ABSTRACT
BackgroundRetinitis pigmentosa (RP) has the genetic and phenotype heterogeneity.To determine the disease-causing gene is a foundation of gene therapy.Objective This study was to localize the pathogenic gene and screen the gene mutation associated with Han Nationality autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP) in a Chinese family.MethodsTwenty-one families enrolled this study,including 12 patients with ADRP and 9 individuals with normal phenotype.Perimetry,fundus examination,electrooculogram ( EOG ) and electroretinogram (ERG) were performed in 12 patients.Genetic linkage analysis was performed on the subjects in all known genetic loci related to ADRP with a panel of microsatellite markers.Subsequently,the mutation screening of rhodopsin gene was screened by direct DNA sequencing.This study was approved by Ethic Committee of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University.Informed consent was obtained from each subject.ResultsThe fundus appearance of the proband was in accordance with the ADRP,and the EOG and ERG showed undetectable.Contractive visual field also was exhibited in the proband.Linkage analysis showed that the maximum logarithm of the odds(LOD) score reached 3.6671 at marker D3S1292 at recombination fraction θ =0.0.The results of direct DNA sequencing revealed a C→ G transversion mutation at codon 53 in exon 1 of rhodopsin gene,which resulted in a proline to arginine change (Pro53Arg) in 12 patients.However,no similar mutation was found in the unaffected members of this family.ConclusionsThe missence mutation Pro53Arg in rhodopsin gene cosegregate with the RP disease.It is determined to be a pathogenic factor of this ADRP family.