutation at a single autosomal locus. Eiberg et al. have reported a genetic linkage between the CF locus and a polymorphic locus controlling activity of the serum aryl esterase paraoxonase (PON). The chromosomal location of PON, however, is not known. Linkage to a DNA probe, DOCR1-917, was also recently found at a genetic distance of approximately 15 centimorgans (L.-C. Tsui and H. Donnis-Keller, personal communication), but no chromosomal localization was given. Here we report tight linkage between the CF locus and an anonymous DNA probe, pJ3.11, which has been assigned to chromosome 7cen-q22.     

A polymorphic DNA marker linked to cystic fibrosis is located on chromosome 7

Although cystic fibrosis (CF) is among the most common inherited diseases in Caucasian populations, the basic biochemical defect is not yet known. CF is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait apparently due to mutations in a single gene, whence the efforts made to identify the genetic locus responsible by linkage studies. Two markers have recently been identified that are genetically linked to CF: one is a genetic variation in serum level of activity of the enzyme paraoxonase, and the other is a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) identified with a randomly isolated DNA probe. We report here that the genetic locus DOCRI-917 defined by the cloned DNA probe is located on chromosome 7.     

Defective regulation of outwardly rectifying Cl- channels by protein kinase A corrected by insertion of CFTR.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a lethal genetic disease resulting in a reduced Cl- permeability, increased mucous sulphation, increased Na+ absorption and defective acidification of lysosomal vesicles. The CF gene encodes a protein (the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, CFTR) that can function as a low-conductance Cl- channel with a linear current-voltage relationship whose regulation is defective in CF patients. Larger conductance, outwardly rectifying Cl- channels are also defective in CF and fail to activate when exposed either to cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase A or to protein kinase C. The role of the outwardly rectifying Cl- channel in CF has been questioned. We report here that expression of recombinant CF genes using adeno-associated virus vectors in CF bronchial epithelial cells corrects defective Cl- secretion, that it induces the appearance of small, linear conductance Cl- channels, and restores protein kinase A activation of outwardly rectifying Cl- channels. These results re-establish an involvement of outwardly rectifying Cl- channels in CF and suggest that CFTR regulates more than one conductance pathway in airway tissues.     

Close linkage of c-Harvey-ras-1 and the insulin gene to affective disorder is ruled out in three North American pedigrees

Affective disorder (AD) is one of the major forms of functional psychoses. Although the mode of transmission is uncertain, family, twin and adoption studies strongly suggest a genetic involvement. Because a basic biochemical abnormality is not known, direct analysis of the disease using a probe for the defective gene is not possible. However, a specific locus can be tested for its relevance to the aetiology of AD by genetic linkage, using restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs). Using probes for the c-Ha-ras-1 oncogene and the insulin gene, Gerhard et al. and Egeland et al. found convincing evidence for close linkage between these markers and a locus for AD in a large Old Order Amish pedigree. In an attempt to confirm this finding, we examined three bipolar pedigrees outside the Amish population. Our results indicate the absence of linkage from 0 to 15% recombination frequency between AD and the insulin gene-HRAS1 region in these pedigrees.     

Gene for chronic proximal spinal muscular atrophies maps to chromosome 5q

Proximal spinal muscular atrophies represent the second most common fatal, autosomal recessive disorder after cystic fibrosis. The childhood form is classically subdivided into three groups: acute Werdnig-Hoffmann (type I), intermediate Werdnig-Hoffmann disease (type II) and Kugelberg-Welander disease (type III). These different clinical forms have previously been attributed to either genetic heterogeneity or variable expression of different mutations at the same locus. Research has been hindered because the underlying biochemical defect is unknown, and there are insufficient large pedigrees with the most common and severe form (type I) available for study. Therefore, we have undertaken a genetic linkage analysis of the chronic forms of the disease (types II and III) as an initial step towards the ultimate goal of characterizing the gene(s) responsible for all three types. We report here the assignment of the locus for the chronic forms to the long arm of chromosome 5 (5q12-q14), with the anonymous DNA marker D5S39, in 24 multiplex families of distinct ethnic origin. Furthermore, no evidence for genetic heterogeneity was found for types II and III in our study, suggesting that these two forms are allelic disorders.     

Cystic fibrosis in the mouse by targeted insertional mutagenesis.

Cystic fibrosis is a fatal genetic disorder which afflicts 50,000 people worldwide. A viable animal model would be invaluable for investigating and combating this disease. The mouse cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene was disrupted in embryonal stem cells using an insertional gene targeting vector. Germ-line chimaeras were derived and the offspring of heterozygous crosses studied. These homozygous mutant mice survive beyond weaning. In vivo electrophysiology demonstrates the predicted defect in chloride ion transport in these mice and can distinguish between each genotype. Histological analysis detects important hallmarks of human disease pathology, including abnormalities of the colon, lung and vas deferens. This insertional mouse mutation provides a valid model system for the development and testing of therapies for cystic fibrosis patients.     

