A novel double deletion underscores the importance of characterizing end points of the CFTR large rearrangements.
Large genomic rearrangements in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) account for up to 16-24% of CF alleles negative for point mutations in European populations. Herein, we identified a new large rearrangement removing exon 19 in a young CF patient, who hitherto harbored only the F508del mutation. By using LightCycler technology, we successfully and rapidly delineated the deletion end points by determining the relative copy number of a set CFTR sequence from introns 18 to 19. Fine mapping of the sequences bordering its break points was achieved using direct sequencing. We reported the first complex CFTR rearrangement containing two successive deletion events putatively linked. We evidenced the presence of short direct repeats in the vicinity of the deletions suggesting a possible replication slippage model. In this report, we also discussed the putative molecular mechanism and consequences of this complex gene rearrangement, unprecedented in CF. This complex deletion illustrates the importance of delineating the genomic rearrangement to improve our knowledge of the CFTR mutational spectrum and to better understand the molecular mechanism controlling the CFTR expression.
Université Montpellier1, UFR de Médecine, Montpellier, France. magali.taulan@inserm.fr
Magali
M
Taulan
Caroline
C
Guittard
Corinne
C
Theze
Mireille
M
Claustres
Marie des
Md
Georges
D001483:Base Sequence; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D056905:Chromosome Breakpoints; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000235:genetics; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / Q000235:genetics*; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015321:Gene Rearrangement / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000235:genetics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D017384:Sequence Deletion / Q000235:genetics*
D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator