Genetics part 3 Flashcards
(75 cards)
What are 5 of the genes that cause DC?
- DKC1
- TERT
- TERC
- TINF2
- RTEL1
What is DKC1?
- Dyskeratosis congenita 1
- Encodes the protein called dyskerin
- Core component of telomerase
What is TERT?
The reverse transcriptase component of telomerase
Uses TERC as a template to synthesise telomeric DNA
What is TERC?
RNA component of telomerase
Act as a template for TERT
What is TINF2
A shelterin component
Protecting the telomere
What is RTEL1?
A regulator of telomere elongation
A DNA helicase that resolves D-loops during replication
What is pathophysiology of DC?
- Mutations in DC genes result in defective telomere maintenance
- Defective telomere maintenance results in premature senescence and apoptosis
- Early loss of cells (e.g. stem cells) leads to progressive development of disease features
- This is most pronounced in rapidly dividing tissues, notably the bone marrow
What are BMF syndromes?
Inherited
What is Dyskeratosis congenita?
Clinically and genetically heterogenous BMF syndrome
What are telomeres?
Specialised structures that protects the end of each chromosome
What are three distinct pathways that are defective in the inherited BMF syndromes?
- Fanconi anaemia
- Shwachman Diamond
- Dyskeratosis congenita
Fanconi anaemia
FANC genes
Involved in DNA damage response
Shwachman Diamond
Only 1 gene that causes this disease
Defect is present in the ribosome
Dyskeratosis congenita
Telomere maintenance
TERC, TERT
What is ERCC6L2?
New disease gene
Allelic series in exome sequencing data
What does ERCC6L2 stand for?
excision repair cross-complementation group 6 like 2 gene
Homozygous Arg655*
Red is loss of variant function
Green - missense
What is ERCC6?
DNA binding protein
Transcription coupled excision repair
What does mutation in the ERCC6 cause?
Cockayne syndrome
Not associated with bone marrow failure
What does ERCC6L2 play a role in?
DNA damage response
Mitomycin C
- Causes interstrand cross link
- Key test for people with Fanconi anemia
- Fanconi anaemia very sensitive to this drug
What does Irofulven cause?
Adducts
What is R-loops?
Occurs every time a gene is transcribed
RNA polymerase ploughs along the DNA making RNA and loop back on itself
R loop are dangerous and need to be re-solved
RNA coated with proteins – looked after as soon as it is made
2 loss of function variants in affected individuals
What is DNAJC21
- Disease causing genes
- Spectrum of phenotypes overlapping
- Homozygous - biallelic - both alleles are affected