PRADER-WILLI SYNDROME (PWS) and ANGELMAN SYNDROME (AS) are distinct neurogenetic disorders, both usually caused by chromosomal deletions on chromosome 15q11 or by uniparental disomy. The chromosomal alterations result in an aberrant expression profile of gene loci that are subject to imprinting. Absence of a paternal allele of chromosome 15q11, due to chromosomal deletion or uniparental disomy,...

A boy was referred at 8 weeks of age for failure to thrive. Cytogenetic and molecular studies showed that he had a large proximal deletion of the maternally derived chromosome 15q. He did not have Angelman syndrome, but at 2 years of age was severely globally delayed. He died at 2 1/2 years of age.

Mutations in the methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene are known to underlie Rett' syndrome, the most common cause of mental retardation (MR) in girls. Since the original report, phenotypes resulting from MECP2 mutations have been shown to extend, for example, to several Rett variants, autism, atypical Angelman syndrome, and nonspecific MR. It was earlier proposed that MECP2 mutations might...

Genomic rearrangements of chromosome 15q11-q13 cause diverse phenotypes including autism, Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), and Angelman syndrome (AS). This region is subject to genomic imprinting and characterized by complex combinations of low copy repeat elements. Prader-Willi and Angelman syndrome are caused primarily by 15q11-13 deletions of paternal and maternal origin, respectively. Autism is...

Epilepsy in Angelman Syndrome is thought to originate from an imbalance between local excitatory-inhibitory circuits that results in a generalized hyperexcitability. In this issue of Neuron, Judson et al. (2016) demonstrate that selective maternal deletion of Ube3a in cortical GABAergic neurons causes circuit hyperexcitability, increased seizure severity, and EEG abnormalities.

Abstract Objectives Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare genetic disorder that affects the expression of UBE3A gene within central nervous system profoundly impacts neurodevelopment. Individuals with AS experience significant challenges across multiple adaptive behaviour domains including communication, motor skills, and ability to independently perform daily functions such as feeding, toileting. F...

The effects of low dose melatonin therapy on sleep behavior and serum melatonin levels were studied in Angelman syndrome (AS) children suffering from insomnia. 24-hour motor activity was monitored in 13 AS children (age 2-10 yr) in their home environments for 7 days prior to melatonin treatment and for 5 days during which a 0.3 mg dose of melatonin was administered daily 0.5-1 hour before the p...

The objectives of the present study were to investigate eating behavior and growth parameters in Angelman syndrome. We included 39 patients with Angelman syndrome. Twelve cases had a larger Class I deletion, eighteen had a smaller Class II deletion, whereas paternal uniparental disomy (pUPD) or a verified UBE3A mutation were present in five and four cases, respectively. Eating behavior was asse...