Rubinstein‐Taybi syndrome caused by a de novo reciprocal translocation t(2;16)(q36.3;p13.3)

Rubinstein‐Taybi syndrome (RTS) is a multiple congenital anomalies and mental retardation syndrome characterized by facial abnormalities, broad thumbs, and broad big toes. We have shown previously that disruption of the human CREB‐binding protein (CBP) gene, either by gross chromosomal rearrangements or by point mutations, leads to RTS. Translocations and inversions involving chromosome band 16p13.3 form the minority of CBP mutations, whereas microdeletions occur more frequently (∼10%). Breakpoints of six translocations and inversions in RTS patients described thus far were found clustered in a 13‐kb intronic region at the 5′ end of the CBP gene and could theoretically only result in proteins containing the extreme N‐terminal region of CBP. In contrast, in one patient with a translocation t(2;16)(q36.3;p13.3) we show by using fiber FISH and Southern blot analysis that the chromosome 16 breakpoint lies about 100 kb downstream of this breakpoint cluster. In this patient, Western blot analysis of extracts prepared from lymphoblasts showed both a normal and an abnormal shorter protein lacking the C‐terminal domain, indicating expression of both the normal and the mutant allele. The results suggest that the loss of C‐terminal domains of CBP is sufficient to cause RTS. Furthermore, these data indicate the potential utility of Western blot analysis as an inexpensive and fast approach for screening RTS mutations. Am. J. Med. Genet. 92:47–52, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.