A t(7;12) balanced translocation with breakpoints overlapping those of the Williams-Beuren and 12q14 microdeletion syndromes

Am J Med Genet A. 2010 May;152A(5):1285-94. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.33365.

Abstract

The molecular characterization of balanced chromosomal rearrangements have always been of advantage in identifying disease-causing genes. Here, we describe the breakpoint mapping of a de novo balanced translocation t(7;12)(q11.22;q14.2) in a patient presenting with a failure to thrive associated with moderate mental retardation, facial anomalies, and chronic constipation. The localization of the breakpoints and the co-occurrence of Williams-Beuren syndrome and 12q14 microdeletion syndrome phenotypes suggested that the expression of some of the dosage-sensitive genes of these two segmental aneuploidies were modified in cells of the proposita. However, we were unable to identify chromosomes 7 and/or 12-mapping genes that showed disturbed expression in the lymphoblastoids of the proposita. This case showed that position-effect might operate in some tissues, but not in others. It also illustrates the overlap of phenotypes presented by patients with the recently described 12q14 structural rearrangements.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Chromosome Banding
  • Chromosome Breakage*
  • Chromosome Deletion*
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12 / genetics*
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 7 / genetics*
  • Comparative Genomic Hybridization
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Karyotyping
  • Pregnancy
  • Translocation, Genetic*
  • Williams Syndrome / genetics*