A gene for limb-girdle muscular dystrophy maps to chromosome 15 by linkage

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) is inherited as a monogenic, autosomal recessive trait. A genetically homogeneous group of families from the Isle of La Réunion, comprising individuals at high risk for this disorder, was systematically analysed using a panel of 85 polymorphic markers spanning approximately 30% of the human genome. Linkage was detected between the LGMD gene and the marker D15S25, uncovered with the probe pTHH114 and restriction enzyme RsaI (lod score = 5.52 at a 0 = 0.0), localising this gene onto chromosome 15. Such a lod score corresponds to odds of 3.3 x 105 in favor of linkage versus absence of linkage. Additional families from other populations will need to be examined before the role of this newly identified locus can be understood.