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Juvenile polyps are present in a number of Mendelian disorders, sometimes in association only with gastrointestinal cancer [juvenile polyposis syndrome (JPS)] and sometimes as part of known syndromes (Cowden, Gorlin and Banayan-Zonana) in association with developmental abnormalities, dysmorphic features or extra-intestinal tumours. Recently, a gene for JPS was mapped to 18q21.1 and the candidate gene DPC4 (SMAD4) was shown to carry frameshift mutations in some JPS families. We have analysed eight JPS families for linkage to DPC4. Overall, there was no evidence for linkage to DPC4; linkage could be excluded in two of the eight pedigrees and was unlikely in two others. We then tested these eight families and a further 13 familial and sporadic JPS cases for germline mutations in DPC4. Just one germline DPC4 mutation was found (in a familial JPS patient from a pedigree unsuitable for linkage analysis). Like all three previously reported germline mutations, this variant occurred towards the C-terminus of the DPC4 protein. However, our patient's mutation is a missense change (R361C); somatic missense mutations in DPC4 have been reported previously in tumours. We therefore confirm DPC4 as a cause of JPS, but show that there is considerable remaining, uncharacterized genetic heterogeneity in this disease.

Original publication

DOI

10.1093/hmg/7.12.1907

Type

Journal article

Journal

Hum Mol Genet

Publication Date

11/1998

Volume

7

Pages

1907 - 1912

Keywords

DNA-Binding Proteins, Female, Gastrointestinal Neoplasms, Genes, Tumor Suppressor, Germ-Line Mutation, Hamartoma Syndrome, Multiple, Haplotypes, Humans, Intestinal Polyps, Lod Score, Male, Microsatellite Repeats, Mutation, Pedigree, Smad4 Protein, Trans-Activators