Title
A frame shift mutation in a tissue-specific alternatively spliced exon of collagen 2A1 in Wagner's vitreoretinal degeneration
Document Type
Article
Department
Ophthalmology
Abstract
Purpose: To describe the genetic basis of an autosomal dominant vitreoretinopathy in a large French-Canadian kindred.
Methods: A clinical cohort study followed by laboratory-based genetic and molecular analysis. Thirty-two affected and 22 unaffected members of the kindred were examined. Candidate genes/regions for Wagner's disease and Stickler syndrome were tested for genetic linkage. Mutation analysis was carried out with direct PCR-based sequencing.
Results: Funduscopic examinations of 32 affected patients revealed optically clear vitreous, vitreous veils, and radial perivascular pigmentation. Spondyloarthropathies or craniofacial abnormalities were notably absent. There was a 53% rate of retinal detachments that required surgical intervention. Genetic linkage was obtained to COL2A1, the candidate gene for Stickler's type I. A frame shift mutation in exon 2, leading to early truncation of the protein (Cys57Stop), was detected.
Conclusions: Wagner's disease in this large kindred has had devastating visual consequences. In affected individuals, we found a novel COL2A1 frame shift mutation in exon 2. The mutation arises in an exon that is selectively present in vitreous collagen mRNAs, but absent in cartilage mRNAs through tissue-specific alternative splicing. Tissue-specific alternative splicing of COL2A1 mRNAs thus provides an elegant biochemical mechanism for a clinical phenotype of Wagner's disease in this kindred.
Publication
American Journal of Ophthalmology
Recommended Citation
Gupta, S. K.,
Leonard, B. C.,
Damji, K. F.,
Bulman, D. E.
(2002). A frame shift mutation in a tissue-specific alternatively spliced exon of collagen 2A1 in Wagner's vitreoretinal degeneration. American Journal of Ophthalmology, 133(2), 203-210.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_ophthalmol/107
Comments
This work was published before the author joined Aga Khan University.