A novel,evolutionarily conserved gene family with putative sequence-specific single-stranded DNA-binding activity

Complete and partial deletions of chromosome 5q are recurrent cytogenetic anomalies associated with aggressive myeloid malignancies. Earlier, we identified an approximately 1.5-Mb region of loss at 5q13.3 between the loci D5S672 and D5S620 in primary leukemic blasts. A leukemic cell line, ML3, is diploid for all of chromosome 5, except for an inversion-coupled translocation within the D5S672-D5S620 interval. Here, we report the development of a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) contig to define the breakpoint and the identification of a novel gene SSBP2, the target of disruption in ML3 cells. A preliminary evaluation of SSBP2 as a tumor suppressor gene in primary leukemic blasts and cell lines suggests that the remaining allele does not undergo intragenic mutations. SSBP2 is one of three members of a closely related, evolutionarily conserved, and ubiquitously expressed gene family. SSBP3 is the human ortholog of a chicken gene, CSDP, that encodes a sequence-specific single-stranded DNA-binding protein. SSBP3 localizes to chromosome 1p31.3, and the third member, SSBP4, maps to chromosome 19p13.1. Chromosomal localization and the putative single-stranded DNA-binding activity suggest that all three members of this family are capable of potential tumor suppressor activity by gene dosage or other epigenetic mechanisms.     

Analysis of chromosome 22 deletions in neurofibromatosis type 2-related tumors.

The neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) gene has been hypothesized to be a recessive tumor suppressor, with mutations at the same locus on chromosome 22 that lead to NF2 also leading to sporadic tumors of the types seen in NF2. Flanking markers for this gene have previously been defined as D22S1 centromeric and D22S28 telomeric. Identification of subregions of this interval that are consistently rearranged in the NF2-related tumors would aid in better defining the disease locus. To this end, we have compared tumor and constitutional DNAs, isolated from 39 unrelated patients with sporadic and NF2-associated acoustic neuromas, meningiomas, schwannomas, and ependymomas, at eight polymorphic loci on chromosome 22. Two of the tumors studied revealed loss-of-heterozygosity patterns, which is consistent with the presence of chromosome 22 terminal deletions. By using additional polymorphic markers, the terminal deletion breakpoint found in one of the tumors, an acoustic neuroma from an NF2 patient, was mapped within the previously defined NF2 region. The breakpoint occurred between the haplotyped markers D22S41/D22S46 and D22S56. This finding redefines the proximal flanking marker and localizes the NF2 gene between markers D22S41/D22S46 and D22S28. In addition, we identified a sporadic acoustic neuroma that reveals a loss-of-heterozygosity pattern consistent with mitotic recombination or deletion and reduplication, which are mechanisms not previously seen in studies of these tumors. This finding, while inconsistent with models of tumorigenesis that invoke single deletions and their gene-dosage effects, lends further support to the recessive tumor-suppressor model.     

A sequence-ready BAC clone contig of human chromosome 10p15 spanning the loss of heterozygosity region in glioma

Deletion of chromosome 10 is one of the most common chromosomal alterations in glioma. At 10p15, the telomeric region of the short arm of chromosome 10, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) has been frequently observed by microsatellite analysis, suggesting the presence of a tumor suppressor gene. We examined LOH in 34 gliomas on chromosome 10, and frequent LOH on 10p was detected on 10p15, in agreement with deletion mapping studies on chromosome 10. We then constructed a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clone contig covering the critical region, which spanned the interval between D10S249 and D10S533 on 10p15. The map contained 68 BAC clones connected by 74 sequenced tag sites (STSs) and covered approximately 2.7 Mb, with one gap. A total of 74 STSs, including 6 microsatellite markers, 29 expressed sequenced tags (ESTs), and 39 BAC end STSs, were physically arranged. Twenty-eight ESTs were mapped in the interval between D10S249 and D10S559 (approximately 1200 kb), and another EST was mapped in the interval between D10S559 and D10S533 (approximately 1300 kb). This sequence-ready BAC clone contig map will be a basic resource for high-quality sequencing and positional cloning of the putative tumor suppressor gene at 10p15 in glioma.     

CHD5 is a tumor suppressor at human 1p36

Cancer gene discovery has relied extensively on analyzing tumors for gains and losses to reveal the location of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, respectively. Deletions of 1p36 are extremely common genetic lesions in human cancer, occurring in malignancies of epithelial, neural, and hematopoietic origin. Although this suggests that 1p36 harbors a gene that drives tumorigenesis when inactivated, the identity of this tumor suppressor has remained elusive. Here we use chromosome engineering to generate mouse models with gain and loss of a region corresponding to human 1p36. This approach functionally identifies chromodomain helicase DNA binding domain 5 (Chd5) as a tumor suppressor that controls proliferation, apoptosis, and senescence via the p19(Arf)/p53 pathway. We demonstrate that Chd5 functions as a tumor suppressor in vivo and implicate deletion of CHD5 in human cancer. Identification of this tumor suppressor provides new avenues for exploring innovative clinical interventions for cancer.     

