A cosmid library specific for human Chromosome regions 6p21.3 and 6q27

We have explored the potential of irradiation-fusion gene transfer (IFGT) hybrids as a source of well-defined human chromosome fragments from which probes can be derived. Extensive characterization of the IFGT hybrid 4J4 with a full panel of markers from Chromosome (Chr) 6 showed that the human DNA content derives largely from 6p21.3 and 6q27. A cosmid library has been constructed from 4J4 DNA, and 370 recombinants containing human DNA have been isolated and overlapping clones ordered into 20 contigs. Regional localization of representative clones from each contig, determined by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), places 13 contigs in 6q27 and 6 in 6p21.3. Preliminary screening of cDNA libraries with selected cosmids has identified two expressed sequences. Since there are a number of medically important genes in both these regions of human Chr 6 with several disease loci linked to the HLA-A region in 6p21.3 and various tumor suppressor genes to 6q27, this library will provide a valuable resource to aid the isolation of candidate genes for these diseases. In addition, unique markers for detailed physical and genetic mapping of these regions of human Chr 6 can be easily obtained.     

Linkage of Familial Schizophrenia to Chromosome 13q32

Over the past 4 years, a number of investigators have reported findings suggestive of linkage to schizophrenia, with markers on chromosomes 13q32 and 8p21, with one recent study by Blouin et al. reporting significant linkage to these regions. As part of an ongoing genome scan, we evaluated microsatellite markers spanning chromosomes 8 and 13, for linkage to schizophrenia, in 21 extended Canadian families. Families were analyzed under autosomal dominant and recessive models, with broad and narrow definitions of schizophrenia. All models produced positive LOD scores with markers on 13q, with higher scores under the recessive models. The maximum three-point LOD scores were obtained under the recessive-broad model: 3.92 at recombination fraction (theta).1 with D13S793, under homogeneity, and 4.42 with alpha=.65 and straight theta=0 with D13S793, under heterogeneity. Positive LOD scores were also obtained, under all models, for markers on 8p. Although a maximum two-point LOD score of 3.49 was obtained under the dominant-narrow model with D8S136 at straight theta=0.1, multipoint analysis with closely flanking markers reduced the maximum LOD score in this region to 2. 13. These results provide independent significant evidence of linkage of a schizophrenia-susceptibility locus to markers on 13q32 and support the presence of a second susceptibility locus on 8p21.     

Replication of Association between Schizophrenia and Chromosome 6p21-6p22.1 Polymorphisms in Chinese Han Population

Chromosome 6p21-p22.1, spanning the extended major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region, is a highly polymorphic, gene-dense region. It has been identified as a susceptibility locus of schizophrenia in Europeans, Japanese, and Chinese. In our previous two-stage genome-wide association study (GWAS), polymorphisms of zinc finger with KRAB and SCAN domains 4 (ZKSCAN4), nuclear factor-κB-activating protein-like (NKAPL), and piggyBac transposable element derived 1 (PGBD1), localized to chromosome 6p21-p22.1, were strongly associated with schizophrenia. To further investigate the association between polymorphisms at this locus and schizophrenia in the Chinese Han population, we selected eight other single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) distributed in or near these genes for a case-control association study in an independent sample of 902 cases and 1,091 healthy controls in an attempt to replicate the GWAS results. Four of these eight SNPs (rs12214383, rs1150724, rs3800324, and rs1997660) displayed a nominal difference in allele frequencies between the case and control groups. The association between two of these SNPs and schizophrenia were significant even after Bonferroni correction (rs12000: allele A>G, P = 2.50E-04, odds ratio [OR] = 1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.12–1.45; rs1150722: allele C>T, P = 4.28E-05, OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.41–0.73). Haplotype ATTGACGC, comprising these eight SNPs (rs2235359, rs2185955, rs12214383, rs12000, rs1150724, rs1150722, rs3800324, and rs1997660), was significantly associated with schizophrenia (P = 6.60E-05). We also performed a combined study of this replication sample and the first-stage GWAS sample. The combined study revealed that rs12000 and rs1150722 were still strongly associated with schizophrenia (rs12000: allele G>A, P _combined  = 0.0019, OR = 0.81; rs1150722: allele G>A, P _combined  = 3.00E-04, OR = 0.61). These results support our findings that locus 6p21-p22.1 is significantly associated with schizophrenia in the Chinese Han population and encourage further studies of the functions of these genetic factors.     

