Detection of heterozygousSALL1 deletions by quantitative real time PCR proves the contribution of aSALL1 dosage effect in the pathogenesis of Townes-Brocks syndrome

Townes-Brocks syndrome (TBS) is an autosomal dominantly inherited disorder characterized by ear, anal, limb, and renal malformations, and results from mutations in the gene SALL1. All SALL1 mutations previously found in TBS patients create preterminal termination codons. In accordance with the findings of pericentric inversions or balanced translocations, TBS was initially assumed to be caused by SALL1 haploinsufficiency. This assumption was...