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Haemophilia B: database of point mutations and short additions and deletions, fifth edition, 1994.

The fifth edition of the haemophilia B database lists in easily accessible form all known factor IX mutations due to small changes (base substitutions and short additions and/or deletions of < 30bp) identified in haemophilia B patients. The 1,142 patient entries are ordered by the nucleotide number of their mutation. Where known, details are given on: factor IX activity, factor IX antigen in circulation, and origin of mutation. References to published mutations are given and the laboratories generating the data are indicated.

Databases, Factual

Haemophilia B: database of point mutations and short additions and deletions--eighth edition.

The eighth edition of the haemophilia B database (http://www.umds.ac. uk/molgen/haemBdatabase.htm ) lists in an easily accessible form all known factor IX mutations due to small changes (base substitutions and short additions and/or deletions of <30 bp) identified in haemophilia B patients. The 1713 patient entries are ordered by the nucleotide number of their mutation. Where known, details are given on: factor IX activity, factor IX antigen in circulation, presence of inhibitor and origin of mutation. References to published mutations are given and the laboratories generating the data are indicated.

Computer Communication Networks

[Incidence of point mutations in Ki-ras codon 12 and 13 in squamous epithelial carcinomas of the head-neck region].

BACKGROUND: Point mutations of ras genes are one of the most frequent genetic alterations in human malignancies with up to over 95% in certain tumors. Some studies have presumed a low incidence of point mutations in Ki-ras gene codons 12 and 13 in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). The objective of this study was to gain more information about the significance of point mutations in Ki-ras codons 12 and 13 by investigation of a high number of cases. METHODS: By employing the polymerase chain reaction with specific primers, 63 fresh tumor biopsies were investigated by the nonradioisotopic single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. To cooperate the efficiency and to characterize the nature of the point mutations, direct fluorescence-labeled DNA sequencing was performed in two cases. RESULTS: Five out of the 63 (7.9%) SCCHN samples exhibited point mutations in codons 12 and 13 by SSCP analysis. In two out of these mutated cases, a G to T transversion in codon 12.2 of the Ki-ras gene was detected. The analysis of the patient's clinical parameters as well as the histopathological grading and tumor staging revealed no correlation with the Ki-ras point mutation. CONCLUSIONS: Ki-ras point mutations in codons 12 and 13 are a rare event in SCCHN. These data give additional evidence that these genetic alterations do not play a major role in the development of malignancies of the upper aerodigestive tract.

Aged

Antisense inhibition of ras p21 expression that is sensitive to a point mutation.

Many genetic disorders result from a single point mutation, and many tumor oncogenes have been found to be altered by a point mutation. The ability to inhibit selectively the expression of the mutated form of a protein without affecting its normal counterpart is central to many therapeutic strategies, since the normal protein may serve indispensable functions. Antisense oligonucleoside methylphosphonates and their psoralen derivatives directed at either normal human Ha-ras p21 or ras p21 that is mutated at a single base in codon 61 have been examined for their efficacy and specificity as inhibitors of p21 expression. Mixed cultures of cells expressing both forms of p21 were treated with the antisense oligomer complementary to the normal p21 or with the antisense oligomer complementary to the point-mutated p21. Each of the antisense oligomers specifically inhibited expression of only the form of ras p21 to which it was completely complementary and left the other form of p21 virtually unaffected.

Base Sequence

Clinical relevance of point mutations in the cytoplasmic domain of the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor gene in patients with severe congenital neutropenia.

Recently, point mutations in the gene of the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) receptor have been reported in two patients with severe congenital neutropenia who developed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We investigated the frequency of these specific G-CSF receptor mutations in patients with congenital neutropenia undergoing treatment with r-metHuG-CSF (Filgrastim) and the clinical relevance of these mutations. Nucleotides 2306 to 2561 including the critical region (nucleotides 2384-2429) from the intracellular domain of the G-CSF receptor gene were amplified by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Detection of point mutations was performed with specific restriction enzyme analysis, as well as sequencing of PCR products. Both genomic DNA and cDNA from neutrophils and mononuclear cells were analyzed from 28 patients with severe congenital neutropenia. Four of 28 patients with congenital neutropenia displayed a point mutation in the tested cytoplasmic region of the G-CSF receptor gene. The point mutations replace a glutamine codon by a stop codon of the G-CSF receptor gene. Among these four congenital neutropenia patients with a mutated G-CSF receptor, two developed AML. All four patients were investigated regularly and no correlation between occurrence of G-CSF receptor mutation and time or dose of r-metHuG-CSF treatment was found. No point mutations in the G-CSF receptor critical domain could be detected in cells from the other 24 congenital neutropenia patients. Furthermore, we tested six family members of the two patients with AML including mothers and fathers, one sister, and one brother who suffers from congenital neutropenia, as well. All family members displayed a normal G-CSF receptor gene. After the acquisition of the G-CSF receptor mutations, the congenital neutropenia patients continued to respond to G-CSF therapy with an increase in absolute neutrophils in the peripheral blood. We conclude that the point mutations in the critical region of the intracellular part of the G-CSF receptor occur spontaneously and are not inherited. From our data, we suggest that the described G-CSF receptor point mutations do not alter the response to treatment with r-metHuG-CSF and are not the cause of severe congenital neutropenia.

Acute Disease

A single point mutation is the cause of the Greek form of hereditary persistence of fetal haemoglobin.

In normal humans the fetal stage-specific gamma-globin genes are silenced after birth and not expressed in the adult. Exceptions are seen in cases of hereditary persistence of fetal haemoglobin (HPFH). These are clinically important because the elevated levels of gamma-globin can alleviate beta-thalassaemia and sickle cell anaemia. One class of mutations is associated with point mutations in the promoter of the gamma-globin genes (non-deletion HPFH), whereas others seem to be caused by large deletions 3' to the gamma-globin genes. To test whether the point mutation found in the Greek non-deletion HPFH (guanine to adenine at nucleotide position -117) is the cause of the raised gamma-globin levels in the adult stage and is not just a linked polymorphism, we engineered this mutation into a gamma-globin gene. When this gene was introduced into mice, the presence of the -117 mutation results in persistence of gamma-globin expression at a high level and a concomitant decrease in beta-globin expression in fetal and adult mice. We show that these changes correlate with the loss of binding of the transcription factor GATA1 to the gamma-globin promoter, suggesting that it may act as a negative regulator of the gamma-globin gene in adults.

Animals

Molecular analysis of the RET proto-oncogene in patients with sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma: a novel point mutation in the extracellular cysteine-rich domain.

Germline point mutations in the RET proto-oncogene are associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (2A and 2B) and familial medullary thyroid carcinoma. On the other hand, somatic point mutations of RET have been described in a subset of sporadic medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTCs). We examined tumor and blood DNA of thirteen apparently sporadic MTC patients for mutations in RET exons 10, 11, 13, 15 and 16 to determine whether they had true sporadic tumors or either de novo or occult germline mutations. Three different somatic missense mutations were documented in seven patients. In five patients a mutation in exon 16, codon 918, (ATG-->ACG) causing a Met-->Thr substitution was found. In the remaining two patients the mutation affected exon 11: codon 630 in one case and codon 634 in the other. In both cases a T-->C transversion was identified causing a Cys-->Arg substitution. In conclusion, absence of a germline mutation in RET exons 10, 11, 13 or 16 is evidence against an inherited form in all cases. In seven patients, identification of a somatic mutation supported the previous clinical diagnosis of sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma; in one of them we identified a hitherto undescribed somatic point mutation at codon 630.

Adult

Concomitant point mutation of tumor suppressor gene p53 and oncogene c-N-ras in malignant neuroendocrine pancreatic tumor.

Activation by point mutation of ras family genes as well as point mutations of the p53 tumor suppressor gene are found in many tumors. Here we describe a rare case of malignant neuroendocrine pancreatic tumor with multiple metastases in different organs showing strong positivity for synaptophysin, glucagon-like peptide 1, pan-cytokeratin, moderate positivity for chromogranin, Phe-5 and calcitonin and weak positivity for vasointestinal peptide. We found a point mutation at codon 61 of the c-N-ras oncogene, and point mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene in the primary tumor as well as in its metastases in liver. The mutation in the c-N-ras gene was a cytosine to adenine transversion, resulting in the amino-acid lysine. Allele specific hybridization showed that the mutation involved one of two c-N-ras alleles as the oligonucleotide for the normal codon also hybridized to amplified tumor DNA. Concomitant mutation of the p53 tumor suppressor gene at codons 248 and 249 was found. The mutation in codon 248 was a cytosine to guanine transversion resulting in the amino-acid glycine. The mutation in codon 249 was a third base, G- > T, transversion leading to a change from arginine to serine. This is the first time that concomitant point mutations in c-N-ras and p53 have been found in a neuroendocrine pancreatic tumor. Based upon these and our previous results, we concluded that these genetic changes may play a role in the development of this particular pancreatic tumor.

Biomarkers, Tumor

Diagnosis of pancreatic cancer by K-ras point mutation and cytology of pancreatic juice.

OBJECTIVES: Recently, it was reported that detection of K-ras point mutation at codon 12 in pancreatic juice is an objective method for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, but a few reports have suggested that this might represent an early event in pancreatic oncogenesis. In the present study we examined, in various patients, the occurrence of K-ras codon 12 point mutation in pancreatic juice and compared it with pancreatic juice cytology, which is also a reliable diagnostic method. METHODS: Pancreatic juice was obtained endoscopically from patients with various pancreatic disorders and those without definite diseases, and was examined cytologically and for the occurrence of K-ras codon 12 point mutation. The K-ras gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the mutation at codon 12 (GGT-->GAT) was examined by slot blot hybridization analysis. RESULTS: K-ras point mutation at codon 12 was detected in seven of 14 (50%) pancreatic cancers, in four of 10 (40%) mucin-producing tumors, in four of 13 (31%) chronic pancreatitis, and in two of 10 (20%) pancreas without definite disorders. K-ras point mutation was detected in nine of 18 (50%) pancreatic juice samples containing cancer cells, in eight of 18 (44%) pancreatic juice samples containing atypical cells, but in none of such samples containing only normal cells. CONCLUSION: Cancer cells were detected from pancreatic cancer exclusively, but K-ras point mutation at codon 12 was detected in pancreatic juice, not only from pancreatic cancer, but also from other diseases.

Aged

Detection of high incidence of H-RAS oncogene point mutations in acute myelogenous leukemia.

We have been analyzing RAS p21 proteins and the DNA sequence of leukemic cells. We report here that these cells have high expression of H-RAS p21, which originates from point mutations of RAS oncogenes. The leukemic cells from six patients with acute myelogenous leukemia were separated from heparinized whole blood and bone marrow by a density gradient technique. The expression of RAS oncogenes was analyzed by a fluorescence-activated cell sorting with a panel of monoclonal antibodies. The high expression of DWP, which was reported to recognized activated RAS oncogene, was found in two patients and was associated with high levels of H-RAS expression. These facts prompted us to analyze the DNA sequence of RAS genes with an automated DNA sequencer. Unexpectedly, various kinds of H-RAS point mutations were found in all six cases, including two cases of hot-spot point mutation at codon 12, whereas K-RAS point mutation (no hot-spot point mutations) was found in six cases. The same H-RAS point mutations, at codons 10, 11, and 15, were found in all six cases. To our knowledge, there is no report on H-RAS point mutation in human leukemias. On the basis of these findings, we suggest that H-RAS point mutation together with p53 gene mutation may play an important role in leukemogenesis.

Base Sequence

Congenital adrenal hypoplasia: clinical spectrum, experience with hormonal diagnosis, and report on new point mutations of the DAX-1 gene.

X-linked congenital adrenal hypoplasia (AHC) is a rare developmental disorder of the human adrenal cortex and is caused by deletion or mutation of the DAX-1 gene, a recently discovered member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is frequently associated with AHC. AHC occurs as part of a contiguous gene syndrome together with glycerol kinase deficiency (GKD) and Duchenne's muscular dystrophy. The present series, collected over the past 2 decades, includes 18 AHC boys from 16 families: 4 with AHC, GKD, and Duchenne's muscular dystrophy; 2 with AHC and GKD; and 12 with AHC (5 young adults with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism). Most of the boys presented with salt wasting and hyperpigmentation during the neonatal period. Plasma steroid determinations performed in the first weeks of life often showed confusing results, probably caused by steroids produced in the neonates' persisting fetocortex. Aldosterone deficiency usually preceded cortisol deficiency, which explains why the patients more often presented with salt-wasting rather than with hypoglycemic symptoms. An ACTH test was often necessary to detect cortisol deficiency in the very young infants. In some patients, serial testing was necessary to establish the correct diagnosis. In 4 boys studied during the first 3 months after birth, we found pubertal LH, FSH, and testosterone plasma levels indicating postnatal transient activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis as in normal boys. Previous studies have shown that the DAX-1 gene is deleted in the AHC patients with a contiguous gene syndrome and is mutated in nondeletion patients. Most of the point mutations identified in AHC patients were frameshift mutations and stop mutations. In the 15 patients available for molecular analysis of the DAX-1 gene, there were large deletions in 6 patients and point mutations in another 7 patients. All of the point mutations identified in the present study resulted in a nonfunctional truncated DAX-1 protein. Two brothers with primary adrenal insufficiency and a medical history that strongly suggested AHC had no mutation in the DAX-1 gene. Thus, additional, as yet unknown genes must play a part in normal adrenal cortical development.

Adrenal Insufficiency

Point mutations as an optimal search process in biological evolution.

Point mutations are pictured as jumps in a phase space representing the sequences of amino acids or nucleotides as discrete points. It is shown that this space can be given a natural metric by quantifying common physical and chemical properties of amino acid constituents in terms of a natural measure. Evolution through point mutations is simulated by the search for points in the phase space representing amino acid sequences of high survival fitness. Due to the local compactness of the distribution of these functionally allowed points in phase space any successful search procedure has characteristics qualitatively different from those in the case of a random distribution. This is demonstrated by model calculations. A specified distribution of allowed points is generated with subsequent evaluation of the success of the retrieval process as a function of the jump probabilities between lattice sites. The results of such simulations are compared with data obtained from the analysis of the DNA or mRNA sequences coding related proteins. By counting silent and expressed nucleotide replacement frequencies one can draw conclusions as to the efficacy of the natural evolutionary search processes in the phase space of amino acid sequences. There are cases, where the highest possible information gain of one bit per accepted point mutation is achieved. In general the information gain is found to be somewhat sub-maximal due to functional requirements.

Amino Acid Sequence

SHC and GRB-2 are constitutively by an epidermal growth factor receptor with a point mutation in the transmembrane domain.

A single point mutation, Glu627--> Val, equivalent to the activating mutation in the Neu oncogene, was inserted in the transmembrane domain of the human epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. Unlike the wild type, Glu627-EGF receptor, transfected in NIH3T3 cells, gave rise to focal transformation and growth in agar even in the absence EGF. Constitutive activity of mutant EGF receptor amounted to 20% of that of wild type receptor stimulated by EGF. In addition, the mutant receptor was more sensitive to EGF, reaching maximum transforming activity at 5 ng/ml EGF. NIH3T3 cells expressing Glu627-EGF receptor showed a transformed phenotype and were not arrested in G0 upon serum deprivation. The mutant receptor was constitutively autophosphorylated, and several other cellular proteins were phosphorylated on tyrosine in absence of the ligand. Among these, the SHC adaptor protein was phosphorylated in absence of EGF, the other adaptor, GRB-2 was constitutively associated with the Glu627-EGF receptor in vivo and in vitro, and mitogen-activated protein kinase was constitutively phosphorylated. In contrast, other EGF receptor substrates, like phospholipase C gamma, were not phosphorylated in absence of EGF. The mutant receptor showed a higher sensitivity to cleavage by calpain both in absence and presence of EGF, appeared as a 170- and 150-kDa doublet in cell extracts, and a specific calpain inhibitor blocked the appearance of the 150-kDa form. Since the calpain cleavage site is located in the receptor cytoplasmic tail, this finding suggests that the Glu627 mutation induces a slightly different conformation in the EGF receptor intracellular domain. In conclusion, our data show that a point mutation in the EGF receptor transmembrane domain was able to constitutively activate the receptor and to induce transformation via constitutive activation of the Ras pathway.

3T3 Cells

Detection of p53 point mutations in primary human vulvar cancer by PCR and temperature gradient gel electrophoresis.

