Biomedical subjects

A A Pannett

Publications and source records attributed to A A Pannett.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

HRPT2, encoding parafibromin, is mutated in hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor syndrome.

We report here the identification of a gene associated with the hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor (HPT-JT) syndrome. A single locus associated with HPT-JT (HRPT2) was previously mapped to chromosomal region 1q25-q32. We refined this region to a critical interval of 12 cM by genotyping in 26 affected kindreds. Using a positional candidate approach, we identified thirteen different heterozygous, germline, inactivating mutations in a single gene in fourteen families with HPT-JT. The proposed role of HRPT2 as a tumor suppressor was supported by mutation screening in 48 parathyroid adenomas with cystic features, which identified three somatic inactivating mutations, all located in exon 1. None of these mutations were detected in normal controls, and all were predicted to cause deficient or impaired protein function. HRPT2 is a ubiquitously expressed, evolutionarily conserved gene encoding a predicted protein of 531 amino acids, for which we propose the name parafibromin. Our findings suggest that HRPT2 is a tumor-suppressor gene, the inactivation of which is directly involved in predisposition to HPT-JT and in development of some sporadic parathyroid tumors.

Adenoma↗

PubMed2001

Menin interacts directly with the homeobox-containing protein Pem.

The tumour suppressor gene causing multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) encodes a 610 amino acid protein, menin. In order to identify menin-interacting proteins we used a yeast two-hybrid assay to screen a 12.5-dpc mouse embryo library with partial menin encompassing amino acids 278 to 476. This identified a homeobox containing protein encoded by a placenta and embryonic expression gene, referred to as Pem. GST-pull-down and coimmunoprecipitation experiments confirmed the interaction. Both proteins colocalised predominantly in the nucleus but were occasionally also found in the cytoplasm. Furthermore, in situ hybridisation studies revealed similarities in their expression patterns in mouse embryos and adult tissues. In adult mice both Men1 and Pem yielded strong signals in testis, Sertoli cells and particularly in seminiferous tubules. Thus, our study has identified that menin interacts with Pem, and the high expression of these proteins in the testis suggests a role in spermatogenesis.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

The hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumour syndrome in a Portuguese kindred.

The hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumour (HPT-JT) syndrome is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by the occurrence of parathyroid tumours and fibro-osseous tumours of the jaw bones. Some HPT-JT patients may also develop renal abnormalities, which include Wilms' tumours, hamartomas and polycystic disease. The HPT-JT gene has been mapped to chromosome 1q25-q31, and we report the clinical and genetic findings in a kindred from central Portugal. HPT-JT was observed in six members from three generations; all had primary hyperparathyroidism (five had parathyroid adenomas, one a parathyroid carcinoma). Ossifying jaw fibromas affecting the maxilla and/or mandible were observed in 5/6. Renal cysts (<2.5 cm) were observed in four. Genetic studies using 18 polymorphic loci from chromosome 1q25-q31, together with leukocyte DNA from 11 family members and tumour DNA from three parathyroids (two adenomas and one carcinoma), revealed loss of tumour heterozygosity in the parathyroid carcinoma only, and the retained haplotype was found to cosegregate with the disease in the six affected members. A new Portuguese kindred with the HPT-JT syndrome that maps to chromosome 1q25-q31 has been identified, and these findings will help in the further characterization of this inherited disorder.

Adenoma↗

PubMed2001

Somatic mutations in MEN type 1 tumors, consistent with the Knudson "two-hit" hypothesis.

