Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Premature centromere division (PCD): a dominantly inherited cytogenetic anomaly

  • Original Investigations
  • Published:
Human Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

We describe a family with an increased frequency of cells with premature centromere division (PCD) of all chromosomes in four phenotypically normal individuals. This familial PCD phenomenon is apparently different from the well-described PCD of the X chromosome and from the centromere splitting in cells of patients with Roberts syndrome. Implications for genetic counseling are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Chamla Y, Roumy M, Lassègues M, Battin J (1980) Altered sensitivity to colchicine and PHA in human cultured cells. Hum Genet 53:249–253

    Google Scholar 

  • Daniel A (1979) Single Cd band in dicentric translocations with one suppressed centromere. Hum Genet 48:85–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Earnshaw WC, Migeon BR (1985) Three related centromere proteins are absent from the inactive centromere of a stable isodicentric chromosome. Chromosoma 92:290–296

    Google Scholar 

  • Eiberg H (1974) New selective Giemsa technique for human chromosomes, Cd staining. Nature 248:55

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitzgerald PH (1975) A mechanism of X chromosome aneuploidy in lymphocytes of aging women. Humangenetik 28:153–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitzgerald PH (1983) Premature centromere division of the X chromosome. In: Sandberg, AA (ed) Cytogenetics of the mammalian X chromosome, part A: Basic mechanisms of X chromosome behaviour. (Progress and topics in cytogenetics, vol 3) Liss, New York, pp 171–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitzgerald PH, Pickering AF, Mercer, JM, Miethke, PM (1975) Premature centromere division: a mechanism of non-disjunction causing X chromosome aneuploidy in somatic cells of man. Ann Hum Genet 38:417–428

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitzgerald PH, Archer SA, Morris CM (1986) Evidence for the repeated primary non-disjunction of chromosome 21 as a result of premature centromere division (PCD). Hum Genet 72:58–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Gabarrón J, Jimenez, A, Glover G (1986) Premature centromere division dominantly inherited in subfertile family. Cytogenet Cell Genet 43:69–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Galloway SM, Buckton KE (1978) Aneuploidy and ageing: chromosome studies on a random sample of the population using G-banding. Cytogenet Cell Genet 20:78–95

    Google Scholar 

  • German J (1979) Robert's syndrome. I. Cytological evidence for a disturbance in chromatid pairing. Clin Genet 16:441–447

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambiase S, Maraschio P, Zuffardi O (1984) The Cd technique identifies a specific structure related to centromeric function. Hum Genet 67:214–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Maraschio P, Zuffardi O, Lo Curto F (1980) Cd bands and centromeric function in dicentric chromosomes. Hum Genet 54:265–267

    Google Scholar 

  • Merry DE, Pathak S, Hsu TC, Brinkley BR (1985) Anti-kinetochore antibodies: use as probes for inactive centromeres. Am J Hum Genet 37:425–430

    Google Scholar 

  • Moorhead PS, Heyman A (1983) Chromosome studies of patients with Alzheimer disease. Am J Med Genet 14:545–556

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakagome Y, Abe T, Misawa S, Takeshita T, Iinuma K (1984) The “loss” of centromeres from chromosomes of aged women. Am J Hum Genet 36:398–404

    Google Scholar 

  • Petrinelli P, Antonelli A, Marcucci L, Dallapiccola B (1984) Premature centromere splitting in a presumptive mild form of Roberts syndrome. Hum Genet 66:96–99

    Google Scholar 

  • Rudd NL, Teshima IE, Martin RH, Sisken JE, Weksberg R (1983) A dominantly inherited cytogenetic anomaly: a possible cell division mutant. Hum Genet 65:117–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheres JMJC, Hustinx TWJ, Madan K, Beltman JD, Lindhout D (1986) A mitotic mutant causing non-disjunction in man. Abstract no C IV. 12. In: Abstracts of the 7th International Congress of Human Genetics Berlin, p 163

  • Tomkins D, Hunter A, Roberts M (1979) Cytogenetic findings in Roberts-SC phocomelia syndrome(s). Am J Med Genet 4:17–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Vig BK (1981) Sequence of centromere separation: analysis of mitotic chromosomes in man. Hum Genet 57:247–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Vig BK (1983) Sequence of centromere separation: occurrence, possible significance, and control. Cancer Genet Cytogenet 8:249–274

    Google Scholar 

  • Vig BK, Wodnicki J (1974) Separation of sister centromeres in some chromosomes from cultured human leukocytes. J Hered 65:149–152

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, Free University, V. d. Boechorststraat 7, NL-1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    K. Madan, D. Lindhout & A. Palan

Authors
  1. K. Madan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. Lindhout
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. Palan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Madan, K., Lindhout, D. & Palan, A. Premature centromere division (PCD): a dominantly inherited cytogenetic anomaly. Hum Genet 77, 193–196 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00272391

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00272391

Keywords

Search

Navigation