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Biomedical subjects

E Boyd

Publications and source records attributed to E Boyd.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

New members of the 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase gene family.

Several bands of hydridization are detected when southern blots of human genomic DNA are proved with cDNA of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSD) type I. Two experimental approaches were adopted to estimate the size of the 3 beta-HSD gene family. Firstly, primer designed to amplify 3 beta-HSD type I and II genes were found on occasion to amplify DNA products of appropriate length but which were resolved as distinct sequences by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Five of these novel bands were cloned and their sequences were found to be closely related to 3 beta-HSD types I and II. Secondly, 57 genomic clones were selected from two lambda genomic libraries by hybridization with exonic probes of 3 beta -HSD type I. These were screened for novel members of the gene family by pcr amplification using various combinations of PCR primers to the type I and II genes, particularly those primers that previously amplified novel PCR products from genomic DNA. Amplification products from (lambda) clones were screened for novel sequences by DGGE. As a result of these approaches, at least five new members of the 3 beta-HSD gene family were found, one of which locates to the 3 beta -HSD type I and II gene cluster on 1p13. The existence of additional closely related but distinct members of the gene family should be recognized as a potential complication when screening PCR fragments for mutations in the type I and II genes. DGGE was found to be an exceedingly rapid means of screening amplification products from (lambda) clones to search for novel members of the gene family.

3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases

Duplication of distal 19q: clinical report and review.

We report on a 20-month-old boy with duplication of the distal part of 19q. His karyotype is 46,XY, -22, + der(22),t(19;22)(q13.3;p11.2)mat. The propositus has multiple minor anomalies, congenital heart defects, seizures, profound psychomotor retardation, and growth impairment. These characteristics are similar to those in the other 10 reported cases of distal 19q duplication and help delineate the phenotype. A review of the literature is presented.

Abnormalities, Multiple

Chromosomal assignment of a large tRNA gene cluster (tRNA(Leu), tRNA(Gln), tRNA(Lys), tRNA(Arg), tRNA(Gly)) to 17p13.1.

A cluster of tRNA genes (tRNA(UAGLeu), tRNA(CUGGln), tRNA(UUULys), tRNA(UCUArg)) and an adjacent tRNA(GCCGly) have been assigned to human chromosome 17p12-p13.1 by in situ hybridization using a 4.2 kb human DNA fragment for tRNA(Leu), tRNA(Gln), tRNA(Lys), tRNA(Arg), and, for tRNA(Gly), 1.3 kb and 0.58 kb human DNA fragments containing these genes as probes. This localization was confirmed and refined to 17p13.100-p13.105 using a somatic cell hybrid mapping panel. Preliminary experiments with the biotinylated tRNA Leu, Gln, Lys, Arg probe and metaphase spreads from other great apes suggest the presence of a hybridization site on the long arm of gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) chromosome 19 and the short arm of orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) chromosome 19 providing further support for homology between HSA17, GGO19 and PPY19.

Animals

Analysis of the origin of Turner's syndrome using polymorphic DNA probes.

Thirty-four families with a child or fetus with Turner's syndrome were studied using a series of polymorphic DNA probes. Analysis of the origin of the normal X chromosome was possible in all cases. In 16 families with 45,X (four fetuses and 12 livebirths), the observed X was maternal in each case, indicating a preferential loss of the paternal sex chromosome at, or before, conception. In the remaining 18 families with a variety of karyotypes, but especially in those where the child had an isochromosome of Xq or a ring X, there was again a strong tendency for the normal X to be maternal. Analysis of parental ages was performed with known origin of each abnormality, but no evidence for an increased or decreased parental age effect was detected.

Adult

Genotype-phenotype correlations in XX males and their bearing on current theories of sex determination.

Clinical, chromosomal and molecular studies of a group of 15 XX males confirm the presence of two main groups. A Y + ve group of ten patients exhibit sex reversal as the result of transfer of the distal end of the short arm of the Y chromosome, including testis determining factors, to the short arm of one X-chromosome, presumably by accidental crossing-over in paternal meiosis. The ten patients have Klinefelter's syndrome but differ from XXY cases in that they are short and shown no impairment of intelligence. The four Y-ve XX males have no demonstrable Y sequences and differ from Y + ve cases in abnormality of the external genitalia and invariable gynaecomastia; in this, they more closely resemble XX true hermaphrodites than XY males. These observations on Y - ve XX males and an additional exceptional Y + patients suggest that the ZFY locus is not essential for male differentiation and is not the primary testis determining factor. Male sex determination in sporadic, and familial Y-ve XX males and true hermaphrodites is likely to be the result of mutation in an X-linked TDF gene and its consequent escape from the constraints of X-inactivation. It seems premature to abandon the dosage model of sex determination on the recent evidence that ZFX does not show dosage compensation.

Genotype

Regional chromosomal assignment of the human mineralocorticoid receptor gene to 4q31.1.

The gene for human mineralocorticoid receptor (hMR), previously mapped to chromosome 4, has been further localized to 4q31.1 by in situ hybridization using a biotinylated 3.75 kb human cDNA clone encoding the primary amino acid sequence of hMR as a probe. Preliminary comparative mapping studies in orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) suggest localization of the probe to the long arm of chromosome 3.

Animals

Detection of a 15q deletion in a child with Angelman syndrome by cytogenetic analysis and flow cytometry.

A proximal 15q deletion, del(15) (q11:q13), was detected in a child with Angelman syndrome by cytogenetic analysis of peripheral lymphocytes. The chromosomes of both parents appeared normal. Flow karyotype analysis carried out on lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from the child and her parents confirmed the presence of a de novo 15 deletion. The estimated size of the deleted segment ranged from 6.1-9.5% of chromosome 15 (approximately 6-9.3 million base pairs). The parental origin of the deleted chromosome could not be resolved by flow cytometry, but cytogenetic evidence suggested that it was derived from the smaller chromosome 15 homologue in the mother.

Abnormalities, Multiple

Recurrences of trisomy 18 and trisomy 13 after trisomy 21.

Between 40 years and 43 years of age, a woman had three consecutive pregnancies with different prenatally diagnosed autosomal trisomies. This is compatible with the view that the predisposition to non-disjunction is not chromosome-specific.

Adult

Isolation of chromosome-21-specific DNA probes and their use in the analysis of nondisjunction in Down syndrome.

Thirteen single-copy, chromosome-21-specific DNA probes were isolated from a recombinant library made from flow-sorted chromosome 21 DNA and regionally mapped using a panel of somatic cell hybrids. Five probes mapped in the 21q21-q22.1 region, six to the 21q22.1-qter region, and one to each of the regions 21q22.1-q22.2 and 21q22.3. Two of these probes, one of which maps in the critical region for Down syndrome, have recently been shown to be expressed at high levels in Down syndrome brain tissue (Stefani et al. 1988). Following preliminary screening for restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs), five polymorphisms were discovered with four of the chromosome 21 DNA probes. A frequent MspI polymorphism detected by one of the probes was used in conjunction with four previously described polymorphic chromosome 21 probes to analyse the origin of nondisjunction in 33 families with a child or fetus with trisomy 21. The parental origin of the additional chromosome 21 was determined in 12 cases: in 9 (75%) of these it was derived from the mother and in the other 3 cases (25%) it was of paternal origin. Cytogenetic analysis of Q-banding heteromorphisms was informative in three of five families tested, and in each case the RFLP results were confirmed. The meiotic stage of nondisjunction was defined with confidence in five families, the results being obtained with pericentromeric RFLP or cytogenetic markers. Recombination between two nondisjoined chromosomes was demonstrated in one family and is consistent with the view that a lack of recombination between chromosome 21 homologues or failure of their conjunction is not the invariable cause of trisomy 21.

Chromosome Banding

Chromosomal assignment of a glutamic acid transfer RNA (tRNAGlu) gene to 1p36.

A gene for tRNAGlu has been assigned to human chromosome 1p36 by in situ hybridisation using a [3H]-labelled or biotinylated 2.4-kb (human) DNA fragment containing a tRNAGlu gene as a probe. With the biotinylated DNA probe a secondary statistically significant site of hybridisation was observed at 1q21-22 which might represent a pseudogene or related sequence. In fibroblasts from gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) using biotin labelling, a single site of hybridisation occurred at 1qter which provides further support for homology of 1q in the higher apes and human 1p.

Animals

An aetiological study of isochromosome-X Turner's syndrome.

In an attempt to resolve conflicting evidence from the literature concerning the existence of a paternal age effect in 46,X,i(Xq) Turner's syndrome, we have analysed data on all known cases ascertained in the main population centres of Scotland and on others ascertained in England, using population controls matched for year of birth. There was a significant (P = 0.02) increase of 2.3 years in the mean paternal age of the Scottish cases, and a smaller and non-significant increase in their mean maternal age. Logistic regression analysis confirmed that the primary association was with paternal, rather than maternal, age. For the English cases, however, there were small and non-significant decreases in their mean maternal and paternal ages. The differences between the two groups were also significant, but cannot be explained by any likely source of ascertainment bias. We therefore conclude that there is no evidence for a universal paternal age effect in this condition, but that at least one mechanism of origin, occurring with variable frequency, may be associated with increased paternal age. Using data from this and earlier published studies, we estimate the incidence of individuals with a 46,X,i(Xq) cell line to be between 3.3 and 13 per 10(5) female livebirths.

Chromosome Aberrations