一个先天性白内障家系缝隙连接蛋白基因新突变

目的 鉴定一个中国常染色体显性遗传先天性白内障(autosomal dominant congenital cataract,ADCC)家系其致病与缝隙连接蛋白a3/a8(gap junction protein alpha3/alpha8,GJA3/GJA8)基因突变的关系.方法 对一个ADCC家系5名家系成员和100名正常健康人进行全面眼科检查.抽取外周血5 mL并提取基因组DNA.采用聚合酶链反应扩增GJA3/CJA8编码外显子及其侧翼内含子序列,纯化的PCR产物通过直接测序以筛查致病突变.结果 通过双向序列分析,发现GJA8基因第2外显子的第138位发生碱基G→A转换(c.138G》A,GGG→GGA),产生同义突变(G46G);第139个碱基因G→T颠换发生错义突变(c.139 G》T,GAT→TAT)导致第47位编码天门冬氨酸密码子突变为酪氨酸(D47Y),家系中非患者和100名对照者基因组序列均无此改变,而且生物信息检索显示GJAB基因第47位编码的天门冬氨酸具有高度的物种保守性.家系3例患者CJA3基因突变筛查未见任何碱基改变.结论 在一个中国人ADCC家系中发现GJAB基因新致病突变(D47Y).     

晶状体膜蛋白MIP基因C末端一个新的错义突变导致双眼多形性先天性白内障

目的 定位一个双眼多形性先天性白内障家系的致病位点,寻找疾病家系的致病基因.方法 应用ABI-MD10试剂盒中的常染色体382个微卫星位点,对一个常染色体显性、双眼具有不同白内障形态的先天性白内障家系进行全基因组扫描.MLINK软件进行两点连锁分析.直接测序候选基因外显子.结果 在D12S83处获得最大LOD值Zmax=5.44(θ=0),该家系致病位点被定位到12p11.2-q15之间的区域上,在该区域的白内障候选基因晶状体膜蛋白基因(major intrinsic protein,MIP)的第4外显子中发现单个碱基错义突变,702ntG→A,导致p.R233K.结论 该先天性白内障由MIP基因702ntG→A突变所致,导致MIP蛋白质的C-末端中p.R233K,从而可能减少了氢键的形成,影响了该蛋白C-末端的稳定性,推测影响了MIP对水的调节及由该蛋白质形成的细胞之间的连接.这一新突变为目前世界上首次报道.     

晶体蛋白βA1 基因缺失突变导致常染色体显性遗传核性先天性白内障

目的 对一个中国人的常染色体显性遗传核性先天性白内障家系的致病基因进行定位克隆研究。方法 选取候选基因附近的短串联重复序列多态性标记进行连锁分析，对提示连锁的染色体区域内的候选基因测序，寻找突变。结果 该家系致病基因定位在17q11．1-12约11．78cM的范围内，并在候选基因晶体蛋白βA1基因(CRYBA1)的外显子4发现一个密码子缺失(△G91)与家系患者共分离，在正常人群中没有检测到。结论 该家系的核性先天性白内障系由CRYBA基因外显子4的缺失突变△G91引起．这是首次报道由CRYBA1基因突变导致先天性核性自内障表型的发生。     

一个先天性常染色体显性遗传性全白内障家系致病基因的定位分析

目的 对一个中国人先天性常染色体显性遗传性全白内障家系的相关致病基因进行定位分析.方法 收集一个先天性全白内障家系中10个成员的外周血样本,提取基因组DNA.应用PCR技术对已报道的与先天性白内障相关致病基因附近的微卫星多态性标记进行检测,使用Mlink软件对结果进行连锁分析,最终绘制该家系各成员的单体型图,初步定位致病基因.结果 通过对15个微卫星位点的分析,发现在D21S212位点处存在连锁(最大LOD=1.20,重组率θ=0),进一步检测该位点附近6个微卫星标记,经连锁分析确定致病基因位置.结论 该家系的相关致病基因初步定位于染色体21q11.2-qter,此范围内的CRYAA基因可能为其致病基因.本研究将对遗传性全白内障的发病机制提供有价值的信息.     

