title: Genetic analyses of bone morphogenetic protein 2, 4 and 7 in congenital combined pituitary hormone deficiency.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The complex process of development of the pituitary gland is regulated by a number of signalling molecules and transcription factors. Mutations in these factors have been identified in rare cases of congenital hypopituitarism but for most subjects with combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD) genetic causes are unknown. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) affect induction and growth of the pituitary primordium and thus represent plausible candidates for mutational screening of patients with CPHD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We sequenced BMP2, 4 and 7 in 19 subjects with CPHD. For validation purposes, novel genetic variants were genotyped in 1046 healthy subjects. Additionally, potential functional relevance for most promising variants has been assessed by phylogenetic analyses and prediction of effects on protein structure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sequencing revealed two novel variants and confirmed 30 previously known polymorphisms and mutations in BMP2, 4 and 7. Although phylogenetic analyses indicated that these variants map within strongly conserved gene regions, there was no direct support for their impact on protein structure when applying predictive bioinformatics tools.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A mutation in the BMP4 coding region resulting in an amino acid exchange (p.Arg300Pro) appeared most interesting among the identified variants. Further functional analyses are required to ultimately map the relevance of these novel variants in CPHD.
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Breitfeld
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klammt
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schlicke
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pfäffle
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Weidle
authors.forename: Dorit
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schleinitz
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stumvoll
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Führer
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kovacs
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Liebigstrasse 20, Leipzig 04103, Germany. Anke.Toenjes@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.
authors.forename: Anke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tönjes