Absent pituitary gland and hypoplasia of the cerebellar vermis associated with partial ophthalmoplegia and postaxial polydactyly: a variant of orofaciodigital syndrome VI or a new syndrome? (1/44)

We report two sibs with features overlapping those of orofaciodigital syndrome type VI (Varadi syndrome). Both presented at birth with oculomotor abnormalities, dysmorphic facial features, and dysgenesis of the cerebellar vermis. There were minimal oral manifestations (high arched palate) in both of them and one had postaxial polydactyly of both hands and one foot. In addition, there was evidence of aplasia of the pituitary gland on MRI scan in both of them with evidence of hypopituitarism. Both responded well to hormone replacement therapy with improvement in their linear growth and mental ability. These cases may represent a new autosomal recessive midline defect syndrome with features overlapping OFDS VI. Alternatively the features in these children could represent variability within OFDS VI.  (+info)

Mohr syndrome: a rare case and distinction from orofacial digital syndrome 1. (2/44)

In view of the different modes of inheritance and the different prognoses of the two oro-facio-digital syndromes, type 1 and type 2, it is important to establish a correct diagnosis in these patients. A case of type II oro-facio-digital syndrome is being reported and the distinguishing clinicoradiological features with type I are compared.  (+info)

A new sequence motif linking lissencephaly, Treacher Collins and oral-facial-digital type 1 syndromes, microtubule dynamics and cell migration. (3/44)

A previously unidentified sequence motif has been identified in the products of genes mutated in Miller-Dieker lissencephaly, Treacher Collins, oral-facial-digital type 1 and contiguous syndrome ocular albinism with late onset sensorineural deafness syndromes. An additional homologous motif was detected in a gene product fused to the fibroblast growth factor receptor type 1 in patients with an atypical stem cell myeloproliferative disorder. In total, over 100 eukaryotic intracellular proteins are shown to possess a LIS1 homology (LisH) motif, including several katanin p60 subunits, muskelin, tonneau, LEUNIG, Nopp140, aimless and numerous WD repeat-containing beta-propeller proteins. It is suggested that LisH motifs contribute to the regulation of microtubule dynamics, either by mediating dimerization, or else by binding cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain or microtubules directly. The predicted secondary structure of LisH motifs, and their occurrence in homologues of Gbeta beta-propeller subunits, suggests that they are analogues of Ggamma subunits, and might associate with the periphery of beta-propeller domains. The finding of LisH motifs in both treacle and Nopp140 reinforces previous observations of functional similarities between these nucleolar proteins. Uncharacterized LisH motif-containing proteins represent candidates for other diseases associated with aberrant microtubule dynamics and defects of cell migration, nucleokinesis or chromosome segregation.  (+info)

OFD1, the gene mutated in oral-facial-digital syndrome type 1, is expressed in the metanephros and in human embryonic renal mesenchymal cells. (4/44)

Oral-facial-digital syndrome type 1 (OFD1) causes polycystic kidney disease (PKD) and malformations of the mouth, face and digits. Recently, a gene on Xp22, OFD1, was reported to be mutated in a limited set of OFD1 patients. This study describes mutation analysis in six further OFD1 families. Additionally, gene expression was sought in human development. In two OFD1 kindreds affected by PKD, a frameshift mutation and a splice-site mutation were detected. In four apparently sporadic cases, three frameshift and a missense mutation were found. Using RT-PCR of RNA from first-trimester normal human embryos, both alternative splice forms of mRNA (OFD1a and OFD1b) were found to be widely expressed in organogenesis. Northern blot detected OFD1 mRNA in metanephros, brain, tongue, and limb, all organs affected in the syndrome. A polyclonal antibody directed to a C-terminal OFD1a epitope detected a 120-kD protein in the metanephros and in human renal mesenchymal cell lines. In normal human embryos, OFD1a immunolocalized to the metanephric mesenchyme, oral mucosa, nasal and cranial cartilage, and brain. Moreover, using normal human renal mesenchymal cell lines, the immunoreactive protein colocalized with gamma-tubulin, suggesting that OFD1 is associated with the centrosome. First, it is concluded that OFD1 mutations would generally be predicted to result in unstable transcripts or nonfunctional proteins. Second, OFD1 is expressed in human organogenesis; on the basis of the metanephric expression pattern, the results suggest that OFD1 plays a role in differentiation of metanephric precursor cells.  (+info)

