PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R A Spritz

Publications and source records attributed to R A Spritz.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

A gene for the mouse pink-eyed dilution locus and for human type II oculocutaneous albinism.

The mouse pink-eyed dilution (p) locus on chromosome 7 is associated with defects of skin, eye and coat pigmentation. Mutations at p cause a reduction of eumelanin (black-brown) pigment and altered morphology of black pigment granules (eumelanosomes), but have little effect on pheomelanin (yellow-red) pigment. We show here that the human complementary DNA DN10, linked to the p locus in mice, identifies the human homologue (P) of the mouse p gene, and appears to encode an integral membrane transporter protein. The expression pattern of this gene in various p mutant mice correlates with the pigmentation phenotype; moreover, an abnormally sized messenger RNA is detected in one mutant, p(un), which reverts to the normal size in p(un) revertants. The human P gene corresponds to the D15S12 locus within the chromosome segment 15q11-q13, which is typically deleted in patients with Prader-Willi and Angelman syndrome (see ref. 5 for review). These disorders are phenotypically distinct, depending on the parent of origin of the deleted chromosome, but both syndromes are often associated with hypopigmentation of the skin, hair and eyes (see ref. 8 for review), and deletion of the P gene may be responsible for this hypopigmentation. In addition, we report a mutation in both copies of the human P gene in one case of tyrosinase-positive (type II) oculocutaneous albinism, recently linked to 15q11-q13 (ref. 9).

Albinism, Oculocutaneous↗
PubMed1993

Fluorescence in situ hybridization mapping of 25 markers on distal human chromosome 2q surrounding the human Waardenburg syndrome, type I (WS1) locus (PAX3 gene).

A total of 25 DNA markers located on the long arm of human chromosome 2 have been mapped by fluorescence in situ hybridization. This region includes the locus for Waardenburg syndrome, type I (WS1), recently found to result, at least in some cases, from mutations of the PAX3 gene. We have established that the chromosomal location of the PAX3 gene is within band 2q36. We also show that three markers in the distal 2q region, including the PAX3 gene, are deleted in a patient with phenotypic features of WS1 associated with a de novo deletion (2)(q35q36.2). The improved physical map of this region should facilitate linkage mapping and positional cloning of loci on distal 2q.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Novel mutations of the KIT (mast/stem cell growth factor receptor) proto-oncogene in human piebaldism.

Piebaldism is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder of pigmentation characterized by congenital patches of white skin and hair that lack melanocytes. Piebaldism results from mutations of the KIT proto-oncogene, which encodes the cellular receptor transmembrane tyrosine kinase for mast/stem cell growth factor. Here we describe two novel KIT mutations associated with human piebaldism. These amino acid substitutions, located in the most highly conserved sections of the KIT kinase domain, would be expected to dominant-negatively inhibit KIT-dependent signal transduction, resulting in aberrant melanocyte proliferation or migration during embryologic development.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Mutations of the tyrosinase gene in Indo-Pakistani patients with type I (tyrosinase-deficient) oculocutaneous albinism (OCA).

Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a group of autosomal recessive disorders characterized by deficient synthesis of melanin pigment. Type I (tyrosinase-deficient) OCA results from mutations of the tyrosinase gene (TYR gene) encoding tyrosinase, the enzyme that catalyzes the first two steps of melanin biosynthesis. Mutations of the TYR gene have been identified in a large number of patients, most of Caucasian ethnic origin, with various forms of type I OCA. Here, we present an analysis of the TYR gene in eight Indo-Pakistani patients with type I OCA. We describe four novel TYR gene mutations and a fifth mutation previously observed in a Caucasian patient.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Molecular genetics of oculocutaneous albinism.

Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a group of autosomal recessive disorders characterized by deficient synthesis of melanin pigment. Type I (tyrosinase-deficient) OCA results from deficient enzymatic activity of tyrosinase, which catalyzes at least three steps in the melanin biosynthetic pathway. Type II (tyrosinase-positive) OCA results from abnormalities of the "P" polypeptide. Recent application of molecular genetic techniques to the study of these disorders has led to extraordinary advances in knowledge of their molecular pathogenesis, paving the way to improved diagnosis, carrier detection, and even treatment.

Albinism, Oculocutaneous↗
PubMed1993

A survey of protein tyrosine kinase mRNAs expressed in normal human melanocytes.

We have used the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to survey the repertoire of protein tyrosine kinases expressed in cultured normal human melanocytes, a differentiated cell type derived from the neural crest. We identified 25 different tyrosine kinase cDNAs among a total of 608 protein tyrosinase kinase-related cDNAs analyzed. Six encode receptor tyrosine kinases for known ligands, several of which have been implicated in controlling melanocyte proliferation in vitro. Two others encode apparent receptor tyrosine kinases for unknown ligands. Four encode known non-receptor tyrosine kinases and five encode previously identified anonymous protein tyrosine kinases. Of the eight other melanocyte-associated protein tyrosine kinases, most or all appear to be novel. These 25 protein tyrosine kinase genes exhibit distinct patterns of expression in cultured human melanocytes, human erythroleukemia cells, and a variety of normal human tissues. We mapped 16 of the corresponding protein tyrosine kinase genes to specific human chromosomes, identifying a total of 19 human genetic loci, some of which may constitute candidate genes for genetic disorders of mammalian development.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Mutational mapping of the catalytic activities of human tyrosinase.

