The Lp(a) lipoprotein represents a quantitative genetic trait. It contains two different polypeptide chains, the Lp(a) glycoprotein and apo B-100. We have demonstrated the Lp(a) glycoprotein directly in human sera by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions after immunoblotting using anti-Lp(a) serum and have observed inter-and intraindividual size heterogeneity of the glycoprotein with apparent molecular weights ranging from 400,000-700,000 D. According to their relative mobilities compared with apo B-100 Lp(a) patterns were categorized into phenotypes F (faster than apo B-100), B (similar to apo B-100), Si, S2, S3, and S4 (all slower than apo B-100), and into the respective double-band phenotypes. Results from neuraminidase treatment of isolated Lp(a) glycoprotein indicate that the phenotypic differences do not reside in the sialic acid moiety of the glycoprotein. Family studies are compatible with the concept that Lp(a) glycoprotein phenotypes are controlled by a series of autosomal alleles (LplaIF, LplajB, Lplar', Lplar2, Lplae, Lpla'4, and Lplar) at a single locus. Comparison of Lp(a) plasma concentrations in different phenotypes revealed a highly significant association of phenotype with concentration.Phenotypes B, Si, and S2 are associated with high and phenotypes S3 and S4 with low Lp(a) concentrations. This suggests that the same gene locus is involved in determining Lp(a) glycoprotein phenotypes and' Lpa) lipoprotein concentrations in plasma and is the first indication for structural differences underlying the quantitative genetic Lp(a)-trait.

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Thirty-two patients with fertility problems were identified as carriers of small supernumerary marker chromosomes (sSMC). Molecular cytogenetic techniques were used to characterize their chromosomal origin. Together with the other cases available in the literature 111 sSMC cases have now been detected in connection with fertility problems in otherwise clinically healthy persons and characterized for their genetic content. According to this study, in 60% of the cases the sSMC originated from chromosomes 14 or 15. Euchromatic imbalances were caused by the sSMC presence in 30% of the cases. Notably, in 53% of infertile sSMC carriers, the sSMC was parentally transmitted. As we found indications of an as yet unknown mechanism for the elimination of sSMC from the human gene pool, sSMC could also play a role in elucidating the process of chromosome gain and loss during evolution. Nonetheless, further detailed molecular analysis will be necessary in the future to characterize the mechanisms and genetic basis for this phenomenon.Posted at the Zurich Open Repository and Archive, University of Zurich ZORA URL: https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-57505 Originally published at: Manvelyan, Marina; Riegel, Mariluce; Santos, Monica; Fuster, Carme; Pellestor, Franck; Mazaurik, Marie-Luise; Schulze, Bernt; Polityko, Anna; Tittelbach, Hanne; Reising-Ackermann, Gisela; Belitz, Britta; Hehr, Ute; Kelbova, Christina; Volleth, Marianne; Gödde, Elisabeth; Anderson, Jasen; Küpferling, Peter; Köhler, Sigrid; Duba, Hans-Christoph; Dufke, Andreas; Aktas, Dilek; Martin, Thomas; Schreyer, Isolde; Ewers, Elisabeth; Reich, Daniela; Mrasek, Kristin; Weise, Anja; Liehr, Thomas (2008). Thirty-two new cases with small supernumerary marker chromosomes detected in connection with fertility problems: detailed molecular cytogenetic characterization and review of the literature. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 21(6):705-714.Abstract. Thirty-two patients with fertility problems were identified as carriers of small supernumerary marker chromosomes (sSMC). Molecular cytogenetic techniques were used to characterize their chromosomal origin. Together with the other cases available in the literature 111 sSMC cases have now been detected in connection with fertility problems in otherwise clinically healthy persons and characterized for their genetic content. According to this study, in 60% of the cases the sSMC originated from chromosomes 14 or 15. Euchromatic imbalances were caused by the sSMC presence in 30% of the cases. Notably, in 53% of infertile sSMC carriers, the sSMC was parentally transmitted. As we found indications of an as yet unknown mechanism for the elimination of sSMC from the human gene pool, sSMC could also play a role in elucidating the process of chromosome gain and loss during evolution. Nonetheless, further detailed molecular analysis will be necessary in the future to characterize the mechanisms and genetic basis for this phenomenon.

3 -48 Full affiliations can be seen as electronic supplementIn a search for potential infertility loci, which might be revealed by clustering of chromosomal breakpoints, we compiled 464 infertile males with a balanced rearrangement from Mendelian Cytogenetics Network database (MCNdb) and compared their karyotypes with those of a Danish nation-wide cohort. We excluded Robertsonian translocations, rearrangements involving sex chromosomes and common variants. We identified 10 autosomal bands, five of which were on chromosome 1, with a large excess of breakpoints in the infertility group. Some of these could potentially harbour a male-specific infertility locus. However, a general excess of breakpoints almost everywhere on chromosome 1 was observed among the infertile males: 26.5 versus 14.5% in the cohort. This excess was observed both for translocation and inversion carriers, especially pericentric inversions, both for published and unpublished cases, and was significantly associated with azoospermia. The largest number of breakpoints was reported in 1q21; FISH mapping of four of these breakpoints revealed that they did not involve the same region at the molecular level. We suggest that chromosome 1 harbours a critical domain whose integrity is essential for male fertility.