RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Molecular and cytogenetic studies of the Prader-Willi syndrome. JF Journal of Medical Genetics JO J Med Genet FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 649 OP 654 DO 10.1136/jmg.28.10.649 VO 28 IS 10 A1 R J Trent A1 F Volpato A1 A Smith A1 R Lindeman A1 M K Wong A1 G Warne A1 E Haan YR 1991 UL http://jmg.bmj.com/content/28/10/649.abstract AB Twenty-seven subjects with the Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) were studied. Sixteen (59%) had a cytogenetic deletion involving chromosome 15q11-13. Nine were non-deletional and two patients had structural rearrangements of chromosome 15: 47,XY, + del(15)(pter----q12), var(15)(p11) and 45,XX,t(14q15q). At the DNA level, a greater proportion of patients (74%) showed loss of one chromosome 15q11-13 allele using a combination of densitometry and RFLP analysis. Deletion sizes were variable with 13 of 20 detectable both cytogenetically and with probe pML34 (D15S9). The remaining seven had microdeletions at the pML34 locus. Heterogeneity was further seen in three subjects who had cytogenetic deletions but normal DNA studies. In one patient there was evidence of a duplication at the pML34 locus. A new molecular rearrangement was identified with probe p3.21 (D15S10) in two patients and their mothers. Fifteen family studies were performed. In all 10 families where there was a molecular deletion, this was shown to have arisen de novo. DNA mapping confirmed that the paternal 15q allele was lost in three patients with PWS.