Tyrosinase (EC 1.14.18.1) is a copper-containing metalloglycoprotein that catalyzes several steps in the melanin pigment biosynthetic pathway; the hydroxylation of tyrosine to L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (dopa) and the subsequent oxidation of dopa to dopaquinone. It has been proposed that tyrosinase is also able to oxidize 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI), a later product in the melanogenic pathway, to indole-5,6-quinone. Tyrosinase enzymatic activity is deficient in patients with classic type I oculocutaneous albinism (OCA), and more than 50 distinct mutations have now been identified in the tyrosinase genes of such patients. To determine the effects of the various tyrosinase gene mutations on the catalytic activities of the enzyme, we carried out site-directed mutagenesis of human tyrosinase cDNA, transiently expressed the mutant cDNAs in transfected HeLa cells, and assayed the resultant encoded proteins for tyrosine hydroxylase, dopa, and DHI oxidase activities, and resulting melanin production. The tyrosine hydroxylase activity of normal tyrosinase is thermostable, whereas its dopa oxidase and DHI oxidase activities are temperature-sensitive. Although all amino acid substitutions tested generally affected the dopa oxidase and DHI oxidase activities in parallel, several exerted distinctly different effects on the tyrosine hydroxylase activities. Together, these results confirm the DHI oxidase activity of mammalian tyrosinase and suggest that the dopa oxidase and DHI oxidase activities of tyrosinase share a common catalytic site, whereas the tyrosine hydroxylase catalytic site is at least partially distinct in the tyrosinase polypeptide.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Deletion of the KIT and PDGFRA genes in a patient with piebaldism.

We have previously shown that human piebaldism results from mutations of the KIT gene, which encodes the receptor for the mast/stem cell growth factor and is located in chromosome segment 4q12. Using DNA of a patient with piebaldism, mental retardation, and multiple congenital anomalies associated with a 46,XY,del(4) (q12q21.1) karyotype, we carried out quantitative Southern blot hybridization analyses of the KIT gene and the adjacent PDGFRA (platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha subunit) genes. The patient was hemizygous for both the KIT and PDGFRA genes, indicating that both of these genes are included within the deleted region. Therefore, deletion of the KIT and PDGFRA genes may account for the piebald phenotype in this patient.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Tyrosinase gene mutations in type I (tyrosinase-deficient) oculocutaneous albinism define two clusters of missense substitutions.

Type I (tyrosinase-deficient) oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) results from mutations of the gene encoding tyrosinase, the enzyme that catalyzes the first 2 steps of melanin pigment biosynthesis. In type IA (tyrosinase-negative) OCA tyrosinase enzymatic activity is completely absent, and in type IB ("yellow") OCA tyrosinase activity is greatly reduced. Here, we describe 11 novel mutations of the tyrosinase gene in Caucasian patients with these 2 forms of type I OCA. Type I OCA in Caucasians appears to result from a great variety of different uncommon alleles. More than 80% of the known missense substitutions associated with type I OCA cluster within 2 relatively small regions of the tyrosinase polypeptide, suggesting that these may correspond to functionally important sites within the enzyme.

Albinism, Oculocutaneous↗
PubMed1992

Organization and nucleotide sequence of the human KIT (mast/stem cell growth factor receptor) proto-oncogene.

We have cloned and sequenced the human KIT proto-oncogene, which contains 21 exons and spans more than 34 kb of DNA on chromosome segment 4q12. We also establish physical linkage between the KIT gene and the related PDGFRA gene. The organization of the KIT gene is virtually identical to that of the homologous FMS gene, located on chromosome 5. Together, these data suggest that the KIT and PDGFRA genes on chromosome 4 and the FMS and PDGFRB genes on chromosome 5 arose by duplication of a common ancestral gene, followed by duplication of a chromosome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Dominant negative and loss of function mutations of the c-kit (mast/stem cell growth factor receptor) proto-oncogene in human piebaldism.

Piebaldism is an autosomal dominant disorder of melanocyte development and is characterized by congenital white patches of skin and hair from which melanocytes are completely absent. A similar disorder of the mouse, "dominant white spotting" (W), results from mutations of the c-kit proto-oncogene, which encodes the cellular tyrosine kinase receptor for the mast/stem cell growth factor. We have identified c-kit gene mutations in three patients with piebaldism. A missense substitution (Phe----Leu) at codon 584, within the tyrosine kinase domain, is associated with a severe piebald phenotype, whereas two different frameshifts, within codons 561 and 642, are both associated with a variable and relatively mild piebald phenotype. This is consistent with a possible "dominant negative" effect of missense c-kit polypeptides on the function of the dimeric receptor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Mutations of the KIT (mast/stem cell growth factor receptor) proto-oncogene account for a continuous range of phenotypes in human piebaldism.

Piebaldism is a rare autosomal dominant disorder of pigmentation, characterized by congenital patches of white skin and hair from which melanocytes are absent. We have previously shown that piebaldism can result from missense and frameshift mutations of the KIT proto-oncogene, which encodes the cellular receptor tyrosine kinase for the mast/stem cell growth factor. Here, we report two novel KIT mutations associated with human piebaldism. A proximal frameshift is associated with a mild piebald phenotype, and a splice-junction mutation is associated with a highly variable piebald phenotype. We discuss the apparent relationship between the predicted impact of specific KIT mutations on total KIT-dependent signal transduction and the severity of the resultant piebald phenotypes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