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.     

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.     

Genetic imprinting suggested by maternal heterodisomy in nondeletion Prader-Willi syndrome

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is the most common form of dysmorphic genetic obesity associated with mental retardation. About 60% of cases have a cytological deletion of chromosome 15q11q13 (refs 2, 3). These deletions occur de novo exclusively on the paternal chromosome. By contrast, Angelman syndrome (AS) is a very different clinical disorder and is also associated with deletions of region 15q11q13 (refs 6-8), indistinguishable from those in PWS except that they occur de novo on the maternal chromosome. The parental origin of the affected chromosomes 15 in these disorders could, therefore, be a contributory factor in determining their clinical phenotypes. We have now used cloned DNA markers specific for the 15q11q13 subregion to determine the parental origin of chromosome 15 in PWS individuals not having cytogenetic deletions; these individuals account for almost all of the remaining 40% of PWS cases. Probands in two families displayed maternal uniparental disomy for chromosome 15q11q13. This is the first demonstration that maternal heterodisomy--the presence of two different chromosome 15s derived from the mother--can be associated with a human genetic disease. The absence of a paternal contribution of genes in region 15q11q13, as found in PWS deletion cases, rather than a mutation in a specific gene(s) in this region may result in expression of the clinical phenotype. Thus, we conclude that a gene or genes in region 15q11q13 must be inherited from each parent for normal human development.     

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.     

Close genetic linkage between X-linked retinitis pigmentosa and a restriction fragment length polymorphism identified by recombinant DNA probe L1.28

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of retinal degeneration characterized by progressive visual field loss, night blindness and pigmentary retinopathy. Its prevalence is in the region of 1-2 in 5,000 of the general population, making it one of the commoner causes of blindness in early and middle life. Although 36-48% of RP patients are isolated cases, the remainder show autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive or X-linked modes of inheritance. The X-linked variety ( XLRP ) is found in 14-22% of RP families in the UK. In the present study, X chromosome-specific recombinant DNA probes which can detect restriction fragment length polymorphisms have been used to localize the XLRP gene(s) to a subregion of the X chromosome using linkage analysis. One of the probes, L1.28, has been shown to be closely linked to XLRP in five kindreds, with 95% confidence limits of 0-15 centimorgans (maximum LOD score of 7.89 at a distance of 3 centimorgans). This suggests that the XLRP locus lies on the proximal part of the short arm of the X chromosome. This probe is potentially useful for carrier detection and early diagnosis in about 40% of cases, provided that genetic heterogeneity can be excluded by analysis of further families.     

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.     

Genetic linkage studies suggest that Alzheimer's disease is not a single homogeneous disorder. FAD Collaborative Study Group

Alzheimer's disease, a fatal neurodegenerative disorder of unknown aetiology, is usually considered to be a single disorder because of the general uniformity of the disease phenotype. Two recent genetic linkage studies revealed co-segregation of familial Alzheimer disease with the D21S1/S11 and D21S16 loci on chromosome 21. But two other studies, one of predominantly multiplex kindreds with a late age-of-onset, the other of a cadre of kindreds with a unique Volga German ethnic origin, found absence of linkage at least to D21S1/S11. So far it has not been possible to discern whether these conflicting reports reflect aetiological heterogeneity, differences in methods of pedigree selection, effects of confounding variables in the analysis (for example, diagnostic errors, assortative matings), or true non-replication. To resolve this issue, we have now examined the inheritance of five polymorphic DNA markers from the proximal long arm of chromosome 21 in a large unselected series of pedigrees with familial Alzheimer's disease. Our data suggest that Alzheimer's disease is not a single entity, but rather results from genetic defects on chromosome 21 and from other genetic or nongenetic factors.     

GLI3 zinc-finger gene interrupted by translocations in Greig syndrome families.

The Greig cephalopolysyndactyly syndrome (GCPS) is an autosomal dominant disorder affecting limb and craniofacial development in humans. GCPS-affected individuals are characterized by postaxial polysyndactyly of hands, preaxial polysyndactyly of feet, macroephaly, a broad base of the nose with mild hypertelorism and a prominent forehead. The genetic locus has been pinpointed to chromosome 7p13 by three balanced translocations associated with GCPS in different families. This assignment is corroborated by the detection of two sporadic GCPS cases carrying overlapping deletions in 7p13 (ref. 7), as well as by tight linkage of GCPS to the epidermal growth factor receptor gene in 7p12-13 (ref. 8). Of the genes that map to this region, those encoding T cell receptor-gamma, interferon-beta 2, epidermal growth factor receptor, and Hox1.4, a potential candidate gene for GCPS, have been excluded from the region in which the deletions overlap. Here we show that two of the three translocations interup the GLI3 gene, a zinc-finger gene of the GLI-Krüppel family already localized to 7p13 (refs 5, 6). The breakpoints are within the first third of the coding sequence. In the third translocation, chromosome 7 is broken at about 10 kilobases downstream of the 3' end of GLI3. Our results indicate that mutations disturbing normal GLI3 expression may have a causative role in GCPS.     

