Novel mutations and polymorphisms in the CFTR gene associated with three subtypes of congenital absence of vas deferens.
OBJECTIVE
To study the new genotypes in congenital absence of vas deferens (CAVD) and the correlation with different phenotypes, and to investigate the pathogenesis of the disease based on bioinformatics analysis.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
University-afﬁliated tertiary teaching hospital.


METHODS
Nineteen patients with CAVD and azoospermia. The time period of the study was from May 2013 to April 2014.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Sanger sequencing was performed in the coding regions and intron-exon boundaries of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator CFTR gene on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products. Mutations/variations were identified and compared with the control subjects, and bioinformatics analysis searched in the dbSNP and 1000 Genomes Project. Functional effects of the novel mutations were predicted. Structural modeling of the wild and mutant proteins was also performed.


RESULTS
A total of 8 mutations were identified in 12 patients, 4 of which were novel (c.4433C>G, c.3469-3C>A, c.1357delT, and c.3407C>T). The mutation c.4433C>G occurred in the PSD-95/DLG/ZO-1 (PDZ)-binding motif in the CFTR protein, which was predicted to disrupt the interaction between CFTR and CFTR-associated ligand (CAL). Another missense mutation, c.3407C>T, was predicted to damage and destroy the transmembrane adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette domain. The splicing mutation, c.3469-3C>A, was predicted to truncate exon 22 by Human Splicing Finder. The frameshift mutation, c.1357delT, was predicted to introduce a premature stop codon at position 453 and lead to 1,012 amino acids truncation at the carboxyl terminus of the CFTR protein.


CONCLUSIONS
This study illustrates the significance of whole exon sequencing of the CFTR gene in patients with CAVD. It is essential for determining the pathogenesis of novel mutations using bioinformatics analysis and to identify correlation between new genotypes and phenotypes.
Department of Infertility and Sexual Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Xiaojian
X
Yang
Department of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Qipeng
Q
Sun
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IVF Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Ping
P
Yuan
Center for Quantitative Biology, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China; BNLMS, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, and Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences at College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Hao
H
Liang
Department of Infertility and Sexual Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Xiao
X
Wu
Center for Quantitative Biology, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China; BNLMS, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, and Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences at College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Luhua
L
Lai
Department of Infertility and Sexual Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: peter.yan.zhang@hotmail.com.
Yan
Y
Zhang
D000328:Adult; D053713:Azoospermia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China; D019295:Computational Biology; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D005091:Exons; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052801:Male Urogenital Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011487:Protein Conformation; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000378:metabolism
C505032:CFTR protein, human; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator
CFTR; Congenital absence of vas deferens; mutation; variant