Chromosomal Abnormalities II Flashcards
- What are some examples of structural Abnormalities?
- Translocations: Reciprocal or Robertsonian
- Inversion, Deletion, Duplication
- Rings
- Isochromosomes
- Microdeletions/Microduplications
- How do structural abnormalities occur?
•Double strand DNA breaks occur throughout cell cycle and are generally repaired through DNA repair pathways. Mis-repair leads to structural abnormalities.
- How do reciprocal Translocations occur?
- Non-Homologous End Joining (NHEJ): Exchange of two segments between non-homologous chromosomes.
- Derivative chromosomes (chromosomes that are a mixture of 2) are usually not a problem and are common.
- What happens if the result of a reciprocal translocation is:
-Balanced
or
-Unbalanced
- Balanced: have the right amount of each chromosome (no net gain/loss of material), just not in the expected place!- Usually no deleterious phenotype unless breakpoint affects regulation of a gene.
- Unbalanced = too much or too little of a particular chromosome- Unbalanced individuals at significant risk of chromosomal disorder.
- What are two RISKS associated with having balanced chromosomes after a reciprocal translocation?
oCarriers of balanced translocations (ch9 and ch22) are not always lucky e.g. the Philadelphia chromosome leading to Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia due to the BCR-ABL fusion gene.
oCarrier of balanced translocation at risk of producing unbalanced offspring.
- How can we go from a balanced carrier to unbalanced zygote ( unbalanced individual being produced)
Homologous chromosomes align in metaphase 1 in bivalent (homologous pairs)
But how can derivative chromosomes align with their homologue - they dont have one . End up producing unbalanced daughter cells
- What is a pachytene quadrivalent ?
At meiosis, a balanced reciprocal translocation may not be able to pair up correctly. Instead of paring in ‘two’s’ with the other same number chromosome, the balanced translocation ends up pairing in fours; known as a pachytene quadrivalent.
- 4 possible outcomes : balanced normal partial trisomy + partial monosomy Partial monosomy + partial trisomy
- What is the consequence of reciprocal translocation in meiosis?
- During meiosis, balanced derivative form a pachytene quadrivalent structure before separation during anaphase (separation of opposite chromosomes – balanced).
- Separation can happen along the horizontal line or along the vertical line to produce chromosomes of an unbalanced arrangement (loss at end of one chromosome and gain at the end of another).
- The consequences of inheriting unbalanced chromosomes depend on the particular chromosome (genes) involved and the size of the material that has been translocated.
- When the unbalanced gametes are fertilised, they form cells with partial trisomy and partial monosomy.
- What are some clinical results of unbalanced reciprocal translocations?x
- Many lead to miscarriage (hence why a woman with a high number of unexplained miscarriages should be screened for a balanced translocation).
- Learning difficulties, physical disabilities.
- Tend to be specific to each individual so exact risks and clinical features vary.
- What are Robertsonian Translocations?
•Two acrocentric (loss of p arms) chromosomes break near their centromeres and their long arms are re-joined
In essence, two half chromosomes ( of just q arms) are made into one chromosome (both p and q arms)
- Is Robertsonian Translocations dangerous ?
These cells have 45 chromosomes and are not always disease causing because the p arms encode rRNA (multiple copies so not deleterious to lose some).
•Unbalanced If 46 chromosomes are present including Robertsonian.
- What are some common robertsonian translocation?
13;14 and 14;21 relatively common
- Which robertsonian translocation is guaranteed to result in Down syndrome?
21;21 translocation leads to 100% risk of Down syndrome in foetus.
- What is the consequence of Robert translocation of chromosome 14 and 21?
A healthy, balanced individual has a normal ch14 and a normal ch21 but a translocated derivative of ch14/21
•These chromosomes form a trivalent structure which can result in 4 possibilities ?
- Normal person (normal 14 and 21)
- Normal carrier (balanced derivative)
- Down’s (derivative and ch21)
- Lethal (just 14 or 21 OR 14 and derivative).
•Upon fertilisation – you will have 2 copies of ch14 (normal) but 3 copies of ch21 (Down’s).
- What % of trisomy cases are usually due to
- Non-disjunction
- Robertsonian translocation
Non-disjunction = 95%
Robertsonian translocation = 4%
- On a karyotype how would a trisomy 21 due to NDJ differ from a trisomy 21 due to robertsonian translocation?
Trisomy 21 due to NDJ = Seen as extra ch21, so three ch21’s in total seen
Trisomy 21 due to Robertsonian Translocation = Ch 21’s are two (normal) , but there are 2 ch14 and one of them has an 21q arm on it. So technically 3 ch21’s