Genetic diversity of the Fragile X syndrome Gene (FMR1) in a large sub-saharan West African population

Emmanuel K. Peprah, Emily G. Allen, Scott M. Williams, Laresa M. Woodard, Stephanie L. Sherman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Summary: Fragile X syndrome (OMIM #300624) is caused by the expansion of a CGG trinucleotide repeat found in the 5′ untranslated region of the X-linked FMR1 gene. Although examinations of characteristics associated with repeat instability and expansion of the CGG repeat upon transmission from parent to offspring has occurred in various world populations, none has been conducted in large Sub-Saharan African populations. We have examined the FMR1 CGG repeat structure in a sample of 350 males drawn from the general population of Ghana. We found that Ghanaians and African Americans have similar allele frequency distributions of CGG repeat and its flanking STR markers, DXS548 and FRAXAC1. However, the distribution of the more complex marker, FRAXAC2, is significantly different. The haplotype structure of the FMR1 locus indicated that Ghanaians share several haplotypes with African Americans and Caucasians that are associated with the expanded full mutation. In Ghanaians, the majority of repeat structures contained two AGG interruptions, however, the majority of intermediate alleles (35-49) lacked AGG interruptions. Overall, we demonstrate that allelic diversity of the FMR1 locus among Ghanaians is comparable to African Americans, but includes a minority of CGG array structures not found in other populations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)316-325
Number of pages10
JournalAnnals of Human Genetics
Volume74
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2010

Keywords

  • African population
  • FMR1
  • Haplotype
  • Trinucleotide repeat

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics
  • Genetics(clinical)

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