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Biomedical subjects

R J Daniels

Publications and source records attributed to R J Daniels.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Linkage analysis of spinal muscular atrophy.

Linkage data between four markers on chromosome 5 confirm and extend our previous studies that localized the mutation in spinal muscular atrophy to 5q11.2-q13.3. Localization of D5S6 by in situ hybridization refines the mapping of the defective gene to the region 5q12.2-q13. We also report the use of a highly informative PCR-based polymorphism with five alleles. This RFLP will be particularly useful for prenatal diagnosis where only old tissue samples from affected individuals are available. The high heterozygosity of this locus should also assist in identifying recombinants that will refine the genetic mapping of the mutation.

Chromosome Mapping

Prenatal prediction of spinal muscular atrophy.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a common cause of inherited morbidity and mortality in childhood. The wide range of phenotypes in SMA, uncertainty regarding its mode of inheritance, and the suggestion of linkage heterogeneity have complicated the genetic counselling of parents of affected children. The locus responsible for autosomal recessive SMA has been mapped to 5q11.2-q13.3. The most likely order of loci is cen-D5S6-(SMA,D5S125)-(JK53CA1/2,D5S112)-D5S3 9-qter, with highly polymorphic loci being identified at JK53CA1/2 and D5S39. We describe linkage studies with another highly polymorphic locus, D5S127, that is closely linked to D5S39. This genetic map can be used as the basis for genetic counselling in families with autosomal recessive SMA. Appropriate allowance can be made for sporadic cases owing to non-inherited causes and for linkage heterogeneity or misdiagnoses.

Base Sequence

High-resolution genetic map around the spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) locus on chromosome 5.

Although autosomal recessive spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) has been mapped to chromosome 5q12-q13, there is for this region no genetic map based on highly informative markers. In this study we present the mapping of two previously reported microsatellite markers in 40 CEPH and 31 SMA pedigrees. We also describe the isolation of a new microsatellite marker at the D5S112 locus. The most likely order of markers (with recombination fractions given in parentheses) is 5cen-D5S6-(.02)-D5S125-(.04)-(JK53CA1/2,D5S11 2)-(.04)-D5S39-qter. The relative order of D5S6, D5S112, and D5S39 was confirmed by in situ hybridization. Multipoint linkage analysis in 31 SMA families indicates that the SMA locus lies in the 6-cM interval between D5S6 and JK53CA1/2, D5S112.

Base Sequence

Molecular studies of spinal muscular atrophy.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is inherited as an autosomal recessive disorder which presents as a severe, intermediate or mild condition. The disease selectively affects the alpha motor neuron but nothing is as yet known about the underlying biochemical defect. Recent genetic studies have mapped all three types of SMA to the same region of human chromosome 5 (5q11.2-q13.3) raising the possibility that the mutations may be allelic. Polymorphic DNA markers have been characterised which are suitable for prenatal diagnosis. This is the first step in the isolation of the mutant gene (or genes) involved in this disorder.

Animals

Genetic homogeneity between acute and chronic forms of spinal muscular atrophy.

The childhood-onset spinal muscular atrophies (SMAs) describe a heterogeneous group of disorders that selectively affect the alpha motoneuron. We have shown that chronic childhood-onset SMA (SMA II and III) maps to a single locus on chromosome 5q. Acute SMA (SMA Type I/Werdnig-Hoffmann/severe/infantile) is the main cause of heritable infant mortality. Mapping the acute SMA locus by conventional methods is complicated by the rapidly fatal course of the disease and its recessive mode of inheritance. We present here the typing of four inbred acute-SMA families with DNA markers on chromosome 5q and analysis of these together with acute families from our previous study to demonstrate genetic homogeneity between the acute and chronic forms of SMA. The data indicate that the acute SMA locus maps to chromosome 5q11.2-13.3. Two families seem unlinked to 5q markers, raising the possibility of genetic heterogeneity or disease misclassification within the acute and chronic family sets.

Acute Disease

Characterization of deletions in the dystrophin gene giving mild phenotypes.

We have characterized deletions of the dystrophin gene in patients suffering from relatively mild muscular dystrophy. Our data show that most of the Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) patients have intragenic deletions which leave the protein reading frame in phase. Remarkably, large deletions of the region corresponding to the central triple helical repeats in the protein can result in an exceptionally mild phenotype. Three brothers suffering from BMD, glycerol kinase deficiency, and adrenal hypoplasia possess a deletion at the 3' end of the gene. They also display developmental delay. Thus the 3' processing of the gene must be necessary for the correct function of the dystrophin molecule.

Adrenal Glands

Pathologic scar formation. Morphologic and biochemical correlates.

Morphologic and biochemical analyses were performed to compare normal skin and mature scars to hypertrophic scar and keloid. Correlation of morphologic findings with biochemical profiles of the skin and scar samples proved feasible and enlightening. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize the architectural arrangement of collagen fibers in skin and scars. Cultured fibroblasts from each specimen were also examined with the SEM. A biochemical profile of each tissue specimen was constructed, characterizing the collagen component of the specimen by sequential molecular sieve and ion exchange chromatography to determine a) the degree of intermolecular crosslinking, b) amino acid analysis, and c) levels of lysyl oxidase activity. Results indicate that collagen fibers and fiber bundles display a decreasing level of organization as the clinical degree of scar abnormality increases, and this structural gradient correlates with the gradient of intermolecular crosslinking in the same tissue--normal skin and mature scar being highly crosslinked, hypertrophic and keloid successively less so. Surprisingly, the level of the crosslinking enzyme lysyl oxidase is normal or elevated in hypertrophic scar and keloid despite the relative lack of crosslinking. Amino acid content was uniform for all specimens. Scanning electron microscopy examination of cultured fibroblasts from the tissue specimens demonstrated three phenotypically distinctive fibroblasts whose numerical and volumetric proportions correlated with the tissue of origin.

Amino Acids

Liquid chromatographic method for quantitation of glyphosate and metabolite residues in organic and mineral soils, stream sediments, and hardwood foliage.

A liquid chromatographic method for determining glyphosate (GLYPH) and its major metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) in various environmental substrates is described. Ion-exchange column chromatography is coupled with post-column ninhydrin derivatization and absorbance detection at 570 nm. Use of a valve-switching technique allowed quantitation of both analytes in a single chromatographic run and eliminated slow-eluting, coextracted interferences. The method was successfully used to quantitate GLYPH and AMPA in organic and mineral soils, stream sediments, and foliage of 2 hardwood brush species. Mean recovery efficiencies for GLYPH as determined from fortified blank field samples were as follows: bottom sediment 84%, suspended sediment 66%, organic soils 79%, mineral soils 73%, alder leaf litter 81%, salmonberry leaf litter 84%, and artificial deposit collectors 87%. Precision for GLYPH determination was good with less than 14% coefficient of variation on mean recovery for all substrates. Limits of detection were lowest for sediments (0.01 microgram/g dry mass) and highest for foliage substrates (0.10 microgram/g dry mass). Using this system, 6 samples/person/day were routinely analyzed.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid