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Query: UNIPROT:P06889 (
Mol
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630,302
document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)
X-linked dilated cardiomyopathy
(XLDC) is a familial heart disease presenting in young males as a rapidly progressive congestive heart failure, without clinical signs of skeletal myopathy. This condition has recently been linked to the dystrophin gene in some families and deletions encompassing the genomic region coding for the first muscle exon have been detected. In order to identify the defect responsible for this disease at the molecular level and to understand the reasons for the selective heart involvement, a family with a severe form of XLDC was studied. In the affected members, no deletions of the dystrophin gene were observed. Analysis of the muscle promoter, first exon and intron regions revealed the presence of a single point mutation at the first exon-intron boundary, inactivating the universally conserved 5' splice site consensus sequence of the first intron. This mutation introduced a new restriction site for MseI, which cosegregates with the disease in the analyzed family. Expression of the major dystrophin mRNA isoforms (from the muscle-, brain- and Purkinje cell-promoters) was completely abolished in the myocardium, while the brain- and Purkinje cell- (but not the muscle-) isoforms were detectable in the skeletal muscle. Immunocytochemical studies with anti-dystrophin antibodies showed that the protein was reduced in quantity but normally distributed in the skeletal muscle, while it was undetectable in the cardiac muscle. These findings indicate that expression of the muscle dystrophin isoform is critical for myocardial function and suggest that selective heart involvement in dystrophin-linked dilated cardiomyopathy is related to the absence, in the heart, of a compensatory expression of dystrophin from alternative promoters.
Hum
Mol
Genet 1996 Jan
PMID:A point mutation in the 5' splice site of the dystrophin gene first intron responsible for X-linked dilated cardiomyopathy. 878 42
In order to characterize the nature of mutations occurring in non-deleted Duchenne (
DMD
) and Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) affected males, a total of 40 unrelated Italian patients was studied for the presence of point mutations within the muscle-specific regulatory region of the dystrophin gene. We decided to investigate the dystrophin promoter sequences because nucleotide variations in these regions could impair the expression of the gene and be the underlying molecular defect in some forms of the disease. In four patients suffering from mental retardation, the brain promoter region was also studied. To screen for point mutations, we applied molecular analysis by parallel denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). No sequence alterations were found in either the muscle or the brain promoters, suggesting that mutations in these regions do not represent a common mechanism of mutation in
DMD
/BMD.
Mol
Cell Probes 1995 Dec
PMID:Mutational analysis of muscle and brain specific promoter regions of dystrophin gene in DMD/BMD Italian patients by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). 880 15
Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer to muscle is a promising technology for gene therapy of
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)
. However, currently available recombinant adenovirus vectors have several limitations, including a limited cloning capacity of approximately 8.5 kb, and the induction of a host immune response that leads to transient gene expression of 3-4 weeks in immunocompetent animals. Gene therapy for
DMD
could benefit from the development of adenoviral vectors with an increased cloning capacity to accommodate a full-length (approximately 14 kb) dystrophin cDNA. This increased capacity should also accommodate gene regulatory elements to achieve expression of transduced genes in a tissue-specific manner. Additional vector modifications that eliminate adenoviral genes, expression of which is associated with development of a host immune response, might greatly increase long-term expression of virally delivered genes in vivo. We have constructed encapsidated adenovirus minichromosomes theoretically capable of delivering up to 35 kb of non-viral exogenous DNA. These minichromosomes are derived from bacterial plasmids containing two fused inverted adenovirus origins of replication embedded in a circular genome, the adenovirus packaging signals, a beta-galactosidase reporter gene and a full-length dystrophin cDNA regulated by a muscle-specific enhancer/promoter. The encapsidated minichromosomes are propagated in vitro by trans-complementation with a replication-defective (E1 + E3 deleted) helper virus. We show that the minichromosomes can be propagated to high titer (> 10(8)/ml) and purified on CsCl gradients due to their buoyancy difference relative to helper virus. These vectors are able to transduce myogenic cell cultures and express dystrophin in myotubes. These results suggest that encapsidated adenovirus minichromosomes may be useful for gene transfer to muscle and other tissues.
Hum
Mol
Genet 1996 Jul
PMID:Encapsidated adenovirus minichromosomes allow delivery and expression of a 14 kb dystrophin cDNA to muscle cells. 881 25
We report the first C-terminal missense mutation in a
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
patient. A G10227A transition of the dystrophin gene was found which resulted in the substitution of a highly conserved cysteine at position 3340 within the second half of the dystroglycan-binding domain. Residual amounts of 427 kDa dystrophin were detected in western blot analysis of the patient's muscle tissue, and immunohistological examination revealed weak traces of dystrophin on all fibers. Sarcolemmal staining intensity of 43 kDa beta-dystroglycan was also reduced. Mental retardation in our patient and absence of the b-wave in his electroretinogram indicate that central nervous functions of dystrophin isoforms also depend on the presence of cysteine 3340.
Hum
Mol
Genet 1996 Jul
PMID:A cysteine 3340 substitution in the dystroglycan-binding domain of dystrophin associated with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, mental retardation and absence of the ERG b-wave. 881 32
X-linked non-specific mental retardation (MRX) is a heterogeneous condition in which mental retardation (MR) appears to be the only consistent manifestation. The genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity exclude any possibility of pooling families and, therefore, of fine-mapping the related disease genes. In order to identify genomic critical regions involved in the MRX condition assigned to Xp21.3-22.1 region, we have implemented the PCR screening of non fragile X MR patients for the presence of deletions in this region. The amplification by PCR of 12 markers located between POLA and DXS704 using genomic DNA from 192 MR males led to the identification, in a 9 year old mentally retarded boy, of a microdeletion which extends from DXS1202 to DXS1065. None of the known genes, POLA, MAGE genes cluster, DAX1, GK and
DMD
, that map in the Xp21.3-22.1 region is affected by this deletion. This approach, which could easily be applied to several other MRX loci, allowed not only a confirmation of the presence of a potential locus in Xp21.3-22.1 involved in non-specific mental retardation, but also a better definition of the genomic critical region corresponding to this locus.
Hum
Mol
Genet 1996 Jul
PMID:Identification by STS PCR screening of a microdeletion in Xp21.3-22.1 associated with non-specific mental retardation. 881 33
Exercised mdx mice were used to evaluate the efficacy of two pharmacologic entities, cromolyn and compound 48/80. Beginning at 2 weeks of age, mdx mice were treated with either cromolyn (50 mg/kg/day), prednisone (2mg/kg/day), compound 48/80 (1mg/kg/day), or diluent vehicle. At 4 weeks of age, treated mice were subjected to twice weekly, forced treadmill running which has previously been shown to cause expressed weakness in mdx mice (Hudecki, Pollina et al., 1993). Strength was evaluated weekly through 6 weeks of age using a previously described "pull-test" procedure (Hudecki, Pollina et al., 1993). Serum creatine kinase (CK) and mast cell tryptase activities were evaluated from 6 week blood samples. There was a significant increase in strength in mdx mice treated with cromolyn (p < or = 0.05), while no significant increase in strength was found in mice treated with compound 48/80, or prednisone compared to vehicle controls. While no significant change in tryptase activity was found between treatments, CK activity was significantly increased in the cromolyn group compared to vehicle controls. However, when tryptase and CK were expressed as a combined factor (Tryp x CK), the cromolyn treated group was significantly different from all other groups. The results of this study suggest a possible use for cromolyn-like compounds in the treatment of
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
.
Res Commun
Mol
Pathol Pharmacol 1996 Mar
PMID:Cromolyn increases strength in exercised mdx mice. 882 68
Mutations in the dystrophin gene are responsible for Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (
DMD
/BMD). Studies of dystrophin expression and function have benefited from use of the mdx mouse, an animal model for
DMD
/BMD. Here we characterized mutations in three additional strains of mdx mice, the mdx2cv, mdx4cv and mdx5cv alleles. The mutation in the mdx2cv mouse was found to be a single base change in the splice acceptor sequence of dystrophin intron 42. This mutation leads to a complex pattern of aberrant splicing that generates multiple transcripts, none of which preserve the normal open reading frame. In the mdx5cv allele, the dystrophin mRNA contains a 53 bp deletion of sequences from exon 10. Analysis of the genomic DNA uncovered a single A to T transversion in exon 10. Although this base change does not alter the encoded amino acid, a new splice donor was created (GTGAG) that generates a frameshifting deletion in the processed mRNA. In the mdx4cv allele, direct sequencing revealed a C to T transition in exon 53, creating an ochre codon (CAA to TAA). The differential location of these mutations relative to the seven known dystrophin promoters results in a series of mdx mouse mutants that differ in their repertoire of isoform expression, such that these mice should be useful for studies of dystrophin expression and function. The mdx4cv and mdx5cv strains may be of additional use in gene transfer studies due to their low frequency of mutation reversion.