常染色体显性高度近视一家系连锁定位分析

目的 通过连锁定位分析,探讨一个中国原发性高度近视家系的致病基因与已报道高度近视相关连锁位点的关系.方法 选择一个连续3代发病的常染色体显性高度近视家系,选取位于18p11.31,12q21-23,7q36,17q21-23,4q22-27,2q,37.1,7p15.3,15q12-13,10q21.1这9个已报道的常染色体显性高度近视致病基因连锁位点的18个多态性微卫星标记物进行STR基因分型,采用两点法进行连锁分析.结果 本家系受累者皆为高度近视,屈光度从-6.00D到-20.00D不等,符合常染色体显性遗传特征.分析显示此9个遗传标记位点与该家系致病基因均不连锁,比值比均<-1.结论 该家系存在一个新的致病基因连锁位点,需进一步实施全基因组多态性微卫星标记连锁分析以确定该家系致病基因的染色体定位.     

一个眼牙指发育不良家系的基因突变分析

目的 旨在报道一个罕见的中国汉族眼牙指发育不良家系,并对该家系进行基因突变分析.方法 采用PCR及测序方法检测该家系先证者GJA1基因编码区及其侧翼序列的突变,然后在家系成员中验证,并通过Weblogo软件对可疑变异位点进行保守性分析;同时利用PCR、电泳及测序分析方法,检测HOXD13基因突变,排除患者由HOXD13基因突变致病的可能.结果 该家系内患者均携带GJA1基因的杂合突变c.605 C>T,正常个体均无此突变;该突变导致Cx43蛋白第202位氨基酸由精氨酸变成组氨酸(p.R202H);HOXD13基因未见异常.结论GJA1基因c.605 C>T(p.R202H)突变是该中国汉族眼牙指发育不良家系的致病突变,该突变为中国人群中首次报道.     

全基因组扫描定位一个先天性全白内障家系的致病基因

目的定位一个先天性全白内障家系的致病基因。方法收集一个先天性全白内障家系中10个成员的外周血样本,提取基因组DNA。应用ABI-MD10试剂盒中的常染色体382个微卫星位点,对此家系进行全基因组扫描。MLINK软件进行两点连锁分析。结果发现在D13S263位点处提示存在连锁(最大LOD=1.20,重组率θ=0),进一步检测该位点附近若干其它的微卫星标记,经连锁分析其致病基因被定位到D13S175和D13S156之间的大约53.9厘摩(cM)区域上。结论该家系致病基因位点被定位到13号染色体的13q12.11-q22.1之间的大约53.9cM区域上。此研究为探讨遗传性全白内障的发病机制提供了有价值的信息,并为该家系今后开展产前诊断奠定了基础。     

一个先天性无虹膜合并白内障家系PAX6基因突变研究

目的 鉴定一个先天性无虹膜合并白内障家系的致病是否与PAX6基因突变有关.方法 提取该家系全部12名存活成员和96名正常人外周血白细胞DNA,PCR扩增PAX6基因的第4～13编码外显子及侧翼内含子剪切区域,通过直接测序比较家系患者与正常人序列差异以确定致病突变.结果 对PAX6基因序列分析结果显示,该家系3例患者中均存在一个无义突变,而在正常人和家系中非受累成员中则未发现.无义突变位于PAX6基因第10外显子1143位核苷酸c.1143C>T,突变导致精氨酸替换为终止密码(R261X).结论 PAX6基因突变R261X是中国人先天性无虹膜合并白内障的致病突变.     

遗传学

0500445 一个新的Br蛋白基因部分序列测定及分析,0500446 一个先天性眼球震颤家系致病基因的初步定位,0500447 应用PCR技术对先天性长QT综合征KCNQ1基因进行定点突变的研究,0500448 猪的雌雄连锁图谱的比较研究，0500449 一性连锁Aiport综合征中国家系COL4A5基因新突变位点的检测.     

两个有血缘关系的常染色体显性非综合性耳聋家系基因突变分析

目的 对两个有血缘关系的常染色体显性非综合性耳聋家系进行基因定位及突变分析,确定其致病基因.方法 通过家系调查和临床检查,鉴定了两个有血缘关系的常染色体显性非综合性耳聋大家系.并对已知位点及基因进行连锁分析,对致病基因在染色体上进行定位.PCR扩增候选基因MYH14基因的所有外显子和外显子-内含子交界区,直接测序法进行突变检测.结果 将这两个家系的致病基因定位于DFNA4位点,最大连锁值为4.94.具有统计学意义.突变检测发现MYH14基因的杂合突变c.359T>C(p.S120L),DNA直接测序确证两家系的所有患者均携带该突变,而家系中正常人则均不携带该突变.结论 第1次在中国非综合性耳聋家系中发现MYH14基因的突变,表明MYH14基因突变也是导致中国人非综合性耳聋的原因.     

