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

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · American Journal of Human Genetics

OSTI ID:134196

Das, S; Levinson, B; Gitschier, J ^[1]

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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--
• Journal Information: American Journal of Human Genetics, Journal Name: American Journal of Human Genetics Journal Issue: Suppl.3 Vol. 55; ISSN AJHGAG; ISSN 0002-9297
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
AMINO ACIDS
ATP-ASE
CONNECTIVE TISSUE
COPPER
DETECTION
GENE MUTATIONS
GENES
HEREDITARY DISEASES
HUMAN X CHROMOSOME
METABOLIC DISEASES
METABOLISM
PATIENTS
PHENOTYPE
POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION
PROBES
SIZE
SPLICING