SstII polymorphic sites in the promoter region of the human cystatin C gene

Summary By direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified DNA from different individuals, three point mutations have been found in a 220-bp fragment from the promoter region of the human cystatin C gene. The three mutations are all localized within a short segment of 85 bp on the same allele. One of the base substitutions results in the generation of a novel SstII restriction site and another in the loss of the commonly occurring SstII restriction site. A PCR-based assay for analysis of the two SstII sites was designed and used to demonstrate Mendelian inheritance of the polymorphism. This SstII restriction fragment lenght polymorphism offers a new probe-independent marker for chromosome 20 linkage studies.     

The human cystatin C gene (CST3) is a member of the cystatin gene family which is localized on chromosome 20

The fourth gene from the human cystatin gene family of salivary-type cysteine-proteinase inhibitors has been isolated and partially characterized by DNA analysis. The gene, which we name CST3, codes for human cystatin C, and has the same organization as the CST1 gene for cystatin SN and the CST2 gene for cystatin SA. Southern analysis of EcoR I digested DNAs from 32 independent somatic cell hybrid clones hybridized to a probe from CST1 demonstrated that all members of the cystatin gene family segregate with human chromosome 20. These results indicate that the genes for salivary-type cystatins and cystatin C are members of a multigene family--the cystatin gene family.     

The human cystatin C gene (CST3), mutated in hereditary cystatin C amyloid angiopathy,is located on chromosome 20

Summary Hereditary cystatin C amyloid angiopathy has recently been shown to be caused by a point mutation in the cystatin C gene. To determine the chromosomal localization of the gene, 20 human-rodent somatic cell hybrids and a fulllength cystatin C cDNA probe were used. Southern blot analysis of BamHI digested cell hybrid DNA revealed that the probe recognizes a 10.6 kb human specific fragment and that this fragment cosegregates with human chromosome 20. Therefore, the human cystatin C gene (CST3) was assigned to chromosome 20.     

Diverse polymorphism within a short coding region of the human aldehyde dehydrogenase-5 (ALDH5) gene

Human aldehyde dehydrogenase-5 gene (originally named as ALDHX) is expressed in liver and testis. The ALDH5 does not contain introns in the coding sequence for 517 amino acid residues. Within a short nucleotide region of the gene, the following three nucleotide changes were found in high frequencies, i.e., a silent CT at nucleotide (nt) 183, CT at nt 257 associated with a ValAla substitution, and TG at nt 320 associated with a ArgLeu substitution. The frequency of C at nt 183 is 81% in Caucasians and 65% in Japanese, and the difference is statistically not significant. The frequency of C at nt 257 is 76% in Caucasians and 55% in Japanese, and the difference is statistically significant (P = 0.02). The frequency of T at nt 320 is 71% in Caucasians, while it is only 27% in Japanese. The racial difference at nt 320 is highly significant (P < 0.001). No significant difference was found in the genotypes of the three nucleotide positions between alcoholic and nonalcoholic Caucasians within the limited numbers of subjects examined.     

Ala45Thr polymorphism of the NEUROD1 gene and diabetes susceptibility: a meta-analysis

A meta-analysis assessed whether the Ala45Thr polymorphism of the neurogenic differentiation 1 (NEUROD1) gene is associated with increased risk of diabetes mellitus type 1 (T1D) or type 2 (T2D). Fourteen case-control studies were analyzed, including genotype data on 3,057 patients with diabetes (T1D n=1,213, T2D n=1,844) and 2,446 controls. Overall and race-specific summary odds ratios (ORs) were obtained with fixed and random effects models. The Thr allele did not significantly increase the overall risk for T1D (OR 1.27 [0.94–1.71], P=0.12) or T2D (OR 1.07 [0.90–1.28], P=0.46). The Thr allele conferred increased susceptibility in subjects of Asian racial descent to T1D (OR 1.88 [1.10–3.21], P=0.020), but not to T2D (OR 1.08 [0.74–1.56], P=0.70). There was no association in subjects of European descent (OR 0.97 [0.76–1.23], P=0.80 for T1D; OR 1.03 [0.88–1.21], P=0.68 for T2D). Larger studies seemed to show more conservative estimates for the association with T1D (P=0.083). The Ala45Thr polymorphism of the NEUROD1 gene has no effect on susceptibility to T2D. It may however be a risk factor for susceptibility to T1D, in particular for subjects of Asian descent, although bias cannot be totally excluded.     