Assignment of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A to chromosome 10 by linkage

Multiple endocrine neoplasis type 2A (MEN2A) is one of several kinds of cancers that appear to be inherited in an autosomally dominant fashion. We have assigned the MEN2A locus to chromosome 10 by linkage with a new DNA marker (D10S5). The linkage led us to investigate other chromosome 10 markers and demonstrate linkage between the disease locus and the interstitial retinol-binding protein (IRBP) gene. The D10S5 locus was sublocalized to 10q21.1 by hybridization in situ and the IRBP gene to p11.2----q11.2 with a secondary site at q24----q25. The linkages were established using 292 members of five families, three different restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) at D10S5 and two RFLPs recognized by the IRBP probe. The recombination frequencies from pairwise linkage analysis between the disease and two marker loci D10S5 and IRBP were 0.19 and 0.11, with maximum lod scores of 3.6 and 8.0 respectively. Ordering of the three loci by multipoint analysis placed the IRBP gene approximately midway between the disease and D10S5 loci.     

Aberrant CFTR-dependent HCO3- transport in mutations associated with cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). Initially, Cl- conductance in the sweat duct was discovered to be impaired in CF, a finding that has been extended to all CFTR-expressing cells. Subsequent cloning of the gene showed that CFTR functions as a cyclic-AMP-regulated Cl- channel; and some CF-causing mutations inhibit CFTR Cl- channel activity. The identification of additional CF-causing mutants with normal Cl- channel activity indicates, however, that other CFTR-dependent processes contribute to the disease. Indeed, CFTR regulates other transporters, including Cl(-)-coupled HCO3- transport. Alkaline fluids are secreted by normal tissues, whereas acidic fluids are secreted by mutant CFTR-expressing tissues, indicating the importance of this activity. HCO3- and pH affect mucin viscosity and bacterial binding. We have examined Cl(-)-coupled HCO3- transport by CFTR mutants that retain substantial or normal Cl- channel activity. Here we show that mutants reported to be associated with CF with pancreatic insufficiency do not support HCO3- transport, and those associated with pancreatic sufficiency show reduced HCO3- transport. Our findings demonstrate the importance of HCO3- transport in the function of secretory epithelia and in CF.     

Expression and characterization of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a common lethal genetic disease that manifests itself in airway and other epithelial cells as defective chloride ion absorption and secretion, resulting at least in part from a defect in a cyclic AMP-regulated, outwardly-rectifying Cl- channel in the apical surface. The gene responsible for CF has been identified and predicted to encode a membrane protein termed the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). Identification of a cryptic bacterial promoter within the CFTR coding sequence led us to construct a complementary DNA in a low-copy-number plasmid, thereby avoiding the deleterious effects of CFTR expression on Escherischia coli. We have used this cDNA to express CFTR in vitro and in vivo. Here we demonstrate that CFTR is a membrane-associated glycoprotein that can be phosporylated in vitro by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies directed against distinct domains of the protein immunoprecipitated recombinant CFTR as well as the endogenous CFTR in nonrecombinant T84 cells. Partial proteolysis fingerprinting showed that the recombinant and non-recombinant proteins are indistinguishable. These data, which establish several characteristics of the protein responsible for CF, will now enable CFTR function to be studied and will provide a basis for diagnosis and therapy.     

Exclusion of linkage to 5q11-13 in families with schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders

Recently a linkage study on five Icelandic and two English pedigrees has provided evidence for a dominant gene for schizophrenia on 5q11-13 (ref. 1). In that study, families with bipolar illness were not included. Using the same probes, two similar but independent investigations on one Swedish pedigree and on fifteen Scottish families excluded linkage to schizophrenia. To evaluate whether the susceptibility gene on 5q11-13 is a common cause of schizophrenia in other populations, we examined five affected North American pedigrees using probes to the D5S39, D5S76 and dihydrofolate reductase loci. Two families in the present series had cases of bipolar disorder. We found that linkage can be excluded by multipoint analysis. These results, taken together, suggest that the disease gene on 5q11-13 does not account for most cases of familial schizophrenia.     

No linkage of chromosome 5q11-q13 markers to schizophrenia in Scottish families

Recent work suggests that an autosomal dominant gene for schizophrenia may be located on the 5q11-q13 region of chromosome 5 (refs 1 and 2): a report of schizophrenia associated with trisomy 5q11-q13 in two members of a family of Chinese origin prompted the discovery of linkage with markers p105-599Ha and p105-153Ra in five Icelandic and two English schizophrenic families. The strongest linkage was observed when the phenotype was broadly defined to include minor psychiatric diagnoses not traditionally considered part of the schizophrenia spectrum. By contrast, no evidence was found of linkage in a single multiplex Swedish schizophrenic pedigree. To determine whether these conflicting results arise from genetic and/or uncertainties in defining the schizophrenic phenotype, we examined fifteen Scottish schizophrenic families with restriction fragment length polymorphisms that span this region. We found no evidence for linkage, regardless of how broadly or narrowly the schizophrenic phenotype is defined, and conclude that a susceptibility locus, whose presence awaits confirmation, on the proximal portion of the long arm of chromosome 5 can be responsible for only a minority of cases of familial schizophrenia.     

