0000000000968306
AUTHOR
Jasmin Beygo
A familial disorder of altered DNA-methylation
BackgroundIn a subset of imprinting disorders caused by epimutations, multiple imprinted loci are affected. Familial occurrence of multilocus imprinting disorders is rare.Purpose/objectiveWe have investigated the clinical and molecular features of a familial DNA-methylation disorder.MethodsTissues of affected individuals and blood samples of family members were investigated by conventional and molecular karyotyping. Sanger sequencing and RT-PCR of imprinting-associated genes (NLRP2, NLRP7, ZFP57, KHDC3L, DNMT1o), exome sequencing and locus-specific, array-based and genome-wide technologies to determine DNA-methylation were performed.ResultsIn three offspring of a healthy couple, we observed…
Phenotypic spectrum and extent of DNA methylation defects associated with multilocus imprinting disturbances.
Aim: To characterize the genotypic and phenotypic extent of multilocus imprinting disturbances (MLID). Materials & methods: We analyzed 37 patients with imprinting disorders (explorative cohort) for DNA methylation changes using the Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip. For validation, three independent cohorts with imprinting disorders or cardinal features thereof were analyzed (84 patients with imprinting disorders, 52 with growth disorder, 81 with developmental delay). Results: In the explorative cohort 21 individuals showed array-based MLID with each one displaying an Angelman or Temple syndrome phenotype, respectively. Epimutations in ZDBF2 and FAM50B were associated with severe …
Recommendations for a nomenclature system for reporting methylation aberrations in imprinted domains
The analysis of DNA methylation has become routine in the pipeline for diagnosis of imprinting disorders, with many publications reporting aberrant methylation associated with imprinted differentially methylated regions (DMRs). However, comparisons between these studies are routinely hampered by the lack of consistency in reporting sites of methylation evaluated. To avoid confusion surrounding nomenclature, special care is needed to communicate results accurately, especially between scientists and other health care professionals. Within the European Network for Human Congenital Imprinting Disorders we have discussed these issues and designed a nomenclature for naming imprinted DMRs as well …