Preimplantation diagnosis by whole-genome amplification, PCR amplification, and solid-phase minisequencing of blastomere DNA.

We have developed a new method for preimplantation diagnosis of inherited diseases. Our procedure for the identification of point mutations in single cells combines whole-genome amplification using 15-mer random primers (primer extension preamplification, PEP) with a single locus-specific PCR amplification, followed by detection of the mutation by solid-phase minisequencing. The procedure was evaluated by detecting three disease-causing mutations and seven polymorphic nucleotides located on different human chromosomes from single granuloma and blastomere cells.

Asp187Asn mutation of gelsolin in an American kindred with familial amyloidosis, Finnish type (FAP IV).

Familial amyloidosis, Finnish type (FAP-IV) was identified clinically in an American kindred with Scandinavian ancestry. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based DNA diagnostic assay was used to identify a G-to-A mutation at position 654 of the gelsolin cDNA (G654A) in this family. Molecular diagnostic testing demonstrated the mutation in individuals in three generations--the clinically affected proband, here deceased clinically affected father, and her presumably affected presymptomatic child.

Haplotype analysis in gelsolin-related amyloidosis reveals independent origin of identical mutation (G654A) of gelsolin in Finland and Japan.

Familial amyloidosis, Finnish type (FAF) (gelsolin-related amyloidosis) is an autosomal dominant form of systemic amyloidosis characterized by corneal lattice dystrophy and peripheral polyneuropathy. The accumulating protein in FAF consists of fragments of gelsolin, an actin-modulating protein. The gelsolin mutation G654A has been found in both Finnish and Japanese patients.

Toward understanding the pathogenic mechanisms in gelsolin-related amyloidosis: in vitro expression reveals an abnormal gelsolin fragment.

Gelsolin-related amyloidosis, also called familial amyloidosis, Finnish type (FAF) is an autosomal dominantly inherited disorder characterized by progressive polyneuropathy and corneal lattice dystrophy. All the analyzed patients are found to carry a nucleotide substitution of A or T for G654 in their gelsolin gene, which at the protein level results in the conversion of the 187 amino acid residue, aspartic acid, to asparagine or tyrosine, respectively. In this study, we transfected mammalian mesenchymal COS-1 cells with a derivative of the expression vector pCD-X containing cDNA coding for the wild-type (D187) and mutant forms (N187 and Y187) of plasma gelsolin.