Genetic Disorders Flashcards
What are SNPs and CNVs?
single nucleotide polymorphisms and common number variations that are common alterations in the protein coding genes OTHER than mutations
What is the incidence of diseases with genetic components in people less than 25 years old?
5%
When do the majority of chromosomal disorders occur in humans?
2-3 months is over 50% of chromosomal disorders in spontaneous abortions, miscarriages and stillbirths.
The most common cause is Turner’s syndrome
What is the incidence of chromosomal abnormalties that result in abortion, miscarriage and stillbirth?
What is the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in newborns?
50% result in miscarriage, stillbirth or abortion
0.58% is the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in newborns
In newborns, what is the incidence of autosomal abnormality?
What is the incidence of sex chromosome abnormality?
Autosomal 4/1000
Sex 2/1000
Sex linked chromosomal abnormalities are tolerated a lot better than autosomal due to the paucity of DNA on the Y chromosome and the inactivation of one of the Xs
What percent of the genome encodes proteins?
How much of the genome contains DNA with unknown function?
How many genes are in the human genome?
How many bp are there in a haploid genome?
2% encode proteins
50% is unknown function DNA
25,000 genes (less than a mustard plant)
3.2billion bp
What are 3 alterations to protein-coding DNA that does not constitute a “mutation”?
- sequence and copy number variation (SNPs and CNV)
- Epigenetics- modulation of a gene w/o mutation like methylation, histone modification, imprinting
- alterations in non-coding RNAs that inhibit translation
What are the 3 modes by which protein-coding genes can be silenced by epigenetics?
- methylation
- histone modification
- imprinting
What are the 2 non-coding RNAs that can inhibit translation of proteins?
- miRNA- post-transcriptional silencing
- long-non-coding RNA (lncRNA) - bind chromatin to inactivate DNA (ex. Xist which scrunches and silences one of the X chromosomes)
What is a mutation? What are the 4 categories of mutation?
It is a permanent change in the DNA.
- missense
- non-sense
- frameshift
- trinucleotide repeat mutations
What are the two types of missense mutations?
Missense mutations alter the meaning of the genetic code.
- Conservative- AA substitution has little effect on the protein function
- Non-conservative- AA substitution changes protein function and has a severe phenotypic effect. Ex. sickle cell glutamic acid–> valine causes RBC sickling
What is a non-sense mutation?
What is an example of a disorder associated with a non-sense mutation?
It is when the genetic change is from an AA to a stop codon interruption translation and causing a truncated protein that gets degraded.
Ex. B-thalassemia–> stop codon leads to degraded protein–> 4a instead of 2b2a which lyses RBC
What is a frameshift mutation?
Give an example when the outcome is benign and an example when the outcome is deleterious.
When there is a nucleotide insertion or deletion of a number of nucleotides OTHER THAN 3.
Ex. O blood type is a frameshift deletion of 1 base from the A phenotype that results in the O phenotype
Ex. Tay-Sachs is an insertion of TATC which mutates hexaminidase A gene leading to build up of hemamine (lipid)
What are the four major categories of genetic disease?
- Mendelian disorders (single gene defects)
- complex multigenic disorder
- cytogenetic disorders
- single-gene disorders with atypical patterns of inheritance
What are the four MAJOR inheritance patterns?
- AD- heterozygotes show disease, at least one parent affected, males/females equally
- AR- homozygous show disease, no affected parent, 25% recurrence in siblings, CONSANGUINITY
- XLR- heterozygote female to 50% sons, affected males have 100% carrier daughters
- XLD - SUPER rare, affected hetero females pass to 50% sons and 50% daughters. Males–> all daughters are affected, no sons
What are the 4 categories of Mendelian disorders caused by single-gene defects?
- defect in structural protein (mostly auto-dominant–Marfans, EDS)
- defect in enzymes (mostly auto-recessive)
- Defects in channels or receptor proteins (CF, Familial hypercholesterolemia)
- Defects in proteins that regulate cell growth
What type of Mendelian single-gene defect is Marfan’s? What is the pathology of Marfan’s?
It is a defect in structural protein Fibrillin 1 (FBN1) which is a glycoprotein component of microfibrillar fibers that scaffolds for elastin on the basement membrane
What are the clinical features of Marfan’s syndrome?
- tall stature, arachnodactyly, scoliosis, pectus excavatum
- subluxation of lens upward and bilaterally
- aortic dissection, cystic medionecrosis of the aorta, mitral valve prolapse
How does aortic dissection occur in Marfan’s?
