title: Analysis of reelin as a candidate gene for autism.
abstract: Genetic studies indicate that chromosome 7q is likely to contain an autism susceptibility locus (AUTS1). We have followed a positional candidate gene approach to identify relevant gene(s) and report here the analysis of reelin (RELN), a gene located under our peak of linkage. Screening RELN for DNA changes identified novel missense variants absent in a large control group; however, the low frequency of these mutations does not explain the relatively strong linkage results on 7q. Furthermore, analysis of a previously reported triplet repeat polymorphism and intragenic single nucleotide polymorphisms, using the transmission disequilibrium test, provided no evidence for association with autism in IMGSAC and German singleton families. The analysis of RELN suggests that it probably does not play a major role in autism aetiology, although further analysis of several missense mutations is warranted in additional affected individuals.
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000235:genetics*; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000235:genetics*; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D000091042:Reelin Protein; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases
chemical_list: D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000091042:Reelin Protein; C000717127:RELN protein, human; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases