Potassium bromate a potent DNA oxidizing agent exacerbates germline repeat expansion in a Fragile X premutation mouse model

摘要

Tandem repeat expansion is responsible for the Repeat Expansion Diseases, a group of human genetic disorders that includes Fragile X syndrome. FXS results from expansion of a premutation (PM) allele having 55–200 CGG•CCG-repeats in the 5’ UTR of the FMR1 gene. The mechanism of expansion is unknown. We have treated FX PM mice with potassium bromate (KBrO3), a potent DNA oxidizing agent. We then monitored the germline and somatic expansion frequency in the progeny of these animals. We show here that KBrO3 increased both the level of 8-oxoG in the oocytes of treated animals and the germline expansion frequency. Our data thus suggest that oxidative damage may be a factor that could affect expansion risk in humans.