Mutation Detection for Lowe Syndrome

Oculocerebrorenal syndrome of Lowe (OCRL) is a rare X-linked disorder characterized by congenital cataracts, mental retardation, and renal tubular dysfunction. Patients with known or suspected OCRL were enrolled under previous protocol 96-HG-0008 that expired in 1998 and was not renewed. We are continuing studies of DNA and cell samples obtained and archived under our previous protocol to identify mutations in the OCRL1 gene responsible for Lowe syndrome and related disorders in affected males and attempt to correlate these mutations to particular biochemical or cellular phenotypes (enzyme activity, protein stability, cellular localization and trafficking). Information about genotypes will not be communicated back to the patients, their parents (if patient is a minor) or their physicians as part of this study.

We are also continuing our investigations of heterogeneity in OCRL by studying collected cell cultures from our collaborator Dr. Steven Scheinman at Suny New York Medical University, Syracuse, from a group of patients with mutations in OCRL1 who have Dent disease, characterized by renal tubular dysfunction. These data, and the variability in the renal and CNS abnormalities that occur in OCRL are evidence for the existence of modifiers. We propose to identify genes that are differentially expressed in cells from OCRL patients, patients with Dent disease and OCRL1 mutations by gene expression analysis of RNA from patient samples.

As part of our study on phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity in OCRL, mutation analysis resulted in the identification of mutations mostly in the second two-thirds of OCRL1. However, the OCRL1 mutations in the Dent disease patients have been found in the first third of OCRL1. We plan to send samples from Lowe syndrome patients without identified OCRL1 mutations to a Dr. Steven Scheinman who will look for such OCRL1 mutations. He will be sent only coded samples and will look for such OCRL1 mutations. He will be sent only coded samples and will not have access to patient identifiers. This information will be used for research purposes only.