Partial trisomy 13 as a result of de novo (6p;13q) translocation

Summary A newborn infant with the clinical features of the Patau syndrome was found to have excess chromosome 13 material present as a tandem translocation involving the short arm of chromosome 6 and the long arm of an extra chromosome 13: 46,XY,t(6;13)(p24;q12). The major part of the long arm of the extra chromosome 13 was attached linearly (tandem translocation) to the short arm of chromosome 6. Both parents were phenotypically and karyotypically normal.     

Duplication of CXC chemokine genes on chromosome 4q13 in a melanoma-prone family

Copy number variations (CNVs) have been shown to contribute substantially to disease susceptibility in several inherited diseases including cancer. We conducted a genome-wide search for CNVs in blood-derived DNA from 79 individuals (62 melanoma patients and 17 spouse controls) of 30 high-risk melanoma-prone families without known segregating mutations using genome-wide comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) tiling arrays. We identified a duplicated region on chromosome 4q13 in germline DNA of all melanoma patients in a melanoma-prone family with three affected siblings. We confirmed the duplication using quantitative PCR and a custom-made CGH array design spanning the 4q13 region. The duplicated region contains 10 genes, most of which encode CXC chemokines. Among them, CXCL1 (melanoma growth-stimulating activity α) and IL8 (interleukin 8) have been shown to stimulate melanoma growth in vitro and in vivo. Our data suggest that the alteration of CXC chemokine genes may confer susceptibility to melanoma.     

A Chromosome 13q+in a patient with characteristics of the trisomy 13 syndrome

Summary In a patient with moderate multiple congenital anomalies, a chromosome 13q+was consistently present in lymphocytes and fibroblast cells. The additional segment replicates its DNA synchronously with the distal late replicating portion of chromosome 13. The patient exhibits several features common in the trisomy 13 syndrome, among others increased HbF and low HbA₂ values as compared to age matched controls. From these data, it is concluded that the patient carries a duplication of the distal third of chromosome 13 long arm. As a possible mechanism for the origin of this duplication, a meiotic pairing disorder due to repetitive gene constitution is discussed.

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Zusammenfassung Bei einem Mädchen mit nur mäßigen multiplen Mißbildungen fand sich ein Chromosom 13q+in allen untersuchten Zellen aus Blut und Bindegewebe. Das zusätzliche Chromosomensegment schließt die DNS-Synthese synchron mit dem distalen, relativ spät replizierenden Abschnitt von Chromosom 13 ab. Die Patientin zeigt zahlreiche klinische Merkmale der Trisomie 13, unter anderem erhöhte HbF- und niedere HbA₂-Werte im Vergleich zu altersgleichen Kontrollen. Aus diesen Befunden ist zu schließen, daß das Kind eine Duplikation für das distale Drittel des langen Armes eines Chromosome 13 trägt. Als möglicher Mechanismus für die Entstehung dieser Duplikation wird eine Störung der meiotischen Paarung diskutiert, die durch repetitive Sequenzen bedingt sein könnte.

     

Proximal trisomy 13q and distal monosomy 8p in a dysmorphic and mentally retarded patient with an isodicentric chromosome 13q and a 13q/8p translocation chromosome

A 40 year-old dysmorphic and mentally retarded female is reported with a de novo unbalanced chromosomal rearrangement (karyotype: 46,XX,der(8)t(8;13)(p23;q123),idic(13)(pter-->q123: q123-->pter) resulting in an isodicentric chromosome 13 and a double aneusomy including partial trisomy 13 (13pter-q123) and distal monosomy 8p (8pter-p23). The main clinical findings consist of developmental/mental retardation, behavioural disturbances and minor congenital defects, not consistent with the clinical pattern of either of the two aneusomies. A mechanism for the chromosome rearrangement is proposed and the absence of specific physical findings in the present patient is discussed in the light of the available literature data.     

Mapping of theARIXHomeodomain Gene to Mouse Chromosome 7 and Human Chromosome 11q13

The recently described homeodomain protein ARIX is expressed specifically in noradrenergic cell types of the sympathetic nervous system, brain, and adrenal medulla. ARIX interacts with regulatory elements of the genes encoding the noradrenergic biosynthetic enzymes tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine β-hydroxylase, suggesting a role for ARIX in expression of the noradrenergic phenotype. In the study described here, the mouse and human ARIX genes are mapped. Using segregation analysis of two panels of mouse backcross DNA, mouseArixwas positioned approximately 50 cM distal to the centromere of chromosome 7, nearHbb.HumanARIXwas positioned through analysis of somatic cell hybrids and fluorescencein situhybridization of human metaphase chromosomes to chromosome 11q13.3–q13.4. These map locations extend and further define regions of conserved synteny between mouse and human genomes and identify a new candidate gene for inherited developmental disorders linked to human 11q13.     

Loss of heterozygosity at chromosomal regions 3p and 13q in non-small-cell carcinoma of the lung represents low-frequency events

It was recently reported that loss of heterozygosity occurred at the chromosomal region 3p in small-cell as well as in non-small-cell carcinoma of the lung. A recent report also indicated genetic changes involving sequences on chromosomes 13q and 17p in small-cell and in non-small-cell carcinomas. In the present study normal and tumor DNAs representing mostly adeno-and squamous cell carcinomas of the lung were examined for loss of heterozygosity on chromosomes 3p, 13q, 11p, and 1p. With the exception of two non-small-cell carcinomas which demonstrated loss of alleles on chromosome 3p and one small-cell carcinoma which demonstrated loss of heterozygosity at chromosome 3p as well as at 13q, evidence for loss of alleles on chromosomes 3p, 13q, 11p, and 1p could not be obtained in greater than 75% of the non-small-cell carcinoma DNAs tested. Given this result it appears unlikely that a recessive gene is located on either chromosome 3p or 13q in the majority of non-small-cell carcinomas of the lung.     

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: fine mapping supports linkage to 5p13, 6q12, 16p13, and 17p11

We completed fine mapping of nine positional candidate regions for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in an extended population sample of 308 affected sibling pairs (ASPs), constituting the largest linkage sample of families with ADHD published to date. The candidate chromosomal regions were selected from all three published genomewide scans for ADHD, and fine mapping was done to comprehensively validate these positional candidate regions in our sample. Multipoint maximum LOD score (MLS) analysis yielded significant evidence of linkage on 6q12 (MLS 3.30; empiric P=.024) and 17p11 (MLS 3.63; empiric P=.015), as well as suggestive evidence on 5p13 (MLS 2.55; empiric P=.091). In conjunction with the previously reported significant linkage on the basis of fine mapping 16p13 in the same sample as this report, the analyses presented here indicate that four chromosomal regions--5p13, 6q12, 16p13, and 17p11--are likely to harbor susceptibility genes for ADHD. The refinement of linkage within each of these regions lays the foundation for subsequent investigations using association methods to detect risk genes of moderate effect size.     

Detailed Analysis of Focal Chromosome Arm 1q and 6p Amplifications in Urothelial Carcinoma Reveals Complex Genomic Events on 1q,and SOX4 as a Possible Auxiliary Target on 6p

Background

Urothelial carcinoma shows frequent amplifications at 6p22 and 1q21–24. The main target gene at 6p22 is believed to be E2F3, frequently co-amplified with CDKAL1 and SOX4. There are however reports on 6p22 amplifications that do not include E2F3. Previous analyses have identified frequent aberrations occurring at 1q21–24. However, due to complex rearrangements it has been difficult to identify specific 1q21–24 target regions and genes.

Methods

We selected 29 cases with 6p and 37 cases with 1q focal genomic amplifications from 261 cases of urothelial carcinoma analyzed by array-CGH for high resolution zoom-in oligonucleotide array analyses. Genomic analyses were combined with gene expression data and genomic sequence analyses to characterize and fine map 6p22 and 1q21–24 amplifications.

Results

We show that the most frequently amplified gene at 6p22 is SOX4 and that SOX4 can be amplified and overexpressed without the E2F3 or CDKAL1 genes being included in the amplicon. Hence, our data point to SOX4 as an auxiliary amplification target at 6p22. We further show that at least three amplified regions are observed at 1q21–24. Copy number data, combined with gene expression data, highlighted BCL9 and CHD1L as possible targets in the most proximal region and MCL1, SETDB1, and HIF1B as putative targets in the middle region, whereas no obvious targets could be determined in the most distal amplicon. We highlight enrichment of G4 quadruplex sequence motifs and a high number of intraregional sequence duplications, both known to contribute to genomic instability, as prominent features of the 1q21–24 region.

Conclusions

Our detailed analyses of the 6p22 amplicon suggest SOX4 as an auxiliary target gene for amplification. We further demonstrate three separate target regions for amplification at 1q21–24 and identified BCL9, CHD1L, and MCL1, SETDB1, and HIF1B as putative target genes within these regions.     

RFLPs研究三例X染色体结构异常的起源和形成机理

本文对三例X染色体结构异常46,X,dup(X)(p21);46,X,del(X)(p11);46,X,i(Xq)患者及其父母,用X染色体短臂或长臂上的限制性片段长度多态性(RFLPs)作为遗传标记,研究了异常X染色体的起源和形成机理。结果表明,dup(X)(p21)和del(X)(p11)起源于父方,而i(Xq)起源于母方。dup(X)(p21)是由X染色体姊妹染色单体不均等的互换所引起的,del(X)(p11)是由于X染色体断裂后丢失所致,i(Xq)的发生是由于卵母细胞X染色体着丝粒错分裂。     

Parental Origin of Interstitial Duplications at 15q11.2-q13.3 in Schizophrenia and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Duplications at 15q11.2-q13.3 overlapping the Prader-Willi/Angelman syndrome (PWS/AS) region have been associated with developmental delay (DD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia (SZ). Due to presence of imprinted genes within the region, the parental origin of these duplications may be key to the pathogenicity. Duplications of maternal origin are associated with disease, whereas the pathogenicity of paternal ones is unclear. To clarify the role of maternal and paternal duplications, we conducted the largest and most detailed study to date of parental origin of 15q11.2-q13.3 interstitial duplications in DD, ASD and SZ cohorts. We show, for the first time, that paternal duplications lead to an increased risk of developing DD/ASD/multiple congenital anomalies (MCA), but do not appear to increase risk for SZ. The importance of the epigenetic status of 15q11.2-q13.3 duplications was further underlined by analysis of a number of families, in which the duplication was paternally derived in the mother, who was unaffected, whereas her offspring, who inherited a maternally derived duplication, suffered from psychotic illness. Interestingly, the most consistent clinical characteristics of SZ patients with 15q11.2-q13.3 duplications were learning or developmental problems, found in 76% of carriers. Despite their lower pathogenicity, paternal duplications are less frequent in the general population with a general population prevalence of 0.0033% compared to 0.0069% for maternal duplications. This may be due to lower fecundity of male carriers and differential survival of embryos, something echoed in the findings that both types of duplications are de novo in just over 50% of cases. Isodicentric chromosome 15 (idic15) or interstitial triplications were not observed in SZ patients or in controls. Overall, this study refines the distinct roles of maternal and paternal interstitial duplications at 15q11.2-q13.3, underlining the critical importance of maternally expressed imprinted genes in the contribution of Copy Number Variants (CNVs) at this interval to the incidence of psychotic illness. This work will have tangible benefits for patients with 15q11.2-q13.3 duplications by aiding genetic counseling.     

A Radiation Hybrid Map of 95 STSs Spanning Human Chromosome 13q

We have constructed a high-resolution physical map of the long arm of human chromosome 13 using a panel of 94 radiation hybrids. A comprehensive map of 95 chromosome 13-specific sequence tagged sites (STSs) spanning 13q from the presumed centromere at D13Z1 to the known telomere was obtained by multipoint maximum likelihood statistical methods. The 95 markers have an average retention frequency of 10%, with markers closer to the centromere having much greater retention frequencies (22-49%) than distal 13q markers (2-12%) The most likely radiation hybrid map localized the 95 STSs into 54 unique map positions, 34 with odds of 1000:1 or greater; the comprehensive map localized all but 17 STSs with odds exceeding 10:1. The total map length of 13q was 1302 cR₉₀₀₀ (range 6.4-94.4 cR₉₀₀₀) and a physical distance of 98 Mb, so that 1% breakage in the RH panel corresponds to 75 kb. A comparison of the comprehensive RH map to genetic maps of chromosome 13q shows identical locus orders for the common markers, with two exceptions over 1-cM distances. We discuss the possible relationships between the genetic and the radiation hybrid maps.     

Chromosome abnormalities involving 11p13 and low erythrocyte catalase activity

Summary Two unrelated patients with clinical features of 11p13 deletion syndrome, 3 years old and 3 months old, are reported. The clinical features of the patients included mental retardation, aniridia, nystagmus, blepharophimosis, and genitourinary abnormalities. Both patients were apparently free from Wilms' tumor and gonadoblastoma. Prometaphase banding analyses revealed a 46,XY,del(11)(p 1300p 1500) karyotype in one patient and 46,XX,dir ins(11;2)(p13;q12q23) in the other. Catalase activities in the erythrocytes in the two patients were respectively 65% and 56% of those of normal controls, close to the expected values in hemizygosity of the catalase gene. These findings confirmed a close linkage of the gene for catalase and those for the aniridia-Wilms' tumor or gonadoblastoma complex.     

Multicenter linkage study of schizophrenia candidate regions on chromosomes 5q, 6q, 10p, and 13q: schizophrenia linkage collaborative group III

Schizophrenia candidate regions 33-51 cM in length on chromosomes 5q, 6q, 10p, and 13q were investigated for genetic linkage with mapped markers with an average spacing of 5.64 cM. We studied 734 informative multiplex pedigrees (824 independent affected sibling pairs [ASPs], or 1,003 ASPs when all possible pairs are counted), which were collected in eight centers. Cases with diagnoses of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (DSM-IIIR criteria) were considered affected (n=1,937). Data were analyzed with multipoint methods, including nonparametric linkage (NPL), ASP analysis using the possible-triangle method, and logistic-regression analysis of identity-by-descent (IBD) sharing in ASPs with sample as a covariate, in a test for intersample heterogeneity and for linkage with allowance for intersample heterogeneity. The data most supportive for linkage to schizophrenia were from chromosome 6q; logistic-regression analysis of linkage allowing for intersample heterogeneity produced an empirical P value <.0002 with, or P=.0004 without, inclusion of the sample that produced the first positive report in this region; the maximum NPL score in this region was 2.47 (P=.0046), the maximum LOD score (MLS) from ASP analysis was 3.10 (empirical P=.0036), and there was significant evidence for intersample heterogeneity (empirical P=.0038). More-modest support for linkage was observed for chromosome 10p, with logistic-regression analysis of linkage producing an empirical P=. 045 and with significant evidence for intersample heterogeneity (empirical P=.0096).     

inv(5)(p13q13) in a four generation pedigree

A 4 1/2 years old boy was found to have hypoplasia of the pectoralis major right muscle and a karyotype 46,XY,inv(5)(p13q13)mat. This inversion, probably independent of the boy's malformation, was present in at least four generations and it seems neither to impair fertility nor to yield viable recombinants.