1. Integration of long-read sequencing, DNA methylation and gene expression reveals heterogeneity in Y chromosome segment lengths in phenotypic males with 46,XX testicular disorder/difference of sex development.
- Author
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Berglund A, Johannsen EB, Skakkebæk A, Chang S, Rohayem J, Laurentino S, Hørlyck A, Drue SO, Bak EN, Fedder J, Tüttelmann F, Gromoll J, Just J, and Gravholt CH
- Subjects
- Male, Humans, Female, Adult, 46, XX Testicular Disorders of Sex Development genetics, Adolescent, Child, Young Adult, Child, Preschool, DNA Methylation, Chromosomes, Human, Y genetics, Phenotype
- Abstract
Background: 46,XX testicular disorder/difference of sex development (46,XX DSD) is a rare congenital condition, characterized by a combination of the typical female sex chromosome constitution, 46,XX, and a variable male phenotype. In the majority of individuals with 46,XX DSD, a Y chromosome segment containing the sex-determining region gene (SRY) has been translocated to the paternal X chromosome. However, the precise genomic content of the translocated segment and the genome-wide effects remain elusive., Methods: We performed long-read DNA sequencing, RNA sequencing and DNA methylation analyses on blood samples from 46,XX DSD (n = 11), male controls (46,XY; variable cohort sizes) and female controls (46,XX; variable cohort sizes), in addition to RNA sequencing and DNA methylation analysis on blood samples from males with Klinefelter syndrome (47,XXY, n = 22). We also performed clinical measurements on all 46,XX DSD and a subset of 46,XY (n = 10)., Results: We identified variation in the translocated Y chromosome segments, enabling subcategorization into 46,XX DSD (1) lacking Y chromosome material (n = 1), (2) with short Yp arms (breakpoint at 2.7-2.8 Mb, n = 2), (3) with medium Yp arms (breakpoint at 7.3 Mb, n = 1), and (4) with long Yp arms (n = 7), including deletions of AMELY, TBLY1 and in some cases PRKY. We also identified variable expression of the X-Y homologues PRKY and PRKX. The Y-chromosomal transcriptome and methylome reflected the Y chromosome segment lengths, while changes to autosomal and X-chromosomal regions indicated global effects. Furthermore, transcriptional changes tentatively correlated with phenotypic traits of 46,XX DSD, including reduced height, lean mass and testicular size., Conclusion: This study refines our understanding of the genetic composition in 46,XX DSD, describing the translocated Y chromosome segment in more detail than previously and linking variability herein to genome-wide changes in the transcriptome and methylome., (© 2024. The Author(s).)
- Published
- 2024
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