Maternal Segmental Disomy in Leigh Syndrome with Cytochrome c Oxidase Deficiency Caused by Homozygous SURF1 Mutation

 

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Abstract

Cytochrome c oxidase deficiency (COX) is the most frequent cause of Leigh syndrome (LS), a mitochondrial subacute necrotizing encephalomyelopathy. Most of these LS^COX- patients show mutations in SURF1 on chromosome 9 (9q34), which encodes a protein essential for the assembly of the COX complex. We describe a family whose first-born boy developed characteristic features of LS. Severe COX deficiency in muscle was caused by a novel homozygous nonsense mutation in SURF1. Segregation analysis of this mutation in the family was incompatible with autosomal recessive inheritence but consistent with a maternal disomy. Haplotype analysis of microsatellite markers confirmed isodisomy involving nearly the complete long arm of chromosome 9 (9q21-9tel). No additional physical abnormalities were present in the boy, suggesting that there are no imprinted genes on the long arm of chromosome 9 which are crucial for developmental processes. This case of segmental isodisomy illustrates that genotyping of parents is crucial for correct genetic counseling.

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Anne K. J. van Riesen

Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Neurology
Georg August University Goettingen

Robert-Koch-Strasse 40

37075 Goettingen

Germany

Email: anne.van.riesen@web.de