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If this is the case, it may be possible to modify the regulation of utrophin expression as an alternative route to dystrophin gene therapy for sufferers of DMD and/or BMD.
Therefore, the dystrophin muscle promoter/enhancer sequence represents an alternative for use in gene therapy vectors for the treatment of DMD.
Open accessJournal ArticleDOI
Kevin Culligan, Kay Ohlendieck 
48 Citations
Mutations in the DMD gene are thought to be responsible, with the shorter isoforms of dystrophin implicated in its molecular brain pathogenesis.
The observation of hybrid repeat reconstitution in some cases provides insight into phenotype-genotype correlations in dystrophin diseases and possible strategies for gene therapy.
The distribution of deletions in dystrophin gene is associated with the phenotype of DMD/BMD.

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How does the presence of a mutated gene affect the development of cardiomyopathy in Duchenne muscular dystrophy carriers?5 answersThe presence of mutated genes significantly impacts the development of cardiomyopathy in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) carriers. Research has shown that mutations in genes like dystrophin, cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR), and Lamin A/C can exacerbate cardiomyopathy in DMD patients. Mutations in the dystrophin gene, a hallmark of DMD, lead to progressive muscle degeneration and cardiomyopathy, affecting virtually all patients by the end of the second decade of life. Additionally, variants in the CFTR gene have been associated with worse cardiac function in DMD patients, indicating a potential genetic modifier for more severe cardiomyopathy. Furthermore, mutations in the Lamin A/C gene have been linked to dilated cardiomyopathy, affecting the expression of actin and contributing to the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathy in DMD carriers.
What are missense mutations?5 answersMissense mutations are point mutations in which a single nucleotide change in the DNA sequence results in a different amino acid substitution in the corresponding protein sequence. These mutations can be pathogenic or benign, and they are frequently observed in cancer genomes. Missense mutations can disrupt important cellular behaviors and contribute to the development and progression of cancer. Various computational methods and tools have been developed to predict the effects of missense mutations on protein stability, structure, and function. These methods utilize features such as physiochemical properties of amino acids, sequence alignments, protein structure predictions, and annotations from databases. Understanding the effects of missense mutations on protein activity is crucial for identifying disease-causing mutations and developing targeted treatments.
Are spontaneous mutations a significant factor in the development of Duchenne muscular dystrophy?5 answersSpontaneous mutations are a significant factor in the development of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). DMD is caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene, including deletions, duplications, and small mutations. These mutations disrupt the reading frame of the gene, resulting in the absence or production of truncated dystrophin protein. Various therapeutic approaches have been developed to complement or restore dystrophin expression, such as gene therapy, readthrough therapy, and exon skipping therapy. The most common mutation in genetically confirmed cases of DMD is deletion at exons 45-52. Small mutations, including nonsense, frameshift, and splicing mutations, are distributed throughout the dystrophin gene and are found in a significant proportion of DMD patients. Additionally, carriers of small mutations are often mothers of males affected with DMD/BMD. Therefore, spontaneous mutations play a crucial role in the development of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
What genetic mutation causes Huntington's disease?3 answersHuntington's disease is caused by a genetic mutation in the huntingtin gene. This mutation involves a dynamic expansion of CAG triplet repeats in exon 1 of the huntingtin gene. The normal huntingtin gene contains a trinucleotide (CAG) sequence that encodes for glutamine, but in the mutated gene, this sequence is expanded. Once the number of CAG repeats exceeds 39, the resulting mutated protein impairs neuronal health and leads to the development of Huntington's disease. The disease is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner, and individuals with 40 or more CAG repeats are certain to develop the disease. Genetic testing can confirm the presence of the mutation and determine the risk of having affected offspring.
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