Single Gene Disorders Flashcards
1
Q
Explain the 2 general types of autosomal dominant disorders:
- Loss of function mutations - defects in what 2 things
- Gain of function mutations
A
- Structural proteins and regulatory proteins
2. Normal protein with toxic properties
2
Q
- 2 examples of loss of function autosomal dominant diseases - defect in regulatory proteins
- 1 example of structural protein loss of function disease
- 1 example of gain of function autosomal dominant diseases
A
- Familial hypercholesterolemia and myotonic dystrophy
- Osteogenesis imperfecta
- Huntington disease
3
Q
Neurofibromatosis type 1
- Type of disease
- Gene defect?
- Clinical presentation (4)
- Important genetic concept related to this disease?
A
- Autosomal dominant
- Mutation in cell cycle regulatory protein
- Cafe-au-lait spots, axillary freckling, neurofibromas, lisch nodules
- Variable expression - some in same family mildly/severely affected
4
Q
Marfan syndrome:
- Type of disease
- Gene defect? What is the gene component of
- Clinical picture?
- Good example of pleiotropy - define
A
- Autosomal dominant
- Fibrillin gene - component of ECM and connective tissue
- Skeletal abnormalities, hypermobile joints, myopia and detached lens, aortic aneurysm
- Single mutation affects multiple organ systems
5
Q
Thalassemias
- Type of disease
- Gene defect?
- Where in the world is it most frequent (3)
- What is adult hemoglobin (HbA) composed of?
- Humans have 2 copies of the beta globin gene on what chromosome? Alpha globin? How many copies of each?
- How is fetal hemoglobin (HbF) different
A
- Autosomal recessive
- Imbalance in globin chain synthesis
- Mediterranean sea, africa, and southeast asia
- 2 alpha and 2 beta chains
- Single gene on chromosome 11 for beta (so 2 copies total). 2 genes on chromosome 16 for alpha (so 4 copies total)
- Gamma chains replace beta chains
6
Q
Explain each of the following types of thalassemia
1. Alpha? What accumulates?
- Beta? What accumulates?
A
- Results from insufficient synthesis of the alpha chain- beta chain accumulates
- Results from insufficient synthesis of the beta chain - alpha chain accumulates
7
Q
Beta thalassemia:
- Alpha chain accumulates - are they soluble or insoluble?
- Fate of cells?
- Results in what condition
- How will lab results look?
A
- Very insoluble
- Premature death of cells
- Hemolytic anemia
- Low hemoglobin and excess alpha globin
8
Q
- Beta thalassemia minor vs major
- What is B+? What is B0?
- What is thalassemia intermedia
A
- Minor= 1 normal and 1 mutant
Major= 2 mutant copies - B+= leads to reduced amounts
B0= leads to total absence of functional B-globin - B+/B+ or B0/B+
9
Q
- Thalassemia minor may be mistaken for?
2. How is it diagnosed? (2)
A
- Iron-deficiency anemia
2. Hemoglobin electrophoresis or blood work
10
Q
- Why do babies born with thalassemia major appear normal at first?
- How will these patients present? (4)
A
- Because babies have HbF, become anemic when B globin synthesis increases to get HbA
- Severe anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, skeletal deformities, systemic iron overload
11
Q
Thalassemia major:
- What type of skeletal deformities will they show? Why?
- Systemic iron overload is due to what 3 things?
- Treatment for this condition
A
- Face/skull; due to bone marrow expansion (to increase RBC production)
- RBC turnover, increased iron absorption in diet, accumulation in liver and heart
- Regular blood transfusions with iron chelation therapy, bone marrow transplant (dangerous), potential gene therapy
12
Q
Thalassemia intermedia:
1. Varies in severity, treatment?
A
- Blood transfusions are only required occasionally
13
Q
Alpha thalassemia:
- What is the most frequent mutation?
- Normal genotype would be?
- Silent carrier?
- Alpha thalassemia trait
- HbH disease - clinically severe
- Hydrops fetalis - usually fatal at birth
A
- Deletion of the entire gene
- aa/aa
- -a/aa
- —/aa and -a/-a
- —/-a
- —/—
14
Q
- Symptoms of silent carriers?
- Symptoms of a-thalassemia trait
- Symptoms of HbH disease
- If all 4 alpha genes are missing, what happens?
A
- Essentially normal - no RBC abnormality
- Same as those with beta thalassemia minor
- Same as those with beta thalassemia intermedia
- Usually lethal in utero or shortly after birth
15
Q
What does the gamma globin form in cases of alpha thalassemia in utero/shortly after birth
A
Hemoglobin bart (Hb Bart)
16
Q
Alpha thalassemia:
In patients with at least one copy of the alpha globin gene (surviving patients), what accumulates?
A
HbH