A translocation breakpoint cluster disrupts the newly defined 3′ end of the SNURF-SNRPN transcription unit on chromosome 15

Balanced translocations affecting the paternal copy of 15q11–q13 are a rare cause of Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) or PWS-like features. Here we report on the cytogenetic and molecular characterization of a de novo balanced reciprocal translocation t(X;15)(q28;q12) in a female patient with atypical PWS. The translocation breakpoints in this patient and two previously reported patients map 70–80 kb distal to the SNURF-SNRPN gene and define a breakpoint cluster region. The breakpoints disrupt one of several hitherto unknown 3′ exons of this gene. Using RT–PCR we demonstrate that sequences distal to the breakpoint, including the recently identified C/D box small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) gene cluster HBII-85 as well as IPW and PAR1, are not expressed in the patient. Our data suggest that lack of expression of these sequences contributes to the PWS phenotype.