Chromosome instability syndromes are a group of inherited conditions associated with

chromosomal instability Chromosomal instability (CIN) is a type of genomic instability in which chromosomes are unstable, such that either whole chromosomes or parts of chromosomes are duplicated or deleted. More specifically, CIN refers to the increase in rate of addi ...

and breakage. They often lead to an increased tendency to develop certain types of malignancies. The following chromosome instability syndromes are known: * Ataxia telangiectasia * Ataxia telangiectasia-like disorder * Bloom syndrome * Fanconi anaemia * Nijmegen breakage syndrome

Neurodegenerative diseases

Chromosome instability syndromes include several inherited

neurodegenerative diseases A neurodegenerative disease is caused by the progressive loss of neurons, in the process known as neurodegeneration. Neuronal damage may also ultimately result in their death. Neurodegenerative diseases include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, mul ...

that are due to

mutation In biology, a mutation is an alteration in the nucleic acid sequence of the genome of an organism, virus, or extrachromosomal DNA. Viral genomes contain either DNA or RNA. Mutations result from errors during DNA or viral replication, ...

s in genes that encode enzymes necessary for

DNA repair DNA repair is a collection of processes by which a cell (biology), cell identifies and corrects damage to the DNA molecules that encode its genome. A weakened capacity for DNA repair is a risk factor for the development of cancer. DNA is cons ...

. Epigenetic alterations often occur in association with the DNA repair defect, and such alterations likely have a role in the etiology of the disease. Chromosome instability syndromes due to impaired DNA repair and with features of neurodegeneration and epigenetic alteration were summarized by Bernstein and Bernstein. These syndromes include Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome,

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease (MND) or—in the United States—Lou Gehrig's disease (LGD), is a rare, Terminal illness, terminal neurodegenerative disease, neurodegenerative disorder that results i ...

, ataxia-telangiectasia,

Cockayne syndrome Cockayne syndrome (CS), also called Neill-Dingwall syndrome, is a rare and fatal autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by growth failure, impaired development of the nervous system, abnormal sensitivity to sunlight ( photo ...

fragile X syndrome Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder. The average IQ in males with FXS is under 55, while affected females tend to be in the borderline to normal range, typically around 70–85. Physical features may include a lo ...

, Friedrich's ataxia,

Huntington's disease Huntington's disease (HD), also known as Huntington's chorea, is an incurable neurodegenerative disease that is mostly Genetic disorder#Autosomal dominant, inherited. It typically presents as a triad of progressive psychiatric, cognitive, and ...

, spinocerebellar ataxia type 1, trichothiodystrophy and xeroderma pigmentosum.

Hypogonadism

Genes '' MCM8'' and ''MCM9'' encode proteins that form a complex. This complex functions in

homologous recombination Homologous recombination is a type of genetic recombination in which genetic information is exchanged between two similar or identical molecules of double-stranded or single-stranded nucleic acids (usually DNA as in Cell (biology), cellular organi ...

and repair of DNA double-strand breaks. Inherited mutations in ''MCM8'' and ''MCM9'' can cause a chromosomal instability syndrome characterized by ovarian failure. The germline MCM8-MCM9 protein complex is most likely required for the resolution of double-strand breaks that occur during

in the pachytene stage of

meiosis Meiosis () is a special type of cell division of germ cells in sexually-reproducing organisms that produces the gametes, the sperm or egg cells. It involves two rounds of division that ultimately result in four cells, each with only one c ...

References

{{DNA replication and repair-deficiency disorder