Translocation (13q21q)

Summary A (13q21q) translocation was found in an infant with Down's syndrome. The 17-year-old mother and the grandmother carried the translocation 45,XX,t(13;21)(p12;q11). The great grandparents had normal karyotypes. Fluorescence marker studies suggested that the translocation originated in the great grandmother. The hypothesis was supported by satellite association studies which showed a significant excess of 13–21 and 13–15 associations in the great grandmother.     

Partial duplication 14q/deletion 2q in two sibs due to t(2;14) (q37.1;q31.2) pat

Two siblings are described with duplication 14q/deletion 2q due to a paternal translocation (2;14) (q37.1;q31.2). The first one, a boy, born at term, lived 14 days. The second one, a female foetus, was born after induced labour when the anomaly was discovered by way of amniocentesis. They both had almost identical phenotypes. From a study of the literature it is inferred that a typical asymmetric head form, low set abnormal ears, micrognathia, long upper lip, rib anomalies, camptodactyly, long fingers and contractures are prominent features of the syndrome.     

Intercalary de novo deletion of chromosome 1: del(1) (q24 to q32)

We present one unrelated girl with a de novo interstitial deletion of a segment in the long arm of chromosome 1 (q24----q32). Comparison of the phenotypic characteristics of this proband with those of six previously described patients with similar deletion, does not suggest the existence of a 1q interstitial deletion syndrome. Clinical manifestations of these patients are variable and non specific: intrauterine growth retardation, low set ears, height and weight failure and mental retardation, clinodactyly of the fifth fingers. Other well detailed cases will be necessary to prove the existence of a 1 q interstitial deletion syndrome (q24----q32).     

De novo 10q(q21q22) interstitial deletion

Summary We report a girl with a de novo interstitial deletion in the long arm of a chromosome 10. Clinical features are described.     

Siblings with opposite chromosome constitutions,dup(2q)/del(7q) and del(2q)/dup(7q)

Chromosome 7q36 microdeletion syndrome is a rare genomic disorder characterized by underdevelopment of the brain, microcephaly, anomalies of the sex organs, and language problems. Developmental delay, intellectual disability, autistic spectrum disorders, BDMR syndrome, and unusual facial morphology are the key features of the chromosome 2q37 microdeletion syndrome. A genetic screening for two brothers with global developmental delay using high-resolution chromosomal analysis and subtelomeric multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification revealed subtelomeric rearrangements on the same sites of 2q37.2 and 7q35, with reversed deletion and duplication. Both of them showed dysmorphic facial features, severe disability of physical and intellectual development, and abnormal genitalia with differential abnormalities in their phenotypes. The family did not have abnormal genetic phenotypes. According to the genetic analysis of their parents, adjacent-1 segregation from their mother's was suggested as a mechanism of their gene mutation. By comparing the phenotypes of our patients with previous reports on similar patients, we tried to obtain the information of related genes and their chromosomal locations.     

Inactive-state preassembly of G(q)-coupled receptors and G(q) heterotrimers

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) transmit signals by forming active-state complexes with heterotrimeric G proteins. It has been suggested that some GPCRs also assemble with G proteins before ligand-induced activation and that inactive-state preassembly facilitates rapid and specific G protein activation. However, no mechanism of preassembly has been described, and no functional consequences of preassembly have been demonstrated. Here we show that M(3) muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (M3R) form inactive-state complexes with G(q) heterotrimers in intact cells. The M3R C terminus is sufficient, and a six-amino-acid polybasic sequence distal to helix 8 ((565)KKKRRK(570)) is necessary for preassembly with G(q). Replacing this sequence with six alanine residues prevents preassembly, slows the rate of G(q) activation and decreases steady-state agonist sensitivity. That other G(q)-coupled receptors possess similar polybasic regions and also preassemble with G(q) suggests that these GPCRs may use a common preassembly mechanism to facilitate activation of G(q) heterotrimers.     

Paracentric inversion inv(11) (q21q23) in the Netherlands

Summary We report the result of investigations from 20 families with 72 carriers of the paracentric inversion inv(11)(q21q23) in the Netherlands. There is no increase in the rate of spontaneous abortions among carriers of the inversion or their partners. Also, so far, there are no children with recombinant chromosomes arising from the inversion. It is doubtful whether prenatal diagnosis would be helpful to carriers of this inversion. The results of the genealogy study and geographical distribution are discussed; it is suggested that all the families have arisen from a single mutation.     

