A Hexanucleotide Repeat Expansion in C9ORF72 Is the Cause of Chromosome 9p21-Linked ALS-FTD

A.E. Renton, E. Majounie, A. Waite, J. Simon-Sanchez, S. Rollinson, J.R. Gibbs, J.C. Schymick, H. Laaksovirta, J.C. van Swieten, L. Myllykangas, H. Kalimo, A. Paetau, Y. Abramzon, A.M. Remes, A. Kaganovich, S.W. Scholz, J. Duckworth, J.H. Ding, D.W. Harmer, D.G. HernandezJ.O. Johnson, K. Mok, M. Ryten, D. Trabzuni, R.J. Guerreiro, R.W. Orrell, J. Neal, A. Murray, J. Pearson, I.E. Jansen, D. Sondervan, H. Seelaar, D. Blake, K. Young, N. Halliwell, J.B. Callister, G. Toulson, A. Richardson, A. Gerhard, J. Snowden, D. Mann, D. Neary, M.A. Nalls, T. Peuralinna, L. Jansson, V.M. Isoviita, A.L. Kaivorinne, M. Holtta-Vuori, E. Ikonen, R. Sulkava, M. Benatar, J. Wuu, A. Chio, G. Restagno, G. Borghero, M. Sabatelli, D. Heckerman, E. Rogaeva, L. Zinman, J.D. Rothstein, M. Sendtner, C. Drepper, E.E. Eichler, C. Alkan, Z. Abdullaev, S.D. Pack, A. Dutra, E. Pak, J. Hardy, A. Singleton, N. M. Williams, P. Heutink, S. Pickering-Brown, H.R. Morris, P.J. Tienari, B.J. Traynor

    Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    Abstract

    The chromosome 9p21 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-frontotemporal dementia (ALS-FTD) locus contains one of the last major unidentified autosomal-dominant genes underlying these common neurodegenerative diseases. We have previously shown that a founder haplotype, covering the MOBKL2b, IFNK, and C9ORF72 genes, is present in the majority of cases linked to this region. Here we show that there is a large hexanucleotide (GGGGCC) repeat expansion in the first intron of C9ORF72 on the affected haplotype. This repeat expansion segregates perfectly with disease in the Finnish population, underlying 46.0% of familial ALS and 21.1% of sporadic ALS in that population. Taken together with the D90A SOD1 mutation, 87% of familial ALS in Finland is now explained by a simple monogenic cause. The repeat expansion is also present in one-third of familial ALS cases of outbred European descent, making it the most common genetic cause of these fatal neurodegenerative diseases identified to date. © 2011 Elsevier Inc.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)257-268
    JournalNeuron
    Volume72
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2011

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