LOCALIZATION OF A GENE FOR MOBIUS-SYNDROME TO CHROMOSOME 3Q BY LINKAGE ANALYSIS IN A DUTCH FAMILY

Mobius syndrome (MIM no, 157900) consists of a congenital paresis or p aralysis of the VIIth cranial nerve, frequently accompanied by paralys is of other cranial nerves, orofacial and limb malformations, defects of the musculoskeletal system and mental retardation. Although most pa tients are sporadic cases, familial recurrence is not rare. Different pedigrees suggest different modes of inheritance. We performed linkage analysis in a large family with autosomal dominantly inherited Mobius syndrome, consisting essentially of asymmetric bilateral facial pares es, After exclusion of the candidate region for Mobius syndrome on 13q 12.2-q13, we localized the gene to chromosome 3q21-22, indicating gene tic heterogeneity of Mobius syndrome. This heterogeneity is further pr oven by the exclusion of both loci in a second family with Mobius synd rome.