A novel GJA8 mutation is associated with autosomal dominant lamellar pulverulent cataract: further evidence for gap junction dysfunction in human cataract

Purpose

To identify the gene responsible for autosomal dominant lamellar pulverulent cataract in a four‐generation British family and characterise the functional and cellular consequences of the mutation.

Methods

Linkage analysis was used to identify the disease locus. The GJA8 gene was sequenced directly. Functional behaviour and cellular trafficking of connexins were examined by expression in Xenopus oocytes and HeLa cells.

Results

A 262C>A transition that resulted in the replacement of proline by glutamine (P88Q) in the coding region of connexin50 (Cx50) was identified. hCx50P88Q did not induce intercellular conductance and significantly inhibited gap junctional activity of co‐expressed wild type hCx50 RNA in paired Xenopus oocytes. In transfected cells, immunoreactive hCx50P88Q was confined to the cytoplasm but showed a temperature sensitive localisation at gap junctional plaques.

Conclusions

The pulverulent cataract described in this family is associated with a novel GJA8 mutation and has a different clinical phenotype from previously described GJA8 mutants. The cataract likely results from lack of gap junction function. The lack of function was associated with improper targeting to the plasma membrane, most probably due to protein misfolding.     

A Gja8 (Cx50) point mutation causes an alteration of alpha 3 connexin (Cx46) in semi-dominant cataracts of Lop10 mice

Mutations of connexin alpha 8 (GJA8 or Cx50) and connexin alpha 3 (GJA3 or Cx46) in humans have been reported to cause cataracts with semi-dominant inheritance patterns. Targeted null mutations in Gja8 and Gja3 in mice cause cataracts with recessive inheritance. The molecular bases for these differences in inheritance patterns and the mechanism for cataractogenesis in these mutants are poorly understood. We recently mapped an autosomal semi-dominant cataract [lens opacity 10 (Lop10)] mutation to mouse chromosome 3 and identified a missense mutation (G-->C) in the Gja8 gene, which causes glycine at codon 22 to be replaced with arginine (G22R). Moreover, we demonstrated that the alpha 8 G22R isoform is a loss-of-function mutant for alpha 8, as well as a dominant mutation for reducing the phosphorylated forms of alpha 3 connexin in vivo. To test the hypothesis that the alteration of endogenous alpha 3 connexin in Lop10 mice led to a unique lens phenotype, we generated double mutant offspring between Lop10 and the Gja3(tm1) (alpha 3(-/-)) mice. The double homozygous mutant mice (Lop10/Lop10 alpha 3(-/-)) showed relatively normal lens cortical fibers compared to the Lop10 mice. A functional impairment of endogenous alpha 3 connexin is therefore partly responsible for cellular phenotypes in the Lop10 mice. This study has provided some novel molecular insights into mouse and human cataractogenesis caused by alpha 8 and alpha 3 mutations. These mouse models will be useful for investigating the mechanistic relationship between gap junction impairment and cataract formation.     

Mutations in GJA1 (connexin 43) are associated with non-syndromic autosomal recessive deafness.

Mutations in four members of the connexin gene family have been shown to underlie distinct genetic forms of deafness, including GJB2 [connexin 26 (Cx26)], GJB3 (Cx31), GJB6 (Cx30) and GJB1 (Cx32). We have found that alterations in a fifth member of this family, GJA1 (Cx43), appear to cause a common form of deafness in African Americans. We identified two different GJA1 mutations in four of 26 African American probands. Three were homozygous for a Leu-->Phe substitution in the absolutely conserved codon 11, whereas the other was homozygous for a Val-->Ala transversion at the highly conserved codon 24. Neither mutation was detected in DNA from 100 control subjects without deafness. Cx43 is expressed in the cochlea, as is demonstrated by PCR amplification from human fetal cochlear cDNA and by RT-PCR of mouse cochlear tissues. Immunohistochemical staining of mouse cochlear preparations showed immunostaining for Cx43 in non-sensory epithelial cells and in fibrocytes of the spiral ligament and the spiral limbus. To our knowledge this is the first alpha connexin gene to be associated with non-syndromic deafness. Cx43 must also play a critical role in the physiology of hearing, presumably by participating in the recycling of potassium to the cochlear endolymph.     

