Dataset Information

Progressive juvenile-onset punctate cataracts caused by mutation of the gammaD-crystallin gene.

ABSTRACT: Cataracts are a significant public health problem. Here, we describe the genetic alteration responsible for a progressive form of cataract, segregating as an autosomal dominant trait in a three-generation pedigree. Unlike most autosomal dominant cataracts, these are not clinically apparent at birth but are initially observed in the first year or two of life. The opacification evolves relatively slowly, generally necessitating removal of the lens in childhood or early adolescence. A genome-wide search in our kindred revealed linkage at 2q33-35 where the gamma-crystallin gene cluster resides. A single base alteration resulting in an Arg- 14 --> Cys (R14C) substitution in gammaD-crystallin was subsequently identified. Protein modeling suggests that the effect of this mutation is a subtle one, affecting the surface properties of the crystallin molecule rather than its tertiary structure, consistent with the fact that the patients' lenses are normal at birth. This is the first gene defect shown to be responsible for a noncongenital progressive cataract, and studying the defective protein should teach us more about the mechanisms underlying cataract formation.

SUBMITTER: Stephan DA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC15341 | biostudies-literature | 1999 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Progressive juvenile-onset punctate cataracts caused by mutation of the gammaD-crystallin gene.

Stephan D A DA Gillanders E E Vanderveen D D Freas-Lutz D D Wistow G G Baxevanis A D AD Robbins C M CM VanAuken A A Quesenberry M I MI Bailey-Wilson J J Juo S H SH Trent J M JM Smith L L Brownstein M J MJ

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 19990201 3

Cataracts are a significant public health problem. Here, we describe the genetic alteration responsible for a progressive form of cataract, segregating as an autosomal dominant trait in a three-generation pedigree. Unlike most autosomal dominant cataracts, these are not clinically apparent at birth but are initially observed in the first year or two of life. The opacification evolves relatively slowly, generally necessitating removal of the lens in childhood or early adolescence. A genome-wide s ...[more]

PMID: 9927684

Similar Datasets

Project description:Purpose:To identify mutations in crystallin genes in Chinese families with congenital cataracts. Methods:Forty-two unrelated families with non-syndromic congenital cataracts were enrolled in this study. The coding exons and adjacent intronic regions of crystallin genes, including CRYAA, CRYAB, CRYBA1, CRYBA4, CRYBB1, CRYBB2, CRYBB3, CRYGC, CRYGD and CRYGS, were analyzed with Sanger sequencing. Novel variants were further evaluated in 112 ethnically matched controls. To confirm the novel mutations, short tandem repeat (STR) haplotypes were constructed to check the cosegregation with congenital cataract. The pathogenic potential of the novel mutations were assessed using bioinformatics tools, including Sorting Intolerant From Tolerant v5.1.1 (SIFT), Polymorphism Phenotyping v2 (PolyPhen-2), and Human Splicing Finder. The pathogenicity of all the mutations was evaluated according to the guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) and InterVar software. Results:Seven previously reported mutations in crystallin genes identified in ten unrelated families were associated with the congenital nuclear cataracts. Four novel mutations in crystallin genes, including c.35G>T (p.R12L) in CRYAA, c.463C>A (p.Q155K) in CRYBB2, IVS1 c.10-1G>A in CRYGC, and c.346delT (p.F116Sfsx29) in CRYGD, were identified in four unrelated families with congenital cataracts. These mutations cosegregated with all affected individuals in each family were not observed in the unaffected family members or in the 112 unrelated controls. All four novel mutations were categorized as disease "likely pathogenic" except IVS1 c.10-1G>A in CRYGC "pathogenic" using InterVar software in accordance with the ACMG standard. Mutations in crystallin genes were responsible for 33.33% of the Chinese families with congenital cataracts in this cohort. Conclusions:In this study, we identified four novel mutations in crystallin genes in Chinese families with congenital cataracts. The results expand the mutational spectrum of crystallin genes, which may be helpful for the molecular diagnosis of congenital cataracts in the era of precision medicine.

Dataset Information

Progressive juvenile-onset punctate cataracts caused by mutation of the gammaD-crystallin gene.

Publications

Progressive juvenile-onset punctate cataracts caused by mutation of the gammaD-crystallin gene.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets