Assignment of the aspartylglucosaminidase gene (AGA) to 4q33----q35 based on decreased activity in a girl with a 46,XX,del(4)(q33) karyotype.

Aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU) is a recessive autosomally inherited lysosomal storage disorder due to deficiency of the enzyme aspartylglucosaminidase (AGA). The structural gene for this human enzyme (AGA) has been assigned to the region 4q21----qter. We determined the AGA activity in cultured fibroblasts of a girl with a 46,XX,del(4)(q33) karyotype. The results indicate that the girl is a hemizygote for AGA, permitting the assignment of human AGA to the region 4q33----qter.     

Separation of retinoblastoma and esterase D loci in a patient with sporadic retinoblastoma and del(13)(q14.1q22.3)

Summary A chromosome 13 deletion in a patient with sporadic retinoblastoma appears to have separated the loci for retinoblastoma and esterase D. This study indicates that: (1) the retinoblastoma locus is distinct from the esterase D locus; and (2) the linear order of these genes is centromere-esterase D-retinoblastoma.     

Constitutional mosaic t(2;7)(q33;p22) and other rearrangements in a girl with Wilms' tumor

A 2-year-old girl with sporadic unilateral Wilms' tumor (WT) not associated with aniridia was found to have, besides other chromosome abnormalities, a t(2;7)(q33;p22) in 6% of her lymphocytes. A comparison with 7 previous WT cases without aniridia in whom diverse chromosomal aberrations were present, reveals a wide heterogeneity and lead us to tentatively classify such changes as causal, secondary, and casual.     

4p- syndrome in a girl with translocation t(1;4)(q11;p16)mat

Summary A newborn girl had features of the 4p- syndrome. Cytogenetic studies of the mother showed a translocation t(1;4)(q11;p16). The proband had the translocation, but the band 4p16 had been lost.     

del(X)(p22.1)/r(X)(p22.1q28) Dynamic mosaicism in a Turner syndrome patient

We report on a 16-year-old patient with Turner syndrome who presented a mos 46,X,del(X)(p22.1)[35]/45,X [19]/46,X,r(X)(p22.1q28)[6]GTG-band karyotype. The R-banding showed that the abnormal X-chromosome was inactive in all 61 cells analyzed. Fluorescence in situ hybridization with a Xp/Yp subtelomeric probe revealed that both abnormal chromosomes lacked the complementary sequences, a fact consistent with a terminal deletion. Besides, the molecular analysis of the human androgen receptor gene showed that the rearranged chromosome was paternal in origin. Since the deleted and the ring chromosomes had the same size and banding pattern, and because the former was the predominant cell line, it was inferred that the Xp- formed a ring in some cells apparently without further loss of genetic material. However, the reverse sequence and even a simultaneous origin due to a complex intrachromosomal exchange are also conceivable. The mild Turner syndrome phenotype is explained by the mosaicism and by the size of the deleted segment.     

Partial 4q duplication due to Inherited der(13),t(4;13)(q26;q34)mat in a girl with a deficiency of Factor X

A girl with mental retardation had a partial trisomy 4q. The chromosome aberration originated from a maternal balanced translocation t(4;13)(q26;q34). The value for Factor X was half the normal value, raising the question of the location of a gene related to the production of Factor X on chromosome 4.     

De novo del(6)(q25) associated with macular degeneration

An eight-month-old girl with a de novo del(6)(q25) is described. She and other previous cases of 6q deletion showed concordance for developmental retardation associated with multiple unspecific congenital abnormalities, which do not yet allow the delineation of a syndrome. However, bilateral macular degeneration was found in the proposita and had been observed in another similar case, so it probably represents a distinctive feature of 6q terminal monosomy. This observation also suggests the existence of a dominant macular degeneration locus within 6q25----qter.     

A duplication dup(4)(q28q35.2) de novo in a newborn

We report here a case of a newborn with hypotrophy and somatic stigmatization: microcephaly, facial dysmorphism, heart defect and immunodeficiency syndrome. The proband's karyotype was 46,XY,dup(4)(q28q35.2) de novo with chromosomal breaks in 4% of metaphases. We demonstrate the usefulness of a combination of physical examination, classical cytogenetics, FISH and PCR techniques in order to establish correct diagnosis because of overlap of some clinical and cytogenetic features of Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) and duplication 4q in our patient. Although FISH technique detected translocation t(14q;21q) in 4 metaphases, deletion 657del5 in exon 6 of the NBS1 gene associated with NBS in Slavic population was not confirmed. We compare in this report similarity of the clinical picture of our patient, NBS cases and other patients carrying a duplication of the distal part of 4q as described in the literature.     