Constitutional del(5)(q23.3q31.1)

A 4-month-old male infant with muscular hypotonia, growth and psychomotor retardation, large low-set ears, hypoplastic genitalia, right hip luxation and bilateral equinovarus, was found to have a constitutional 46,XY,del(5)(q23.3q31.1) karyotype. From the comparison with 12 similar cases, a rather characteristic clinical phenotype emerges.     

Fragile site (16) (q22)

Summary The rare autosomal fragile site, fra (16)(q22), is the most common of all rare autosomal fragile sites and has a heterozygote frequency of about 5%. Evidence for it was found following the segregation expected from a simple codominant trait with complete penetrance; this is in contrast to a variety of other rare autosomal fragile sites. Based on the analysis of 12 families in which fra (16)(q22) is segregating, we found that, whereas complete penetrance could be confirmed, the transmitting parent was significantly more likely to be of the female sex. On the other hand, there was no evidence for preferential transmission to offspring of either sex.     

A jumping translocation (5p;15q), (8q;15q), and (12q;15q) (author's transl)]

Three balanced karyotypes (5p;15q), (8q;15q), and (12q;15q) were found simultaneously in a child with the Willi-Prader syndrome. The hypothesis is presented of a "jumping# translocation by affinity of telomeric and interstitial palindromes. The relationship between the Willi-Prader syndrome and a juxtacentric anomaly of the long arm of chromosome 15 is discussed.     

Del (13) (q33). Exclusion of esterase D (ESD) from 13q33 and q34]

A de novo del (13) (q33) was found in a 14-month-old boy with hypospadias. Phenotype anomalies included growth retardation, psychomotor retardation (QD = 64), microcephaly with brachycephaly, a round, flat and asymmetrical facies, a normal nose bridge, a small, pointed chin. The patient is heterozygous ESD 2-1. The gene localization may thus be excluded from bands 13q33 and q34 and assigned to bands q31 or q32, if its previous assignment to the q3 region is confirmed.     

Partial trisomy 11q syndrome (11q23.1-->11qter) due to de novo t (11q; 13q) detected by multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridisation

In this report we describe the identification of a de novo 46, XX, 13q + by multicolour fluorescence in situ hybridisation (M-FISH), as a partial distal 11q trisomy (11q23.1-->11qter). The clinical phenotype association with this distal 11q trisomy is briefly reviewed.     

Localization of human c-mos to chromosome band 8q11 in leukemic cells with the t(8;21) (q22;q22)

Summary Chromosome in situ hybridization studies locate c-mos to chromosome band 8q11 in leukemic cells carrying the t(8;21) (q22;q22). This amends the previous assignment of c-mos to chromosome band 8q22 and conforms with its recent assignment to 8q11 in normal cells and in a cell line with a structurally abnormal chromosome 8. C-mos lies proximally to, and distant from, the breakpoint at 8q22 in the t(8;21) and is unlikely to have a role in the onset of acute myeloid leukemia characterized by this translocation.     

Familial paracentric inversions inv(2)(q31q35) and inv(8)(q22.3q24.13) ascertained through reproductive abnormalities

Summary Two cases of familial paracentric inversion, one in the long arm of chromosome 2 and the other in the long arm of chromosome 8, are described. The first was ascertained in a woman who was studied because of recurrent abortions. The second was ascertained in the father of a girl with the trichorhinophalangeal syndrome and an interstitial deletion in 8q. The latter is the first case in which unequal crossing over in an inversion loop can be inferred in a male carrier of a paracentric inversion. The reasons for the relatively low frequency of paracentric inversions observed and factors which affect the pregnancy outcome are discussed.     

Trisomy 11 q (q23.1 - qter) through maternal translocation t(11;22) (q23.1;q11.1). A new case]

A 4-year-old boy with partial trisomy 11q resulting from malsegregation of a maternal translocation, t(11;22)(q23.1;q11.1), exhibits the following malformations: severe mental deficiency; growth retardation and hypotonia; brachycephaly with flattened occiput and forehead; facial dysmorphia; pre-auricular fistula. These features are in good agreement with the syndrome recently described for partial trisomy 11q. The translocation appears to be identical in that in three other families already reported.