Relatively common mutations of the Bloom syndrome gene in the Japanese population.

Bloom syndrome (BS) is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder characterized by lupus-like erythematous facial telangiectasia, sun sensitivity, infertility, stunted growth and a high predisposition to various types of cancer. Chromosomal abnormalities are hallmarks of this disorder, and high frequencies of sister chromatid exchanges and quadriradial configurations in lymphocytes and fibroblasts are diagnostic features. BLM is the causative gene for BS.

Detection of the genes induced in activated lymphocytes by modified differential display.

Activated lymphocytes induced by mitogens or antigens express various sets of genes, including those involved in the expression of cytokines, surface molecules, and nuclear proteins. To detect inducible genes in activated lymphocytes, we used the RNA arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (RAP-PCR) method, which is modified by original differential display. By this method we identified eight clones; four contained sequences almost identical to that of the genes for heat shock 90Kd protein1 alpha, STAT2, Ig kappa constant region and interferon receptor 1, two had 70% homology to mitochondrial ATP synthase and bromodomain-containing 2 genes, and two had less than 40% homology to known DNA sequences.

Expression of BLM (the causative gene for Bloom syndrome) and screening of Bloom syndrome.

Bloom syndrome (BS) is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder characterized by growth deficiency, unusual facies, sun-sensitive telangiectatic erythema, immunodeficiency and predisposition to cancer. The causative gene for BS is the BLM gene which encodes the BLM RecQ helicase protein. The BLM gene has 4437 bp and encodes 1417 amino acids.