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Biomedical subjects

N Gregersen

Publications and source records attributed to N Gregersen.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Alpha 1-antitrypsin alleles in patients with pulmonary emphysema, detected by DNA amplification (PCR) and oligonucleotide probes.

Alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is a serious predisposing factor for the development of pulmonary emphysema. Twelve representative Danish families were studied. AAT typing was performed as a comparative study between the traditional protein typing by isoelectrical focusing and the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) technique of enzymatic amplification and subsequent typing with radioactively labelled oligonucleotide probes. On the basis of clinical and radiological signs of pulmonary emphysema, 25 patients were selected. AAT typing was performed by use of the two techniques in combination, in search for new point-mutations among the patients. Results obtained with the two techniques were discordant in one patient, suggesting an unknown variant. The unexpectedly high PiZ frequency of 0.22 found in the study group is discussed.

Adult↗

Specific diagnosis of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency in dried blood spots by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay detecting a point-mutation (G985) in the MCAD gene.

The discovery of a point-mutation, adenine-to-guanine, at position 985 in the gene coding for MCAD (G985), gave the basis for an easy and specific polymerase chain reaction test. We tested the specificity of such a PCR based assay and detected correctly G985 and A985 in sequence verified cDNA clones. We showed that the G985 mutation is present in genomic DNA from 48 of 50 patients with confirmed MCAD deficiency, originating from various European countries, Australia and the USA. On the basis of this high frequency of the G985 mutation among patients, we improved and optimized the assay with respect to reliability and convenience for routine diagnostic and screening purposes. As little as 2 microliters blood from filter-paper blood-spots (Guthrie spots) is sufficient for the test.

Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase↗

Repetitive sequences involved in the recombination leading to deletion of exon 5 of the low-density-lipoprotein receptor gene in a patient with familial hypercholesterolemia.

Alu sequences in the low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) receptor gene are suspected of being of importance for the creation of gene defects leading to familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). One potential mechanism is that Alu sequences undergo homologous recombination, producing deletions or duplications of DNA segments on genomic DNA. In at least four cases (FH626, PO, JA and FH-DK3), a deletion of exon 5 of the LDL receptor gene has been reported. Only one of these (FH626) have so far been characterized in detail by sequence analysis and shown to involve two of the Alu repeated sequences, which are present in introns 4 and 5. We here report the complete characterization of FH-DK3 and show that the cross-over break points involve sequences similar, but not at identical positions in the 5' end, to those reported for FH626. The recombinations in both FH-DK3 and FH626 are suggested to have occurred within a 22-bp repeated sequence found in both junction alleles.

Base Sequence↗

[Severe hypoglycemia and clouding of consciousness caused by deficiency of the connecting link acyl CoA dehydrogenase].

A case of severe hypoglycaemia precipitated by fasting in a child is described. As a result of the hypoglycaemia, the patient became brain damaged. The mechanism causing the hypoglycaemia was a defect in the fatty acid beta-oxidation enzyme, the connecting link acyl-CoA dehydrogenase. During a prolonged fast, fatty acids are not converted to acetyl-CoA and ketone bodies which participate in Kreb's cycle for production of energy to a sufficient extent. This result in non-ketotic hypoglycaemia with excretion of organic acids in the urine. As a rule, the symptoms occur for the first time during the first to second years of life in connection with common infectious diseases, with vomiting followed by clouding of consciousness and possibly coma, but the condition may also present with sudden unexpected death. Treatment consists of intravenous glucose. The diagnosis is established by testing the urine for hexanoylglycin and other substances and is confirmed by culture of skin fibroblasts and measurement of beta-oxidation activity. The disease is an autosomally recessive inherited condition. In families where there have been cases of unexplained hypoglycaemia and clouding of consciousness and cases of unexplained death in infancy or "near misses", all of the family members should be offered examination for the above mentioned enzyme deficiency.

Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenases↗

The most common mutation causing medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency is strongly associated with a particular haplotype in the region of the gene.

RFLP haplotypes in the region containing the medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) gene on chromosome 1 have been determined in patients with MCAD deficiency. The RFLPs were detected after digestion of patient DNA with the enzymes BanII. PstI and TaqI and with an MCAD cDNA-clone as a probe. Of 32 disease-causing alleles studied, 31 possessed the previously published A----G point-mutation at position 985 of the cDNA. This mutation has been shown to result in inactivity of the MCAD enzyme. In at least 30 of the 31 alleles carrying this G985 mutation a specific RFLP haplotype was present. In contrast, the same haplotype was present in only 23% of normal alleles (P less than or equal to 3.4 x 10(-18)). These findings are consistent with the existence of a pronounced founder effect, possibly combined with biological and/or sampling selection.

Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase↗

Molecular characterization of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency: identification of a lys329 to glu mutation in the MCAD gene, and expression of inactive mutant enzyme protein in E. coli.

A series of experiments has established the molecular defect in the medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) dehydrogenase (MCAD) gene in a family with MCAD deficiency. Demonstration of intra-mitochondrial mature MCAD indistinguishable in size (42.5-kDa) from control MCAD, and of mRNA with the correct size of 2.4 kb, indicated a point-mutation in the coding region of the MCAD gene to be disease-causing. Consequently, cloning and DNA sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified complementary DNA (cDNA) from messenger RNA of fibroblasts from the patient and family members were performed. All clones sequenced from the patient exhibited a single base substitution from adenine (A) to guanine (G) at position 985 in the MCAD cDNA as the only consistent base-variation compared with control cDNA. In contrast, the parents contained cDNA with the normal and the mutated sequence, revealing their obligate carrier status. Allelic homozygosity in the patient and heterozygosity for the mutation in the parents were established by a modified PCR reaction, introducing a cleavage site for the restriction endonuclease NcoI into amplified genomic DNA containing G985. The same assay consistently revealed A985 in genomic DNA from 26 control individuals. The A to G mutation was introduced into an E. coli expression vector producing mutant MCAD, which was demonstrated to be inactive, probably because of the inability to form active tetrameric MCAD. All the experiments are consistent with the contention that the G985 mutation, resulting in a lysine to glutamate shift at position 329 in the MCAD polypeptide chain, is the genetic cause of MCAD deficiency in this family. We found the same mutation in homozygous form in 11 out of 12 other patients with verified MCAD deficiency.

Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenases↗

Nonradioactive, sequence-specific detection of RNA in situ by primed in situ labeling (PRINS).

A new method for the detection of RNA in situ is presented. It is based on sequence-dependent annealing of unlabeled specific oligonucleotide primers to intracellular RNA and subsequent chain elongation catalyzed by reverse transcriptase. Under the conditions described, biotin-labeled nucleotides can be incorporated and the cDNA synthesized in situ can thus be detected using fluorescein-conjugated avidin. Compared to traditional in situ hybridization the use of short oligonucleotide primers has the potential advantage of being better to discriminate between closely related RNA transcripts. Compared to in situ transcription with radioactive precursors we find it more attractive to use fluorescein-conjugated avidin as detection system because it allows a more detailed study of cell and signal simultaneously.

Animals↗

Application of fluorescence in situ hybridization techniques in clinical genetics: use of two alphoid repeat probes detecting the centromeres of chromosomes 13 and 21 or chromosomes 14 and 22, respectively.

Two cloned DNA fragments, one derived from an alpha satellite subfamily common to chromosomes 13 and 21, and the other derived from a similar subfamily common to chromosomes 14 and 22, have been used as biotinylated probes in in situ hybridization studies. Under high stringency conditions, chromosome specific centromeric labelling can be obtained. The applications of this technique in clinical situations are illustrated on metaphases from a fetus with trisomy 21, a fetus with trisomy 13, and a child with clinical features of cat-eye syndrome.

Centromere↗

DNA deletions in the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor gene in Danish families with familial hypercholesterolemia.

DNA samples from 25 unrelated Danish patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) were screened by Southern blot hybridization to detect gross alterations in the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor gene. Three FH-patients were found to have a deletion. Two of these delete part of the cysteine rich domain, which comprises the ligand binding region of the LDL-receptor. The third deletion encompasses coding regions for the cytoplasmic part of the receptor. As two of these deletions could be equivalent to previously described LDL-receptor gene alterations, these data seem to support a notion of recombination hot spots which involve Alu-sequences.

Adult↗

Heterogeneity for mutations in medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency in the UK population.

MCAD is the commonest inherited disorder of fatty acid oxidation. We have sought for and studied 21 affected children from 18 families within the UK. In 14 families the children are homozygous for the G985 mutation. In three families the children are compound heterozygotes for G985 and thus carry another and unknown mutation. In one family the child does not carry the G985 mutation on either allele. The carrier incidence of the G985 mutation is 1 in 68, which suggests that the natural history of MCAD deficiency deserves further study.

Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenases↗

Detection of the apoB-3500 mutation (glutamine for arginine) by gene amplification and cleavage with MspI.

A single primer-template mismatch 2 bp from the apoB-3500 (G to A) mutation permits introduction of a cleavage site for MspI (C/CGG) in normal alleles but not in mutant alleles (CCAG). After amplification, cleavage, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, normal and mutant alleles could be unambiguously distinguished. We constructed a positive (homozygous mutant) standard by site-directed mutagenesis. A negative standard was DNA from a homozygous normal subject. The method enables us to screen for the mutation with 12 microliters of spotted whole blood as the source of DNA.

Apolipoproteins B↗

Molecular characterization of inherited medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency.

Deficiency of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) is a common inherited defect in energy metabolism. Characterization of the mRNA encoding MCAD in a Dutch MCAD-deficient patient revealed an A----G change at nucleotide position 985 of the MCAD mRNA coding region. This point mutation results in the substitution of a glutamic acid for a lysine at amino acid position 304 of the mature protein. The single base change was not found in any wild-type MCAD mRNAs. A mutant allele-specific oligonucleotide probe was used in a hybridization analysis of amplified genomic DNA of MCAD-deficient family members, a carrier, and normal individuals. The hybridization analysis specifically identified individuals who were heterozygotes or homozygotes. In addition to the point mutation, a significant proportion of the index patient's MCAD mRNA contained a variety of deletions and insertions as a result of exon skipping and intron retention. The missplicing occurred in multiple regions throughout the MCAD mRNA. Analysis of the patient's MCAD gene in the regions where the missplicing occurred most frequently did not reveal a mutation in the splicing acceptor or donor sites. Therefore, the molecular characterization of this family revealed a crucial point mutation in the MCAD gene and an unusual abnormality in MCAD pre-mRNA splicing.

Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase↗