12 Molecular Basis of Genetic Disease Flashcards
For Novel DNA disease variants we need to do what with teh variant?
Confirm the pathogenesis experimentally
For known mutational variants we need to do what?
Explore the molecular basis, which is still ongoing for many diseases
Why are disease mechanisms important?
To understand disease progression.
Predict disease progression and outcomes for patients. To guide disease management for patients. To identify drug targets for therapies (primary drive).
What could be a drug target?
Literally anything. The variant is in the DNA instructions, so anything downstream of that, be it transcription, translation, protein folding, trafficking, subcellular organelles, cell signalling etc. are all potential targets.
There are three things we can look at to determine disease mechanisms. And they all play into each other. What are they?
Types of DNA variants. Mode of inheritance. Functional consequences (e.g. LOF, GOF, DomNeg).
What does LOF mean?
Loss of function is any reduced or abolish gene function
What are the types of Loss of Function?
Quantitiative loss or protein product.
Qualitative loss fo protein product.
Regulatory mutations.
Large deletions and frameshifts.
Name a disease caused by quantitative LOF
Thalassaemia
What globins are there?
embryonic, fetal and adult globins.
How is thalassaemia caused?
Mutations in HBA or HBB leading to reduced rate or no synthesis of one fo the chains making haemoglobin
What is a common rare disease caused by a qualitative loss of function?
Sickle Cell Disease
What’s the mode of inheritance of sickle cell anaemia?
AR
What causes sickle cell disease?
an SNV in HBB. GAG>GTG. Glutamic acid>Valine
How does an SNV in HBB lead to sickle cell disease?
Mutatnt beta globin makes haemoglobin tetramer stick together because of the hydrophobic properties of valine. So long chains of haemoglobin are made. This makes RBCs rigid. Microvascular thrombosis is where these rigid RBCs block blood flow.
Name a blood disease that is caused by a regulatory mutation
Haemophilia B
What type of inheritance of haemophilia B?
X-linked recessive
What is the genetic cause and mechanism of haemophilia B?
A mutation in the promoter of the F9 gene encoding factor IX. There are two binding sites around the TSS. (The first form is called Haemophilia B Leyden?)
Why does haemophilia B get milder at boys puberty?
There are two binding sites around the TSS of the F9 gene. One is ARE, which is androgen regulated, so at puberty androgen increases F9 experssion.
Why type of haemophilia B is lifelong?
Haemophilia B Brandenburg, caused by mutations in the ARE (Androgen regulated element) of F9.
Name a common rare disease caused by a large deletion or frameshifts
DMD and BMD
What gene has mutations in DMD and BMD?
Dystrophin
What is the inheritance of DMD and BMD?
X linked recessive
1 in how many boys are affected by DMD?
1 in 3000
What are the symptoms of DMD?
Muscle weakness, wheelchair use. Respiratory and cardiac involvement. Death in 20’s.
1 in how many boys are affected by BMD?
1 in 20,000
Clinically, what is BMD like?
The same as DMD but milder, can have a normal lifespan.
Why is DMD more severe than BMD?
99% of the genomic DNA of Dystrophin is intronic. Large deletions are often in the introns. But deletions that cause frameshifts are more severe and cause DMD, those that don’t just shorten the protein and lead to BMD.