Genetic diseases Flashcards
Down’s syndrome
Clinical features: hypotonia, excess nuchal skin, septal defects, short stature, single palmar crease, low IQ but advanced social skills, flat nasal ridge, epicanthic folds
Mechanisms
- Aneuploidy: trisomy 21 during meiosis
- Robertsonian translocation: 2/3 de novo translocations
- Mosaicism: mitotic non-disjunction in ZYGOTE. Severity of disease depends on how early on the disjunction occurred. Doesn’t always manifest-depends on proportion of cells affected by aneuploidy (product of non-disjunction) This also ultimately leads to disomy/monosomy.
2 examples of autosomal aneuploidy
- Down’s syndrome: trisomy 21
- Patau syndrome: trisomy 13
- heart defects
- cleft lip/palate
- mental retardation - Edward’s syndrome: trisomy 18
- heart defects
- kidney malformation- HORSESHOE KIDNEY
- digestive tract defects- intestine protrudes outside abdomen
- mental retardation/developmental delay
- microcephaly
- cleft lip/palate
- typical hand posture: clenched hands with overlapping fingers
2 examples of sex chromosome aneuploidies
- turner’s syndrome
2. Klienfelter’s syndrome
Turner’s
MONOSOMY X
-80% due to loss of X or Y chromosome in paternal meiosis
-other causes: RING CHROMOSOME, single arm deletion, mosaicism
-all patients are female
-generalised oedema+swelling in neck region
-low posterior hairline
-broad chest
-aorta defect in 15% of cases
-short stature
-webbed neck
-infertility
-sensorineural deafness and recurrent ear infections
-behavioural problems
-normal intelligence
Treatment: oestrogen repalcement for secondary sexual charactersitics and prevention of osteoporosis
Klinefelter’s
POLYSOMY X (47, XXY)
- X chromosome from either mother or father
- only males
- clumsiness, verbal learning disability
- taller than average, long lower limbs
- 30% gynaecomastia
- ALL INFERTILE
- -narrow shoulders, wide hips (female traits)
- loss of secondary sexual characteristics: reduced facial and pubic hair
- higher risk of leg ulcers, osteoporosis, breast carcinoma in adulthood
What is a genomic disorder? 2 examples
A GENOMIC disorder is characterised by DELETIONS or DUPLICATIONS i.e. loss or gain of DNA
- Di george
- Charcot-Marie Tooth
Di george
DELETION syndrome
-microdeletion of 22q11.2 region containing TBRX1 gene that encodes a transcription factor important in numerous developmental processes
Clinical features
- cardiac abnormalities - TETRALOGY OF FALLOT
- hypoplastic thymus
- hypocalcaemia
Charcot-marie-tooth disease type 1A
DUPLICATION syndrome
-microduplication of PMP22 (peripheral myelin protein 22) gene on Chr 17, which encodes for an INTEGRAL MEMBRANE PROTEIN that is a major component of myelin in peripheral nervous system
Diagnostic features -muscle weakness -missing reflexes 0foot defromities -lack of sensation in hands and arms
Examples of monogenic disorders
Huntingtons, cystic fibrosis, haemophilia
Examples of complex genetic disorders
Type 2 diabetes, Schizophrenia, Crohn’s disease
Example of autosomal dominant disorder
Huntington’s disease
Huntington’s disease
-autosomal dominant
Mechanism
- HTT gene on chromosome 4, which encodes Huntingtin protein
- HD patient has one copy of MUTATED Huntingtin gene
- This encodes a TOXIC version of Huntingtin protein that forms CLUMPS
- Cell death in basal ganglia of brain–>symptoms
Molecular level
- caused by repeats of unstable CAG (amino acid=GLUTAMINE)
- the more repeats, the more severe the disease
GENETIC ANTICIPATION
- age of onset DECREASES
- severity of symptoms INCREASES
Example of autosomal recessive disorder
Cystic fibrosis
Features
- chronic, life-threatening
- thick mucus in lungs–>breathing problems, infections
- blockages in pancreas–>affects digestive enzymes
Treatment=daily physiotherapy
Mechanism
- CFTR gene on chromosome 7 encodes a protein called cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)
- CF patients inherit TWO copies of mutated CFTR gene
- Absence of a functional CFTR protein affects CHLORIDE ION FUNCTION in epithelial cells
- Disruption of salt/water regulation causes THICK MUCUS –>symptoms
MOLECULAR LEVEL
- Themost common mutation (ΔF508)results fromDELETIONofthree nucleotideswhich causes theloss ofphenylalanine(Phe)at the 508th position on the protein (thus it’s also a GENOMIC disorder)
- deletion affects folding of CFTR protein and causes its breakdown in the ER before it can be transported to the membrane
Example of X-linked recessive disease
Haemophilia
Haemophilia
- deficiency in individual clotting factors
- patients bruise easily and bleed for longer
- two types: A and B
Mechanism (A)
- F8 gene on Chromosome X encodes a protein called coagulation factor VII
- Boys with Haemophilia A inherit one copy of a MUTATED form of F8 gene
- LACK of functioning factor VII–>symptoms
Same gene, different mutation
Cystic fibrosis and Congenital Absence of the vas Deferens (CAVD) caused by mutation in CFTR gene
Same disease, different genes
Haemophiilia A caused by mutation in F8 gene on chromosome X
Haemophilia B caused by mutation in F9 gene on chromsome X- encodes different coagulation factor but results in same symptoms
Retinoblastoma
Retinoblastoma=tumour suppressor gene. Also a retinoblastoma protein.