Partial trisomy 4q: Two cases with a familial translocation t(4;18)(q27;q23)

Clinical and cytogenetic data of two related patients, both trisomic for the segment 4q27 to qter, are reported. Familial studies determined that the mothers of the two probands were carriers of the same balanced translocation between chromosomes 4 and 18. Altogether, two partial trisomies 4q, five balanced karyotypes, and one 45,X0 karyotype were found in the family. The 18 cases reported to date are reviewed with respect to the karyotype-phenotype correlation.     

Deletion of the long arm of chromosome 4 [46,XX,del(4)(q31)] in a patient with congenital anomalies.

A girl with congenital malformations and del 4(q31), identified by QFQ- and RFA- techniques, is described. The clinical findings are compared with the four cases of 4q- of the literature. Evident variability of the clinical features and the small number of cases of 4q- does not allow the delineation of a clinical syndrome.     

Autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia with sensory axonal neuropathy (SCA4): clinical description and genetic localization to chromosome 16q22.1.

The hereditary ataxias represent a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative disorders. Various classification schemes based on clinical criteria are being replaced as molecular characterization of the ataxias proceeds; so far, seven distinct autosomal dominant hereditary ataxias have been genetically mapped in the human genome. We report linkage to chromosome 16q22.1 for one of these genes (SCA4) in a five-generation family with an autosomal dominant, late-onset spinocerebellar ataxia; the gene is tightly linked to the microsatellite marker D16S397 (LOD score = 5.93 at theta = .00). In addition, we present clinical and electrophysiological data regarding the distinct and previously unreported phenotype consisting of ataxia with the invariant presence of a prominent axonal sensory neuropathy.     

A 3p deletion syndrome in a child with both del(3)(p25-->pter) and dup(17)(q23-->qter).

A child with monosomy for the distal part of the short arm of chromosome 3 (3p25-->pter) and trisomy for the terminal portion of the long arm of chromosome 17 (17q23-->qter) is presented. This unbalanced karyotype was derived from a balanced reciprocal 3p/17q translocation in the phenotypically normal mother. Main clinical features in the proband included growth and mental retardation, hypotonia, hirsutism, micro/brachycephaly, triangular face, synophris, broad and full nose, long philtrum, narrow upper lip, low set, posteriorly turned ears, anteriorly placed anus and congenital heart defect (Tetralogy of Fallot). Most of these clinical manifestations have been constantly reported in previous cases with terminal 3p deletion.     

A case of Hirschsprung disease with a chromosome 13 microdeletion,del(13)(q32.3q33.2): potential mapping of one disease locus

Summary A mentally retarded boy with discrete physical findings, Hirschsprung disease (HD) and a microdeletion of 13q,del(13)(q32.3q33.2) is described. Band 13q33.1 was consistently missing in all cells. There have been, to date, 4 published cases of deletions involving the long arm of chromosome 13 associated with HD: the interstitial deletion reported here is much smaller than, and it partially overlaps with, the previously reported deletions; it could be helpful for mapping one of the genes involved in this disease.     

Deletion (X)(q26.1-->q28) in a proband and her mother: molecular characterization and phenotypic-karyotypic deductions.

During a routine prenatal diagnosis we detected a female fetus with an apparent terminal deletion of an X chromosome with a karyotype 46,X,del(X)(q25); the mother, who later underwent premature ovarian failure, had the same Xq deletion. To further delineate this familial X deletion and to determine whether the deletion was truly terminal or, rather, interstitial (retaining a portion of the terminal Xq28), we used a combination of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and Southern analyses. RFLP analyses and dosage estimation by densitometry were performed with a panel of nine probes (DXS3, DXS17, DXS11, DXS42, DXS86, DXS144E, DXS105, DXS304, and DXS52) that span the region Xq21 to subtelomeric Xq28. We detected a deletion involving the five probes spanning Xq26-Xq28. FISH with a cosmid probe (CLH 128) that defined Xq28 provided further evidence of a deletion in that region. Analysis with the X chromosome-specific cocktail probes spanning Xpter-qter showed hybridization signal all along the abnormal X, excluding the possibility of a cryptic translocation. However, sequential FISH with the X alpha-satellite probe DXZ1 and a probe for total human telomeres showed the presence of telomeres on both the normal and deleted X chromosomes. From the molecular and FISH analyses we interpret the deletion in this family as 46,X,del(X) (pter-->q26::qter). In light of previous phenotypic-karyotypic correlations, it can be deduced that this region contains a locus responsible for ovarian maintenance.