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Title: Analysis of mutations in Menkes and X-linked cutis laxa patients

Journal Article · · American Journal of Human Genetics
OSTI ID:134196
; ;  [1]
  1. Univ. of California, San Francisco, CA (United States); and others

Menkes disease is an X-linked disorder of copper metabolism. The complex clinical phenotype is attribute to a deficiency of copper-containing enzymes resulting from a defect in copper transport. X-linked cutis laxa (XLCL), a mild, connective tissues disease may also be an allele of Menkes disease. A gene for the Menkes disease locus (MNK) has been isolated and found to code for a copper-transportion ATPase. Deletions in this gene have been observed in only 15-20% of patients by Southern blot analysis. We have analysed the MNK gene for mutations by RT-PCR and chemical cleavage mismatch detection in a group of 12 patients with severe Menkes phenotype and who were normal by Southern analysis. Mutations were observed in ten patients, and in each case, a different, debilitating mutation was present. Mutations that resulted in splicing abnormalities, detected by RT-PCR alone, were observed in six patients and included two splice site changes, a nonsense mutation, a missense mutation, a small duplication and a small deletion. Chemical cleavage analysis of the remaining six patients revealed the presence of one nonsense mutation, two adjacent 5 bp deletions and one missense mutation. A valine/leucine polymorphism was also observed. These findings, combined with the prior observation of large deletions in {approx}15% of patients, suggest that Southern blot hybridization and RT-PCR will identify mutations in the majority of patients. To date, no mutations have been found in 4 XLCL patients in the MNK coding region by chemical cleavage. However in 2 patients Southern blot changes have been detected with a 5{prime} UTR probe, suggesting mutations affecting regulatory elements.

OSTI ID:
134196
Report Number(s):
CONF-941009-; ISSN 0002-9297; TRN: 95:005313-0932
Journal Information:
American Journal of Human Genetics, Vol. 55, Issue Suppl.3; Conference: 44. annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics, Montreal (Canada), 18-22 Oct 1994; Other Information: PBD: Sep 1994
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English