MEN type 1 is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by the combined occurrence of tumors of the parathyroids, anterior pituitary, and pancreatic islet cells. The MEN1 gene, which is located on chromosome 11q13, consists of 10 exons and encodes a 610-amino acid protein named MENIN. The observation of LOH involving 11q13 in MEN type 1 tumors and the inactivating germline mutations found in patients suggest that the MEN1 gene acts as a tumor suppressor, in keeping with the "two-hit" model of hereditary cancer. The second hit in MEN type 1 tumors typically involves large chromosomal deletions that include 11q13. However, this only represents one mechanism by which the second hit may occur, and the other mechanisms, such as intragenic deletions or point mutations that inactivate the gene, have not been reported in MEN type 1 tumors. We have therefore undertaken studies to search for such mutations in six MEN type 1 tumors (four parathyroid tumors, one insulinoma, and one lipoma) that did not have LOH at 11q13 as assessed using the flanking markers D11S480, D11S1883 and PYGM centromerically and D11S449 and D11S913 telomerically. This revealed four somatic mutations, which consisted of two missense mutations and two frameshift mutations in two parathyroid tumors, one insulinoma, and one lipoma. Thus, our results, which represent the first small intragenic somatic mutations reported in MEN type 1 tumors, provide further evidence that the role of the MEN1 gene is consistent with that of a tumor suppressor gene, as postulated by Knudson's "two-hit" hypothesis.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

A five-base pair deletion in the sedlin gene causes spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda in a six-generation Arkansas kindred.

A six-generation kindred from Arkansas with X-linked recessive spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda (SEDT) was investigated by genetic linkage and mutation analysis. SEDT had been mapped on the X-chromosome (Xp22.2), and the clinical and radiographic evolution of this kindred had been published. Linkage analysis proved informative for all five polymorphic markers tested, and DXS987 and DXS16 co-segregated with the Arkansas kindred (peak logarithm of the odds scores, 3.54 and 3.36, respectively). Subsequently, dinucleotide deletion in a new gene designated "sedlin" was reported to cause SEDT in three families. In an affected man and obligate carrier woman in the Arkansas kindred, we found a 5-bp deletion in exon 5 of sedlin. The defect causes a frameshift, resulting in eight missense amino acids and premature termination. The 5-bp deletion was then demonstrated to segregate with SEDT in the four living generations, including eight affected males and nine obligate carrier females. Furthermore, the deletion was identified in four females who potentially were heterozygous carriers for SEDT. The mutation was not detected in the two young sons of the consultand (believed to be a carrier because of her subtle radiographic skeletal changes and then shown to have the deletion), but they were too young for x-ray diagnosis Identification of a defect in sedlin in this SEDT kindred enables carrier detection and presymptomatic diagnosis and reveals an important role for this gene in postnatal endochondral bone formation.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Localization of familial benign hypercalcemia, Oklahoma variant (FBHOk), to chromosome 19q13.

Calcium homeostasis by the kidneys and parathyroids is mediated by the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR), which is located on 3q21-q24 and belongs to family C of the superfamily of G-protein coupled receptors that includes those for metabotropic glutamate, certain pheromones, and gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA-B). Inactivating CaSR mutations result in familial benign hypercalcemia (FBH), or familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia (FHH), whereas activating mutations result in hypocalcemic hypercalciuria. However, not all FBH patients have CaSR mutations, which, together with the mapping of another FBH locus to 19p13.3, suggests that additional CaSRs or second messengers may be involved. These may be identified by positional cloning, and we therefore performed a genomewide search, using chromosome-specific sets of microsatellite polymorphisms, in an Oklahoma family with an FBH variant (FBHOk), for which linkage to 3q and 19p had been excluded. Linkage was established between FBHOk and eight chromosome 19q13 loci, with the highest LOD score, 6.67 (recombination fraction.00), obtained with D19S606. Recombinants further mapped FBHOk to a <12-cM interval flanked by D19S908 and D19S866. The calmodulin III gene is located within this interval, and DNA sequence analysis of the coding region, the 5' UTR, and part of the promoter region in an individual affected with FBHOk did not detect any abnormalities, thereby indicating that this gene is unlikely to be implicated in the etiology of FBHOk. This mapping of FBHOk to chromosome 19q13 will facilitate the identification of another CaSR or a mediator of calcium homeostasis.

Calcium↗

PubMed1999

Studies of the murine homolog of the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) gene, men1.

The murine homolog of the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) gene (men1), which in humans is associated with tumors of the parathyroids, pancreas, and pituitary, has been characterized by isolating 27 clones from a mouse embryonic stem cell cDNA library. The insert sizes ranged from 600-2500 bp, and sequence analysis identified a 1833 bp open reading frame encoding a 611 amino acid protein. In addition, two clones contained an unspliced intron 1, and another two clones contained 20-29 bp of an upstream sequence, which suggested the presence of an alternate exon 1. This was supported by an analysis of the homologous human sequence. The mouse and human coding regions had 89% and 96% identity of the nucleotide and amino acid sequences, respectively. Investigation of clones isolated from a 129ola mouse genomic library, revealed the men1 gene to consist of 10 exons that spanned approximately 6 kb. Northern blot analysis demonstrated the ubiquitous expression of 2.9 kb and 3. 4 kb transcripts in mouse adult tissues and embryos from 7 days. DNA sequence analysis of the larger 3.4 kb transcript revealed it to result from a retention of intron 1. In situ hybridization confirmed an early ubiquitous expression in whole mount mouse embryos and adult tissues, but in the latter, different levels of cellular expression were observed, e.g., men1 expression was higher in testicular Sertoli cells than in germ cells. Thus, the mouse men1 gene and the basis of alternative transcripts have been defined, and these will help to facilitate studies of a mouse model.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1999

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1.

Combined clinical and laboratory investigations of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) have resulted in an increased understanding of this disorder which may be inherited as an autosomal dominant condition. Defining the features of each disease manifestation in MEN1 has improved patient management and treatment, and has also facilitated a screening protocol to be instituted. The application of the techniques of molecular biology has enabled the identification of the gene causing MEN1 and the detection of mutations in patients. The function of the protein encoded by the MEN1 gene has been shown to be in the regulation of JunD-mediated transcription but much still remains to be elucidated. However, these recent advances provide for the identification of mutant MEN1 gene carriers who are at a high risk of developing this disorder and thus require regular and biochemical screening to detect the development of endocrine tumours.

Genes, Tumor Suppressor↗

PubMed1998

A putative human zinc-finger gene (ZFPL1) on 11q13, highly conserved in the mouse and expressed in exocrine pancreas. The European Consortium on MEN 1.

In the process of identification of the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 gene, which was recently published, we isolated a novel gene in the 11q13 region. This gene (named ZFPL1, for zinc-finger protein-like 1) is expressed strongly in the exocrine pancreas as a 1.4-kb polyadenylated RNA encoding a putative protein of 310 amino acids. A mouse EST contig predicts an equally sized murine protein with 91% amino acid sequence identity to the human protein. No significant homology with known proteins could be found through database screening. However, zinc-finger-like domains and leucine-zipper-like motifs in the predicted ZFPL1 protein were identified, suggesting the presence of DNA-binding and dimerization domains possibly involved in transcription regulation. This notion is supported by the presence of a putative bipartite nuclear localization signal. This paper presents the full-length cDNA sequence for this gene, its genomic structure and chromosomal orientation, and expression studies by Northern blot hybridization and RNA in situ hybridization.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1998

Characterization of mutations in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by tumors of the parathyroids, pancreatic islets, and anterior pituitary. The MEN1 gene, on chromosome 11q13, has recently been cloned, and mutations have been identified. We have characterized such MEN1 mutations, assessed the reliability of SSCP analysis for the detection of these mutations, and estimated the age-related penetrance for MEN1. Sixty-three unrelated MEN1 kindreds (195 affected and 396 unaffected members) were investigated for mutations in the 2,790-bp coding region and splice sites, by SSCP and DNA sequence analysis. We identified 47 mutations (12 nonsense mutations, 21 deletions, 7 insertions, 1 donor splice-site mutation, and 6 missense mutations), that were scattered throughout the coding region, together with six polymorphisms that had heterozygosity frequencies of 2%-44%. More than 10% of the mutations arose de novo, and four mutation hot spots accounted for >25% of the mutations. SSCP was found to be a sensitive and specific mutational screening method that detected >85% of the mutations. Two hundred and one MEN1 mutant-gene carriers (155 affected and 46 unaffected) were identified, and these helped to define the age-related penetrance of MEN1 as 7%, 52%, 87%, 98%, 99%, and 100% at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 years of age, respectively. These results provide the basis for a molecular-genetic screening approach that will supplement the clinical evaluation and genetic counseling of members of MEN1 families.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Mapping of the gene encoding the B56 beta subunit of protein phosphatase 2A (PPP2R5B) to a 0.5-Mb region of chromosome 11q13 and its exclusion as a candidate gene for multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1).

The multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) locus has been previously localised to 11q13 by combined tumour deletion mapping and recombination studies, and a 0.5-Mb region, flanked by PYGM and D11S449, has been defined. In the course of constructing a conting, we have identified the location of the gene encoding the B56 beta subunit of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), which is involved in cell signal transduction pathways and thus represents a candidate gene for MEN1. We have searched for mutations in the PP2A-B56 beta coding region, together with the 5' and 3' untranslated regions in six MEN1 patients. DNA sequence abnormalities were not identified and thus the PP2A-B56 beta gene is excluded as the candidate gene for MEN1. However, our precise localisation of PP2A-B56 beta to this region of 11q13 may help in elucidating the basis for other disease genes mapping to this generich region.

Chromosome Mapping↗

PubMed1997

Localisation of a gene causing endocrine neoplasia to a 4 cM region on chromosome 1p35-p36.

The development of some endocrine tumours, such as medullary thyroid carcinomas, phaeochromocytomas, anterior pituitary adenomas, and parathyroid adenomas involve a putative tumour suppressor gene located on chromosome 1p32-pter, a region that represents 111 cM. In order to refine the location of this gene, 93 endocrine tumours (39 parathyroid adenomas, 40 anterior pituitary adenomas, seven pancreatic islet cell adenomas, and seven carcinoids) were investigated for loss of tumour heterozygosity (LOH) using the seven polymorphic loci 1pter-D1S228-D1S507-D1S234-D1S476-D1S22 0-D1S207-D1S206-1cen. LOH was detected in 27% of the parathyroid tumours and in 7.5% of the pituitary tumours, but in none of the pancreatic islet cell or carcinoid tumours. In addition, seven of the 10 parathyroid tumours that showed LOH of chromosome 1p facilitated a more precise mapping of this putative tumour suppressor gene; five tumours involved a loss only of the telomeric locus D1S228, whereas two other tumours showed LOH at the centromeric loci D1S507, D1S234, D1S476, and D1S220, but not D1S228. Thus, our results have mapped this tumour suppressor gene implicated in endocrine tumours to a 4 cM region flanked by D1S228 and D1S507 on chromosome 1p35-p36.

Alleles↗

PubMed1996

Definition of the minimal MEN1 candidate area based on a 5-Mb integrated map of proximal 11q13. The European Consortium on Men1, (GENEM 1; Groupe d'Etude des Néoplasies Endocriniennes Multiples de type 1).

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is an autosomal dominant disorder with a high penetrance characterized by tumors of the parathyroid glands, the endocrine pancreas, and the anterior pituitary. The MEN1 gene, a putative tumor suppressor gene, has been mapped to a 3- to 8-cM region in chromosome 11q13 but it remains elusive as yet. We have combined the efforts and resources from four laboratories to form the European Consortium on MEN1 with the aims of establishing the genetic and the physical maps of 11q13 and of further narrowing the MEN1 region. A 5-Mb integrated map of the region was established by fluorescence in situ hybridization on both metaphase chromosomes and DNA fibers, by hybridization to DNA from somatic cell hybrids containing various parts of human chromosome 11, by long-range restriction mapping, and by characterization of YACs and cosmids. Polymorphic markers were positioned and ordered by physical mapping and genetic linkage in 86 MEN1 families with 452 affected individuals. Two critical recombinants identified in two affected cases placed the MEN1 gene in an approximately 2-Mb region around PYGM, flanked by D11S1883 and D11S449.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Highly polymorphic sequence at D21S1448 mapping close to D21S55, within the Down syndrome critical region.

We have isolated a highly polymorphic sequence from the Down syndrome critical region on human chromosome 21. This is a particularly useful marker because it lies adjacent to the locus D21S55, which is most closely associated with the major defects on Down syndrome. Other than this marker, few other variable sequences are known in this region (including other restriction fragment length polymorphisms or CA repeats) and therefore D21S1448 will be extremely helpful not only for people studying the inheritance of portions of chromosome 21 with respect to Down syndrome, but also for those carrying out linkage analysis of the chromosome.

Alleles↗