Translocation t(11;14) and trisomy 11q13----qter in multiple myeloma

A 14q+ marker with extra material derived from chromosome 11 long arm, i.e. segment q13----qter, has been found in cells from a pleural effusion in a patient with highly malignant multiple myeloma. The segment 11q13----qter was trisomic because of the presence of both apparently normal homologous chromosomes 11.     

Trisomy 15q23----qter due to a de novo t(11;15)(q25;q23) and assignment of the critical segment

A 10 10/12-year-old boy with a de novo t(11;15)(q25;q23) leading to trisomy 15q23----qter was studied. The clinical features were compatible with other cases of distal trisomy 15q. The critical segment for this trisomy is tentatively assigned to bands 15q25----qter.     

Complex chromosomal rearrangement involving chromosomes 11, 13, 14 and 18 resulting in monosomy for 13q32----qter

A five-year-old boy with speech delay, minor facial abnormalities and borderline psychomotor retardation was found to have a complex de novo double translocation involving four chromosomes resulting in monosomy for the segment 13q32----qter. Chromosomes involved were 11, 13, 14, and 18. The translocation between chromosome 11 and 13 was unbalanced with the loss of the segment 13q32----qter. The second translocation between 14 and 18 was apparently balanced.     

Evidence for involvement of a second genetic locus on chromosome 11q in porphyrin metabolism

Chester porphyria is a distinct type of acute porphyria, which shows a biochemical overlap with acute intermittent and variegate porphyrias and has a dual enzyme deficiency of porphobilinogen deaminase (PBGD) and protoporphyrinogen oxidase. Linkage analysis in an extensive family with Chester porphyria was undertaken using multiple polymorphic markers. A maximum two point Lod score of 5.25 at 0.07 recombination (confidence interval 0.01 to 0.14) was observed with D11S351, which has been localised to 11q23.1. Multipoint linkage analysis confirmed the two point results and gave a maximum Lod score of 7.33 at a distance less than 1 cM proximal to D11S351. PBGD also maps to 11q but four recombinants could be identified from ten informative meioses in this family using a PBGD DNA polymorphism. Thus, a separate locus on 11q appears to be the basis of Chester porphyria.     

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.     

A t(4;22) in a meningioma points to the localization of a putative tumor-suppressor gene.

Cytogenetic analysis of meningioma cells from one particular patient (MN32) displayed the stem-line karyo-type 45, XY, -1, 4p+, 22q-, 22q+, which thus had rearrangements of both chromosomes 22. The 22q+ marker appeared as a dicentric: 22 pter----q11::1p11----qter. The reciprocal product of this translocation has presumably been lost because it lacked a centromere. The 22q- chromosome also appeared to have lost sequences distal to band q11. We assumed that this marker could have been the result of a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 4 and 22. To investigate the 4p+ and 22q- chromosomes in more detail, human-hamster somatic cell hybrids were constructed that segregated the 22q- and 4p+ chromosomes. Southern blot analysis with DNA from these hybrids showed that sequences from 22q were indeed translocated to 4p+ and that reciprocally sequences from 4p were translocated to 22q-, demonstrating a balanced t(4;22)(p16;q11). On the basis of these results we presume that in this tumor a tumor-suppressor gene is deleted in the case of the 22q+ marker and that the t(4;22) disrupts the second allele of this gene. The latter translocation was mapped between D22S1 and D22S15, a distance of 1 cM on the linkage map of this chromosome. The area in which we have located the translocation is within the region where the gene predisposing to neurofibromatosis 2 has been mapped.     

Partial trisomy 13q22----qter. A new case

A newborn male patient with a partial trisomy 13q22----qter, derived from a maternal translocation (13;15)(q22;p11) is reported. This non-frequent chromosomal anomaly leads to a characteristic phenotype easily recognizable from other craniosynostosis syndromes, in which the cranial malformation is often associated with auricular and limb defects. This phenotype includes: cranial malformation, characteristic facies, mental and developmental retardation, urologic and genital anomalies, polydactily, abnormal muscular tonicity and convulsive status. Our patient, a "pure" partial trisomy, without other associated chromosomal anomaly, is compared with the published cases.     

Duplication 11 (q22----qter) in an infant. A case report with review

A male infant with partial duplication of the long arm of chromosome 11 (11q22----qter) is described with a hitherto unreported translocation. In most cases 11q trisomy is associated with 11q/22q translocation and a 3:1 meiotic disjunction with 47 chromosomes. In a few cases the 11q translocation is associated with a partial deletion of other autosomes and a total of 46 chromosomes. In the present case, translocation to 9p is involved and no apparent deletion of 9p was noted, providing an opportunity to delineate the phenotypic features due to duplication of 11q. A comparison is made between the findings of partial 11q trisomy and 11q/22q translocation.     

Assignment of the gene coding for the alpha-subunit of prolyl 4-hydroxylase to human chromosome region 10q21.3-23.1.

Prolyl 4-hydroxylase, an alpha 2 beta 2 tetramer, catalyzes the formation of 4-hydroxyproline in collagens by the hydroxylation of proline residues in peptide linkages and plays a crucial role in the synthesis of these proteins. The gene for the beta-subunit of prolyl 4-hydroxylase has recently been mapped to the long arm of human chromosome 17, at band 17q25. We report here chromosomal localization of the gene for the catalytically and regulatorily important alpha-subunit of human prolyl 4-hydroxylase. Analysis of 24 rodent x human cell hybrids by Southern blotting with cDNA probes for the human alpha-subunit indicated complete cosegregation of the gene for the alpha-subunit with human chromosome 10. A cell hybrid containing only part of chromosome 10 mapped the gene to 10q11----qter. In situ hybridization mapped the gene to 10q21.3-23.1. The gene for the alpha-subunit is thus not physically linked to that for the beta-subunit of the enzyme.     

