Cell-free transcription and translation of Na,K-ATPase alpha and beta subunit cDNAs.

Synthetic mRNAs (i.e. cRNA alpha and cRNA beta) were obtained by cell-free transcription of M13 KS(+) (Bluescript) expression vectors which contained the entire coding region of the alpha or beta subunits of lamb kidney Na,K-ATPase. Translation in reticulocyte lysates of cRNA alpha yielded full length alpha polypeptide, as well as a limited array of immunoprecipitable lower molecular weight products. cRNA beta yielded a single immunoprecipitable full length polypeptide. Association of the alpha polypeptide with the microsomal membranes was obtained only co-translationally. Fifteen to 50% of the membrane-associated alpha subunit was resistant to extraction with alkali. The resistance of a 29-kDa fragment to trypsinolysis indicated that the alpha subunit was inserted into microsomal membranes. In the presence of dog pancreatic microsomes, the beta polypeptide was glycosylated as indicated by the appearance of three higher molecular weight polypeptides that were sensitive to endoglycosidase H and bound to Concanavalin A. The beta subunit was predominantly translocated into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum since 90% of the mass of the membrane-associated beta polypeptide was resistant to trypsin (i.e. reduced in size from 40 kDa to 37.5 kDa), and 95% of all of the beta chains were resistant to extraction with alkali. Neither the alpha nor the beta subunits have NH2-terminal leader signal sequences, but both may require the signal recognition receptor for membrane insertion, as evidenced by inhibition of incorporation of both subunits into microsomes pretreated with N-ethylmaleimide. Simultaneous translation of cRNA alpha and cRNA beta did not enhance membrane insertion of either the alpha or beta polypeptide

Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (Gene PPH1) Is Caused by Mutations in the Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptor–II Gene

Familial primary pulmonary hypertension is a rare autosomal dominant disorder that has reduced penetrance and that has been mapped to a 3-cM region on chromosome 2q33 (locus PPH1). The phenotype is characterized by monoclonal plexiform lesions of proliferating endothelial cells in pulmonary arterioles. These lesions lead to elevated pulmonary-artery pressures, right-ventricular failure, and death. Although primary pulmonary hypertension is rare, cases secondary to known etiologies are more common and include those associated with the appetite-suppressant drugs, including phentermine-fenfluramine. We genotyped 35 multiplex families with the disorder, using 27 microsatellite markers; we constructed disease haplotypes; and we looked for evidence of haplotype sharing across families, using the program TRANSMIT. Suggestive evidence of sharing was observed with markers GGAA19e07 and D2S307, and three nearby candidate genes were examined by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography on individuals from 19 families. One of these genes (BMPR2), which encodes bone morphogenetic protein receptor type II, was found to contain five mutations that predict premature termination of the protein product and two missense mutations. These mutations were not observed in 196 control chromosomes. These findings indicate that the bone morphogenetic protein–signaling pathway is defective in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension and may implicate the pathway in the nonfamilial forms of the disease

NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE, TRANSCRIPTION MAP AND MUTATION ANALYSIS OF THE 13q14 CHROMOSOMAL REGION DELETED IN B-CELL CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA

Deletions of the 13q14 chromosome region are associated with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) and several other types of cancer, suggesting the presence of a tumor suppressor gene. In previous studies the minimal region of deletion (MDR) was mapped to a less than 300-kilobase (kb) interval bordered by the markers 173a12-82 and 138G4/1.3R. For the identification of the putative tumor suppressor gene, the entire MDR (approximately 347 kb) has been sequenced, and transcribed regions have been identified by exon trapping, EST-based full-length complementary DNA cloning, database homology searches, and computer-assisted gene prediction analyses. The MDR contains 2 pseudogenes and 3 transcribed genes: CAR, encoding a putative RING-finger containing protein; 1B4/Leu2, generating noncoding transcripts; and EST70/Leu1, probably representing another noncoding gene (longest open reading frame of 78 codons). These genes have been sequenced in 20 B-CLL cases with 13q14 hemizygous deletion, and no mutations were found. Moreover, no somatic variants were found in the entire MDR analyzed for nucleotide substitutions by a combination of direct sequencing and fluorescence-assisted mismatch analysis in 5 B-CLL cases displaying 13q14-monoallelic deletion. The nondeleted allele of the CAR and EST70/Leu1 genes was expressed in B-CLL specimens, including those with monoallelic loss, whereas no expression of 1B4/Leu2 was detectable in B-CLL, regardless of the 13q14 status. These results indicate that allelic loss and mutation of a gene within the MDR is an unlikely pathogenetic mechanism for B-CLL. However, haplo-insufficiency of one of the identified genes may contribute to tumorigenesis. (Blood. 2001;97:2098-2104

Mutations in LGI1 cause autosomal-dominant partial epilepsy with auditory features

The epilepsies are a common, clinically heterogeneous group of disorders defined by recurrent unprovoked seizures1. Here we describe identification of the causative gene in autosomal-dominant partial epilepsy with auditory features (ADPEAF, MIM 600512), a rare form of idiopathic lateral temporal lobe epilepsy characterized by partial seizures with auditory disturbances2, 3. We constructed a complete, 4.2-Mb physical map across the genetically implicated disease-gene region, identified 28 putative genes (Fig. 1) and resequenced all or part of 21 genes before identifying presumptive mutations in one copy of the leucine-rich, glioma-inactivated 1 gene (LGI1) in each of five families with ADPEAF. Previous studies have indicated that loss of both copies of LGI1 promotes glial tumor progression. We show that the expression pattern of mouse Lgil is predominantly neuronal and is consistent with the anatomic regions involved in temporal lobe epilepsy. Discovery of LGI1 as a cause of ADPEAF suggests new avenues for research on pathogenic mechanisms of idiopathic epilepsies