OBJECTIVE: To explore the pathogenic mutation in a Chinese family with congenital aniridia. METHODS: It is a case-control study. All 21 members of the family underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic examination and family line investigation. Mononuclear cell was isolated from peripheral blood and genomic DNA was prepared by genomic DNA purification kit. All fourteen exons of the PAX6 gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from proband's genomic DNA. PCR products of each exon were analyzed by direct sequencing. RESULTS: A nonsense mutation (Q310X) in exon 11 of PAX6 gene was detected by sequencing analysis in the proband III2. This mutation cause the 301st amino acids codon switch from CAA to TAA and the codogenic amino acids altered from glutamine glutaminic acid to strong terminal codon. This mutation is also detected in all 11 patients of this family, but not present in the unaffected members in this family. CONCLUSION: The premature translation termination of PAX6 gene caused by a nonsense mutation of Q310X should be responsible for congenital aniridia in this Chinese family.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the pathogenic mutation in a Chinese family with congenital aniridia. METHODS: It is a case-control study. All 21 members of the family underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic examination and family line investigation. Mononuclear cell was isolated from peripheral blood and genomic DNA was prepared by genomic DNA purification kit. All fourteen exons of the PAX6 gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from proband's genomic DNA. PCR products of each exon were analyzed by direct sequencing. RESULTS: A nonsense mutation (Q310X) in exon 11 of PAX6 gene was detected by sequencing analysis in the proband III2. This mutation cause the 301st amino acids codon switch from CAA to TAA and the codogenic amino acids altered from glutamine glutaminic acid to strong terminal codon. This mutation is also detected in all 11 patients of this family, but not present in the unaffected members in this family. CONCLUSION: The premature translation termination of PAX6 gene caused by a nonsense mutation of Q310X should be responsible for congenital aniridia in this Chinese family.