Orofaciodigital syndrome type I in a girl with unilateral tibial pseudarthrosis. (5/44)

The orofaciodigital syndromes are a group of possibly seven different malformation syndromes including oral, facial, and digital malformations. Type I has X linked dominant inheritance whereas the other types show autosomal recessive inheritance. An exact diagnosis is therefore important for genetic counselling. We here report a girl with orofaciodigital syndrome type I. She had cystic kidney disease at the age of 8 months which has not previously been reported in an infant with orofaciodigital syndrome. In addition she had unilateral tibial pseudarthrosis which has only rarely been reported in the orofaciodigital syndromes and in type II only.  (+info)

OFD1 is a centrosomal/basal body protein expressed during mesenchymal-epithelial transition in human nephrogenesis. (6/44)

OFD1 is the gene responsible for the oral-facial-digital syndrome type 1, a cause of inherited cystic renal disease. The protein contains an N-terminal LisH motif, considered important in microtubule dynamics, and several putative coiled-coil domains. This study used a combination of microscopic, biochemical, and overexpression approaches to demonstrate that OFD1 protein is a core component of the human centrosome throughout the cell cycle. Using a series of GFP-OFD1 deletion constructs, it was determined that the N-terminus containing the LisH domain is not required for centrosomal localization; however, coiled-coil domains are critical, with at least two being necessary for centrosomal targeting. Importantly, most reported OFD1 mutations are predicted to cause protein truncation with loss of coiled-coil domains, presumably leading to loss of centrosomal localization. Kidney development constitutes a classic model of mesenchymal-epithelial transformation. By immunoprobing human metanephroi and kidney epithelial lines, it was found that, during acquisition of epithelial polarity, OFD1 became localized to the apical zone of nephron precursor cells and then to basal bodies at the origin of primary cilia in fully differentiated epithelia. These striking patterns of OFD1 localization within cells place the protein at key sites, where it may play roles not only in microtubule organization (centrosomal function) but also in mechanosensation of urine flow (a primary ciliary function).  (+info)

The orocraniodigital syndrome of Juberg and Hayward. (7/44)

We report three new isolated cases of orocraniodigital syndrome (Juberg-Hayward syndrome). The main clinical features of this unusual birth defect (six patients from three families described so far) are cleft lip/palate, hypertelorism, bowed and upward slanting eyebrows, thumb hypo/aplasia or proximal/distal thumb displacement, luxation of the radial head, elbow restriction, minor vertebral and rib anomalies, and horseshoe kidneys. New features observed in our patients are severe mental impairment (not correlated with the severity of the malformations), anterior anal displacement, and ptosis. Recessive inheritance is likely, but autosomal dominant inheritance cannot yet be totally ruled out; therefore, genetic counselling of parents of an affected child and of affected patients themselves must be cautious.  (+info)

Proteomic analysis of isolated chlamydomonas centrioles reveals orthologs of ciliary-disease genes. (8/44)

BACKGROUND: The centriole is one of the most enigmatic organelles in the cell. Centrioles are cylindrical, microtubule-based barrels found in the core of the centrosome. Centrioles also act as basal bodies during interphase to nucleate the assembly of cilia and flagella. There are currently only a handful of known centriole proteins. RESULTS: We used mass-spectrometry-based MudPIT (multidimensional protein identification technology) to identify the protein composition of basal bodies (centrioles) isolated from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. This analysis detected the majority of known centriole proteins, including centrin, epsilon tubulin, and the cartwheel protein BLD10p. By combining proteomic data with information about gene expression and comparative genomics, we identified 45 cross-validated centriole candidate proteins in two classes. Members of the first class of proteins (BUG1-BUG27) are encoded by genes whose expression correlates with flagellar assembly and which therefore may play a role in ciliogenesis-related functions of basal bodies. Members of the second class (POC1-POC18) are implicated by comparative-genomics and -proteomics studies to be conserved components of the centriole. We confirmed centriolar localization for the human homologs of four candidate proteins. Three of the cross-validated centriole candidate proteins are encoded by orthologs of genes (OFD1, NPHP-4, and PACRG) implicated in mammalian ciliary function and disease, suggesting that oral-facial-digital syndrome and nephronophthisis may involve a dysfunction of centrioles and/or basal bodies. CONCLUSIONS: By analyzing isolated Chlamydomonas basal bodies, we have been able to obtain the first reported proteomic analysis of the centriole.  (+info)