Non-Invasive Prenatal Test Analysis Opens a Pandora's Box: Identification of Very Rare Cases of SRY-Positive Healthy Females, Segregating for Three Generations Thanks to Preferential Inactivation of the XqYp Translocated Chromosome.

The translocation of the testis-determining factor, the SRY gene, from the Y to the X chromosome is a rare event that causes abnormalities in gonadal development. In all cases of males and females carrying this translocation, disorder of sex development is reported. In our study, we described a peculiar pedigree with the first evidence of four healthy females from three generations who are carriers of the newly identified t(X;Y)(q28;p11.2)(SRY+) translocation with no evidence of ambiguous genitalia or other SRY-dependent alterations. Our study was a consequence of a Non-Invasive Prenatal Test (NIPT) showing a sexual chromosomal abnormality (XXY) followed by a chorionic villus analysis suggesting a normal karyotype 46,XX and t(X;Y) translocation detected by FISH. Here, we (i) demonstrated the inheritance of the translocation in the maternal lineage via karyotyping and FISH analysis; (ii) characterised the structural rearrangement via chromosomal microarray; and (iii) demonstrated, via Click-iT® EdU Imaging assay, that there was an absolute preferential inactivation of the der(X) chromosome responsible for the lack of SRY expression. Overall, our study provides valuable genetic and molecular information that may lead personal and medical decisions.

Functional characterization of p.Pro409His variant in HNF1A, a hypomorphic mutation involved in pancreatic ß-cell dysfunction.

AIMS: HNF1A is a gene coding for the transcription factor HNF1-α, mutated in some forms of MODY and type 2 diabetes mellitus characterized by a strong genetic component. The penetrance of HNF1A variants differs considerably; thus, to assess the genetic risk of diabetes in carrier subjects of a HNF1A mutant allele, a functional characterization of mutant forms is of paramount importance. METHODS: The HNF1A gene was sequenced in two patients with partly discordant diabetic phenotype, carrying the p.Pro409His variant. To evaluate the pathogenicity of the variant, we measured the transactivation power of the corresponding P408H HNF1-α mutant mouse form on HNF1-α target promoters. RESULTS: We found a lower but detectable activity of transactivation of the mutant form compared with the wild-type form and we excluded mechanisms of protein degradation or nuclear mislocalization. CONCLUSIONS: The HNF1A mutation p.Pro409His can be considered a mild variant that confers a moderate risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in heterozygous carriers.

A case of premature ovarian failure in a 33-year-old woman.

Objective. To assess aetiology of a POF in a 33-year-old woman and, if possible, plan a cure. Design. Case report. Setting. medical genetics diagnostic unit in a university hospital. Patient. A 33-year-old woman with premature ovarian failure (POF). Intervention(s). Genetic counseling, karyotyping, FISH study. Result(s). Turner-like diagnosis. Conclusion(s). Most cases of POF remain idiopathic. Turner syndrome can occur in very different phenotypes; cytogenetic and molecular profiling can provide a definitive diagnosis in cases with nonclassical phenotype.

Identification of a new mutation in the gene coding for hairless protein responsible for alopecia universalis: The importance of direct gene sequencing.

Mutations in the gene HR coding for the hairless protein are associated with atrichia with papular lesions (APL), an autosomal recessive form of alopecia universalis that is characterized by generalized scalp and body atrichia with papular lesions. We here describe a South Italian family of ancient Albanian heritage. The full phenotype with complete atrichia was expressed in 2 siblings, whereas the parents and one sister were unaffected. Direct sequencing of the gene coding for the hairless protein allowed the identification of a new mutation in exon 17. Consistent with the recessive inheritance of the disease, both the siblings were homozygous for the mutation, whereas the parents and the unaffected sister where heterozygous. A relevant discrepancy with a haplotype linkage study is reported, stressing the importance of gene sequencing in genetic diagnosis and counseling because linkage studies can be biased by recombination events.

The spindle checkpoint requires cyclin-dependent kinase activity.

The spindle checkpoint prevents anaphase onset until completion of mitotic spindle assembly by restraining activation of the ubiquitin ligase anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome-Cdc20 (APC/CCdc20). We show that the spindle checkpoint requires mitotic cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) activity. Inhibiting cdk activity overrides checkpoint-dependent arrest in Xenopus egg extracts and human cells. Following inhibition, the interaction between APC/C and Cdc20 transiently increases while the inhibitory checkpoint protein Mad2 dissociates from Cdc20. Cdk inhibition also overcomes Mad2-induced mitotic arrest. In addition, in vitro cdk1-phosphorylated Cdc20 interacts with Mad2 rather than APC/ C. Thus, cdk activity is required to restrain APC/CCdc20 activation until completion of spindle assembly.