title: A novel third type of recurrent NF1 microdeletion mediated by nonallelic homologous recombination between LRRC37B-containing low-copy repeats in 17q11.2.
abstract: Large microdeletions encompassing the neurofibromatosis type-1 (NF1) gene and its flanking regions at 17q11.2 belong to the group of genomic disorders caused by aberrant recombination between segmental duplications. The most common NF1 microdeletions (type-1) span 1.4-Mb and have breakpoints located within NF1-REPs A and C, low-copy repeats (LCRs) containing LRRC37-core duplicons. We have identified a novel type of recurrent NF1 deletion mediated by nonallelic homologous recombination (NAHR) between the highly homologous NF1-REPs B and C. The breakpoints of these approximately 1.0-Mb ("type-3") NF1 deletions were characterized at the DNA sequence level in three unrelated patients. Recombination regions, spanning 275, 180, and 109-bp, respectively, were identified within the LRRC37B-P paralogues of NF1-REPs B and C, and were found to contain sequences capable of non-B DNA formation. Both LCRs contain LRRC37-core duplicons, abundant and highly dynamic sequences in the human genome. NAHR between LRRC37-containing LCRs at 17q21.31 is known to have mediated the 970-kb polymorphic inversions of the MAPT-locus that occurred independently in different primate species, but also underlies the syndromes associated with recurrent 17q21.31 microdeletions and reciprocal microduplications. The novel NF1 microdeletions reported here provide further evidence for the unusually high recombinogenic potential of LRRC37-containing LCRs in the human genome.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Genetics, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bengesser
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Steinmann
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kluwe
authors.forename: Nadia A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Chuzhanova
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wimmer
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tatagiba
authors.forename: Sigrid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tinschert
authors.forename: Victor-Felix
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Mautner
authors.forename: Hildegard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kehrer-Sawatzki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002886:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006801:Humans; D006822:Hybrid Cells; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009456:Neurofibromatosis 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D025542:Neurofibromin 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D056916:Segmental Duplications, Genomic / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D025542:Neurofibromin 1