Complementary physical and genetic techniques map the vinculin (VCL) gene on chromosome 10q

Autosomal dominant myofibrillar myopathy with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy linked to chromosome 10q

Twenty-one members of a Swedish family suffering from myopathy and cardiomyopathy underwent neurological and cardiological investigations. Medical charts of 2 affected deceased patients were reviewed. Twelve patients had myopathy. The distribution of weakness was axial in mildly affected, axial and predominantly distal in moderately affected, and generalized in severely affected patients. The electromyogram showed signs of myopathy in 10 patients. Muscle biopsy specimens showed myopathic changes, rimmed vacuoles, and accumulation of desmin, dystrophin, and other proteins. Electron microscopy revealed granulofilamentous changes and disorganization of myofibrils. Several patients had episodes of chest pain or palpitations. Three men had arrhythmogenic right ventribular cardiomyopathy. Nonsustained ventribular tachycardia, atrial flutter, and dilatation of the ventricles mainly affecting the right ventricle were documented. Two of them had a pacemaker implanted because of atrioventricular block and sick sinus syndrome. Inheritance is autosomal dominant with variable onset and severity of skeletal muscle and cardiac involvement. Linkage analysis of candidate chromosomal regions showed a maximum 2-point LOD score of 2.76 for marker locus D10S1752 on chromosome 10q. A multipoint peak LOD score of 3.06 between markers D10S605 and D10S215 suggests linkage to chromosome 10q22.3, and this region may harbor a genetic defect for myofibrillar myopathy with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopahty.

Human alpha-catulin, a novel alpha-catenin-like molecule with conserved genomic structure, but deviating alternative splicing

A new human cDNA was cloned and termed alpha-catulin, based on sequence similarity with both alpha-CATenins and vincULIN. The mRNA is present ubiquitously, although low expression levels are found in neural tissues. The genomic organization of the alpha-catulin gene CTNNAL1 is closely related to that of the alphaE-catenin gene CTNNA1, but not at all to that of the vinculin gene. Alternative splicing of the last exon generates a frameshift, resulting in a truncated protein with a new carboxy-terminus.

A multiple interval physical map of the pericentromeric region of human chromosome 10

Five intervals in the pericentromeric region of human chromosome 10 have been defined using a panel of somatic cell hybrids carrying portions of the chromosome. The map positions of twelve markers, consisting of four genes and eight anonymous DNA segments, have been localized by assignment to one of the five intervals. Several other markers could be placed in specific intervals by genetic linkage to assigned loci. When previously published data are incorporated, the summary map of the pericentromeric region encompasses thirty-two loci in bands 10p11.2-q11.2.

Involvement of 10q22 and 11q13 in hibernoma

A hibernoma studied cytogenetically had the karyotype 46,XY,t(9;10;11)(q34;q22;q13),t(17;19) (q21.3;q13). The findings are discussed and compared with those of the previous case described in the literature.

Involvement of 10q22 in leiomyoma

Cytogenetic investigation of uterine leiomyomas revealed a rearranged 10q22 present in nine tumors as a clonal change in most of the cells analyzed. These findings indicate that abnormalities involving chromosome 10 and, particularly 10q22, may characterize a cytogenetic subgroup of uterine leiomyomas.