Definition of the blepharophimosis, ptosis, epicanthus inversus syndrome critical region at chromosome 3q23 based on the analysis of chromosomal anomalies.

Blepharophimosis syndrome (BPES) is an autosomal dominant disorder of craniofacial development, the features of which are small palpebral fissures (blepharophimosis), drooping eyelids (ptosis) and a skin fold arising from the lower eyelid (epicanthus inversus). The chromosomal localization and identity of the BPES locus is not known with certainty. In the current paper, DNA samples from three individuals with a clinical history of BPES, two with interstitial deletions (cases 1 and 2) and one with a balanced translocation (case 3) all involving chromosome 3q23, were analyzed. Allele loss studies using short tandem repeat markers in cases 1 and 2 suggested that the region between the markers D3S1292 and D3S1306 was deleted in both cases. Subsequently, the derived chromosomes resulting from the translocation in case 3 were segregated in interspecific somatic cell hybrids. Analysis of the resultant hybrids showed that D3S1615 was retained in the derived chromosome 3, whereas D3S1316 was retained in the derived chromosome 4. In neither case was the marker present in the reciprocal hybrid. These results indicate that the BPES critical region lies in the D3S1615-D3S1316 interval.