视网膜色素变性患者中视网膜色素变性1基因点突变的研究

目的 研究中国视网膜色素变性（retinitis pigmentosa，RP)患者RP1基因的突变频率、特征及其在RP发病机理中所起的作用。方法 运用构象敏感凝胶电泳（conformation sensitive gel electrophoresis,CSGE)和DNA直接测序方法对101例香港地区RP患者的RP1基因全编码区进行突变的筛选与检测。结果 101例RP患者中检出1例患者携带常见的RP1致病突变－R677X，另外在3名正常个体及1例Stargardt患者中检出非致病的无义突变－R1933X。RP1基因在所有RP患者中的突变检出率为1／101。突变最终导致RP1蛋白严重截短。此外，在本研究人群中还发现10个错义突变，除M479I的病理意义未确定之外，其余均系RP1基因的多态现象。结论 R1933X无致病意义，提示羧基端224个氨基酸的区域可能为RP1蛋白非功能区，结合最近发现的RP1羧基端的移码突变－Y1053（1bp del)的病理意义，推测RP1蛋白中相应片段（密码子1052－1933）的缺失会导致RP的发生。为证实这种推测，大范围的RP1基因分型工作是有必要的，并且可同时发现更多的RP致病突变以及不同于其他种族人群的RP1基因多态变化。

Mutation analysis of retinitis pigmentosa 1 gene in Chinese with retinitis pigmentosa

Objective To investigate the frequency and pattern of RP1 point mutations in Chinese retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients and to examine their effects on the development of RP. Methods Conformation sensitive gel electrophoresis (CSGE) and direct DNA sequencing were used to determine sequence alterations occurring in the entire coding region of the RP1 gene in 101 Chinese RP patients in Hong Kong. Results R677X was detected in one RP patient. A nonpathogenic nonsense mutation, R1933X, was identified in three normal individuals and one patient with Stargardt disease. The frequency of RP1 mutations among all RP patients in this study is 1/101. R677X is expected to lead to large disruptions of the encoded protein. Additionally, 10 more missense alterations in the RP1 gene were identified in the subjects of this study . Apart from M479I whose pathogenicity can not be determined currently, other sequence changes are just polymorphisms of the RP1 gene. Conclusion The nonpathogenicity of R1933X indicates that the C-terminal 224 residues of RP1 protein may be not critical for RP1. Recently, a C-terminal truncating mutation, Y1053(1 bp del), was reported to occur in an RP patient. Thus RP can be caused by lack of the region of RP1 protein after codon 1052 but before 1933. To confirm such a proposition, a large genotyping study is necessary and is likely to reveal more RP causative mutations and uncover more sequence alterations different from those of other ethnic groups.