Insertion of the IL1RAPL1 gene into the duplication junction of the dystrophin gene

J Hum Genet. 2009 Aug;54(8):466-73. doi: 10.1038/jhg.2009.63. Epub 2009 Jul 17.

Abstract

Duplications of one or more exons of the dystrophin gene are the second most common mutation in dystrophinopathies. Even though duplications are suggested to occur with greater complexity than thought earlier, they have been considered an intragenic event. Here, we report the insertion of a part of the IL1RAPL1 (interleukin-1 receptor accessory protein-like 1) gene into the duplication junction site. When the actual exon junction was examined in 15 duplication mutations in the dystrophin gene by analyzing dystrophin mRNA, one patient was found to have an unknown 621 bp insertion at the junction of duplication of exons from 56 to 62. Unexpectedly, the inserted sequence was found completely identical to sequences of exons 3-5 of the IL1RAPL1 gene that is nearly 100 kb distal from the dystrophin gene. Accordingly, the insertion of IL1RAPL1 exons 3-5 between dystrophin exons 62 and 56 was confirmed at the genomic sequence level. One junction between the IL1RAPL1 intron 5 and dystrophin intron 55 was localized within an Alu sequence. These results showed that a fragment of the IL1RAPL1 gene was inserted into the duplication junction of the dystrophin gene in the same direction as the dystrophin gene. This suggests the novel possibility of co-occurrence of complex genomic rearrangements in dystrophinopathy.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Dystrophin / genetics*
  • Exons / genetics*
  • Gene Duplication*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-1 Receptor Accessory Protein / genetics*
  • Male
  • Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / genetics*
  • Mutagenesis, Insertional*
  • Prognosis

Substances

  • Dystrophin
  • IL1RAPL1 protein, human
  • Interleukin-1 Receptor Accessory Protein