Week 2 Lecture- Genetic Disorders Flashcards
What are the 3 types of genetic diseases discussed?
- Mendelian disorders
- Chromosomal abnormalities
- Complex multigenic disorders
What are Mendelian disorders?
- Monogenic disorders
- Usually rare
- Single gene defect causes the disorder
- Has to be a survivable defect
What are chromosomal abnormalities?
- Extra chromosomal material or structural defect in a chromosome
- Uncommon
What are complex multigenic disorders?
- Complex interaction of multiple genetic defects with environmental factors (predisposition)
- Genetic defect predisposes you, then an initiating event causes the disease
- Far more common
What does autosomal mean?
Located on chromosomes 1-22 rather than X or Y
What is nondisjunction?
Failure of 2 homologous chromosomes (or 2 sister chromatids) to separate at metaphase of meiosis I (or meiosis II/mitosis)
- Problem with separation
What is penetrance?
Whether or not the variant genotype can be inferred on the basis of defined phenotypic criteria
- Likelihood that we can determine the patient has the genetic abnormality based on appearance of the phenotype (symptoms)
- Another way to think about it is–> How likely is the altered genetic pattern to cause symptoms
Overview Mendelian disorders
- Single mutation (monogenic) so follow Mendelian inheritance
- High penetrance
- Contribute to understanding of physiology- ex: chloride channel function in the lung
- Rare unless selective pressure- ex: Malaria
List the Mendelian disorders we are focusing on
- Neurofibromatosis
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
- Phenylketonuria
- Sickle Cell Anemia
- Fragile X Syndrome
What specific type of monogenic disorder is neurofibromatosis?
Autosomal dominant disorder- genes are located on chromosomes 1-22, one mutation in one gene copy produces disease
How many types of neurofibromatosis are there and what are the differences?
- Type I (mutation in neurofibromin)- common (1:4000), Highly variable course
- Type II (mutation in merlin)- Rare (1:40,0000/50,000), range of tumors
Both are involved in the formation of growths/tumors
How does neurofibromatosis present?
- Neurofibromas
*Peripheral nerve myelin sheath tumors- overgrowth of cells in myelin sheath
*Plexiform- infiltration in towards nerve fivers themselves; can produce disruptions in nerve transmissioin
AND ALSO
*Solitary- growing out and do not infiltrate - Optic nerve gliomas
- Lisch nodules- pigmented nodules of the irus
- Cutaneous hyperpigmented macules (spots on skin)- very dark; not freckles or moles
What protein is mutated in type I neurofibromatosis?
Neurofibromin I (NF1)
Describe the effect of NF1.
- Mutated in neurofibromatosis I
- Higher expression in nerve cells with low expression in all other cell types
- GTPase that inhibits Ras–> responsible for regulation of growth and differentiation
- Loss of neurofibromin results in unregulated cell growth
-Absence of NF1= excessive Ras activity
*Signaling to Ras is associated with increased proliferation or survival of cells, even in the presence of death signals
Why is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome called a syndrome?
There are multiple types
Overview of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
- Multiple types- still considered monogenic because each type is associated with a different mutation
- Defect in fibrillar collagen in CT
- Synthesis or Structure
What are the symptoms of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome?
- Elastic skin
- Bruises easily
- Overly flexible joints
Mutations in which types of collagen are known?
I, III, and v
Name 2 proteins that are required for processing of collagen into fibrillar form that have known mutations.
- Lysyl Hydroxylase (Kyphoscoliosis- deformities in spinal cord)
- Procollagen N- Peptidase (Dermatosparaxis- excessively loose skin)
What is fibrillar collagen?
- Collagen that undergoes structural modification to become a fibrillar collagen, which gives it greater tensile strength
Fibrillar collagen is a major component of what areas of the body?
- Bone
- Tendon
- Cartilage
- Skin
- Blood vessels
Fibrillar cartilage is important for….
- Wound healing
- Scar formation
What are some of the complications of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome?
- Skin is stretchable, fragile, and more vulnerable to trauma–> compromised wound healing
- Lack of tensile strength leaves gaping wounds
What are the serious internal complications of Ehlers-Danlos?
- Colon rupture
- Large blood vessel rupture
- Ocular (cornea rupture, retinal detachment)
- Diaphragmatic hernia
What is phenylketonuria?
- Metabolic disorder
- Autosomal recessive
- Produces severe intellectual disability due to accumulation of phenylalanine, which happens because there is a failure in amino acid catabolism
*Patients cannot break down phenylalanine - Detected in urine using iron compound–> add ferric chloride to urine and it turns olive green
- Infants are tested shortly after birth because early dietary intervention is important
Describe phenylalanine catabolism.
- Phenylalanine is converted to tyrosine by phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH)
- Mutation in the PAH enzyme causes PKU
- Absence of PAH causes tyrosine (Tyr) to become an essential aa
- Normal patients can break down Phe themselves to make Tyr
- Patients with PKU do NOT have a functional PAH and need to get tyrosine from the diet
How many disease- associated PAH alleles have been discovered worldwide?
500
What is the most severe phenotype of PKU associated with?
Null mutations
- Patients don’t express any PAH
- They get massive accumulation of Phe because they cannot process it at all except to use it in making proteins or excrete it through urine
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What are the 2 types of mutations associated with PKU?
- Null mutations
- Missense mutations
How can missense mutations in PKU be treated?
- Treated with chaperones that prevent degradation of misfolded enzyme
- Patients can make the protein, but it does not fold or work quite right
- For these patients, you can increase the likelihood that the misfolded protein will be degraded
- Symptoms not as severe
Describe the clinical presentation of PKU.
- Postnatal growth retardation
- Moderate-severe intellectual disability
- Recurrent seizures
* CNS symptoms due to Phe accumulation
* Inhibits AA transpor across the blood-brain barrier
* Secondary effects- protein synthesis, energy production, neurotransmitter homeostasis - Hypopigmentation (pale)
* Product of Phe catabolism is a melanin substrate - Eczematous skin rashes
What is the current treatment for PKU?
- Dietary–> reduce Phe intake
- Alternatives include gene therapy