Chromosomal distribution of three members of the human natriuretic peptide receptor/guanylyl cyclase gene family

Chromosomal localization of the genes encoding three homologous human proteins, the ANPRA, ANPRB, and ANPRC cell surface receptors, was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of genomic DNA from somatic cell hybrids. The ANPRA gene was assigned to 1q12----qter by intron-specific PCR. The ANPRB gene was assigned to 9p11----p22 using species-specific length variation in PCR fragments. The ANPRC gene was assigned to chromosome 5 using human-specific PCR primers identified by screening a human primer panel on parental DNA samples (shotgun primer screening). Chromosomal assignments based on PCR analysis were confirmed and the genes further sublocalized by in situ hybridization of cloned cDNA probes to human metaphase chromosomes. The ANPRA gene was sublocalized to 1q21----q22, the ANPRB gene to 9p12----p21, and the ANPRC gene to 5p13----p14.     

Localization of the human gene for 230-kDal bullous pemphigoid autoantigen (BPAG1) to chromosome 6pter----q15.

Chromosome mapping of the human gene encoding the 230-kDal autoantigen of an autoimmune skin disease, bullous pemphigoid, was performed using flow-sorted human chromosomes of cells of normal karyotype and cells carrying a reciprocal translocation t(6;16)(q15;q24). The cDNA of the autoantigen hybridized with intact chromosome 6 and translocation chromosome 6p- (6pter----q15::16q24----qter). The gene (BPA230) was located to the chromosome region 6pter----q15.     

The gene for clotting factor 10 is mapped to 13q32----qter

The structural gene for the human clotting factor 10 (F10) has been mapped to chromosome 13 with a cDNA probe hybridized to DNAs from a panel of human X hamster hybrids. In situ hybridization was used to assign F10 to region 13q32----qter of chromosomes from normal human lymphocytes.     

Subregional physical mapping of an αB-crystallin sequence and of a new expressed sequence D11S877E to human 11q

We report the regional assignment on Chromosome (Chr) 11q of two cDNA clones selected as sequences expressed in mature kidney and not expressed in Wilms' tumor. Clone T70 was identified as an B-crystallin sequence (CRYA2). CRYA2 has previously been mapped to 11q22.3–23.1 by in situ hybridization. Clone 6.2 represents a new gene expressed in adult and fetal kidney, pancreas, and liver. In order to map sequences corresponding to clone 6.2 and to physically define the boundaries of the localization of CRYA2, we used somatic cell hybrids carrying either different human chromosomes or Chr 11 segments and a cell line established from a patient with an interstitial deletion of region 11q14.3–q22.1. We showed that CRYA2 lies proximal to the 11q23.2 breakpoint defined by the constitutional t(11;22) and distal to the 11q22.1 breakpoint (between D11S388 and D11S35) of a constitutional interstitial deletion. This is in agreement with previous data obtained by in situ hybridization and provides proximal and distal physical benchmarks for this localization. Clone 6.2-related sequence (D11S877E) was assigned to region 11q23.2–q24.2 defined by the breakpoints of the constitutional t(11;22) and of the Ewing's sarcoma neuroepithelioma t(11;22).     

Assignment of the gene coding for the alpha 1 chain of collagen type XIII (COL13A1) to human chromosome region 10q11----qter

The gene coding for the alpha 1 chain of human type XIII collagen. COL13A1, is assigned to chromosome region 10q11----qter by Southern blot hybridization of DNA from 24 human x rodent somatic cell hybrids using a cloned cDNA as probe. A number of previous reports indicate that 10 of the collagen genes are located on six autosomes, but no other collagen genes have been found on chromosome 10. The data therefore provide further evidence for the dispersion of members of the collagen gene family throughout the genome.     

Chromosomal mapping of human kininogen gene (KNG) to 3q26----qter.

The structural gene for human kininogen (KNG) was localized to chromosome 3q26----qter by in situ hybridization. The assignment substantiates the evolutionary relationship of kininogen to two other members of the cystatin superfamily, alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein and histidine-rich glycoprotein, which also map to chromosome 3.     

Correction of the biochemical defect in porphobilinogen deaminase deficient cells by non-viral gene delivery

Porphobilinogen deaminase (PBGD), the third enzyme in the biosynthesis of heme, is deficient in acute intermittent porphyria (AIP). AIP is a genetic disease characterized by neurovisceral and psychiatric disturbances. Despite a palliative treatment, it may still be lethal. An initial step towards gene therapy was recently taken by showing that PBGD could be expressed to correct the enzyme deficiency in AIP fibroblasts. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the biochemical defect can be corrected by using non-viral gene delivery. The biochemical defect in human and mouse PBGD deficient fibroblasts was demonstrated by analyzing synthesis of the heme precursor, protoporphyrin (PP), after addition of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA). Human AIP fibroblasts synthesized 21% and mouse PBGD deficient fibroblasts only 11% of the PP amount synthesized in respective control cells. Gene delivery increased the PBGD activity 88–200 fold in human AIP fibroblasts and synthesis of PP was increased from 21–152% of normal after ALA incubation. Similar results were obtained in mouse PBGD deficient cells, although the PP levels were several-fold lower as compared to human cells. HPLC analysis confirmed that PP was the main porphyrin intermediate that was formed. Addition of porphobilinogen (PBG) resulted in 3–7 fold lower synthesis of PP as compared to ALA addition. These results show that non-viral gene delivery of plasmids encoding PBGD results in a high expression of functional PBGD shown by induced synthesis of PP in PBGD deficient cells after supplementation of ALA and PBG.