Clinical and genetic analysis of two Chinese families with benign familial neonatal convulsions

Benignfamilialneonatalconvulsions(BFNC)is arareautosomaldominantinheritedepilepsysyn dromecharacterizedbyunprovokedpartialorgeneral izedseizures.Theseizuresusuallyoccurfromthesec onddayofbirthtothesixthmonthandremitsponta neouslyafterseveralweekstomonths.Mostindivid ualsareseizure freebytheageofsixmonths.The serumchemistryandneuroradiologicalexaminations,interictalelectroencephalogram(EEG),andpsy chomotordevelopmentareusuallynormal.However,10%to15%ofpatientshavetheriskofseizurere currencela…     

Clinical and genetic analysis of two Chinese families with benign familial neonatal convulsions

Benign familial neonatal convulsions (BFNC) is a rare autosomal dominant inherited epilepsy syndrome. Two voltage-gated potassium channel genes, KCNQ2 and KCNQ3, have been identified as the genes responsible for BFNC. Here we report two Chinese families with clinical histories of typical BFNC. Using six microsatellite markers, two located at KCNQ2 locus and four at KCNQ3 locus, linkage analysis was performed in the two families, which excluded the linkage of BFNC to KCNQ3, but could not exclude the linkage to KCNQ2. Direct DNA sequencing of the KCNQ2 gene in the two families was performed, and two formerly unknown polymorphisms were identified, but no KCNQ2 mutation was found in the two families. Our study suggests the genetic heterogeneity in Chinese families with BFNC and proves the existence of a new gene locus for BFNC.     

Re-evaluation of the linkage relationship between chromosome 11p loci and the gene for bipolar affective disorder in the Old Order Amish

Reanalysis of an Old Order Amish pedigree, to include several new individuals and two changes in clinical status, markedly reduces the probability of linkage between bipolar affective disorder and the Harvey-ras-1 oncogene and insulin loci on chromosome 11. This linkage can be excluded using a large lateral extension of the original Amish pedigree.     

Isolation and polymorphic frequency detection of a novel STR on human chromosome 14q24.3

A single copy fragment (FD14-ca 1) cantaining 22 CA repetitive units was isolated with (CA)₁₅ oligonucleotide probe from a human chromosome 14q24.3 probe pool generated by microdissection, and proved to be a new short tandem repeat (STR) sequence through querying in GenBank of NCBI. The STR has 11 alleles in Chinese. and its polymorphic information content (PIC) is 0.85. Mendelian segregation was shown in 2 Chinese pedigrees with two generations; This STR has been accurately relocalized on chromosome 14q24.3 by fluorescencein situ hybridization (FISH). The accession numbers of this STR in GDB and Gnknk database are D14S1435 and G31413 respectively. This STR would be able to be regarded as a novel genetic marker which can increase the genetic map accuracy in this chromosome region and improve the gene diagnosis on some genetic diseases located in chromosome 14q24.3 band.     

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.     

中国人群DMD基因含外显子片段的限制性带型和RFLPs研究（Ⅰ）──BglⅡ片段的杂交带型及限制性片段长度多态的频率

采用ＤＭＤ基因的全长ＣＤＮＮ（４ｋｂ）为杂交探针，分析了中国人群ＤＭＤ基因含外显子片段（ｅｘｏｎ－ｃｏｎｔａｉｎｉｎｇｆｒａｇｍｅｎｔ）的ＢｇｌⅡ限制性片段和ＲＦＬＰｓ．新揭示出四个ＢｇｌＩＩ片段，ＤＭＤ基因全长范围内含外显子的ＢｇｌⅡ限制性片段总数至少为５９个，这为制作ＤＭＤ基因的ＢｇｌⅡ部分限制图奠定了重要基础；另分析了四个ＢｇｌⅡＲＦＬＰｓ在中国人群中的等位频率，在ｃＤＮＡ２ｂ－３、ｃＤＮＡ４－５ａ和ｃＤＮＡ５ｂ－７三个亚克隆探针的杂交带型中，杂合体频率预期值（ＥＨＦ）分别是０．３３、０．３３和０．４４，实际观察值为：０４０、０．４０、０．４８，表明有较高的临床应用价值．此外，在ＢｇｌⅡ／２ｂ－３和ＢｇｌⅡ／４－５ａ的带型中，还分别发现一个新的罕见等位片段．     