Genomic construct and mapping of the gene for CMAP (leukocystatin/cystatin F, CST7) and identification of a proximal novel gene, BSCv (C20orf3)

It is proposed that CMAP (leukocystatin/cystatin F, HGMW-approved symbol CST7) expression is correlated with the metastatic potential of malignant tumors. FISH analysis of human and murine CMAP revealed the genomic loci 20p11.21-p11.22 of the human family 2 cystatin cluster and mouse chromosome region 2G1-G3, respectively. Like murine CMAP, the human CMAP gene is constructed from four divided exons, all of which encode the functional domains of the putative translational product. Based on the computational analysis, a novel gene weakly similar to the plant strictosidine synthase, named BSCv (HGMW-approved symbol C20orf3), was identified on the opposite allele at a distance of a few kilobases from the human CMAP gene. In between human CMAP and the BSCv gene, there is a unique tandem repeat sequence. CpG-rich island characteristics and GC-box features normally observed in housekeeping genes were not seen around exon 1 of the CMAP gene, reflecting the restricted expression of CMAP in hematopoietic cells.     

Characterization of a polymorphism in the coding region of the human C5a anaphylatoxin receptor

 A polymorphism was identified in the coding region of the human C5a anaphylatoxin receptor gene leading to C to T transition at nucleotide position 450 (a silent substitution in the Ala¹⁵⁰ codon, GCC to GCT). Its distribution was studied in a population of healthy volunteers from the Québec city region (prevalence of 2.8%) and among patients with end-stage renal failure who had previously undergone renal graft (prevalence 1.4%, not significantly different from that of the control group). This new marker provides a valuable tool to assess the risk for putative C5a-associated disorders with genetic determinism. Received: 20 November 1998 / Revised: 24 February 1999     

A sequence variation in the human cystatin D gene resulting in an amino acid (Cys/Arg) polymorphism at the protein level

A polymorphism in the coding region of the human cystatin D gene has been detected by direct sequencing of amplified DNA from different individuals. The variation, resulting from a T/C transition in exon 1 of the gene, causes an amino acid variation, Cys/Arg, at the protein level. An allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization assay was developed and used to demonstrate this polymorphism in the population. The deduced frequencies were 0.55 and 0.45 for the Cys and Arg variant-encoding alleles, respectively.     

PCR assay for a polymorphicDdeI site in the promoter region of the human cystatin C gene

Summary A new DNA variant in the promoter region of the human cystatin C gene has been detected by direct sequencing. The base substitution generates a newDdeO restriction site, thus allowing the design of a rapid polymerase chain reaction assay for analysis of this polymorphism in the population.     

Demonstration of sequence variations in the promoter region of the human cystatin C gene.

Four point mutations in the promoter region of the human cystatin C gene have been detected by direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified DNA. The four base changes are all localized within a short segment of 85 base pairs. Three cystatin C gene alleles could be defined with respect to these promoter mutations; one with the sequence previously published, one carrying three of the mutations and one with all four base substitutions. Two of the observed mutations are involved in a novel Sst II polymorphism and another generates a new Dde I restriction site. A PCR-based assay for analysis of these Sst II and Dde I sites was designed and used to demonstrate Mendelian inheritance of the polymorphisms as well as to determine the frequencies of the cystatin C gene alleles in the population.     

Tandem-repeat internal mapping (TRIM) of the involucrin gene: repeat number and repeat-pattern polymorphism within a coding region in human populations.

We have analyzed the human involucrin gene in 41 British African-Caribbeans and 37 British white Caucasians by tandem-repeat internal mapping and DNA sequencing. A point mutation (i.e., Bc) in the last B repeat unit was found in 98.6% of British white Caucasians and in 52.4% of British African-Caribbeans. The distribution of repeat patterns was also different between the two populations. Nine previously unreported repeat pattern alleles, 4 with and 5 without the Bc repeat, have been found, increasing the range of variation in humans to 15 reported repeat patterns, 6 with and 9 without the Caucasian mutation. Three further sequence variations, each occurring in a single individual, were found. The evolutionary significance of variation in the human involucrin gene is discussed.     