Normally, retinoblastoma binds to E2F (a transcription factor), preventing its expression. Cyclin CDK phosphorylates retinoblastoma–>E2F free to go through the cell cycle.
BUT, in cancer, retinoblastoma (mutated form) can’t bind to E2F–>unregulated transcription and replication.
Two types:
1. Familial
Hit 1: Germline mutation in Rb gene
Hit 2: somatic mutation in Rb gene
- Sporadic
Both hits=somatic mutations in SAME CELL
Chronic myeloid leukaemia
General features
- clonal myeloproliferative disorder–>overproduction of ABNORMAL mature granulocytes (neutrophils)
- disorder of haematological stem cells
- three phases: chronic, accelerated, blast crisis (overproduction of blasts- precursors)
- symtoms: LACK OF RBC (because bone marrow space mostly occupied by WBC synthesis), lack of platelets (again due to reduction in bone marrow space), lack of WBC so infections (bc the WBC overproduced are DEFECTIVE)
MECHANISM
- philadelphia chromosome
- translocation between ABL-1 gene in chromosome 9 and BCR gene in chromosome 22
- fusion protein BCR-ABL1–>MUTATED TYROSINE KINASE (potent cell-signalling cascade activator) which results in uncontrolled cell division
Treatment
- imatinib=TYROSINE KINASE INHIBITOR. Blocks ATP binding site of BCR-ABL1 protein.
- though lots of people lose response to treatment
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)
Features
- divided into FAB M0-M7
- key histological feature=presence of AUER RODS
Mechanism
- FAB M3/promyelocytic leukkaemia (APML)- DIC and haemorrhage (medical emergency)
- abnormal accumulation of immature granulocytes called promyelocytes
- Retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARa) on chromosome 17 and PML on chromosome 15—>fusion product PML-RARa
- RARa=nuclear receptor bound by retinoic acid; regulator of DNA transcription
- fusion product binds too strongly to DNA–>inhibits transcription of TSGs–>cancer
Treatment
- all trans retinoic acid (ATRA): DISSOCIATES co-repressors- restoring normal transcription
- doesn’t KILL cells so need continuous therapy as residual stem cells remain
Breast cancer genes
BRCA1
BRCA2
Both are TSGs
Pathogenetic mechanism of breast cancer
BRCA 1 and 2 are involved in DNA repair. Mutations occur anywhere along exons, but ultimately result in formation of incorrect protein which fails to correctly repair DNA–>impaired DNA repair (common theme in cancer)
Two types of colorectal cancer
- Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
- Lynch syndrome (hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer)
- Peutz-Jegher
- Gardner
FAP
- 1000s of polyps in colon, each one has a small chance of developing into cancer–>HIGH overall risk of cancer
- mechanism: autosomal dominant mutation in APC gene in chromosome 5 (but also a recessive form)
Lynch syndrome
-autosomal dominant mutation in MLH1 or MSH2 (DNA mismatch repair genes)
2 main classes of MONOGENIC diabetes
- MODY- maturity onset diabetes of the young
2. PND- permanent neonatal diabetes
4 types of MODY
- HNF1-alpha
- Glucokinase
- HNF4-alpha
- HNF-1 beta (RCAD)
HNF1 alpha MODY
- HNF1 alpha=gene that codes for a transcription factor responsible for stimulating insulin production
- absence of TF–>less glycolysis–>less ATP produced–>less depolraisation through ATP-sensitive potassium channel (i.e. potassium allowed to LEAVE the cell)–>less insulin produced
- Treatment=SULPHONYLUREAS. These bind to ATP-sensitive potassium channel, cause it to close–>depolarisation–>opening of calcium channel–>calcium influx–>normal insulin production as insulin released from granules
Glucokinase MODY
- Glucokinase: hexokinase IV. Converts glucose to glucose 6 phosphate in liver and pancreas. Beta cell sensing enzyme.
- triggers conversion from glucose to glucose 6 phosphate when blood glucose concentration exceeds 4mmol/l. In glucokinase MODY, this set-point is higher
- patients operate at consistently higher levels of blood sugar (hyperglycaemia)–but doesn’t exert microvascular effects. So not really symptomatic or dangerous- in fact treatment with insulin is more dangerous because it causes compensatory mechanisms in patients e.g. increased adrenaline and cortisol.
HNF4-alpha MODY
- similar to HNF1 alpha MODY but RARER
- older age of onset
- low renal glucose threshold
- macrosomia: newborn significantly larger than average
- transient neonatal HYPOglycaemia
HNF1-beta MODY
- Renal cysts and diabetes (RCAD)
- genital tract mutations
- ->COMPLEX SYNDROME
PND
- ATP production is normal, but mutation in ATP-sensitive potassium channel
- many different mutations, each of which cause a change in different subunits of this channel
e. g. KCNJ11 codes for Kir 6,2 subunit; ABCC8 codes for Sur 1 subunit - ultimately, mutations prevent channel from closing even in the presence of normal ATP–>less depolarisation–>less insulin secretion
- treatment=SULPHONYLUREAS. Bind to Sur 1 subunit and restore normal function so channel closes in response to ATP production
Other genetic diabetes
- MITOCHONDRIAL DIABETES
2. Polygenic diabetes: requires 2 hits (Knuddson’s hypothesis)