Skip to main content

Fragile X Disease

  • Protocol
  • 727 Accesses

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Medicine™ ((MIMM,volume 92))

Abstract

The term “Fragile X” can be used for either of two conditions resulting from trinucleotide repeat expansions at neighboring loci, FRAXA or FRAXE, in the Xq27–28 region; however, FRAXA is by far the more common condition, and only mutations at this locus cause the classical phenotype of “Fragile X syndrome,” those at FRAXE are responsible for a variable, milder phenotype of nonspecific mental impairment. For this reason, many laboratories consider it cost-effective to test only for FRAXA mutations. However, a brief description of PCR techniques for FRAXE testing are also given (see Note 1).

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

Buying options

Protocol
USD   49.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Springer Nature is developing a new tool to find and evaluate Protocols. Learn more

References

  1. Verkerk, A. J. M. H., Pieretti, M., Sutcliffe, J. S., Fu, Y. H., Kuhl, D., Pizzuti, A., et al. (1991) Identification of a gene (FMR-1) containing a CGG repeat coincident with a breakpoint cluster region exhibiting length variation in fragile X syndrome. Cell 65, 905–914.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Fu, Y.-H., Kuhl, D. P. A., Pizzuti, A., Pieretti, M., Sutcliffe, J. S., Richards, S., et al. (1991) Variation of the p(CGG)n repeat at the fragile X site results in genetic instability: resolution of the Sherman paradox. Cell 67, 1047–1058.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Eichler, E. E., Holden, J. J. A., Popovich, B. W., Reiss, A. L., Snow, K., Thibodeau, S. N., et al. (1994) Length of uninterrupted CGG repeats determines instability in the FMR1 gene. Nat. Genet. 8, 88–93.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Kunst, C. B. and Warren, S. T (1994) Cryptic and polar variation of the fragile X repeat could result in predisposing normal alleles. Cell 77, 853–861.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Heitz, D., Devys, D., Imbert, G., Kretz, C, and Mandel, J. L. (1992) Inheritance of the fragile X syndrome: size of the fragile X premutation is a major determinant of the transition to full mutation. J. Med. Genet. 29, 794–801.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Fisch, G. S., Snow, K., Thibodeau, S.N., Chalifaux, M., Holden, J. J. A., Nelson, D. L., et al. (1995) The fragile X premutation in carriers and its effect on mutation size in offspring. Am. J. Med. Genet. 56, 1147–1155.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Nolin, S. L., Rousseau, F, Houck, G. E., Gargano, A., Biancalana, V., Hinkle, L., et al. (2001) FMR1 CGG expansion to full mutation: what is the lower limit in premutation females? Am. J. Hum. Genet. 67(Suppl. 2), Abstract 2041.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Pieretti, M., Zhang, F, Fu, Y.-H., Warren, S. T, Oostra, B. A., Caskey, C. T, et al. (1991) Absence of expression of the FMR-1 gene in fragile X syndrome. Cell 66, 817–822.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Oberlé, I., Rousseau, F., Heitz, D., Kretz, C, Devys, D., Hanauer, A., et al. (1991) Instability of a 550-base pair DNA segment and abnormal methylation in fragile X syndrome. Science 252, 1097–1102.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Rousseau, F., Heitz, D., Biancalana, V., Blumenfeld, S., Kretz, C, Boué, J., et al. (1991) Direct diagnosis by DNA analysis of the fragile X syndrome of mental retardation. N. Engl. J. Med. 325, 1673–1681.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Willemsen, R., Los, F., Mohkamsing, S., van den Ouweland, A., Deelen, W., Galjaard, H., et al. (1997) Rapid antibody test for prenatal diagnosis of fragile X syndrome on amniotic fluid cells: a new appraisal. J. Med. Genet. 34, 250–251.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Devys, D., Biancalana, V., Rousseau, F., Boué, J., Mandel, J. L., and Oberlé, I. (1992) Analysis of full Fragile X mutation in fetal tissues and monozygotic twins indicate that abnormal methylation and somatic heterogeneity are established early in development. Am. J. Med. Genet. 43, 208–216.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Rousseau, F., Heitz, D., Biancalana, V., Oberlé, I., and Mandel, J. L. (1992) On some technical aspects of direct DNA diagnosis of the Fragile X syndrome. Am. J. Med. Genet. 43, 197–207.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Rousseau, F, Heitz, D., Tarleton, J., MacPherson, J., Mamlgren, H., Dahl, N, et al. (1994) A multicenter study on genotype-phenotype correlations in the fragile X syndrome, using direct diagnosis with probe StB12.3: the first 2,253 cases. Am. J. Med. Genet. 55, 225–237.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Larsen, L. A., Gronskov, K., Norgaard-Pedersen, B., Brondum-Nielsen, K., Hasholt, L., and Vuust, J. (1997) High-throughput analysis of fragile X (CGG)n alleles in the normal and premutation range by PCR amplification and automated capillary electrophoresis. Hum. Genet. 100, 564–568.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Wang, Q., Green, E., Bobrow, M., and Mathew, C. G. (1995) A rapid, nonradioactive screening test for fragile X mutations at the FRAXA and FRAXE loci. J. Med. Genet. 32, 170–173.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Warner, J. P., Barron, L. H., Goudie, D., Kelly, K., Dow, D., Fitzpatrick, D. R., et al. (1996) A general method for the detection of large CAG repeat expansions by fluorescent PCR. J. Med. Genet. 33, 1022–1026.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Biancalana, V., Taine, L., Bouix, J. C., Finck, S., Chauvin, A., De Verneuil, H., et al. (1996) Expansion and methylation status at FRAXE can be detected on EcoRI blots used for FRAXA diagnosis: analysis of four FRAXE families with mild mental retardation in males. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 59, 847–854.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Van den Ouweland, A. M. W., Deele, W. H., Kunst, C. B., Giovannucci Uzielli, M. L., Nelson, D. L., Warren, S. T., et al. (1994) Loss of mutation at the FMR1 locus through multiple exchanges between maternal X chromosomes. Hum. Mol. Genet. 3, 1823–1827.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Vits, L., De Boulle, K., Reyniers, E., Handig, I., Darby, J. K, Oostra, B., et al. (1994) Apparent regression of the CGG repeat in FMR1 to an allele of normal size. Hum. Genet. 94, 523–526.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Malzac, P., Biancalana, V., Volckel, M. A., Moncla, A., Pellissier, M. C., Boccaccio, I., et al. (1996) Unexpected inheritance of the (CGG)n trinucleotide expansion in a Fragile X syndrome family. Eur. J. Hum. Genet. 4, 8–12.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2004 Humana Press Inc.

About this protocol

Cite this protocol

Biancalana, V., Macpherson, J. (2004). Fragile X Disease. In: Elles, R., Mountford, R. (eds) Molecular Diagnosis of Genetic Diseases. Methods in Molecular Medicine™, vol 92. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-432-8:157

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-432-8:157

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-89603-932-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-432-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

Publish with us

Policies and ethics