Association of autosomal dominant cleft lip and palate and translocation 6p23;9q22.3

Abstract

Orofacial clefting (OFC) is genetically complex in that no single gene defect is responsible for all forms. We have identified a family who exhibit autosomal dominant orofacial clefting together with some features of ectodermal dysplasia. In this family there is concordance between these features and an apparently balanced translocation t(6;9)(p23;q22.3) which raises the possibility that a locus for one form of orofacial clefting may be located at one of the translocation breakpoints. Fluorescent in situ hybridization has shown that a candidate gene for OFC, which maps to distal 6p, is located on the derived chromosome 9 in affected individuals from this family. Further characterization of the translocation breakpoints and of their relationship with the candidate gene will determine whether a gene important for normal facial and/or ectodermal development is disrupted in this family.