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Rapid characterization of the variable length polythymidine tract in the cystic fibrosis (CFTR) gene: Association of the 5T allele with selected CFTR mutations and its incidence in atypical sinopulmonary disease
Author(s) -
Friedman Kenneth J.,
Heim Ruth A.,
Knowles Michael R.,
Silverman Lawrence M.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
human mutation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.981
H-Index - 162
eISSN - 1098-1004
pISSN - 1059-7794
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-1004(1997)10:2<108::aid-humu3>3.0.co;2-g
Subject(s) - cystic fibrosis , allele , locus (genetics) , biology , genetics , genotype , intron , gene
The CFTR intron 8 variable length polythymidine tract modulates the cystic fibrosis (CF) phenotype associated with the mutation R117H. To explore whether other mutations reside on multiple intron 8 backgrounds with discernible impacts on phenotype, we developed an allele‐specific PCR assay to characterize this locus. Our approach types samples rapidly without the use of radioisotopes. Polythymidine alleles were identified for mutations either associated with a wide range of clinical phenotypes (R117H, R347P, G85E, D1152H, R334W, 2789+5 G>A, 3849+10kb C>T), and/or located at hypermutable CpG loci (R117H, 3849+10kb C>T, R553X, R334W, S945L and R75Q). R117H was detected in cis with each of three alleles (5T, 7T, 9T) at the intron 8 locus. The novel R117H‐9T association was detected in a 10‐month old African‐American male with borderline‐to‐mildly elevated sweat chloride values (˜50–66 mEq/L). All other mutations studied were associated with 7T except 3849+10kb C>T, which was detected on both 7T and 9T backgrounds, but not 5T. Three individuals with a ΔF508/3849+10kb C>T genotype were 9T,9T and had pancreatic sufficiency and normal sweat chloride values, whereas 15 others who carried 3849+10kb C>T on a 7T background had variable pancreatic function (sufficient, n = 12, insufficient, n = 3), and variable sweat chloride values (normal, n = 12, elevated, n = 3). Surprisingly, when not associated with known CFTR mutations, 5T was detected with elevated frequency among individuals with sinopulmonary disease of ill‐defined etiology, but with some characteristics of variant CF. In summary, the 5T allele was not found in cis with CF‐causing mutations besides R117H, but an elevated 5T allele frequency in variant CF patients suggests 5T may be associated with disease in some situations. Hum Mutat 10:108–115, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.