Partial sequence of a candidate gene for the Marfan syndrome

Cheryl L. Maslen, Glen M. Corson, B. Kerry Maddox, Robert W. Glanville, Lynn Y. Sakai

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

314 Scopus citations

Abstract

FIBRILLIN is a large (relative molecular mass 350,000) glyco-protein which can be isolated from fibroblast cell cultures and is a component of the microfibrils that are ubiquitous in the connective tissue space1. The microfibrils of the suspensory ligament of the lens as well as the elastic fibre microfibrils of the blood vessel wall are composed of fibrillin. The ocular and cardiovascular manifestations of the Marfan syndrome are consistent with a defect in the gene coding for a structural constituent of these connective tissues. Immunohistological experiments have recently implicated fibrillin microfibrils in the pathogenesis of the Marfan syndrome2. Genetic linkage data3, 4 localizing the Marfan gene to chromosome 15 and the in situ hybridization of fibrillin complementary DNAto 15q21.1 (ref. 5) together support fibrillin as a candidate Marfan gene. As a first step towards investigating the function of fibrillin in the architecture and development of connective tissues and its relationship to the Marfan syndrome, we report the cloning and partial sequencing of fibrillin cDNA.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)334-337
Number of pages4
JournalNature
Volume352
Issue number6333
DOIs
StatePublished - 1991

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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