Novel Germline GJA5/Connexin40 Mutations Associated with Lone Atrial Fibrillation Impair Gap Junctional Intercellular Communication

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common form of sustained cardiac arrhythmia worldwide. Here, we investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms of lone AF‐linked germline mutations in the connexin40 (Cx40) gene, GJA5. The entire coding region of GJA5 was sequenced in 68 unrelated patients with lone AF. A novel germline heterozygous missense mutation in Cx40 (p.I75F) was identified in one index patient. The mutation was also present in the proband's father with lone AF but was not found in the unaffected family members who were examined and 200 unrelated healthy control individuals. Electrophysiological studies revealed no electrical coupling of the cell pairs expressing the mutant alone and a significant reduction in gap junction coupling conductance when the mutant was coexpressed with wild‐type (wt) Cx40 or Cx43. Interestingly, another lone AF‐linked Cx40 mutant p.L229M did not show any apparent coupling defect when expressed alone or together with wt Cx40 but specifically reduced the gap junction coupling when coexpressed with wt Cx43. This study is the first to demonstrate that the germline familial mutations in Cx40 impair the gap junctions through different mechanisms, which may predispose the mutant carriers to AF.     

Mutation of the gap junction protein alpha 8 (GJA8) gene causes autosomal recessive cataract

Background

GJA8 encodes connexin‐50, a gap junction protein in the eye lens. Mutations in GJA8 have been reported in families with autosomal dominant cataract.

Objective

To identify the disease gene in a family with congenital cataract of autosomal recessive inheritance.

Methods

Eight candidate genes were screened for pathogenic alterations in affected and unaffected family members and in normal unrelated controls.

Results

A single base insertion leading to frameshift at codon 203 of connexin 50 was found to co‐segregate with disease in the family.

Conclusions

These results confirm involvement of GJA8 in autosomal recessive cataract.     

Frequencies of gap- and tight-junction mutations in Turkish families with autosomal-recessive non-syndromic hearing loss

Mutations in genes encoding gap- and tight-junction proteins have been shown to cause distinct forms of hearing loss. We have now determined the GJB2[connexin 26 (Cx26)] mutation spectrum in 60 index patients from mostly large Turkish families with autosomal-recessive inherited non-syndromic sensorineural hearing loss (NSSHL). GJB2 mutations were found in 31.7% of the families, and the GJB2-35delG mutation accounted for 73.6% of all GJB2 mutations. The carrier frequency of GJB2-35delG in the normal Turkish population was found to be 1.17% (five in 429). In addition to the described W24X, 233delC, 120delE and R127H mutations, we also identified a novel mutation, Q80R, in the GJB2 gene. Interestingly, the Q80R allele was inherited on the same haplotype as V27I and E114G polymorphisms. As little is known about the mutation frequencies of most other recently identified gap- and tight-junction genes as a cause for hearing loss, we further screened our patients for mutations in GJB3 (Cx31), GJA1 (Cx43), DeltaGJB6-D13S1830 (Cx30) and the gene encoding the tight-junction protein, claudin 14 (CLDN14). Several novel polymorphisms, but no disease-associated mutations, were identified in the CLND14 and GJA1 genes, and we were unable to detect the DeltaGJB6-D13S1830 deletion. A novel putative mutation, P223T, was found in the GJB3 gene in heterozygous form in a family with two affected children. Our data shows that the frequency of GJB2 mutations in Turkish patients with autosomal-recessive NSSHL and the carrier rate of the GJB2-35delG mutation in the Turkish population, is much lower than described for other Mediterranean countries. Furthermore, mutations in other gap- and tight-junction proteins are not a frequent cause of hearing loss in Turkey.     

A novel GJA3 mutation associated with congenital nuclear pulverulent and posterior polar cataract in a Chinese family

Congenital cataract (CC) is the leading cause of visual disability in children. To date, mutations in many genes have been linked to CC. In a four-generation Chinese family with congenital nuclear pulverulent and posterior polar cataracts, we detected a heterozygous c.5G>A transition in the second exon of GJA3, resulting in the substitution of a highly conserved glycine with aspartic acid (p.G2D) at the N-terminus of the connexin46 (Cx46) protein. Wild type (wt) and mutant Cx46 plasmids were transfected into HeLa cells to examine the molecular basis of cataract formation. Unlike wt Cx46, Cx46G2D mutant formed gap junction plaques inefficiently, changed hemichannel permeability, and caused apoptosis. These results suggest that the glycine residue at the second position of the N-terminus is important for gap junction plaque formation and hemichannel function.