A new locus (RP31) for autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa maps to chromosome 9p

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a debilitating disease of the retina affecting similar to 1.5 million people worldwide. RP shows remarkable heterogeneity both clinically and genetically, with more than 40 genetic loci implicated, 12 of which account for the autosomal dominant form (adRP) of inheritance. We have recently identified a French Canadian family that presents with early onset adRP. After exclusion of all known loci for adRP, a genome-wide search established firm linkage with a marker from the short arm of chromosome 9 (LOD score of 6.3 at recombination fraction theta = 0). The linked region is flanked by markers D9S285 and D9SI874, corresponding to a genetic distance of 31 cM, in the region 9p22-pl3.