The RAS-MAPK syndromes are a group of clinically and genetically related disorders, characterized by cardiac defects, facial dysmorphism, cutaneous abnormalities and neurocognitive impairment. The pathogenesis is dysregulation of the RAS-MAPK pathway, and several genes within the pathway are involved. The present thesis aimed at identifying genetic causes in three of the RAS-MAPK syndromes - Noonan syndrome (NS), cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome (CFC) and Neurofibromatosis-Noonan syndrome (NFNS) - and at correlating genotype with phenotype. A mutation analysis of six genes associated with the RAS-MAPK syndromes in NS and CFC patients revealed mutations in 10/31 patients. The results suggested more complex genetic overlap and genetic heterogeneity among these syndromes than previously believed. Subsequently, gene dosage imbalances of seven RAS-MAPK-syndrome-related genes were investigated in mutation-negative patients. A multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification strategy was developed that excluded copy number changes of these genes as a common mechanism in NS. Genetic causes of clinical variability in NS were investigated where an atypical and severe NS patient was described. In addition, multiple café-au-lait (CAL) spots affected the patient and four otherwise healthy family members. Molecular analysis of four candidate genes revealed a previously described de novo PTPN11 mutation and an inherited NF1 variant in the patient. Neither of them explained the CAL spots trait, which consequently represented a distinct entity. The results suggested that the atypical and severe phenotype in the patient could be a consequence of an additive effect. Finally, a family displaying NFNS was investigated clinically and molecularly revealing a novel mutation in the GAP-domain of NF1. Furthermore, the results suggested that other RAS-MAPK-syndrome-related genes are not involved in NFNS. A proposal of prioritizing the GAP-domain of NF1 in NFNS was presented. Conclusively, these studies contribute to further understanding of the RAS-MAPK syndromes and facilitate the diagnostic process and future prognosis prediction.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:uu-100804 |
| Date | January 2009 |
| Creators | Nyström, Anna-Maja |
| Publisher | Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för genetik och patologi, Uppsala : Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary, info:eu-repo/semantics/doctoralThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
| Relation | Digital Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Medicine, 1651-6206 ; 452 |
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