title: Molecular analysis of Bardet-Biedl syndrome families: report of 21 novel mutations in 10 genes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is genetically heterogeneous with 15 BBS genes currently identified, accounting for approximately 70% of cases. The aim of our study was to define further the spectrum of BBS mutations in a cohort of 44 European-derived American, 8 Tunisian, 1 Arabic, and 2 Pakistani families (55 families in total) with BBS.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 142 exons of the first 12 BBS-causing genes were screened by dideoxy sequencing. Cases in which no mutations were found were then screened for BBS13, BBS14, BBS15, RPGRIP1L, CC2D2A, NPHP3, TMEM67, and INPP5E.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-three mutations, including 8 frameshift mutations, 10 nonsense mutations, 4 splice site mutations, 1 deletion, and 20 potentially or probably pathogenic missense variations, were identified in 46 of the 55 families studied (84%). Of these, 21 (2 frameshift mutations, 4 nonsense mutations, 4 splice site mutations, 1 deletion, and 10 missense variations) were novel. The molecular genetic findings raised the possibility of triallelic inheritance in 7 Caucasian families, 1 Arabian family, and 1 Tunisian patient. No mutations were detected for BBS4, BBS11, BBS13, BBS14, BBS15, RPGRIP1L, CC2D2A, NPHP3, TMEM67, or INPP5E.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This mutational analysis extends the spectrum of known BBS mutations. Identification of 21 novel mutations highlights the genetic heterogeneity of this disorder. Differences in European and Tunisian patients, including the high frequency of the M390R mutation in Europeans, emphasize the population specificity of BBS mutations with potential diagnostic implications. The existence of some BBS cases without mutations in any currently identified BBS genes suggests further genetic heterogeneity.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20852, USA.
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Nizar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Smaoui
authors.forename: Monia Ben Hamed
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Hammer
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.forename: S Amer
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Riazuddin
authors.forename: Shyana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harper
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katsanis
authors.forename: Sheikh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Riazuddin
authors.forename: Habiba
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chaabouni
authors.forename: Eliot L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Berson
authors.forename: J Fielding
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Hejtmancik
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People; D020788:Bardet-Biedl Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D044383:Black People; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005006:Ethnicity; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins