Premium
A HOXA13 allele with a missense mutation in the homeobox and a dinucleotide deletion in the promoter underlies Guttmacher syndrome
Author(s) -
Innis Jeffrey W.,
Goodman Frances R.,
Bacchelli Chiara,
Williams Thomas M.,
Mortlock Douglas P.,
Sateesh Praveen,
Scambler Peter J.,
McKin Wendy,
Guttmacher Alan E.
Publication year - 2002
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/humu.9036
Subject(s) - biology , missense mutation , genetics , homeobox , allele , homeobox protein nkx 2.5 , mutation , polydactyly , bartter syndrome , gene , transcription factor , endocrinology , hypokalemia
Guttmacher syndrome, a dominantly inherited combination of distal limb and genital tract abnormalities, has several features in common with hand‐foot‐genital syndrome (HFGS), including hypoplastic first digits and hypospadias. The presence of features not seen in HFGS, however, including postaxial polydactyly of the hands and uniphalangeal 2 nd toes with absent nails, suggests that it represents a distinct entity. HFGS is caused by mutations in the HOXA13 gene. We have therefore re‐investigated the original Guttmacher syndrome family, and have found that affected individuals are heterozygous for a novel missense mutation in the HOXA13 homeobox (c.1112A>T; homeodomain residue Q50L), which arose on an allele already carrying a novel 2‐bp deletion (‐78‐79delGC) in the gene’s highly conserved promoter region. This deletion produces no detectable abnormalities on its own, but may contribute to the phenotype in the affected individuals. The missense mutation, which alters a key residue in the recognition helix of the homeodomain, is likely to perturb HOXA13’s DNA‐binding properties, resulting in both a loss and a specific gain of function. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.