Clinical and experimental evidence is consistent with a key role of point mutations of the p53 tumor suppressor gene in the etiology of squamous cell carcinoma. To determine the relation of tumor behavior and patient survival in vulvar cancer in regard to p53 status, we retrospectively analyzed 38 paraffin-embedded specimens of primary vulvar cancer for genetic alterations of exons 5-8 of the p53 gene. For detection of p53 point mutations we used in vitro amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE) and, as a detection method, direct sequencing for mutation verification. p53 point mutations were detected in 12/38 tumor specimens. Patients bearing p53 point mutations showed a significantly shorter relapse-free (log-rank test, P = 0.002) and overall survival time (log-rank test, P = 0.0006). We conclude that PCR-TGGE is an appropriate method for detection of p53 point mutations in paraffin-embedded material. We show that loss of wild-type p53 is an adverse prognostic factor in patients suffering from vulvar cancer.

Adult

Efficient induction of point mutations allowing recovery of specific locus mutations in zebrafish.

A technique is described that greatly increases the efficiency of recovering specific locus point mutations in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Founder individuals that were mosaic for point mutations were produced by mutagenizing postmeiotic gametes with the alkylating agent N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea. Under optimal conditions, each founder carried an average of 10 mutations affecting genes required for embryogenesis. Moreover, approximately 2% of these founders transmitted new mutations at any prespecified pigmentation locus. Analyses of new pigmentation mutations confirmed that most were likely to be point mutations. Thus, mutagenesis of postmeiotic gametes with N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea yielded frequencies of point mutations at specific loci that were 10- to 15-fold higher than previously achieved in zebrafish. Our procedure should, therefore, greatly facilitate recovery of multiple mutant alleles at any locus of interest.

Animals

[MELAS associated with diabetes mellitus and point mutation in mitochondrial DNA].

Point mutation of mitochondrial DNA has been described in the blood from a MELAS patient. The 39-year-old patient developed progressive dementia, stroke-like episodes, heart conduction defect (Lown-Ganong-Levin syndrome) and cortical blindness. CT scan revealed brain atrophy and low density areas in the bilateral occipital lobes. Laboratory tests showed hyperglycemia and lactic acidosis. Muscle biopsy showed ragged red fibers on Gomori trichrome staining. He was clinically diagnosed as having MELAS and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Onset of diabetes mellitus and MELAS was almost same. Family history showed his mother's brother and sisters had also insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. We amplified the leucine (UUR) tRNA gene from the patient's blood with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and analysed it by restriction enzyme analysis and sequencing. Genetic analysis showed A-to-G substitution at the nucleotide position 3243 in the leucine (UUR) tRNA gene. This substitution made a new restriction site Apa I. Mutant DNA coexisted with wild type DNA (heteroplasmy). It is shown that in some types of mitochondrial encephalomyopathies, especially patients of Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS), diabetes mellitus is often complicated. And in KSS patients insulin receptor in normal, but insulin secretion from beta cells of pancreas is decreased. In MELAS patients, however, has diabetes mellitus been reported to be rarely complicated and relationship between MELAS and diabetes mellitus is not done. As far as we know, two cases, including ours, with genetically diagnosed MELAS have been reported to have diabetes mellitus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

The protein-mapping-method employed to test for chemically induced point mutations in mice.

A test system for detecting point mutations chemically induced in the germ cells of mice has been proposed in the past. In the present investigation the effect of the mutagenic substance methylnitrosourea (MNU) in such a test system was studied. Male mice 10-12 weeks of age of the inbred strain BALB/c Han. were treated with MNU. Doses ranging from 40-150 mg/kg were administered over different time periods ranging from 4-14 days. Treatments were scheduled so that spermatogonia in resting or mitotic stages at the time of exposure to MNU would be mature sperm at the time of mating of the males. Proteins of the liver from F1-foetuses were separated by isoelectric focusing followed by electrophoresis (protein-mapping-method). The protein patterns were analysed for new protein spots which should suggest point mutations. The results obtained showed no protein variations in the patterns of 312 control animals (foetuses). However, two individuals with a variant protein were found among a relatively small group of 72 out of 463 treated animals. The animals of this group are offspring of male parents in which the spermatogonia were treated at the mitotic phase with the highest total dose (except the lethal dose) employed in this study. The results suggest that MNU, under these conditions, is capable of inducing point mutations in the germ cells of mice. Furthermore, the mutagenicity test system imployed by this investigation for the first time seems to be a useful system possessing relatively high sensitivity.

Animals