We report the genetic localisation of the fragile site at Xq27.3 associated with fragile X syndrome. The position of the fragile site within the multipoint linkage map was determined using two The exceptionally high GC content of this element and its flanking DNA sequences has prohibited the development of a simple PCR based dia-

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The fragile X syndrome is the most common cause of familial mental retardation. Genetic counseling and gene isolation are hampered by a lack of DNA markers close to the disease locus. Two somatic cell hybrids that each contain a human X chromosome with a breakpoint close to the fragile X locus have been characterized. A new DNA marker (DXS296) lies between the chromosome breakpoints and is the closest marker to the fragile X locus yet reported. The Hunter syndrome gene, which causes iduronate sulfatase deficiency, is located at the X chromosome breakpoint that is distal to this new marker, thus localizing the Hunter gene distal to the fragile X locus.

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Simple ectopia lentis (EL) was studied in a large family, by clinical examination and analysis of linkage to markers in the region of FBN1, the gene for fibrillin which causes Marfan syndrome on chromosome 15. No patient had clinical or echocardiographic evidence of Marfan syndrome, although there was a trend towards relatively longer measurements of height; lower segment; arm span; middle finger, hand, and foot length in the affected members of the family, compared with unaffected sibs of the same sex. Analysis of linkage to intragenic FBN1 markers was inconclusive because they were relatively uniformative. Construction of a multipoint background map from the CEPH reference families identified microsatellite markers linked closely to FBN1 which could demonstrate linkage of EL in this family to the FBN1 region. LINKMAP analysis detected a multipoint lod score of 5.68 at D15S119, a marker approximately 6 cM distal to FBN1, and a multipoint lod score of 5.04 at FBN1. The EL gene in this family is likely to be allelic to Marfan syndrome, and molecular characterization of the FBN1 mutation should now be possible.