Recombinations in individuals homozygous by descent localize the Friedreich ataxia locus in a cloned 450-kb interval.

The locus for Friedreich ataxia (FRDA), a severe neurodegenerative disease, is tightly linked to markers D9S5 and D9S15, and analysis of rare recombination events has suggested the order cen-FRDA-D9S5-D9S15-qter. We report here the construction of a YAC contig extending 800 kb centromeric to D9S5 and the isolation of five new microsatellite markers from this region. In order to map these markers with respect to the FRDA locus, all within a 1-cM confidence interval, we sought to increase the genetic information of available FRDA families by considering homozygosity by descent and association with founder haplotypes in isolated populations. This approach allowed us to identify one phase-known recombination and one probable historic recombination on haplotypes from Réunion Island patients, both of which place three of the five markers proximal to FRDA. This represents the first identification of close FRDA flanking markers on the centromeric side. The two other markers allowed us to narrow the breakpoint of a previously identified distal recombination that is > 180 kb from D9S5 (26P). Taken together, the results place the FRDA locus in a 450-kb interval, which is small enough for direct search of candidate genes. A detailed rare cutter restriction map and a cosmid contig covering this interval were constructed and should facilitate the search of genes in this region.

Cystic fibrosis in the population of Reunion Island.

The frequencies of the delta F 508 mutation and haplotypes linked to the cystic fibrosis (CF) gene and detected with DNA probes XV-2C and KM-19 have been studied in the population of Reunion Island, a French province located in the Indian Ocean. The deletion was present in 41.3% of CF chromosomes, whereas this proportion is about 70% in the French population. The delta F 508 mutation was associated with the haplotype B defined by the DNA markers XV-2C (allele 1) and KM-19 (allele 2) in 76.4% of CF chromosomes, while this proportion is over 90% in the French population. Founder effect, genetic drift and admixture can explain these differences.

Specific RNase isoenzymes in the human central nervous system.

After inactivation of RNase inhibitor by parachloromercuribenzoate, total alkaline RNase activity was found to be two fold higher in white matter as in grey matter extracts from human brain tissue. This activity was lower in human purified myelin. Two human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) RNase isoenzymes of group 3 (a minor one, RNase 3.1, and a major one, RNase 3.2) were found to be present in human grey and white matter extracts and in purified myelin, but absent in human serum, peripheral nerve, liver, and spleen extracts. A RNase isoenzyme similar to central nervous system (CNS) RNase 3.2 was present in human kidney extracts but it differed in its carbohydrate structure. RNase isoenzymes 3.1 and 3.2 were not found in mouse, rat, and bovine brains. Thus, RNases 3.1 and 3.2 seem specific to human CNS. RNases of group 3 are the predominant RNase isoenzymes in CSF and one of the two predominant RNase groups in brain tissue. However, the proportion of RNases of group 3 is different in CSF and in brain extracts: RNases 3.1-3.2 are the major constituents of group 3 RNases in brain tissue, while another RNase isoenzyme of group 3, RNase 3.0, which is more glycosylated than RNases 3.1-3.2, is only a minor part of RNase of group 3 in brain extracts. Conversely, RNases 3.1-3.2 are lower or equivalent to RNase 3.0 in control CSF since the ratio of RNases 3.1-3.2 to RNase 3.0 did not exceed 1.0. This ratio decreased in pathological CSF including multiple sclerosis or infectious CNS diseases that were free of transudation phenomena. In conclusion, CSF RNases 3.1-3.2 seem to originate in brain tissue and could be markers of RNA catabolism from brain cells.

Intrathecal origin of CSF ribonuclease. Differences between infectious processes of the nervous system and multiple sclerosis.

A CSF Poly(C)-avid ribonuclease (RNase) activity was determined in serum and CSF of 11 controls and 75 neurological patients (34 multiple sclerosis (MS), 18 infectious processes and 23 other neurological diseases (OND]. In controls, the blood-CSF ratio of RNase activity is low. This fact and the absence of correlation between serum and CSF RNase activity (except in OND group), and between CSF albumin and CSF RNase activity in controls and MS patients, suggest an intrathecal origin for the major part of this CSF RNase activity. A formula taking into account any plasmatic enrichment in RNase of the CSF is proposed to evaluate this intrathecal activity. The normal mean value of this intrathecal RNase activity is 27 +/- 3 units/ml (mean +/- SE) in our experimental conditions and using our formula. The highest intrathecal RNase activity is observed in infectious processes and this finding is associated with a significant increase in the local anti-RNA antibody synthesis. An increase in intrathecal RNase activity is rarely found in MS and local anti-RNA synthesis is only observed in one third of MS patients.