Basophilic ground substance is deposited in the aortic tissue and pools because there is no elastin organization. Intimal tears (that would go undetected in patients with organized elastin) allow bleeding into the aortic walls and nearly immediate death
What is the inheritance pattern of Marfan’s ?
Most mendelian mutations in structural proteins are autosomal dominant
What type of Mendelian single gene mutation is Ehlers-Danlos syndrome?
What is the pathology?
It is a structural protein disorder with various defects in collagen molecules that reduce the tensile strength of collagen.
There are 30 different collagens and 20 different mutations involved–> SIX kinds of EDS (4 are protein disorders, 2 are enzyme disorders and AR)
What are the general clinical features associated with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome?
- hyperextensibility of joints and skin
- cigarette paper scars
- aortic, colonic rupture
- ocular fragility
- diaphragm hernia
What is the inheritance pattern and gene defect of classic (I and II) EDS?
Autosomal dominant
COL5A1
COL5A2
What is the inheritance pattern and gene defect of hypermobility (type III) EDS?
Autosomal dominant -???
What is the inheritance pattern and gene defect of vascular (Type IV) EDS?
Autosomal Dominant
COL3A1
What is the inheritance pattern and gene defect of kyphoscoliosis (VI) EDS?
Auto recessive
lysyl-hydroxylase
What is the inheritance pattern and gene defect of arthrochalasia (type VIIA) EDS?
Auto dominant
COL1A1
COL1A2
What is the inheritance pattern and gene defect of dermatosparaxis (VIIc) EDS?
Auto recessive
Procollagen-N-peptidase
What is the incidence of CF and who does it mainly affect?
1/3200 and it affects mainly causcasians
What is inheritance pattern of CF and what type of Mendelian single-gene defect is it?
It is Autosomal recessive and is a mutation in a receptor protein/channel
What are the two ways you can identify CFTR gene mutations?
In most mucousal surfaces there is a CFTR that allows Cl efflux in exchange for Na, H20 influx. This process is balanced, so there is hydrated, normal mucous. If there is a CFTR mutation, Cl does not leave the cell, Na and H20 rush in to correct the electrolyte imbalance and the mucus is dehydrated and sticky (plugs up organ, hotbed for infections).
In sweat ducts the CFTR channel is reversed with Cl- normally going into the cell and Na following it.
It CFTR mutation, the Cl- can’t go into the cell and the sweat will be high in Cl-
What are the six classes of mutations for CF?
1- defective protein synthesis 2- abnormal protein folding/trafficking 3- defective regulation 4- decreased conductance 5- reduced abundance of channels 6- altered regulation of separate ions
What is a genetic modifier of the CF mutation?
Mannose-binding lectin- immunity with opsonization.
This makes CF infections more severe because they can’t clear infections and the infectious agents get stuck in the thick mucous
What are 3 genetic modifiers to CF mutations?
- organisms virulence (pseudomonas, burkholderia) that usually don’t affect immune competent people can affect CF
- infections by multiple organisms
- exposure to smoking and allergens
What are pathological changes associated with severe CF (+sweat test)?
- bronchiectasis
- hepatic cirrhosis
- pancreatic insufficiency
- male infertility
What are the pathological changes associated with milder CF (sweat test -)
azoospermia
sinusitis
absence of vas deferens
What are the 2 different types of mendelian single-gene mutations that show defects in enzymes?
- inborn errors of metabolism (galactasemia, PKU)
2. storage disorders (glycogen, lysosomal)
What are the two disorders classified as inborn errors of metabolism that we discussed?
- Phenylketonuria (PKU)
2. Galactasemia
Describe the phenylalanine hydroxylase system.
- Phenylalanine is converted to tyrosine by phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH)
- Tetrahydrobiopterin –> dihydrobiopterin
- to convert di back to tetra to drive the first reaction, NADH is converted to NAD by dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR)
What is the cause of classic PKU?
What type of inheritance does it demonstrate?
What is the incidence and who does it likely affect?
It is caused by one of 500 mutations in phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH)
It is autosomal recessive with an incidence of 1/12000.
It affects Scandanavians
What test will be positive for a patient with classic PKU?
Gunthrie test:
- inoculate patients serum
- bacteria will lyse an area if phenylalanine is present
- larger lysed area= more phenylalanine
What are the clinical features of classic PKU? (7)
- mousy odor
- mental retardation (evidenced by 6month)
- light pigmented hair/skin due to the inability to make tyrosine which is a component of melanin
- eczema
- gait disturbance and seizure
- NORMAL FACIAL FEATURES
- NO ORGANOMEGALY
Why are patients with classic PKU light-pigmented?
Because they can’t make tyrosine which is a component of melanin
What are the 2 types of PKU?
- classic
2. maternal
What is the cause of PKU in maternal PKU?
The mother has mild PKU but has discontinued her dietary control.
The excess phenylalanine acts as a teratogen for the fetus (which will be heterozygous but presenting with phenotypic PKU- mental retardation, microcephaly, 15% CHD)
Fetal abnormalities correlate directly with phenylalanine levels
What are the steps in the metabolism of galactose to glucose?
- galactose +ATP—>galactokinase–>galac-1-P
- Galac-1-P + UDP-glucose–> Galac-1-P Uridyl transferase—> UDP-galactose + glucose-1-P
- UDP-galactose-4-epimerase–> UDP glucose
What are the 3 enzymes that metabolize galactose to glucose?
Which is the most commonly defected for galactosemia?
- Galactokinase
- Galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase (GALT)3. UDP-galactose-4-epimerase
G-1-P uridyl transferase is most defective
What is the incidence of galactosemia?
What is its inheritance pattern?
Galactosemia caused by defective GALT has an incidence of 1/60000
(MORE RARE THAN PKU)
It is autosomal recessive
What are the 8 clinical features of galactosemia?
- vomiting, diarrhea
- neonatal jaundice and FTT
- Hepatomegaly with fatty change
- Cataracts (galactisol– disrupts osmotic gradient so runny eyes too)
- Liver failure- accumulate galactose in droplets–> fatty change and scarring
- Mental retardation- gliosis, loss of nerve cells **progress if not on a low galactose diet
- susceptibility to E. coli bc of high blood galactose
- aminoaciduria
How is galactosemia diagnosed and treated?
Diagnosed by:
1. reducing sugar other than glucose in urine
2. direct enzyme assay in leukocytes
3. Prenatal GALT activity or galactisol level in amniotic fluid
Treated by:
1. removal of galactose from diet w/in first 2 years
(prevents cataracts and liver damage, but you will still get the neurological symptoms like speech disorder, ataxia, gonadal failure)
What does a no galactose diet prevent in a patient with galactosemia?
What 3 things does it NOT prevent? Why?
Prevents: 1. cataracts 2. liver damage DOES NOT prevent: 1. ataxia 2. speech disorders 3. gonadal failure These aren't prevented because there is still a small level of endogenously made galactose
What are the 3 anatomic changes associated with untreated galactosemia?
- organomegaly
- liver fatty change and fibrosis
- cataracts
Why is there a newborn screening program for PKU and galactosemia?
- treatment is available
- early institution of treatment reduces/eliminates severity
- Testing is required. Observation/physical won’t reveal the disorder in the newborn
- tests are rapid/cheap, sensitive and specific
- conditions are frequent and serious enough to warrant it
- can get results, confirm, and institute treatment/counseling
How does the progression of inborn errors of metabolism differ from the progression of storage disorders?
IEM are fast (progress in days-wks)
Storage disorders are slow (months to years)
What are the four major lysosomal storage disorders?
- Tay-Sachs
- Neimann Pick A, B, C
- Gauchers
- Hunter and Hurler syndrome
What is the mechanism by which lysosomal storage disorders occur?
Lysosome contain hydrolytic enzymes that can break down complex substrates like hexaminidase A, mucopolysaccharides, sphingolipids, etc)
Lack or mutation in these enzymes causes incomplete catabolism and a buildup of non-metabolized endproducts
What are the 4 common features of lysosomal storage disorders?
- AR
- affects children
- Hepatosplenomegaly, CNS/neuronal damage
- Secondary events (inflammation, cytokine release, macrophage activation) due to the storage of undigested material
What is the mutation associated with Tay-Sachs?
What substance is unable to be degraded as a result?
Mutation : Hexosaminidase A (B-subunit) caused by a 4 nucleotide insertion/frameshift
Leads to a buildup of GM2 ganglioside (lipidosis)
What group of people have a high incidence of Tay Sachs?
What is the incidence of carriers within this group?
How do we test if someone is a carrier?
Ashkenazi Jews have a carrier rate of 1/30
This is detected by serum Hex A or DNA analysis
What are the prominent histological features of Tay Sachs?
- lipid vacuolization in large neurons
2. EM shows lysosomes filled with whorled configurations (onion layers)