Transmission disequilibrium testing of arginine vasopressin receptor 1A (AVPR1A) polymorphisms in autism.

Impairment in social reciprocity is a central component of autism. In preclinical studies, arginine vasopressin (AVP) has been shown to increase a range of social behaviors, including affiliation and attachment, via the V(1a) receptor (AVPR1A) in the brain. Both the behavioral effects of AVP and the neural distribution of the V1a receptor vary greatly across mammalian species. This difference in regional receptor expression as well as differences in social behavior may result from a highly variable repetitive sequence in the 5' flanking region of the V1a gene (AVPR1A). Given this comparative evidence for a role in inter-species variation in social behavior, we explored whether within our own species, variation in the human AVPR1A may contribute to individual variations in social behavior, with autism representing an extreme form of social impairment. We genotyped two microsatellite polymorphisms from the 5' flanking region of AVPR1A for 115 autism trios and found nominally significant transmission disequilibrium between autism and one of the microsatellite markers by Multiallelic Transmission/Disequilibrium test (MTDT) that was not significant after Bonferroni correction. We also screened approximately 2 kb of the 5' flanking region and the coding region and identified 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms.

Genomic organization of the SLC1A1/EAAC1 gene and mutation screening in early-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The first genome scan conducted in early-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder used a non-parametric analysis to identify a peak in a region of chromosome 9 containing the gene SLC1A1, which codes for the neuronal and epithelial glutamate transporter EAAC1. Interaction between the glutamatergic and serotonergic systems within the striatum suggests EAAC1 as a functional candidate in OCD as well. We determined the genomic organization of SLC1A1 primarily by using primers designed from cDNA sequence to amplify from adaptor-ligated genomic DNA restriction fragments. In order to confirm SLC1A1 as a positional candidate in early-onset OCD, common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified that enabled mapping of SLC1A1 within the region of the lod score peak. Based on the linkage evidence, the coding region was sequenced in the probands of the seven families included in the genome scan. No evidence was found for a functional mutation, but several SNPs were identified. Capillary electrophoresis SSCP typing of a haplotype consisting of two common SNPs within EAAC1 revealed no significant linkage disequilibrium.

Deletion polymorphism in the coding region of the human NESP55 alternative transcript of GNAS1.

NESP55, a novel member of the chromogranins, was originally implicated as a precursor of a peptide LSAL with 5-HT1B receptor antagonist activity. In humans, NESP55 (MIM 139320) is encoded by an alternative transcript of GNAS1, the gene encoding the guanine nucleotide-binding alpha subunit of G(S). As a result of the potential relevance of NESP55 to serotoninergic neurotransmission, we screened its sequence using genomic DNA pools from autistic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) probands and control subjects. Six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified and the allele frequencies of those SNPs were determined. In addition, a 24-bp in-frame deletion in the coding region was found in one of the OCD probands. To further investigate its pattern of inheritance and the relevance to studied phenotypes, we genotyped 123 total subjects from autism, OCD and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) families. The deletion was detected only in one OCD family and followed Mendelian inheritance. All subjects with the deletion were heterozygous. However, there are no specific behavioural or physical alterations in the subjects with this deletion variant. The physiological role of NESP55 in serotoninergic neurotransmission as well as the effect of the deletion on its function should be evaluated in future studies.

Mutation screening of human 5-HT(2B)receptor gene in early-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The serotonin receptor 2B gene (HTR2B; MIM 601122) is a pharmacological and positional candidate gene in early-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder. Sequences of a putative promoter region and splice regions were first elucidated, then sequenced along with HTR2B coding regions. Probands from seven families included in a previous genome scan in which one of the strongest linkage findings was to a region including HTR2B, along with two genomic DNA pools of 10 unrelated control subjects and 10 unrelated autism probands were screened. One single nucleotide polymorphism was found in intron 1, that may be useful as a marker in genetic linkage and association studies. It does not appear likely to affect splicing. No evidence for functional mutation was found in the sequenced regions of HTR2B.

High throughput fluorescent CE-SSCP SNP genotyping.

Large numbers of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are being identified by several laboratories for the purpose of developing dense genetic maps. Single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis has been widely used as a method for detecting novel sequence variations in PCR products. Differences in migration of single-stranded DNA can be used not only to find mutations, but to genotype SNPs in large sample populations. Using PCR with fluorescent labeling and automated capillary electrophoresis SSCP (CE-SSCP), we have developed a panel of 15 functional candidate SNPs. With an automated single capillary instrument, relatively rapid and low cost CE-SSCP SNP genotyping using currently available technology is feasible for 135 000 genotypes per year. With parallel multiple array capillary electrophoresis, more genotypes per year may be attainable.

Mutation screening of the UBE3A/E6-AP gene in autistic disorder.

Previous reports of individuals with autistic disorder with maternal duplications of 15q11-q13, the Prader-Willi/Angelman syndrome region, suggest this area as a source of candidate genes in autistic disorder. Maternal truncation mutations in UBE3A, which encodes for E6-AP ubiquitin-protein ligase, have been shown to cause Angelman syndrome, which can also result from the absence of maternal chromosomal material from this region. Despite showing no evidence for imprinting in other tissues, this gene was recently discovered to be preferentially maternally expressed in human brain and expressed solely from the murine maternal chromosome in the hippocampus and cerebellar Purkinje cells, regions implicated in the neuropathology of autism. Based on this evidence, the coding region and a putative promoter region were sequenced in ten autistic subjects. Several polymorphisms were detected, but no evidence was found for a functional mutation. Evidence for likely altered regulation of UBE3A expression in maternal 15q11-q13 duplications suggests further investigation of the regulatory regions of this gene in autistic disorder.

Linkage-disequilibrium mapping of autistic disorder, with 15q11-13 markers.

Autistic disorder is a complex genetic disease. Because of previous reports of individuals with autistic disorder with duplications of the Prader-Willi/Angelman syndrome critical region, we screened several markers across the 15q11-13 region, for linkage disequilibrium. One hundred forty families, consisting predominantly of a child with autistic disorder and both parents, were studied. Genotyping was performed by use of multiplex PCR and capillary electrophoresis. Two children were identified who had interstitial chromosome 15 duplications and were excluded from further linkage-disequilibrium analysis. Use of the multiallelic transmission-disequilibrium test (MTDT), for nine loci on 15q11-13, revealed linkage disequilibrium between autistic disorder and a marker in the gamma-aminobutyric acidA receptor subunit gene, GABRB3 155CA-2 (MTDT 28.63, 10 df, P=.0014). No evidence was found for parent-of-origin effects on allelic transmission. The convergence of GABRB3 as a positional and functional candidate along with the linkage-disequilibrium data suggests the need for further investigation of the role of GABRB3 or adjacent genes in autistic disorder.