Mutation in the ARH Gene and a Chromosome 13q Locus Influence Cholesterol Levels in a New Form of Digenic-Recessive Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Abstract
We studied a Syrian family with 3 children who had low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) concentrations of 13.3, 12.2, and 8.6 mmol/L, respectively. Three other siblings and the parents all had LDL values P<0.002) in this normal population. Elucidation of ARH, the LDL receptor adaptor protein at chromosome 1p35, caused us to sequence that gene. We first identified the genomic structure of ARH gene and then sequenced the gene in our family. We found an intron 1 acceptor splice-site mutation. This mutation was not found in any other family members, in 31 nonrelated Syrian persons, or in 30 Germans. Our results underscore the importance of ARH on chromosome 1 and the chromosome 13q locus to LDL, not only in families with unusual illnesses, but also to the general population.

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