Hum
Mol
Genet 1996 Aug
PMID:Differential expression of dystrophin isoforms in strains of mdx mice with different mutations. 884 34
Dystrophin is the protein product which is absent in
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)
. In mammalian skeletal muscle, dystrophin is found in association with several integral and peripheral membrane proteins, forming a complex known as the dystrophin glycoprotein complex (DGC). In an expressed sequence tag (EST) database search to identify new dystrophin related genes, we isolated EST00891 which showed 57% homology to the cysteine-rich domain of dystrophin and localized to 18q12.1-12.2. This EST is also highly homologous (90%) to the Torpedo californica post-synaptic 87 kDa phosphoprotein. Screening human adult brain and skeletal muscle cDNA libraries with this EST resulted in cloning multiple cDNAs which encode several splice forms all homologous to the C-terminal domain of dystrophin. The largest open reading frame isolated shows 94% homology (86% identity) to the Torpedo 87 kDa protein and 50% homology to the cysteine-rich and carboxy-terminal domains of dystrophin. The other cDNAs isolated encode smaller splice forms of this gene which we have named dystrobrevin. The tissue distribution of dystrobrevin mRNA shows five distinct transcripts which are preferentially expressed between different tissues. In addition, antibodies against either the Torpedo 87 kDa protein or human dystrobrevin demonstrate that at least three of the splice forms are translated as proteins in human brain tissue extracts.
Hum
Mol
Genet 1996 Apr
PMID:Cloning and characterization of the human homologue of a dystrophin related phosphoprotein found at the Torpedo electric organ post-synaptic membrane. 884 41
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)
is a progressive degenerative lethal muscle disease. A significant proportion of
DMD
affected children suffer also from mental retardation. The rod shaped protein, dystrophin, which is absent from or defective in the muscle of
DMD
patients, binds to a number of membrane associated proteins (known collectively as dystrophin associated proteins [DAPs]). The levels of DAPs is greatly reduced in the muscle of
DMD
patients and mdx mice, which lack dystrophin. In addition to dystrophin isoforms, the
DMD
gene codes also for several smaller proteins. One of the small proteins, Dp71, is expressed in most or all non-muscle tissues and is the major
DMD
gene product in the brain. The function of the small
DMD
gene products is unknown. Here we show that mutant mice which do not express the smaller non-muscle products of the
DMD
gene have a reduced level of DAPs in their brain. This suggests that Dp71 is important for the formation and/or stabilization of a DAPs complex in brain.
Hum
Mol
Genet 1996 Sep
PMID:Reduced levels of dystrophin associated proteins in the brains of mice deficient for Dp71. 887 69
The dystrophin gene defective in
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)
is extreme in size and complexity with several promoters which direct expression of different isoforms in different tissues. In contrast with adult skeletal muscle which expresses 427 kDa dystrophin, fetal muscle tissue expresses the 71 kDa ubiquitous isoform Dp71 as well as 427 kDa muscle dystrophin. To examine Dp71 expression in fetal muscle further, we have monitored its expression pattern in differentiating myogenic cultures of human fetal muscle origin. The presence of transcripts initiated from the Dp71 promoter was demonstrated by quantitative RT-PCR. The level of transcript expressed from the Dp71 promoter did not change significantly during myogenic differentiation, consistent with the housekeeping nature of the promoter. Measurements to determine the stability of the Dp71 mRNA indicated that it has a half-life of -20 h and, therefore, is somewhat more stable than the larger 14 kb muscle dystrophin mRNA (t1/2 = 16 h). In contrast with the constant level of Dp71 transcript during myogenic differentiation, the level of Dp71 protein increased significantly, perhaps due to changes in translation efficiency or protein stability. These results demonstrate expression and posttranscriptional upregulation of Dp71 in human fetal myogenic cultures.
Hum
Mol
Genet 1996 Oct
PMID:Expression of the dystrophin isoform Dp71 in differentiating human fetal myogenic cultures. 889 89
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