Corinne Walon

Novel germline mutations in the APC gene and their phenotypic spectrum in familial adenomatous polyposis kindreds.

Abstract Among 23 germline mutations identified in the APC screening of 45 familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) patients, we have found 10 different novel frameshift mutations in 11 apparently unrelated patients. In two cases, an additional missense mutation was detected. One previously described as a causative germline mutation (S2621C), associated with a 1-bp insertion (4684insA) on the opposite allele, did not segregate with the FAP phenotype in the family and was therefore considered as being non-pathogenic. The other (Z1625H) was located 2 codons before a 1-bp deletion (4897delC). Both mutations were transmitted together from an FAP father to his affected son. The FAP phenotype of these 10 novel truncating mutations was clinically documented within their kindreds. Important variability was observed in the phenotype. Interestingly, we noted that a mutation (487insT) localized at the boundary of the 5’ attenuated APC phenotype region in two unrelated families resulted in classical polyposis. A clear-cut genotype-phenotype correlation could be drawn in only two instances. In one family, a 4684insA mutation led to a mild polyposis associated with early inherited osteomas and, in the family bearing the double mutation (Z1625H+4897delC), the phenotype was obviously a 3′ attenuated type. Our data illustrate the wide genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity of this condition between and within the families, making the establishment of correlations complex and any prediction in this disease difficult, although targeting the mutation site may be helpful in some specific cases.

Familial adenomatous polyposis associated with multiple adrenal adenomas in a patient with a rare 3' APC mutation.

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is characterised by hundreds of colorectal adenomas. Endocrine neoplasms have occasionally been reported, as have gastric polyps, which are usually hamartomatous in the fundus of the stomach and adenomatous in the antrum. A 57 year old man with colorectal, gastric, and periampullary adenomatous polyposis, in association with three bilateral adrenocortical adenomas, is presented. Mutation screening showed a 5960delA germline mutation in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene predicted to lead to a premature stop codon. This mutation was found in three of the four children of the patient. Western blot analysis of a lymphoblastoid cell line derived from the patient failed to detect any truncated APC polypeptide. This rare 3′ mutation is responsible for an unusually complex and late onset phenotype of FAP.

A Locus Involved in Kanamycin, Chloramphenicol and L-serine Resistance Is Located in the Bgly-galu Region of the Escherichia-coli K12-chromosome

SummarySpontaneous mutants of Escherichia coli K12 displaying an increased level of the kanamycin resistance conferred by plasmid pGR71 were selected. Several mutants obtained in this way apparently carry large chromosomal deletions extending into galU and/or bglY (27 min). This positive selection of deletions allowed detection of a new locus located between galU and bglY. Deletions of this locus are responsible for increased resistance to kanamycin (Irk), decreased resistance to l-serine in minimal medium (Drs) and decreased resistance to chloramphenicol (Drc) when a cat gene is present in the bacteria.