Overexpression of EXTL3/EXTR1 enhances NF-kappaB activity induced by TNF-alpha

EXTL3/EXTR1 is a member of the EXT gene family, which may represent a class of glycosyltransferases involved in heparan sulfate biosynthesis. It is known that heparan sulfate interacts with a variety of proteins and is therefore implicated in various cellular responses. Here, we examined the effect of EXTL3 on nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activity stimulated by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), one of heparin-binding cytokine. The luciferase assay demonstrated that overexpression of EXTL3 enhanced TNF-alpha-induced NF-kappaB activity. This is confirmed with an electrophoretic mobility shift assay. However, EXTL3 did not affect the CD40-mediated NF-kappaB activation. The EXTL3 mutants lacking the amino terminus region failed to enhance the activity. The fluorescence of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-fused EXTL3 was observed at the perinuclear region, whereas, the amino terminus-truncated mutant was found in a diffuse cytoplasmic region. These results suggest that EXTL3 may modulate NF-kappaB mediated by TNF-alpha.     

Loss of heterozygosity on 17p in human breast carcinomas: defining the smallest common region of deletion

The marker D17S5, mapping to the short arm of chromosome 17, was recently reported by us and others to undergo frequent heterozygous deletion in human primary breast carcinomas, implicating the presence of a tumor suppressor gene in this region. To narrow down the location of this gene more precisely, we have performed a deletion-mapping study in an extended series of 78 breast carcinomas, using nine polymorphic markers for the short arm and two polymorphic markers for the long arm of chromosome 17. Partial allele losses on 17p were observed in nine cases, which, taken together, suggest that the target gene for the deletions maps to the region extending between the markers D17S5 (17p13.3) and D17S67 (17p12).     

Molecular cloning and chromosomal mapping of the human homologue of MYB binding protein (P160) 1A (MYBBP1A) to 17p13.3

We have previously isolated and characterized murine MYB binding protein (p160) 1a, a protein that specifically interacts with the leucine zipper motif within the negative regulatory domain of the c-Myb proto-oncoprotein. We now describe the molecular cloning of the human MYBBP1A cDNA and chromosomal localization to 17p13.3 by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. Given the likely presence of a tumor suppressor gene (or genes) within this region of chromosome 17, the position of MYBBP1A was further mapped by radiation hybrid analysis and was found to lie between markers D17S1828 and D17S938. A P1 artificial chromosome clone containing the 5' region of MYBBP1A was isolated and indicates a physical linkage between MYBBP1A and the 15-lipoxygenase gene (ALOX15). A novel, polymorphic (CA)(25) dinucleotide repeat was also isolated from this PAC and may serve as a useful marker for MYBBP1A and this region of chromosome 17.     

Loss of NOTCH2 positively predicts survival in subgroups of human glial brain tumors

The structural complexity of chromosome 1p centromeric region has been an obstacle for fine mapping of tumor suppressor genes in this area. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 1p is associated with the longer survival of oligodendroglioma (OD) patients. To test the clinical relevance of 1p loss in glioblastomas (GBM) patients and identifiy the underlying tumor suppressor locus, we constructed a somatic deletion map on chromosome 1p in 26 OG and 118 GBM. Deletion hotspots at 4 microsatellite markers located at 1p36.3, 1p36.1, 1p22 and 1p11 defined 10 distinct haplotypes that were related to patient survival. We found that loss of 1p centromeric marker D1S2696 within NOTCH2 intron 12 was associated with favorable prognosis in OD (P = 0.0007) as well as in GBM (P = 0.0175), while 19q loss, concomitant with 1p LOH in OD, had no influence on GBM survival (P = 0.918). Assessment of the intra-chromosomal ratio between NOTCH2 and its 1q21 pericentric duplication N2N (N2/N2N-test) allowed delineation of a consistent centromeric breakpoint in OD that also contained a minimally lost area in GBM. OD and GBM showed distinct deletion patterns that converged to the NOTCH2 gene in both glioma subtypes. Moreover, the N2/N2N-test disclosed homozygous deletions of NOTCH2 in primary OD. The N2/N2N test distinguished OD from GBM with a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 97%. Combined assessment of NOTCH2 genetic markers D1S2696 and N2/N2N predicted 24-month survival with an accuracy (0.925) that is equivalent to histological classification combined with the D1S2696 status (0.954) and higher than current genetic evaluation by 1p/19q LOH (0.762). Our data propose NOTCH2 as a powerful new molecular test to detect prognostically favorable gliomas.     

