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Biomedical subjects

H Zoghbi

Publications and source records attributed to H Zoghbi.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Generation of a mouse model for arginase II deficiency by targeted disruption of the arginase II gene.

Mammals express two isoforms of arginase, designated types I and II. Arginase I is a component of the urea cycle, and inherited defects in arginase I have deleterious consequences in humans. In contrast, the physiologic role of arginase II has not been defined, and no deficiencies in arginase II have been identified in humans. Mice with a disruption in the arginase II gene were created to investigate the role of this enzyme. Homozygous arginase II-deficient mice were viable and apparently indistinguishable from wild-type mice, except for an elevated plasma arginine level which indicates that arginase II plays an important role in arginine homeostasis.

Amino Acids↗

Close associations between prevalences of dominantly inherited spinocerebellar ataxias with CAG-repeat expansions and frequencies of large normal CAG alleles in Japanese and Caucasian populations.

To test the hypothesis that the frequencies of normal alleles (ANs) with a relatively large number of CAG repeats (large ANs) are related to the prevalences of the dominant spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs)-SCA types 1, 2, 3 (Machado-Joseph disease), 6, and dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA)-we investigated the relative prevalences of these diseases in 202 Japanese and 177 Caucasian families and distributions of the number of CAG repeats of ANs at these disease loci in normal individuals in each population. The relative prevalences of SCA1 and SCA2 were significantly higher in Caucasian pedigrees (15% and 14%, respectively) than in Japanese pedigrees (3% and 5%, respectively), corresponding to the observation that the frequencies of large ANs of SCA1 (alleles >30 repeats) and of SCA2 (alleles >22 repeats) were significantly higher in Caucasians than in Japanese. The relative prevalences of MJD/SCA3, SCA6, and DRPLA were significantly higher in Japanese pedigrees (43%, 11%, and 20%, respectively) than in Caucasian pedigrees (30%, 5%, and 0%, respectively), corresponding to the observation that the frequencies of large ANs of MJD/SCA3 (>27 repeats), SCA6 (>13 repeats), and DRPLA (>17 repeats) were significantly higher in Japanese than in Caucasians. The close correlations of the relative prevalences of the dominant SCAs with the distributions of large ANs strongly support the assumption that large ANs contribute to generation of expanded alleles (AEs) and the relative prevalences of the dominant SCAs.

Asian People↗

Chromosome assignment of human brain expressed sequence tags (ESTs) by analyzing fluorescently labeled PCR products from hybrid cell panels.

Sixty-three human brain cDNA sequences were newly assigned to individual human chromosomes. Ten of these were subregionally localized, and one was also mapped in the mouse genome. Four previously reported assignments were refined. PCR primers were designed from expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and tested for specific amplification from human genomic DNA. DNA was then amplified, often in multiplexed PCR reactions, using DNA from somatic cell hybrid mapping panels as templates. The amplification products were identified using an automated fluorescence detection system. Chromosomal assignments were made by discordancy analysis. Thirteen newly localized cDNAs exhibited homology to previously reported sequences. EST01471 was shown to correspond to human microtubule-associated protein 1B (MAP1B), confirming the previous mapping of this gene to human chromosome 5. Other genes tentatively assigned to chromosomes based on these results were a component of the signal peptide receptor of the endoplasmic reticulum (EST00745) and a cyclic AMP-regulated phosphoprotein (EST01041) on chromosome 1, a protein phosphatase 2A 55-kDa regulatory subunit (EST01650) on chromosome 4, an NAD(P) transhydrogenase (EST01744) on chromosome 5, ribosomal proteins L1a or L1b (EST01627) and L18a (EST01583), a brain transcription factor (BF-1, EST00795) on chromosome 14, a milk fat globule membrane-related protein (EST01678) on chromosome 15, a putative peptide initiation factor (EST00675) on chromosome 17, thiosulfate sulfurtransferase (TST) on chromosome 22, and moesin (MSN) (EST00896) and a human equivalent of rat spot 14 (S14) (EST00887) on Xp11-->cen and Xpter-->p21.3, respectively.

Animals↗

Identification of a putative gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor subunit rho2 cDNA and colocalization of the genes encoding rho2 (GABRR2) and rho1 (GABRR1) to human chromosome 6q14-q21 and mouse chromosome 4.

Screening of a genomic DNA library with a portion of the cDNA encoding the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor subunit rho1 identified two distinct clones. DNA sequencing revealed that one clone contained a single exon from the rho1 gene (GABBR1) while the second clone encompassed an exon with 96% identity to the rho1 gene. Screening of a human retina cDNA library with oligonucleotides specific for the exon in the second clone identified a 3-kb cDNA with an open reading frame of 1395 bp. The predicted amino acid sequence of this cDNA demonstrates 30 to 38% similarity to alpha, beta, gamma, and delta GABA receptor subunits and 74% similarity to the GABA rho1 subunit suggesting that the newly isolated cDNA encodes a new member of the rho subunit family, tentatively named GABA rho2. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of rho1 and rho2 gene sequences from DNA of three somatic cell hybrid panels maps both genes to human chromosome 6, bands q14 to q21. Tight linkage was also demonstrated between restriction fragment length variants (RFLVs) from each rho gene and the Tsha locus on mouse chromosome 4, which is homologous to the CGA locus on human chromosome 6q12-q21. These two lines of evidence confirm that GABRR1 and newly identified GABRR2 map to the same region on human chromosome 6. This close physical association and high degree of sequence similarity raises the possibility that one rho gene arose from the other by duplication.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Physical and genetic mapping of the telomeric major histocompatibility complex region in man and relevance to the primary hemochromatosis gene (HFE).

We performed pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) on genomic DNA from a radiation hybrid (RH) cell line and constructed a high-resolution physical map of the major histocompatibility complex class I region in 6p21.3, where the gene for primary hemochromatosis (HFE) is believed to be located. Due to the intact microsegment of hemizygous human genomic DNA preserved in the RH cell line, simplified and distinct restriction fragment banding patterns were generated. Using the RH cell line, we were able to extend the physical map of the HLA class I region to about 3000 kb, order the known HLA class I genes from centromere to telomere: HLA-B, -C, -E, (-A, -H, -G), and -F, and orient the HLA-F gene along the chromosome. The proximity of HLA-F to HLA-A was confirmed by linkage and linkage disequilibrium analysis. This study shows that RH cell lines can be useful for constructing long-range physical maps in specific regions of the human genome with PFGE. Physical and genetic mapping studies of this region are consistent with a localization of the HFE gene proximal or distal to HLA-A.

Animals↗

Examination of X chromosome markers in Rett syndrome: exclusion mapping with a novel variation on multilocus linkage analysis.

Rett syndrome is a neurologic disorder characterized by early normal development followed by regression, acquired deceleration of head growth, autism, ataxia, and stereotypic hand movements. The exclusive occurrence of the syndrome in females and the occurrence of a few familial cases with inheritance through maternal lines suggest that this disorder is most likely secondary to a mutation on the X chromosome. To address this hypothesis and to identify candidate regions for the Rett syndrome gene locus, genotypic analysis was performed in two families with maternally related affected half-sisters by using 63 DNA markers from the X chromosome. Maternal and paternal X chromosomes from the affected sisters were separated in somatic cell hybrids and were examined for concordance/discordance of maternal alleles at the tested loci. Thirty-six markers were informative in at least one of the two families, and 25 markers were informative in both families. Twenty loci were excluded as candidates for the Rett syndrome gene, on the basis of discordance for maternal alleles in the half-sisters. Nineteen of the loci studied were chosen for multipoint linkage analysis because they have been previously genetically mapped using a large number of meioses from reference families. Using the exclusion criterion of a lod score less than -2, we were able to exclude the region between the Duchenne muscular dystrophy locus and the DXS456 locus. This region extends from Xp21.2 to Xq21-q23. The use of the multipoint linkage analysis approach outlined in this study should allow the exclusion of additional regions of the X chromosome as new markers are analyzed. This in turn will result in a defined region of the X chromosome that should be searched for candidate sequences for the Rett syndrome gene in both familial and sporadic cases.

Alleles↗

Genetic aspects of Rett syndrome.

To date over 1,000 cases of Rett syndrome have been described in females exclusively. Some of these cases, less than 2 in 100, are familial. The inheritance through maternal lines in the familial cases suggests that Rett syndrome is an X-linked disorder lethal in males. Hypotheses about the genetic mechanisms involved in this syndrome along with suggestions to approach the molecular basis of this disorder are presented.

Ammonia↗

Rett syndrome: initial experience with an emerging clinical entity.

Five female patients have been presented with the typical clinical appearance of the Rett syndrome. A systematic evaluation of a variety of anatomic, physiologic and biochemical parameters has revealed two potential leads regarding the pathogenesis of this disorder. First, a reduction in the levels of neurotransmitter metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid was noted in each patient, a dopamine metabolite, homovanillic acid, being reduced to the greatest extent. Second, a sural nerve biopsy from one patient examined by electron microscopy revealed intact myelin with an axonopathy. Confirmation of these studies is necessary. This initial description of patients from the United States is quite consistent with previous reports by Professor Rett and Professor Hagberg and colleagues.

Adolescent↗