Abstract |
Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays possess clinical potential due to their high throughput capacity, sensitivity and versatility. We used such an array to perform a genome-wide SNP analysis of a patient with a multi-system undiagnosed disease involving peripheral neuropathies and food intolerances. The patient had a homozygous deletion within the gene encoding maltase-glucoamylase (MGAM), an intestinal starch digestion enzyme, predicting absence of enzyme activity and potential starch indigestion. We then performed validation testing using a functional MGAM analysis that involved starch ingestion followed by measuring blood glucose and insulin levels as well as hydrogen breath levels. Gastrointestinal tissue was also obtained via endoscopy and immunohistochemical staining for intestinal MGAM was performed. Our results strongly suggest the presence and functioning of MGAM which disproved deficiency predictions based on SNP array analysis findings, classifying the deletion as a functional polymorphism. This study highlights a current clinical limitation of SNP arrays, i.e., distinguishing deleterious genomic alterations from misleading functional polymorphisms. We conclude that novel findings from SNP arrays should be clinically validated and published.
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Authors | Jason L Eccleston, Christopher Koh, Thomas C Markello, William A Gahl, Theo Heller |
Journal | Molecular genetics and metabolism
(Mol Genet Metab)
Vol. 107
Issue 4
Pg. 674-8
(Dec 2012)
ISSN: 1096-7206 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 23137569
(Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural)
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Copyright | Published by Elsevier Inc. |
Chemical References |
- Blood Glucose
- Insulin
- alpha-Glucosidases
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Topics |
- Blood Glucose
- Female
- Genome-Wide Association Study
- Homozygote
- Humans
- Insulin
(blood)
- Intestinal Mucosa
(enzymology)
- Middle Aged
- Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
- Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
- Sequence Deletion
- alpha-Glucosidases
(genetics, metabolism)
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