Complex patterns of male germline instability and somatic mosaicism in myotonic dystrophy type 1

Martorell, L., Monckton, D.G. , Gamez, J. and Baiget, M. (2000) Complex patterns of male germline instability and somatic mosaicism in myotonic dystrophy type 1. European Journal of Human Genetics, 8(6), 423 -430.

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Publisher's URL: http://www.nature.com/cgi-taf/DynaPage.taf?file=/ejhg/journal/v8/n6/abs/5200478a.html

Abstract

The genetic basis of myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is the expansion of a CTG repeat in the 3' untranslated region of DM1PK . Once into the disease range, the repeat becomes highly unstable and is biased toward expansion in both somatic and germline tissues. Intergenerational differences usually reveal an increase in allele length, concordant with the clinical anticipation characteristic of DM1, but there have also been cases with intergenerational contractions of the repeat length, accompanied by apparent anticipation. In order to gain a better understanding of this intergenerational behaviour, we have obtained semen samples from six DM males and used single molecule analyses to compare the allele distributions present in their sperm and blood with those of their offspring. We have confirmed that the male germline mutational pathway is distinct from that of the soma, but the extent of variation is highly variable from one individual to another and not obviously correlated with progenitor allele length. Nonetheless, in all cases the alleles present in the father's sperm overlap with those observed in their offspring. These data also provide further indications that the interpretation of intergenerational transmissions by standard analyses is frequently compromised by the masking of germline differences by age-dependent somatic expansion in the parent.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Monckton, Professor Darren
Authors: Martorell, L., Monckton, D.G., Gamez, J., and Baiget, M.
Subjects:R Medicine > RC Internal medicine
Q Science > QH Natural history > QH426 Genetics
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Molecular Biosciences
Journal Name:European Journal of Human Genetics
Publisher:Nature Publishing Group
ISSN:1018-4813
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2000 Nature Publishing Group
First Published:First published in European Journal of Human Genetics 8(6):423-430
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

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