title: Detection and calibration of microdeletions and microduplications by array-based comparative genomic hybridization and its applicability to clinical genetic testing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Genome-wide telomere screening by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) has revealed that approximately 6% of unexplained mental retardation is due to submicroscopic telomere imbalances. However, the use of FISH for telomere screening is labor intensive and time consuming, given that 41 telomeres are interrogated. We have evaluated the use of array-based Comparative Genomic Hybridization (aCGH) as a more efficient tool for identifying telomere rearrangements.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 102 individuals with unexplained mental retardation, with either normal or abnormal FISH results, were selected for a blinded retrospective study using aCGH. Results between the two methodologies were compared to ascertain the ability of aCGH to be used in a clinical diagnostics setting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We detected 100% of all imbalances previously identified by FISH (n = 17) and identified two additional abnormalities, a 10q telomere duplication and an interstitial duplication of 22q11. Interphase FISH analysis verified all abnormal array results. We also demonstrated that aCGH can accurately calibrate the size of telomere imbalances by using an array with "molecular rulers" for the telomeric regions of 1p, 16p, 17p, and 22q.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that aCGH is an equivalent methodology to telomere FISH for detecting submicroscopic deletions. In addition, small duplications that are not easily visible by FISH can be accurately detected using aCGH. Because aCGH allows simultaneous interrogation of hundreds to thousands of DNA probes and is more amenable to automation, it offers an efficient and high-throughput alternative for detecting and calibrating unbalanced rearrangements, both of the telomere region, as well as other genomic locations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Christa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lese Martin
authors.forename: Konstantina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heretis
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ruffalo
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wilber
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Ledbetter
mesh_terms: D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020732:Cytogenetic Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000235:genetics*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics*