We constructed a tiling resolution array consisting of 32,433 overlapping BAC clones covering the entire human genome. This increases our ability to identify genetic alterations and their boundaries throughout the genome in a single comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) experiment. At this tiling resolution, we identified minute DNA alterations not previously reported. These alterations include microamplifications and deletions containing oncogenes, tumor-suppressor genes and new genes that may be associated with multiple tumor types. Our findings show the need to move beyond conventional marker-based genome comparison approaches, that rely on inference of continuity between interval markers. Our submegabase resolution tiling set for array CGH (SMRT array) allows comprehensive assessment of genomic integrity and thereby the identification of new genes associated with disease.

/pdf/a-tiling-resolution-dna-microarray-with-complete-coverage-of-2xyzl42efo.pdf

A tiling resolution DNA microarray with complete coverage of the human genome.

Mental retardation (MR) occurs in 2%–3% of the general population. Conventional karyotyping has a resolution of 5–10 million bases and detects chromosomal alterations in ∼5% of individuals with unexplained MR. The frequency of smaller submicroscopic chromosomal alterations in these patients is unknown. Novel molecular karyotyping methods, such as array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH), can detect submicroscopic chromosome alterations at a resolution of 100 kb. In this study, 100 patients with unexplained MR were analyzed using array CGH for DNA copy-number changes by use of a novel tiling-resolution genomewide microarray containing 32,447 bacterial artificial clones. Alterations were validated by fluorescence in situ hybridization and/or multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, and parents were tested to determine de novo occurrence. Reproducible DNA copy-number changes were present in 97% of patients. The majority of these alterations were inherited from phenotypically normal parents, which reflects normal large-scale copy-number variation. In 10% of the patients, de novo alterations considered to be clinically relevant were found: seven deletions and three duplications. These alterations varied in size from 540 kb to 12 Mb and were scattered throughout the genome. Our results indicate that the diagnostic yield of this approach in the general population of patients with MR is at least twice as high as that of standard GTG-banded karyotyping.

Diagnostic Genome Profiling in Mental Retardation

The underlying causes of learning disability and dysmorphic features in many patients remain unidentified despite extensive investigation. Routine karyotype analysis is not sensitive enough to detect subtle chromosome rearrangements (less than 5 Mb). The presence of subtle DNA copy number changes was investigated by array-CGH in 50 patients with learning disability and dysmorphism, employing a DNA microarray constructed from large insert clones spaced at approximately 1 Mb intervals across the genome. Twelve copy number abnormalities were identified in 12 patients (24% of the total): seven deletions (six apparently de novo and one inherited from a phenotypically normal parent) and five duplications (one de novo and four inherited from phenotypically normal parents). Altered segments ranged in size from those involving a single clone to regions as large as 14 Mb. No recurrent deletion or duplication was identified within this cohort of patients. On the basis of these results, we anticipate that array-CGH will become a routine method of genome-wide screening for imbalanced rearrangements in children with learning disability.

https://jmg.bmj.com/content/jmedgenet/41/4/241.full.pdf

Microarray based comparative genomic hybridisation (array-CGH) detects submicroscopic chromosomal deletions and duplications in patients with learning disability/mental retardation and dysmorphic features

The term 'genomic disorder' refers to a disease that is caused by an alteration of the genome that results in complete loss, gain or disruption of the structural integrity of a dosage sensitive gene(s). In most of the common chromosome deletion/duplication syndromes, the rearranged genomic segments are flanked by large (usually >10 kb), highly homologous low copy repeat (LCR) structures that can act as recombination substrates. Recombination between non-allelic LCR copies, also known as non-allelic homologous recombination, can result in deletion or duplication of the intervening segment. Recent findings suggest that other chromosomal rearrangements, including reciprocal, Robertsonian and jumping translocations, inversions, isochromosomes and small marker chromosomes, may also involve susceptibility to rearrangement related to genome structure or architecture. In several cases, LCRs, AT-rich palindromes and pericentromeric repeats are located at such rearrangement breakpoints. Analysis of the products of recombination at the junctions of the rearrangements reveals both homologous recombination and non-homologous end joining as causative mechanisms. Thus, a more global concept of genomic disorders emerges in which susceptibility to rearrangements occurs due to underlying complex genomic architecture. Interestingly, this architecture plays a role not only in disease etiology, but also in primate genome evolution. In this review, we discuss recent advances regarding general mechanisms for the various rearrangements of our genome, and potential models for rearrangements with non-homologous breakpoint regions.

/pdf/implications-of-human-genome-architecture-for-rearrangement-3l75fjieov.pdf

Implications of human genome architecture for rearrangement based disorders: the genomic basis of disease

Structural genetic alterations in cancer often involve gene loss or gene amplification. With the advent of microarray approaches for the analysis of the genome, as exemplified by array-CGH (Comparative Genomic Hybridization), scanning for gene-dosage alterations is limited only by issues of DNA microarray density. However, samples of interest to the pathologist often comprise small clusters of just a few hundred cells, which do not provide sufficient DNA for array-CGH analysis. We sought to develop a simple method that would permit amplification of the whole genome without the use of thermocycling or ligation of DNA adaptors, because such a method would lend itself to the automated processing of a large number of tissue samples. We describe a method that permits the isothermal amplification of genomic DNA with high fidelity and limited sequence representation bias. The method is based on strand displacement reactions that propagate by a hyperbranching mechanism, and generate hundreds, or even thousands, of copies of the genome in a few hours. Using whole genome isothermal amplification, in combination with comparative genomic hybridization on cDNA microarrays, we demonstrate the ability to detect gene losses in yeast and gene dosage imbalances in human breast tumor cell lines. Although sequence representation bias in the amplified DNA presents potential problems for CGH analysis, these problems have been overcome by using amplified DNA in both control and tester samples. Gene-dosage alterations of threefold or more can be observed with high reproducibility with as few as 1000 cells of starting material.

/pdf/whole-genome-analysis-of-genetic-alterations-in-small-dna-3e1kzgg1za.pdf

Whole Genome Analysis of Genetic Alterations in Small DNA Samples Using Hyperbranched Strand Displacement Amplification and Array–CGH

Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is an autosomal dominant disorder whose hallmark is bilateral vestibular schwannoma. It displays a pronounced clinical heterogeneity with mild to severe forms. The NF ...

https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/154313/1/ZORA_NL_154313.pdf

George Poptodorov

Papers

High resolution deletion analysis of constitutional DNA from neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) patients using microarray-CGH