title: Characterization of breakpoint sequences of five rearrangements in L1CAM and ABCD1 (ALD) genes.
abstract: Mutations in L1CAM are responsible for X-linked hydrocephalus, whereas those in the ALD gene (ABCD1) cause adrenoleukodystrophy. In both genes, most of the mutations reported so far are short-length mutations and only a few patients with larger rearrangements have been documented. We have characterized three intragenic deletions of the ALD gene at the molecular level and describe here the first two L1CAM rearrangements resulting in deletion of several exons in one case and about 50 kb, including the entire gene, in the second case. At both breakpoints of an ALD deletion, Alu repeats have been found and, additionally, a short Alu region of approximately 130 bp was inserted, suggesting that this rearrangement is the result of a more complex non-allelic homologous recombination event. Only one Alu element was present at the breakpoint of the second ALD rearrangement, including a 26-bp Alu core sequence that was suggested to be a recombinogenic hot spot. These data suggest the involvement of an Alu core sequence-stimulated non-homologous recombination as a possible cause for this rearrangement. Short direct repeats were identified at all putative mispaired sequences in the L1CAM breakpoints and at both breakpoints of the third ALD deletion characterized, suggesting non-homologous (illegitimate) recombination as the molecular mechanism by which these latter deletions occurred. In conclusion, our results indicate that highly repetitive elements as well as short direct repeats are frequently involved in the formation of ALD and L1CAM gene rearrangements.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Humangenetik, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. kkutsche@uke.uni-hamburg.de
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kutsche
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ressler
authors.forename: Heide-Gertrude
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Katzera
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Orth
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gillessen-Kaesbach
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morlot
authors.forename: Eberhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schwinger
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gal
mesh_terms: D000074063:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily D, Member 1; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000235:genetics*; D000326:Adrenoleukodystrophy / Q000235:genetics; D020087:Alu Elements / Q000235:genetics; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D054422:Chemokine CCL22; D019742:Chemokines, CC; D019457:Chromosome Breakage / Q000235:genetics*; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D005260:Female; D015321:Gene Rearrangement / Q000235:genetics*; D008040:Genetic Linkage / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D014960:X Chromosome / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C115572:ABCD1 protein, human; D000074063:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily D, Member 1; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D000954:Antigens, Surface; C515482:CCL22 protein, human; D054422:Chemokine CCL22; D019742:Chemokines, CC; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules