Single Gene Disorders: Sex Linked Dominant and Recessive Inheritance Flashcards
how many genes on the X chromosome?
900-1400
how many genes on Y chromosome and why is it important?
70-200, includes SRY gene that makes males, father determines the sex of the child!
what does sex linked inheritance refer to?
inheritance pattern of a disease that is caused by mutation of a gene present on the X chromosome
what would you look for to determine X-linked dominant inheritance?
- seen in successive generations (at least 1 individual)
- seen twice as often in females
- ALL daughters of affected males are affected
- NO male to male transmission
- both sons and daughters of affected heterozygous female may be affected
examples of X-linked dominant diseases
- Rett syndrome
- hypophosphatemic rickets/vitamin D resistant rickets
- Fragile X syndrome
what causes Rett syndrome??
mutations in MECP2 gene
what does the MECP2 gene do?
binds methylated DNA sequence (CpG-rich regions) and recruits proteins to help repress transcription in the brain specifically
what occurs if MECP2 is not present/deficient
genes inappropriately expressed during brain development
who is commonly affected by Rett syndrome?
mostly females, because mutation is lethal if a normal allele is not present (males generally don’t survive to term)
why are males unlikely to survive with Rett Syndrome?
not viable unless 1 unaffected X allele, and males only have the 1 X.
symptoms of Rett syndrome
- spastic and ataxic
- development of autistic behavior
- wringing or flapping movements of hands
- microcephaly
- seizures
- mental deterioration
what is vitamin D resistent rickets?
hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets, mutations in PHEX gene
what does PHEX encode?
phosphate regulating neutral endopeptidase
what does mutation of PHEX indicate?
cannot regulate phosphate, so low serum phosphate
symptoms of vitamin D resistent rickets
- slow growth
- short stature
- bone abnormalities
- hypophosphatemia with low phosphate reabsorption
how to determine X-linked recessive?
- more affected males than females
- heterozygous females usually unaffected, but may show symptoms due to X-inactivation
- affected father will pass mutation to ALL daughters, who will be carriers
- NEVER transmitted from father to son
- affected males inherit disease through females who are carriers
most common bleeding disorder
hemophilia A
what is hemophilia A?
mutation in gene encoding clotting factor VIII
who was the first known carrier of hemophilia A?
Queen Victoria
characteristic of hemophilia A?
all affected individuals are MALE
symptoms of hemophilia A
- severe bleeding
- bruising
- hemarthroses
- intracranial hemorrhages
most prevalent forms of muscular dystrophy?
- duchenne muscular dystrophy
2. becker muscular dystrophy
inheritability of muscular dystrophy?
X linked recessive, predominantly affects males, but heterozygous females displace a small degree of muscle weakness
what causes duchenne and becker muscular dysrophies?
mutations in DMD gene, which encodes protein dystrophin
what does dystrophin do?
connects actin skeleton inside the cell to the extracellular matrix and plays a key role in maintaining the structural integrity of muscle cells
describe the mutation of DMD in Duchenne ?
deletions or duplications in DMD gene that PRODUCES FRAMESHIFT MUTATIONS.
a truncated non-functional dystrophin protein is produced, which is degraded by the cell
therefore, no protein is present, resulting in severe phenotype
is DMD produced in Duchenne?
no protein is present, resulting in severe phenotype
describe the mutation of DMD in Becker?
deletions or duplications in DMD but they do NOT cause frameshift mutations.
therefore, dystrophin protein is made, but has reduced function
less severe phenotype
is DMD produced in Becker?
yes, but reduced function, therefore less severe phenotype
most striking symptom of Duchenne MD?
- elevated (20x) creatine kinase levels in plasma due to death of muscle cells, can be detected presymptomatically and can be officially diagnosed by genetic testing