Potassium bromate, a potent DNA oxidizing agent, exacerbates germline repeat expansion in a fragile X premutation mouse model

Tandem repeat expansion is responsible for the Repeat Expansion Diseases, a group of human genetic disorders that includes Fragile X syndrome (FXS). FXS results from expansion of a premutation (PM) allele having 55–200 CGG·CCG‐repeats in the 5′ UTR of the FMR1 gene. The mechanism of expansion is unknown. We have treated FX PM mice with potassium bromate (KBrO 3 ), a potent DNA oxidizing agent. We then monitored the germline and somatic expansion frequency in the progeny of these animals. We show here that KBrO 3 increased both the level of 8‐oxoG in the oocytes of treated animals and the germline expansion frequency. Our data thus suggest that oxidative damage may be a factor that could affect expansion risk in humans. Hum Mutat 31:1–6, 2010. Published 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.