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C de Bonis

Publications and source records attributed to C de Bonis.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

DNA polymorphisms associated with Hb D-Los Angeles [beta 121(GH4)Glu-->Gln] in southern Italy.

We detected Hb D-Los Angeles [beta 121(GH4)Glu-->Gln], the most common hemoglobin variant after Hb S and Hb Lepore-Boston, in six unrelated families in Southern Italy. Ten patients were studied; eight patients were heterozygotes and two were compound heterozygotes for the hemoglobin variant and the beta-thalassemia codon 39 (C-->T) nonsense mutation. The beta-globin gene sequence was characterized by polymerase chain reaction direct sequencing; restriction fragment length polymorphisms were defined by Southern blot analysis. The gene variant, due to the GAA-->CAA substitution at codon 121, was found in association with the 5' subhaplotype [+ - - - -] and the beta-globin gene framework 1; in addition, it was found to be associated with the absence of Ava II/phi beta and Xmn I/5'G gamma, and with the presence of Hpa I/3' beta. This restriction fragment length polymorphism haplotype is common in the Mediterranean area as well as in other populations. The findings are equally compatible with an independent origin in the Mediterranean area or with origin in Asia and subsequent spread to Italy.

Base Sequence↗

Alpha alpha alpha alpha anti-3.7 type II: a new alpha-globin gene rearrangement suggesting that the alpha-globin gene duplication could be caused by intrachromosomal recombination.

We report here a new human alpha-globin gene rearrangement carrying the two normal, alpha 2 and alpha 1, and two hybrid, alpha 1/alpha 2, globin genes in the order 5'-alpha 2-alpha 1/alpha 2-alpha 1/alpha 2-alpha 1-3'. Both the hybrid genes, subtyped with ApaI and RsaI restriction enzymes, were found to be of the uncommon anti 3.7 type II. The hybrid genes were expressed at the biosynthetic level and their interaction with the beta-thalassaemia IVS 1 nt 1 G----A mutation caused thalassaemia intermedia. We also report a case of an alpha alpha alpha-globin gene rearrangement in the twin of one of the alpha alpha alpha alpha-globin gene carriers; the duplicated gene was of the anti 4.2 type and was associated with the absence of RsaI polymorphism. The singular finding of an alpha alpha alpha alpha-anti 3.7 cluster with two identical rare hybrid genes suggests that the reciprocal unequal recombination causing the alpha-globin gene rearrangements could be of the intrachromosomal rather than the interchromosomal type.

Base Sequence↗

Hb City of Hope [beta 69(E13)Gly----Ser] in Italy: association of the gene with haplotype IX.

Hb City of Hope [beta 69(E13)Gly----Ser] was detected by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography in an asymptomatic carrier from Naples, Southern Italy. The amino acid substitution, identified by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, was due to a TGG----TGA substitution as assessed by DNA sequencing. Analysis of the chromosomal background indicates that the globin gene cluster containing the mutant gene has most probably been rearranged by a recombination event, since the mutation was associated with restriction fragment length polymorphism haplotype IX, instead of haplotype I, as previously reported.

Base Sequence↗

Origin heterogeneity of Hb Lepore-Boston gene in Italy.

Forty-three hybrid delta-beta-globin genes were characterized by DNA sequence analysis and associated RFLP haplotypes in 40 families from Abruzzo and Campania, which are on the east and west coast of Italy, respectively. All the genes had the delta-globin sequence up to the exon 2 codon 87 and had the beta-globin sequence from IVS-2-8; between these two ends, they had 58 bp in common with the delta- and beta-globin genes. Thus, they were all of the Lepore-Boston type. A chromosomal background heterogeneity was present among the mutant genes. In fact, they were all associated with (+ - - - -) 5' subhaplotype, but 23/31 from Campania were associated with (+ +) 3' subhaplotype, whereas 12/12 genes from Abruzzo and 8/31 from Campania were associated with (+ -). DNA sequencing of homozygous subjects showed that (+ +) 3' subhaplotype was associated, at IVS-2-74, with G, while (+ -) was associated with T; that is they were associated with the beta-globin gene sequence of frameworks 1 and 2, respectively. The molecular characteristics of this heterogeneity, as well as its geographical patterns in the eastern and western regions of Italy, represent strong evidence for the recurrent and multicentric origins of the mutation.

Base Sequence↗

Hemoglobin Neapolis, beta 126(H4)Val----Gly: a novel beta-chain variant associated with a mild beta-thalassemia phenotype and displaying anomalous stability features.

A novel beta-chain, beta 126(H4)Val----Gly, electrophoretically silent, was detected by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography in three unrelated families from Naples (Southern Italy) and accounted for about 30% of the total beta-chains. The amino acid substitution was detected by HPLC fingerprint. The eight heterozygous patients showed hematologic and biosynthetic alterations of mild beta-thalassemia type. The hemoglobin variant showed abnormal stability features. It was unstable in the heat stability and isopropanol precipitation tests, but did not cause a hemolytic syndrome in vivo and was stable in a time-course experiment of biosynthesis in vitro. DNA polymerase chain reaction direct sequencing of the mutated gene from 135 nt upstream of the cap site to 106 nt downstream of the polyadenylation site showed only the beta 126 GTG----GGG mutation, which was confirmed in the other patients by allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization. The mutation was found to be associated with a type II beta-globin framework and restriction fragment length polymorphism haplotype V. The novel variant was named hemoglobin Neapolis.

Base Sequence↗

(Alpha)alpha 5.3: a novel alpha(+)-thalassemia deletion with the breakpoints in the alpha 2-globin gene and in close proximity to an Alu family repeat between the psi alpha 2- and psi alpha 1-globin genes.

A novel 5.3-kb deletion of the alpha-globin gene cluster was observed in a family from Naples, Southern Italy. It removes the 5' end of the alpha 2-globin gene, causing an alpha (+)-thalassemia defect. Because of the presence of the residual 3' end of the alpha 2-globin gene, we indicated this new haplotype with the symbol (alpha)alpha 5.3. The 5' breakpoint, the first to be reported in the intergene region of the psi alpha 2- and psi alpha 1-globin genes, is located 822 bp upstream of the cap site of the psi alpha 1-gene and about 150 bp upstream of a 300-nt Alu family member. The 3' breakpoint is located in the IVS-1 nt 58 of the alpha 2-globin gene. The 5.3-kb deleted fragment shows particular characteristics: it contains four Alu sequences having long regions 80% complementary and the 5'-GGCC-3' short repeat at both ends. The sequences spanning across the breakpoints on the same strand and containing this repeat on their 3' and 5' ends, respectively, are 17 of 25 base complementary. These particular features led us to assume the formation of a multistem-loop due to the intrastrand interaction between the complementary regions as intermediate to the deletion. The unusual localization of the 5' breakpoint suggests that even the intergene region of the psi alpha 2- and psi alpha 1-globin genes may function as a deletion target.

Base Sequence↗

[Clinical aspects and mechanisms of visual-spatial neglect].

Several interpretations have been advanced to explain the nature of unilateral spatial neglect. According to some authors, unilateral neglect could be due to a sensory deficit or to an oculomotor disorder hampering the patient from completely exploring the half space contralateral to the damaged hemisphere. According to other authors, the unilateral neglect syndrome could result either from a mutilation of the inner representation of the outside space or from a lack of attention for stimuli falling in the half space opposite to the hemispheric locus of lesion. We have wondered whether the relationships between unilateral neglect and hemispheric lateralization could not help to understand the nature of the neglect phenomena. A retrospective analysis of data gathered in neuropsychological literature, and results of an experimental study in which we had contrasted results obtained on an "overlapping figures" task and on a visual search task and a qualitative analysis of neglect phenomena observed in right brain-damaged patients, have led to the following conclusions: a) unilateral neglect is specifically linked to right hemisphere lesions in tasks requiring extraction of information from the central part of the visual field, whereas no difference between right-sided and left-sided lesions is observed on tasks requiring a full exploration of extra-personal space; b) tasks selectively affected in right brain-damaged patients require an automatic orienting of attention toward the more peripheral parts of the stimuli, which could be partly impaired owing to an early orientation of attention toward the right side of the pattern and a subsequent difficulty to detach attention from this early focus to orient it toward parts fo the stimulus lying in the left half space.

Brain Damage, Chronic↗