Cystic fibrosis mutations in Israeli Arab patients

Mutation analysis was performed on 42 unrelated Israeli Arab CF patients. The previously known mutations in this population, DF508, N1303K, G542X, 4010delTATT, and S549R(T>G), were identified in 57 CF alleles, leaving 28 CF alleles with unknown mutations. Screening of the coding sequence of the CFTR gene by a single strand conformation analysis (SSCA) and direct sequencing revealed three point mutations and two intragenic deletions, including 2183AA>G, R75X, S549R (A>C), 3120+1Kbdel8.6Kb and del(exon2). In the present sample of Israeli Arab patients, 12 mutations account for 92% of the CF alleles. The mutations DF508, N1303K, W1282X and 3120+1Kbdel8.6Kb were found in all Arab ethnic subgroups. The mutations G85E, R75X, 2183AA>G, and del(exon2) were confined to Muslim Arabs, and the mutations 4010delTATT, S549R(A>C) and G542X were confined to Christian Arabs. Hum Mutat 14:543, 1999.