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Molecular Inconsistencies in a Fragile X Male with Early Onset Ataxia

Hwang, YT; Dudding, T; Mabel Aliaga, S; Arpone, M; Francis, D; Li, X; Slater, HR; ... Eugeny Godler, D; + view all (2016) Molecular Inconsistencies in a Fragile X Male with Early Onset Ataxia. Genes , 7 (9) , Article 68. 10.3390/genes7090068. Green open access

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Abstract

Mosaicism for FMR1 premutation (PM: 55–199 CGG)/full mutation (FM: >200 CGG) alleles or the presence of unmethylated FM (UFM) have been associated with a less severe fragile X syndrome (FXS) phenotype and fragile X associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS)—a late onset neurodegenerative disorder. We describe a 38 year old male carrying a 100% methylated FM detected with Southern blot (SB), which is consistent with complete silencing of FMR1 and a diagnosis of fragile X syndrome. However, his formal cognitive scores were not at the most severe end of the FXS phenotype and he displayed tremor and ataxic gait. With the association of UFM with FXTAS, we speculated that his ataxia might be related to an undetected proportion of UFM alleles. Such UFM alleles were confirmed by more sensitive PCR based methylation testing showing FM methylation between 60% and 70% in blood, buccal, and saliva samples and real-time PCR analysis showing incomplete silencing of FMR1. While he did not meet diagnostic criteria for FXTAS based on MRI findings, the underlying cause of his ataxia may be related to UFM alleles not detected by SB, and follow-up clinical and molecular assessment are justified if his symptoms worsen.

Type: Article
Title: Molecular Inconsistencies in a Fragile X Male with Early Onset Ataxia
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.3390/genes7090068
Publisher version: http://doi.org/10.3390/genes7090068
Language: English
Additional information: © 2016 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Keywords: Science & Technology, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Genetics & Heredity, fragile X syndrome, FMR1, FXTAS, ataxia, tremor, methylation, mosaicism, AmplideX, Southern blot, RNA toxicity, TREMOR/ATAXIA-SYNDROME, FMR1 GENE, METHYLATION, EXPRESSION, ALLELES, IDENTIFICATION, PREVALENCE, MUTATION, BLOOD
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1532049
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