title: Large scale calcium channel gene rearrangements in episodic ataxia and hemiplegic migraine: implications for diagnostic testing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Episodic ataxia type 2 (EA2) and familial hemiplegic migraine type 1 (FHM1) are autosomal dominant disorders characterised by paroxysmal ataxia and migraine, respectively. Point mutations in CACNA1A, which encodes the neuronal P/Q-type calcium channel, have been detected in many cases of EA2 and FHM1. The genetic basis of typical cases without CACNA1A point mutations is not fully known. Standard DNA sequencing methods may miss large scale genetic rearrangements such as deletions and duplications. The authors investigated whether large scale genetic rearrangements in CACNA1A can cause EA2 and FHM1.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors used multiplex ligation dependent probe amplification (MLPA) to screen for intragenic CACNA1A rearrangements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The authors identified five previously unreported large scale deletions in CACNA1A in seven families with episodic ataxia and in one case with hemiplegic migraine. One of the deletions (exon 6 of CACNA1A) segregated with episodic ataxia in a four generation family with eight affected individuals previously mapped to 19p13. In addition, the authors identified the first pathogenic duplication in CACNA1A in an index case with isolated episodic diplopia without ataxia and in a first degree relative with episodic ataxia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Large scale deletions and duplications can cause CACNA1A associated channelopathies. Direct DNA sequencing alone is not sufficient as a diagnostic screening test.
authors: MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK.
authors: R W
authors: RW
authors: Labrum
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Rajakulendran
authors: T D
authors: TD
authors: Graves
authors: L H
authors: LH
authors: Eunson
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Bevan
authors: M G
authors: MG
authors: Sweeney
authors: S R
authors: SR
authors: Hammans
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Tubridy
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Britton
authors: L J
authors: LJ
authors: Carr
authors: J R
authors: JR
authors: Ostergaard
authors: C R
authors: CR
authors: Kennedy
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Al-Memar
authors: D M
authors: DM
authors: Kullmann
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Schorge
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Temple
authors: M B
authors: MB
authors: Davis
authors: M G
authors: MG
authors: Hanna
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001259:Ataxia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020325:Migraine with Aura / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010375:Pedigree; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020864:Calcium Channels, N-Type
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; C105656:CACNA1A protein, human; D020864:Calcium Channels, N-Type