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L Boutrand

Publications and source records attributed to L Boutrand.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Variations in primer sequences are the origin of allele drop-out at loci D13S317 and CD4.

STRs have become almost the exclusive tool of genetic scientists in forensic typing work. Consequently, large numbers of samples are genotyped and the detection of rare abnormalities is to be expected. We found rare losses of alleles, also known as drop-out, at the two STR loci D13S317 and CD4. Drop-out at D13S317 was accidentally found in typing of suspects in a murder case and three other examples of drop-out were found at locus CD4 during paternity testing. The lost alleles reappeared when alternative PCR primer pairs were used. Sequences of lost alleles were characterised at the molecular level after cloning. Variations were found in the primer sequences and these are believed to prevent amplification or to reduce amplification yield and to be the origin of the allele drop-out.

Alleles↗

Flemish population data and sequence structure of the hypervariable tetranucleotide repeat locus D12S1090.

The allele frequency and sequence structure of the STR locus D12S1090 were investigated in 598 Flemish individuals. The locus shows a complex organisation with repetitions of GATA interrupted by TA and other tetra- and pentanucleotide blocks. No deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed. The extensive polymorphism makes it a powerful tool for identity as well as paternity testing and even permits differentiation of closely related populations, such as Flemish and Germans. D12S1090 seems to be one of the most informative STRs, however, as seen in other highly variable STRs, the observed mutation frequency of 5.1 x 10(-3), is relatively high. of STR loci is typing highly polymorphic STRs such as ACTBP2 [3]. We thus investigated the tetranucleotide (GATA) repeat locus D12S1090 (GDB accession number GDB:376560, also known as GATA5A09) in a population sample from Flanders, the Dutch speaking part of Belgium. Although this STR is considered to be highly polymorphic [4], compared with other STRs, it has only scarcely been studied.

Alleles↗

Polymorphic short tandem repeats for diagnosis of the Charcot-Marie-Tooth 1A duplication.

BACKGROUND: A 1.5-Mb microduplication containing the gene for peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) on chromosome 17p11.2-12 is responsible for 75% of cases of the demyelinating form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT1A). Methods for molecular diagnosis of CMT1A use Southern blot and/or amplification by PCR of polymorphic poly(AC) repeats (microsatellites) located within the duplicated region, or the detection of junction fragments specific for the duplication. Difficulties with both strategies have led us to develop a new diagnostic strategy with highly polymorphic short tandem repeats (STRs) located inside the CMT1A duplicated region. METHODS: We tested 10 STRs located within the duplication for polymorphic behavior. Three STRs were selected and used to test a set of 130 unrelated CMT1A patients and were compared with nonduplicated controls. The study was then extended to a larger population of patients. Alleles of interest were sequenced. A manual protocol using polyacrylamide electrophoresis and silver staining and an automated capillary electrophoresis protocol to separate fluorescently labeled alleles were validated. RESULTS: We identified three new STRs covering 0.55 Mb in the center of the CMT1A duplication. One marker, 4A, is located inside the PMP22 gene. The two others, 9A and 9B, more telomerically positioned, have the highest observed heterozygosity reported to date for CMT1A markers: 0.80 for 9A, and 0.79 for 9B. Tetra- and pentanucleotide repeats offered clear amplification, accurate sizing, and easy quantification of intensities. CONCLUSIONS: Combined use of the three STRs allows robust diagnosis with almost complete informativeness. In our routine diagnosis for CMT1A, they have replaced the use of other polymorphic markers, either in a manual adaptation or combined with fluorescence labeling and allele sizing on a DNA sequencer.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease↗

Analysis of eight STR loci in two Hungarian populations.

A collection of eight STR loci (D3S1358, FGA, D8S1179, D21S11, D18S51, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820) was used to generate allele frequency databases for two Hungarian population samples, Caucasians from the Budapest area and Romanies from Baranya county. During the analysis two intermediate sized alleles and a sequence variant allele were observed at the D7S820 locus. All three types of allelic variants were found to have modification (deletion, insertion, transversion) in the same block of a (T)(9) stretch located within the 3' flanking region of each allele, which may indicate a possible higher mutation rate of this (T)(9) block. For the loci D3S1358 and D7S820 the Romany population database showed departures from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The forensic efficiency values for the Romany population were slightly different from those found in the Hungarian Caucasian population. Comparing the allele frequency values by G-statistic, calculating the F(st) indices and with the pairwise comparisons of inter-population variance, the two Hungarian populations could be distinguished using data of the eight STR loci.

Consanguinity↗

Analysis of eight STR loci in two Hungarian populations.

A multiplex reaction for the eight STR loci D3S1358, FGA, D8S1179, D21S11, D18S51, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820 was used to generate allele frequency databases for two Hungarian population samples, Caucasians from the Budapest area and Romanies from Baranya county. During the analysis two intermediate-sized alleles and a sequence variant allele were observed at the D7S820 locus. All three types of allelic variants were found to have modifications in the same block of a (T)9 stretch located within the 3' flanking region of each allele, which may indicate a possible higher mutation rate of this (T)9 block. For the loci D3S 1358 and D7S820 the Romany population database showed departures from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The forensic efficiency values for the Romany population were slightly different from those found in the Hungarian Caucasian population. Comparing the allele frequency values by G-statistic, calculating the F(ST) indices and with the pair-wise comparisons of interpopulation variance, the two Hungarian populations could be distinguished using data from the eight STR loci.

Albania↗

Mutational analysis and genotype/phenotype correlation in Turkish Charcot-Marie-Tooth Type 1 and HNPP patients.

The major Charcot- Marie-Tooth Type 1 (CMT1) locus, CMT1A, and Hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP) cosegregate with a 1.5-Mb duplication and a 1.5-Mb deletion, respectively, in band 17p11.2. Point mutations in peripheral myelin gene 22 (PMP22), myelin protein zero (MPZ), and connexin 32 (Cx32) have been reported in CMT1, and in PMP22 in HNPP patients without deletion. We have screened 54 CMT1 patients, of variable clinical severity, and 25 HNPP patients from Turkey, with no duplication or deletion, for mutations in the PMP22 and Cx32 genes. A novel frameshift mutation affecting the second extracellular domain of PMP22 was found in an HNPP patient, while a point mutation in the second transmembrane domain of the protein was detected in a CMT1 patient. Two point mutations affecting different domains of Cx32 were identified in two CMTX patients. Another patient was found to carry a polymorphism in a non-conserved codon of the Cx32 gene. The clinical phenotypes of the patients correlate well with the effect of the mutation on the protein.

Adolescent↗

Alternative exon 3 splicing of the human major protein zero gene in white blood cells and peripheral nerve tissue.

The major protein zero (MPZ) is involved in peripheral myelin folding. Using nested reverse transcription-PCR, we amplified several fragments of MPZ mRNAs in white blood cells and in peripheral nerve tissue. Cloning of PCR products revealed the existence of three alternative splicing patterns: one resulted in the complete loss of exon 3 and two others induced partial skipping of the exon 3 sequence. All three alternative splicing mechanisms produced a frame-shift and created an identical premature stop codon in exon 4. We conclude that the existence of these MPZ RNA transcript variants may be the result of deliberate splicing decisions and may have functional implications in the cell.

Actins↗

Germline brca2 sequence variants in patients with ocular melanoma.

On the basis, chiefly, of anecdotal reports of cases of ocular melanoma (OM) occurring in families with inherited susceptibility to breast cancer due to brca2 germline mutations, we examined the frequency of brca2 alterations in a series of 62 ocular melanoma cases. These cases were preferentially selected on the basis of reported family history of breast or ovarian cancer, or OM, although the series also included a randomly selected set of cases without family history of cancer. A total of 7 germline alterations were found, of which 3 were likely to be associated with disease. While all 3 deleterious mutations were found in patients who also had a personal history of breast cancer, only 1 of the 3 families had a family history of breast/ovarian cancer or OM. Although germline brca2 mutations may account for a small proportion of all OM cases, there may be additional loci that contribute to familial aggregation of OM and to the familial association between OM and breast cancer.

Eye Neoplasms↗

Diversity of RET proto-oncogene mutations in familial and sporadic Hirschsprung disease.

Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a common congenital malformation (1 in 5,000 live births) due to the absence of autonomic ganglia in the terminal hindgut, and resulting in intestinal obstruction in neonates. Recently, a dominant gene for familial HSCR has been mapped to chromosome sub-band 10q11.2 and the disease has been ascribed to mutations in a tyrosine kinase receptor gene mapping to this region, the RET proto-oncogene. Studying the 20 exons of the RET gene by a combination of denaturating gradient gel electrophoresis and single strand conformation polymorphism in a large series of HSCR patients (45 sporadic cases and 35 familial forms), we found mutations of the RET gene in 50% of familial HSCR, regardless of the length of the aganglionic segment. The mean penetrance of the mutant allele in familial HSCR was significantly higher in males (72%) than in females (51%). Most interestingly, mutations at the RET locus accounted for at least 1/3 of sporadic HSCR in our series. These mutations were scattered along the length of the gene. Finally, among the mutations identified in sporadic cases (16/45), seven proved to be de novo mutations suggesting that new mutations at the RET locus significantly contribute to sporadic HSCR. Taken together, the low penetrance of the mutant gene, the lack of genotype-phenotype correlation, the sex-dependent effect of RET mutations and the variable clinical expression of the disease support the existence of one or more modifier genes in familial HSCR.

Base Sequence↗