A New DNA Marker Tightly Linked to the Fragile X Locus ( FRAXA )
Suthers GK., Callen DF., Hyland VJ., Kozman HM., Baker E., Eyre H., Harper PS., Roberts SH., Hors-Cayla MC., Davies KE., Bell MV., Sutherland GR.
The fragile X syndrome is the most common cause of familial mental retardation. Genetic counseling and gene isolation are hampered by a lack of DNA markers close to the disease locus. Two somatic cell hybrids that each contain a human X chromosome with a breakpoint close to the fragile X locus have been characterized. A new DNA marker ( DXS296 ) lies between the chromosome breakpoints and is the closest marker to the fragile X locus yet reported. The Hunter syndrome gene, which causes iduronate sulfatase deficiency, is located at the X chromosome breakpoint that is distal to this new marker, thus localizing the Hunter gene distal to the fragile X locus.