Title

An ∼140-kb Deletion Associated with Feline Spinal Muscular Atrophy Implies an Essential LIX1 Function for Motor Neuron Survival

Authors

John C. Fyfe, Michigan State University
Marilyn Menotti-Raymond, National Cancer Institute at Frederick
Victor A. David, National Cancer Institute at Frederick
Lars Brichta, University of Cologne - Germany
Alejandro A. Schaffer, National Institutes of Health - Bethesda
R. Agarwala, National Institutes of Health - Bethesda
William J. Murphy, Texas A&M University
William J. Wedemeyer, Michigan State University
Brittany L. Gregory, Michigan State University
Bethany G. Buzzell, National Cancer Institute at Frederick
Meghan C. Drummond, Michigan State University
Brunhilde Wirth, University of Cologne - Germany
Stephen J. O'Brien, National Cancer Institute at FrederickFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-2006

Publication Title

Genome Research

ISSN

1088-9051

Volume

16

Issue/No.

9

First Page

1084

Last Page

1090

Abstract

The leading genetic cause of infant mortality is spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of disorders. Previously we described a domestic cat model of autosomal recessive, juvenile-onset SMA similar to human SMA type III. Here we report results of a whole-genome scan for linkage in the feline SMA pedigree using recently developed species-specific and comparative mapping resources. We identified a novel SMA gene candidate, LIX1, in an ~140-kb deletion on feline chromosome A1q in a region of conserved synteny to human chromosome 5q15. Though LIX1 function is unknown, the predicted secondary structure is compatible with a role in RNA metabolism. LIX1 expression is largely restricted to the central nervous system, primarily in spinal motor neurons, thus offering explanation of the tissue restriction of pathology in feline SMA. An exon sequence screen of 25 human SMA cases, not otherwise explicable by mutations at the SMN1 locus, failed to identify comparable LIX1 mutations. Nonetheless, a LIX1-associated etiology in feline SMA implicates a previously undetected mechanism of motor neuron maintenance and mandates consideration of LIX1 as a candidate gene in human SMA when SMN1 mutations are not found.

Comments

©2006 by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press

Additional Comments

National Institutes of Health grant #: HD39888; Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft grant #: Wi-945-12; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne grant #: TV98; GenBank accession #: DQ250154

NSUWorks Citation

Fyfe, John C.; Marilyn Menotti-Raymond; Victor A. David; Lars Brichta; Alejandro A. Schaffer; R. Agarwala; William J. Murphy; William J. Wedemeyer; Brittany L. Gregory; Bethany G. Buzzell; Meghan C. Drummond; Brunhilde Wirth; and Stephen J. O'Brien. 2006. "An ∼140-kb Deletion Associated with Feline Spinal Muscular Atrophy Implies an Essential LIX1 Function for Motor Neuron Survival." Genome Research 16, (9): 1084-1090. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cnso_bio_facarticles/785

ORCID ID

0000-0001-7353-8301

ResearcherID

N-1726-2015