Mapping of mutation causing Friedreich's ataxia to human chromosome 9

Friedreich's ataxia is an autosomal recessive disease with progressive degeneration of the central and peripheral nervous system. The biochemical abnormality underlying the disorder has not been identified. Prompted by the success in localizing the mutations causing Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Huntington's disease and cystic fibrosis, we have undertaken molecular genetic linkage studies to determine the chromosomal site of the Friedreich's ataxia mutation as an initial step towards the isolation and characterization of the defective gene. We report the assignment of the gene mutation for this disorder to chromosome 9p22-CEN by genetic linkage to an anonymous DNA marker MCT112 and the interferon-beta gene probe. In contrast to the clinical variation seen for the disorder, no evidence of genetic heterogeneity is observed.     

In vivo cell-specific expression of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by mutations in the gene encoding the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). The principal manifestations of CF include increased concentration of Cl- in exocrine gland secretions, pancreatic insufficiency, chronic lung disease, intestinal blockage and malabsorption of fat, and male and female infertility. Insight into the function of CFTR can be gained by correlating its cell-specific expression with the physiology of those cells and with CF pathology. Determination of CFTR messenger RNA in rat tissues by in situ hybridization shows that it is specifically expressed in the ductal cells of the pancreas and the salivary glands. In the intestine, decreasing gradients of expression of the CFTR gene are observed on both the crypt-villus and the proximal-distal axes. This expression is consistent with CFTR being responsible for bidirectional Cl- transport, secretion in the intestinal crypts and reabsorption in the silivary gland ducts, and suggests that in these tissues CFTR functions as a regulated Cl- channel. In the lung, a broad band of hybridization includes the mucosa and submucosa of the bronchi and bronchioles. In the testis, CFTR expression is regulated during the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium. Postmeiotic expression is maximal in the round spermatids of stages VII and VIII, suggesting that CFTR plays a critical role in spermatogenesis and that deficiency of this function contributes to CF male infertility.     

Theoretical strategies for high-resolution mapping of complex genetic disorders in humans

Positional cloning of gene(s) underlying a complex disease trait poses requirement of a highresolution linkage map between the disease locus and genetic marker loci. Recent researches have shown that this may be achieved through appropriately modeling and screening linkage disequilibrium between the candidate marker locus and the major trait locus. However, these models were restricted to the circumstances where genotyping at the disease locus was feasible. The major limitations of pedigree-based linkage analyses were addressed in the light of positional cloning and positional candidate gene identification in humans. It summarizes the recent efforts in developing theories for fine-scale mapping of genes underlying complex genetic variations where the one-to-one relationship no longer exists between phenotype of the genetic disorders and the corresponding genotype. Dedicated to Dr. C. C. Tan for his 90th birthday.     

Linkage of Marfan syndrome and a phenotypically related disorder to two different fibrillin genes.

Marfan syndrome (MFS), one of the most common genetic disorders of connective tissue, is characterized by skeletal, cardiovascular and ocular abnormalities. The incidence of the disease is about 1 in 20,000, with life expectancy severely reduced because of cardiovascular complications. As the underlying defect is unknown, MFS diagnosis is based solely on clinical criteria. Certain phenotypic features of MFS are also shared by other conditions, which may be genetically distinct entities although part of a clinical continuum. Immunohistochemical studies have implicated fibrillin, a major component of elastin-associated microfibrils, in MFS aetiology. Genetic linkage analysis with random probes has independently localized the MFS locus to chromosome 15. Here we report that these two experimental approaches converge with the cloning and mapping of the fibrillin gene to chromosome 15q15-21, and with the establishment of linkage to MFS. We also isolated a second fibrillin gene and mapped it to chromosome 5q23-31. We linked this novel gene to a condition, congenital contractural arachnodactyly, that shares some of the features of MFS. Thus, the cosegregation of two related genes with two related syndromes implies that fibrillin mutations are likely to be responsible for different MFS phenotypes.     

Genetic mechanisms of floral trait correlations in a natural population

Genetic correlations among traits are important in evolution, as they can constrain evolutionary change or reflect past selection for combinations of traits. Constraints and integration depend on whether the correlations are caused by pleiotropy or linkage disequilibrium, but these genetic mechanisms underlying correlations remain largely unknown in natural populations. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping studies do not adequately address the mechanisms of within-population genetic correlations because they rely on crosses between distinct species, inbred lines or selected lines (see ref. 5), and they cannot distinguish moderate linkage disequilibrium from pleiotropy because they commonly rely on only one or two episodes of recombination. Here I report that after nine generations of enforced random mating (nine episodes of recombination), correlations between six floral traits in wild radish plants are unchanged, showing that pleiotropy generates the correlations. There is no evidence for linkage disequilibrium despite previous correlational selection acting on one functionally integrated pair of traits. This study provides direct evidence of the genetic mechanisms underlying correlations between quantitative traits in a natural population and suggests that there may be constraints on the independent evolution of pairs of highly correlated traits.