phosphorus-radioisotopes and Myotonic-Dystrophy

Myotonic dystrophy is a genetic disorder characterized in 99% of clinically diagnosed families by an unstable CTG repeat in the 3-untranslated region of a gene encoding a serine-threonine protein kinase. There is no one method to detect the entire range of expansion sizes possible in affected patients, so current diagnostic approaches rely on analyzing samples by hybridization of both polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified CTG repeats (CTG-PCR) and genomic DNA. In this unit, the the Basic Protocol 1 describes the analysis of PCR-amplified repeats transferred to a nylon membrane by Southern blotting and hybridized to an alkaline phosphatase-labeled probe. The first support protocol describes a vacuum blotting technique for rapid transfer of the PCR product to the nylon membrane and the second support protocol describes the use of a radiolabeled oligonucleotide probe for hybridization. Analysis of genomic DNA by similar hybridization techniques is outlined in the second basic protocol. Myotonic dystrophy is a genetic disorder characterized in 99% of clinically diagnosed families by an unstable CTG repeat Myotonic dystrophy is a genetic disorder characterized in 99% of clinically diagnosed families by an unstable CTG repeat.

Topics: Blotting, Southern; DNA; Female; Genetics, Medical; Humans; Male; Myotonic Dystrophy; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Trinucleotide Repeats; Vacuum

The uptake of exogenous 32Pi into the membrane proteins of intact erythrocytes was measured in 8 patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. No abnormalities were noted after autoradiographic analysis. This contrasts with earlier results obtained when isolated membranes were phosphorylated with gamma-[32P]ATP, and suggests a possible reinterpretation of those experiments.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Autoradiography; Child; Erythrocytes; Humans; Muscular Dystrophies; Myotonic Dystrophy; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Phosphorylation