ABSTRACT
Objective:To compare the genotypes and phenotypes between the monozygotic twins via whole genome sequencing to further clarify the autosomal dominant inherited neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) variants related to congenital pseudarthrosis (CP).Methods:According to the diagnostic criteria of congenital tibial pseudarthrosis and the clinical diagnostic criteria of NF1, two pairs of monozygotic twins with NF1 were included. Both were female and only one of each pair had congenital pseudarthrosis. The other did not have congenital pseudarthrosis. Whole genome sequencing was performed using the peripheral blood of the two pairs of monozygotic twins. Customized bioinformatics analysis was then performed to identify single nucleotide variants (SNVs), short insertion deletion variants (InDel), copy number variants (CNVs), and structural variants (SVs). Classified the variants according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) and ClinGen criteria. The germline variants within the monozygotic twins were compared to identify the CP patients' unique variants. The shared pathogenic or likely pathogenic germline variants between the unique variants in the CP patients from the twins were also analyzed. Further, the identified disease-causing variants were validated by Sanger sequencing in the family of the twins and their parents. Finally, the genotypes and phenotypes regarding the pathogenic variants of the NF1 gene among the twins were characterized. Results:Both the two monozygotic twins were identified pathogenic variants in the NF1 gene. One with c.3047_3048del (p.Cys1016SerfsTer4), and the other with c.4267A>G (p.Lys1423Glu). By Sanger sequencing validation in family quads, the two CP patients and their siblings harbored de novo heterozygous variants of the NF1 gene. In addition to the NF1 gene, no other genes were identified pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants uniquely in the CP patients compared with their twin sisters, as well as SVs and CNVs. In addition, by analyzing the rare and damaging variants in the two CP patients from the two twins, they had no overlapping genes against the SNVs, InDels, SVs, or CNVs. Conclusion:Whole genome sequencing revealed that both the two monozygotic twins with NF1 were detected pathogenic variants of gene NF1. No other pathogenic variants specific to the CP patients among the twins were identified. The two CP patients shared no other common genes from the detected likely pathogenic variants.
ABSTRACT
Objective Improving the existed HPLC methods in order to detect the levels of global DNA methylation rapidly, stably and conveniently. Methods The HP1100 high performance liquid chrom-atographic (HPLC) system was used in this study. The analytic column was Macherey-Nagel (MN) EC 250/4.6 Nucleosil 100-5SA (250mm x 4. 6mm, 5u,m) cation exchange chromatographic column. We used 60mM acetic acid + 15% acetonitrile as mobile phase (adjust to pH =4. 6 by NaOH). The flow rate was 1. 0 ml/min, detective UV wavelength was set to 276 nm and column temperature was set to 28℃. The injection volume was 50μl. The global DNA methylation was expressed as 5mdC/(dC +5mdC) x 100%. Results Under these conditions, we can isolate dC and 5mdC completely in ten minutes. The level of leukocyte global DNA methylation in healthy people is (4. 389 ±0. 0159) %. Conclusions This method can determine the levels of global DNA methylation rapidly, and it can be widely applied in some laboratories.