Non-syndromic autosomal recessive mental retardation in Tunisian families: exclusion of GRIK2 and TUSC3 genes

ABSTRACT

Mental retardation is one of the most frequent major handicap, with a 1-3% frequency in the general population, it appear a major problem of public health. The recent progress of molecular biology and cytogenetic allowed to identify new genes for non syndromic autosomal recessive mental retardation [NSAR-MR]. Genetic analysis of NSAR-MR the GRIK2 gene [6q16.3-q21] and the TUSC3 gene [8p22]. Four Tunisian families with NSAR-MR were included in this study. Genotyping was made using polymorphic microsatellite markers and statistical analysis was validated using the Fast Link programme of the Easy linkage software [V400beta]. Genotyping and linkage analysis excluded linkage of the GRIK2 gene and TUSC3 gene. Our results confirm the extreme genetic heterogeneity of NSAR-MR