Screening of neurofibromatosis type 1 gene: identification of a large deletion and of an intronic variant

Neurofibromatosis type 1 of von Recklinghausen is a common autosomal dominant disorder, characterized by peripheral neurofibromas, café-au-lait spots and Lisch nodules of the iris. The high mutation rate at the neurofibromatosis type 1 locus results in a wide range of molecular abnormalities. We have screened seven different exons of the neurofibromatosis type 1 gene, including those codifying for the GAP-related domain, using the RNA-Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism (RNA-SSCP) method in a series of 59 neurofibromatosis type 1 patients. We have also analyzed four intragenic repeats and one RFLP to detect hemizygosity and evaluate informativeness in at-risk families. One deletion and a new intronic normal variant have been detected. Thus the majority of Neurofibromatosis type 1 chromosomes have not been characterized, confirming difficulty in providing proper genetic counselling in neurofibromatosis type 1 families, even following extensive DNA analysis.     

Development of RNA-SSCP protocols for the identification and screening of CFTR mutations: Identification of two new mutations

A strategy is described that allows a rapid and accurate identification and screening of cystic fibrosis gene mutations. It consists of setting up and developing RNA single strand conformation polymorphism (rSSCP) protocols, a technique based on the large repertoire of secondary structure of single-stranded RNA. By incorporating the T7 phage promoter sequence into PCR primers, it is possible to carry out rSSCP and compare it to standard single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP). Several parallel tests indicate that rSSCP detects a higher fraction of single base changes, and is less time consuming than SSCP since it requires only one fairly short electrophoretic run. Using this technique we were able to identify two new splicing mutations in introns 5 (711+5G→A) and 10 (1717–8G→A) of the CFTR gene. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Retinoblastoma gene mutations in primary human prostate cancer

Structural alterations in the entire coding regions (exons 1 to 27) of the retinoblastoma (RB) gene in primary human prostate cancers were investigated, using polymerase chain reaction and single strand conformational polymorphism analysis of RNA. Of 25 samples obtained from patients, four (16.4%) were found to have RB alterations. DNA sequencing of the PCR products revealed point mutations resulting in single amino-acid substitutions of exons 6 and 19 in two cases, and base deletions of exons 8 and 17 in two cases. Two of four cases with RB mutations were moderately differentiated localized tumors and other two with RB mutations were poorly differentiated tumors with metastases. Our results suggest that RB gene mutation is involved in progression steps of prostate carcinogenesis. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Tumor suppressor gene P53 mutations in human prostate cancer

The genetic background underlying the growth and development of human prostatic cancer is not yet clear. Here we searched for possible mutations in the entire coding region of tumor suppressor gene p53 in primary human prostatic carcinomas, using polymerase chain reaction and single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis of RNA. We found p53 gene mutations in 4 of 21 cases (19%). DNA sequencing of the polymerase chain reaction products revealed missense point mutations that resulted in amino acid changes in exon 5 or 3 in three cases and single base deletions in exon 7 in two cases. One case contained both a missense point mutation and a single base deletion. Three of these four cases were pathologically diagnosed as poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas, and three of the four cases were clinically localized to stage C or D. None of seven noncancerous prostate tissues nor three well-differentiated adenocarcinoma tissues showed any mutations. The present results suggest that p53 gene mutation is involved in the late progression steps of human prostate carcinogenesis. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.