A 2-Mb sequence-ready contig map and a novel immunoglobulin superfamily gene IGSF4 in the LOH region of chromosome 11q23.2

Human chromosome 11q23.2 has been proposed to contain a tumor suppressor gene(s) whose deletion has been associated with cancer of the lung and breast and with neuroblastoma. To analyze the genomic structure and to isolate a candidate tumor suppressor gene from this region, we constructed a 2-Mb sequence-ready contig map using bacteriophage P1 (P1), bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC), and P1-derived artificial chromosome (PAC). The map comprises a contig of 24 overlapping P1, BAC, and PAC clones. To isolate gene fragments from the region, we performed direct cDNA library screening, exon trapping, EST mapping, and genomic sequencing using the P1, BAC, and PAC clones. Sequence analysis of 5 clones, which spans 23% (458,738 bp) of the region, and extensive gene scanning along the entire region revealed that the region is extraordinarily scarce in genes, but we identified one ubiquitously expressed novel gene and one testis-specific gene fragment. The novel gene, which we call IGSF4 (immunoglobulin superfamily 4), is transcribed into a 1.6- or 4.4-kb RNA encoding a 442-amino-acid protein. It shares strong homology with mouse IGSF-B12 and cell adhesion molecules NCAM1 and NCAM2 within their Ig-like C2-type domains. The IGSF4 gene, a novel gene that is shown to be located in the common loss of heterozygosity region, possesses a number of interesting features and may be good candidate for a tumor suppressor gene.     

Localization of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1a (CMT1A) to chromosome 17p11.2.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease type 1a has been previously localized to chromosome 17 using the markers D17S58 and D17S71. In that report we were unable to provide unequivocal localization of the CMT1A gene on either the proximal p or the q arm. Therefore, data from one additional CMT1A family and typing of other probes spanning the pericentromeric region of chromosome 17 (D17S73, D17S58, D17S122, D17S125, D17S124) were analyzed. Multipoint analysis demonstrates convincing evidence (log likelihood difference greater than 5) that the CMT1A gene lies within 17p11.2 and most likely between the flanking markers D17S122 and D17S124.     

The gene for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease lies in a 750-kb CpG-rich region.

PKD1, the locus most commonly affected by mutations that produce autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), has previously been localized to chromosome 16p13.3. Since no cytogenetic abnormalities have been found in association with ADPKD, flanking genetic markers have been required to define an interval--the PKD1 region--that contains the PKD1 gene. In this report we demonstrate, through the construction of a long-range restriction map that links the flanking genetic markers GGG1 (D16S84) and 26.6PROX (D16S125), that the PKD1 gene lies within an extremely CpG-rich 750-kb segment of chromosome 16p13.3. Approximately 90% of this region has been cloned in three extensive cosmid/bacteriophage contigs. The cloned DNA is a valuable resource for identifying new closer flanking genetic markers and for isolating candidate genes from the region.     

Autistic disorder and chromosome 15q11-q13: construction and analysis of a BAC/PAC contig

Autistic disorder (AD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects approximately 2-10/10,000 individuals. Chromosome 15q11-q13 has been implicated in the genetic etiology of AD based on (1) cytogenetic abnormalities; (2) increased recombination frequency in this region in AD versus non-AD families; (3) suggested linkage with markers D15S156, D15S219, and D15S217; and (4) evidence for significant association with polymorphisms in the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit B3 gene (GABRB3). To isolate the putative 15q11-q13 candidate AD gene, a genomic contig and physical map of the approximately 1.2-Mb region from the GABA receptor gene cluster to the OCA2 locus was generated. Twenty-one bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones, 32 P1-derived artificial chromosome (PAC) clones, and 2 P1 clones have been isolated using the markers D15S540, GABRB3, GABRA5, GABRG3, D15S822, and D15S217, as well as 34 novel markers developed from the end sequences of BAC/PAC clones. In contrast to previous findings, the markers D15S822 and D15S975 have been localized within the GABRG3 gene, which we have shown to be approximately 250 kb in size. NotI and numerous EagI restriction enzyme cut sites were identified in this region. The BAC/PAC genomic contig can be utilized for the study of genomic structure and the identification and characterization of genes and their methylation status in this autism candidate gene region on human chromosome 15q11-q13.