Localization of a susceptibility locus for schizophrenia on chromosome 5

Schizophrenia is a common disorder with a life time prevalence of approximately 1 per cent. The illness often develops in young adults, who were previously normal, and is characterized by a constellation of symptoms including hallucinations and delusions (psychotic symptoms) and symptoms such as severely inappropriate emotional responses, a disorder of thinking and concentration, erratic behaviour as well as social and occupational deterioration. A considerable proportion of the variance in the liability to develop schizophrenia may be genetic, but segregation analysis, to establish a mode of transmission, has not produced a consistent result. One of these studies was carried out in Iceland and made use of the large family size and extensive geneaological information present in that country. Here we demonstrate genetic linkage of two DNA polymorphisms on the long arm of human chromosome 5 to schizophrenia in seven British and Icelandic families with multiple affected members. The results indicate the existence of a gene locus with a dominant schizophrenia-susceptibility allele. Inheritance of the allele in the families studied suggests that it may also predispose to psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia spectrum disorders and a variety of other disorders. This report provides the first strong evidence for the involvement of a single gene in the causation of schizophrenia.     

Evidence against linkage of schizophrenia to markers on chromosome 5 in a northern Swedish pedigree

Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness with a typically chronic course affecting nearly 1% of the human population. It is generally accepted that genetic factors have an important pathogenic role in a substantial portion of schizophrenia cases; however, despite decades of family studies, there is no agreed-upon mode of inheritance. The discovery of genetic aetiologic factors and resolution of the inheritance pattern(s) will undoubtably emerge from genetic linkage studies. With these objectives in mind, we undertook a linkage project, starting in 1985, in a previously well-documented kindred from north Sweden. Multipoint linkage analyses were used to screen the proximal long arm of chromosome 5 using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers at five loci and the distal long arm using RFLPs at two loci, one of which was the locus for the glucocorticoid receptor. We found strong evidence against linkage between schizophrenia and the seven loci. These results, together with the positive evidence for linkage of schizophrenia with markers in the proximal long arm of chromosome 5 lead us to conclude that the genetic factors underlying schizophrenia are heterogeneous.     

Familial combined hyperlipidaemia linked to the apolipoprotein AI-CII-AIV gene cluster on chromosome 11q23-q24.

Familial combined hyperlipidaemia (FCHL) is a common inherited disorder of lipid metabolism with a prevalence of 0.5-2.0% (refs 1, 2). It is estimated to cause 10% of premature coronary heart disease. The underlying metabolic and genetic defects in FCHL have not been identified, but a population study has suggested an association between FCHL and an XmnI restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) within the apolipoprotein AI-CIII-AIV gene cluster. Here we confirm this association and show that it results from linkage disequilibrium between FCHL and the 6.6-kilobase (kb) allele of the XmnI RFLP. Subsequent analysis in seven FCHL families, ascertained through a proband carrying the 6.6 kb XmnI allele, demonstrated linkage to the AI-CIII-AIV cluster on 11q23-q24, zeta = 6.86 with no recombinants. This assignment will facilitate the identification of the mutation that causes hyperlipidaemia in these families.     

Molecular genetic evidence for heterogeneity in manic depression

Manic depression is a severe cyclic mental illness that can be unipolar or bipolar and has a lifetime risk of approximately 7 per 1,000 in most populations. Families with multiple cases of manic depression have been described that are compatible with both autosomal dominant and X-linked modes of genetic transmission. Psychoactive antidepressant and stimulant drugs that help to ameliorate depression and mania are thought to act by affecting catecholamine neurotransmitter systems such as adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine, amongst others. Mutations affecting the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene, which encodes the rate-limiting enzyme for the synthesis of these three neurotransmitters, might therefore be responsible for causing the manic depressive phenotype. We have studied three Icelandic kindreds amongst whom it appears that a single autosomal dominant disease allele is segregating. In these families there were 44 cases amongst 73 individuals at risk. Genetic linkage studies were carried out using clones encoding tyrosine hydroxylase the variable portion of the Harvey-ras-1 (HRAS1) locus and the variable region of the insulin gene (INS). All three markers are closely linked on chromosome 11 and were used to observe the segregation of restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) in the three affected kindreds. We found no evidence for linkage to these markers in any of the three families. In contrast, Gerhard et al. found linkage between manic depression and HRAS1 in a single large Amish kindred. We conclude that there is genetic heterogeneity of linkage in manic depression. Therefore mutations at different loci are responsible for the manic depressive phenotype in the Amish and in Iceland.     

多重PCR和五色荧光检测在一起碎尸案中的应用

目的为完成一起碎尸案中的尸源鉴定。方法利用多重PCR和五色荧光自动化检测技术对D8S1179,D21S11,D7S820,CSFlPO,D3S1358,TH01,D13S317;D16S539,D2S1338,D19S433, VWA,TPOX,D18S51,D5S818,FGA 15个微卫星座位,及Amelogenin(性别座位)进行多态性分析。结果准确迅速地完成了尸源鉴定工作。结论该技术的应用和推广,对加速案件侦破,有效地打击犯罪和遏制刑事案件的发生具有重要意义。