Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Variegate porphyria (VP, MIM 176200) is a low penetrance autosomal dominant
disorder that stems from mutations in the protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPOX) gene.
VP is found in most populations, but has a high prevalence in the South African
Afrikaner population with most patients inheriting the same PPOX mutation (R59W)
from a common ancestor. The clinical manifestations of the disease include acute
neurovisceral attacks and/or cutaneous photosensitivity. Great variation in the clinical
presentation of VP is observed; even in members of the same family that share a
common genetic background and that have been exposed to similar environmental
factors.
Candidate genes that may have an influence on phenotypic variation due to the
regulatory function in the haem biosynthetic pathway include the two deltaaminolevulinic
acid synthase (ALAS) genes and the porphobilinogen deaminase
(PBGD) gene. Sequence homology searches between different species indicated that
the ALAS-1, ALAS-2 and PBGD genes are highly conserved, indicating that these
genes have an important function to fulfill in the haem biosynthetic pathway.
The study population of 25 R59W individuals were divided in four categories according
to their clinical presentation. The distribution of clinical symptoms observed in this study
corresponds with results from previous studies.
Conformation sensitive gel electrophoresis (CSGE), conventional single stranded
conformation polymorphism analysis (SSCP) and two buffer SSCP analysis were
implemented to screen for possible sequence variants. The exons of all three genes as
well as the adjacent intronic sequences were investigated. A total of six sequence
variation sites were identified of which five had previously been described single
nucleotide polymorphisms (ALAS-1: 4713 T>C; PBGD: -64 C>T, 3581 A>G, 6479 G>T,
7064 C>A)] and a novel 8bp deletion (PBGD: 4582_ 4589del). No sequence variant was
identified in the ALAS-2 gene.
The CSGE method proved to have the highest sensitivity (83%), identifying five of six
sequence variant sites. The conventional SSCP method identified only three (50%) sequence variant sites, while the two buffer system detected two (33%) of the sequence
variants.
The 4713 T>C SNP in exon 4 of the ALAS-1 gene and the -64 C>T SNP in the PBGD
gene were selected for further investigation due to their location in the respective
genes. These sequence variants were typed in 50 patients and 50 control subjects
matched for ethnic background. The relationship between variation at these loci and
clinical features was investigated. No statistical significant association was observed
for either of the 4713 T>C SNP (P= 0.717) or the -64 C>T SNP (P= 0.931).
Genetic modifying factors make a variable contribution to the total clinical picture and
are difficult to identify in small populations. Due to the fact that we only had a limited
number of VP samples, association cannot be ruled out. This study does, however,
provide insight into investigational approaches that should be undertaken in future
research concerning the ALAS and PBGD genes. Further knowledge concerning the
haem biosynthetic pathway could ultimately lead to the understanding and assessment
of the clinical expression observed in individuals with VP. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Variegate porfirie (VP, MIM 176200) is 'n lae penetrasie outosomaal dominante siekte
wat veroorsaak word deur mutasies in die protoporfirienogeen oksidase (PPOX) geen.
VP word gevind in die meeste populasies, maar het 'n hoë voorkoms in die Suid-
Afrikaanse populasie waar meeste pasiente dieselfde PPOX mutasie (R59W) van 'n
gemeenskaplike voorouer oorgeërf het. VP word gekenmerk deur akute neuroviserale
aanvalle en/of fotosensitiewe vel. Groot variasie word egter waargeneem in die kliniese
uitdrukking van VP, selfs in lede van dieselfde familie wat 'n gemeenskaplike genetiese
agtergrond deel en wat blootgestel is aan dieselfde omgewingsfaktore.
Kandidaat gene wat as gevolg van hulle regulatoriese funksie in die heem biosintetiese
padweg 'n effek op die ekspressie van VP mag hê, sluit in die twee deltaaminolevuliniese
suur sintase (ALAS) en die porfobilinogeen deaminase (PBGD) gene.
Homologie ondersoeke van die ALAS-1, ALAS-2 en PBGD gene in verskillende spesies
dui daarop dat die gene hoogs gekonserveerd is en dus gevolglik 'n belangrike funksie
in die heem biosintetiese padweg vertolk.
Die studie populasie van 25 R59W individue is verdeel in vier kategorieë op grond van
hulle kliniese simptome. Die verspreiding van die kliniese simptome wat waargeneem
is tydens hierdie studie stem ooreen met die resultate van vorige studies.
Konformasie sensitiewe gel elektroforese (CSGE), konvensionele enkelstring
konformasie polimorfisme analise (SSCP) en twee buffer SSCP analise is gebruik vir
die identifisering van genetiese variasie. Die eksons van al drie gene, sowel as die
aangrensende intron volgordes, is ondersoek. 'n Totaal van ses areas van genetiese
variasie is geïdentifiseer, waarvan vyf reeds beskryfde polimorfismes is (ALAS-1: 4713
T>C; PBGD: -64 C>T, 3581 A>G, 6479 G>T, 7064 C>A) en 'n nuwe 8bp delesie
(PBGD: 4582_ 4589del). Geen genetiese volgorde variasie is gevind in die ALAS-2
geen nie.
Die CSGE metode het die hoogste sensitiwiteit getoon (83%) en het vyf van die ses
volgorde variasies geïdentifiseer. Die konvensionele SSCP metode het slegs drie
volgorde variasies geïdentifiseer (50%), terwyl die twee buffer deteksie-sisteem twee
variasies geïdentifiseer (33%) het. Die 4713 T>C polimorfisme in ekson 4 van die ALAS-1 geen en die -64 C>T
polimorfisme in die PBGD geen, is geselekteer vir verdere ondersoek as gevolg van
hulle posisie in die respektiewe gene. Die volgorde variasies is getipeer in 50 R59W
pasiënte sowel as in 'n kontrole groep van 50 individue met dieselfde etniese
agtergrond. Die verband tussen die variasie by die lokusse en die kliniese kenmerke is
ondersoek. Geen statisties beduidende assosiasie is waargeneem vir hetsy die 4713
T>C SNP (P= 0.717) of die -64 C>T SNP (P= 0.931).
Genetiese modifiserende faktore word moeilik geïdentifiseer in klein populasies omdat
hulle afsonderlike bydra tot die geheelbeeld van die kliniese simptome so varieerbaar
is. 'n Relatiewe klein groep van VP pasiënte was tydens die studie beskikbaar en dus
kan assosiasie nie uitgesluit word nie. Die studie verskaf egter insig in verband met
toekomstige benaderings wat volg kan word in verdere ondersoeke van die ALAS en
PBGD gene. Verdere kennis in verband met die heem biosihtetiese padweg kan
uiteiHdelik lei tot die verduideliking en assesering van die kliHiese uitdrukking in vI='
individue.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52896 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Steyn, Ilse |
| Contributors | Warnich, L., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Microbiology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 126 p. : ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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