X-linked idiopathic infantile nystagmus associated with a missense mutation in FRMD7.
OBJECTIVE
Infantile nystagmus is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous eye movement disorder. Here we map and identify the genetic mutation underlying X-linked idiopathic infantile nystagmus (XL-IIN) segregating in two Caucasian-American families.


METHODS
Eye movements were recorded using binocular infrared digital video-oculography. Genomic DNA was prepared from blood or buccal-cells, and linkage analysis was performed using short tandem repeat (STR) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. Pedigree and haplotype data were managed using Cyrillic, and LOD scores calculated using MLINK. Mutation profiling of PCR-amplified exons was performed by dye-terminator cycle-sequencing and analyzed by automated capillary electrophoresis.


RESULTS
Video-oculography of affected males recorded conjugate, horizontal, pendular nystagmus with increasing-velocity waveforms in primary gaze converting to jerk nystagmus in eccentric gaze. Linkage analysis detected significantly positive two-point LOD scores (Z) at markers DXS8078 (Z=4.82, recombination fraction [theta]=0) and DXS1047 (Z=3.87, theta=0). Haplotyping indicated that the IIN locus mapped to the physical interval DXS8057-(11.59 Mb)-rs6528335 on Xq25-q26. Sequencing of positional-candidate genes detected a c.425T>G transversion in exon-6 of the gene for FERM domain containing-7 (FRMD7) that cosegregated with affected and carrier status. In addition, the same change was found to cosegregate with IIN in a genetically unrelated family but was not detected in 192 control individuals.


CONCLUSIONS
The c.425T>G change is predicted to result in the missense substitution of the phylogenetically conserved leucine at codon 142 for an arginine (p.L142R), and supports a causative role for FRMD7 mutations in the pathogenesis of XL-IIN.
Shiels
Alan
A
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. shiels@vision.wustl.edu
Bennett
Thomas M
TM
Prince
Jessica B
JB
Tychsen
Lawrence
L
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D001483:Base Sequence; D002648:Child; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D041321:Chromosomes, Human, X; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D040181:Genetic Diseases, X-Linked / Q000235:genetics*; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D008126:Lod Score; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020125:Mutation, Missense / Q000235:genetics*; D020417:Nystagmus, Congenital / Q000235:genetics*; D010375:Pedigree; D010641:Phenotype
D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C516168:FRMD7 protein, human; D005819:Genetic Markers; D008565:Membrane Proteins