A novel polymorphism in the coding region of CYBB,the human gp91-phox gene

We have identified a rare polymorphism (G to C at nucleotide 1102) in CYBB, which codes for gp91-phox, a component of NADPH oxidase. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes with this enzyme produced normal amounts of superoxide anion. Received: 28 August 1995     

Variation in the psbC gene region of gymnosperms and angiosperms as detected by a single restriction site polymorphism

 This paper reports on a PCR-RFLP analysis in a chloroplast DNA region consisting of coding and intergenic spacer sequences of trnS and the adjacent psbC gene. This region was PCR-amplified in 62 woody plant species, predominantly tree species, that represent a broad systematic range in both gymnosperms and dicotyledonous angiosperms. The amplification products were digested by the restriction endonuclease HaeIII (GG↓CC). Fourteen different restriction patterns occurred, 5 of which characterised representatives of the gymnosperms, and 9 angiosperm representatives. A single restriction site polymorphism revealed most of the species to share restriction patterns. Groups formed which showed relationships to plant systematic units. This phenomenon is discussed with regard to the psbC gene and the GGCC motif for tracing species’ relationships on a high taxonomic level of gymnosperms and angiosperms. Received: 5 June 1996/Accepted: 20 September 1996     

Copy number variation-based polymorphism in a new pseudoautosomal region 3 (PAR3) of a human X-chromosome-transposed region (XTR) in the Y chromosome

A 3.5-Mb region of the X chromosome underwent duplication and transposition to the Y chromosome ~5–6 Mya. This X-transposed-region (XTR) originated at Xq21.3 and was inserted at Yp11.2. The two locations have 98.78 % homology and a high concentration of tandem repeats. In whole-genome scans of ten large families with dyslexic members, we identified transposed blocks comprising >102 kb of the Yp11.2 region in its homologous region at Xq21.3 in three females from three different families. Although recombination is known to be limited only to the pseudoautosomal regions (PARs) of the X and Y chromosomes, we report allelic unequal recombination between the XTR region Yp11.2 and Xq21.3, indicating the presence of a new PAR, which we named PAR3. This PAR3 region was also found in 2 % of the general population. An additional layer of justification could be provided from six other dyslexic cases which harbored duplications and deletions in the same Xq21.3 and Yp11.2 regions through allelic unequal recombination.     

Population variation in linkage disequilibrium across the COMT gene considering promoter region and coding region variation

Catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) catalyzes the first step in one of the major pathways in the degradation of catecholamines. The COMT gene on chromosome 22 has been considered a candidate gene for many neuropsychiatric disorders, in part because an exon 4 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in COMT causes an amino acid substitution associated with significantly altered enzyme activity. This functional variant, detected as an NlaIII restriction site polymorphism (RSP), is polymorphic in populations from around the world. A four-site haplotype spanning 28 kb effectively encompasses COMT. This haplotype is comprised of two novel polymorphisms [a tetranucleotide short tandem repeat polymorphism (STRP) in intron 1 and a HindIII RSP at the 5' end of COMT], the NlaIII site, and another previously published site - a BglI RSP at the 3' end of the gene. Overall linkage disequilibrium (LD) for this haplotype is strong and significant in 32 population samples from around the world. Conditional probabilities indicate that, in spite of moderate to strong disequilibrium in most non-African populations, the NlaIII site, although often used for prediction, would not always be a reliable predictor of allelic variation at the other sites. Because other functional variation might exist, especially regulatory variation, these findings indicate that haplotypes would be more effective indicators of possible involvement of COMT in disease etiology.     

The mutation G298A-->Ala100Thr on the coding sequence of the Duffy antigen/chemokine receptor gene in non-caucasian Brazilians

Ala100Thr has been suggested to be a Caucasian genetic marker on the FY*B allele. As the Brazilian population has arisen from miscegenation among Portuguese, Africans, and Indians, this mutation could possibly be found in Euro- and Afro-Brazilians, or in Brazilian Indians. Fifty-three related individuals and a random sample of 100 subjects from the Brazilian population were investigated using the polymerase chain reaction and four restriction fragment length polymorphisms. Confirming the working hypothesis, among the related individuals three Afro-Brazilians (two of them a mother and daughter) and a woman of Amerindian descent had the Ala100Thr mutation on the FY*B allele. Five non-related Euro-Brazilians also carried the mutation. All nine individuals presented the Fy(a-b+) phenotype. We conclude that the Ala100Thr mutation can occur in populations other than Caucasians and that this mutation does not affect Duffy expression on red blood cells. Gene frequencies for this allele in the non-related individuals were in agreement with those of other populations. The Duffy frequencies of two Amerindian tribes were also investigated.