Chromosome 5 (human)

Chromosome 5 is one of the 23 pairs of chromosomes in humans. People normally have two copies of this chromosome. Chromosome 5 spans about 181 million base pairs (the building blocks of DNA) and represents almost 6% of the total DNA in cells. Chromosome 5 is one of the largest human chromosomes, yet has one of the lowest gene densities. This is partially explained by numerous gene-poor regions that display a remarkable degree of non-coding and syntenic conservation with non-mammalian vertebrates, suggesting they are functionally constrained.

Identifying genes on each chromosome is an active area of genetic research. Because researchers use different approaches to predict the number of genes on each chromosome, the estimated number of genes varies. Chromosome 5 likely contains between 900 and 1,300 genes.

Genes
The following are some of the genes located on chromosome 5:
 * ADAMTS2: ADAM metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, 2
 * APC: adenomatosis polyposis coli
 * EGR1: early growth response protein 1
 * DTDST: diastrophic dysplasia sulfate transporter
 * ERCC8: excision repair cross-complementing rodent repair deficiency, complementation group 8
 * FGFR4: fibroblast growth factor receptor 4
 * GM2A: GM2 ganglioside activator
 * HEXB: hexosaminidase B (beta polypeptide)
 * MASS1: monogenic, audiogenic seizure susceptibility 1 homolog (mouse)
 * MCCC2: methylcrotonoyl-Coenzyme A carboxylase 2 (beta)
 * MTRR: 5-methyltetrahydrofolate-homocysteine methyltransferase reductase
 * NIPBL: Nipped-B homolog (Drosophila)
 * NSD1: Transcription coregulator protein
 * Pikachurin: Responsible for the functioning of the ribbon synapses; allows the eye to track moving objects
 * SLC22A5: solute carrier family 22 (organic cation transporter), member 5
 * SLC26A2: solute carrier family 26 (sulfate transporter), member 2
 * SMN1: survival motor neuron 1, telomeric
 * SMN2: survival motor neuron 2, centromeric
 * SNCAIP: synuclein, alpha interacting protein (synphilin)
 * TGFBI: keratoepithelin
 * TCOF1: Treacher Collins-Franceschetti syndrome 1
 * FGF1: fibroblast growth factor 1 (acidic fibroblast growth factor)

Diseases & disorders
The following are some of the diseases related to genes located on chromosome 5:
 * Achondrogenesis type 1B
 * Atelosteogenesis, type II
 * Cockayne syndrome
 * Cornelia de Lange syndrome
 * Corneal dystrophy of Bowman layer, type I
 * Corneal dystrophy of Bowman layer, type II
 * Cri du Chat
 * Diastrophic dysplasia
 * Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
 * Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, dermatosparaxis type
 * Familial adenomatous polyposis
 * Granular corneal dystrophy type I
 * Granular corneal dystrophy type II
 * GM2-gangliosidosis, AB variant
 * Homocystinuria
 * 3-Methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase deficiency
 * Nicotine dependency
 * Parkinson's disease
 * Primary carnitine deficiency
 * Recessive multiple epiphyseal dysplasia
 * Sandhoff disease
 * Spinal muscular atrophy
 * Sotos Syndrome
 * Survival motor neuron spinal muscular atrophy
 * Treacher Collins syndrome
 * Usher syndrome
 * Usher syndrome type II

Chromosomal conditions
The following conditions are caused by changes in the structure or number of copies of chromosome 5:


 * Cri-du-chat syndrome is caused by a deletion of the end of the short (p) arm of chromosome 5. This chromosomal change is written as 5p-. The signs and symptoms of cri-du-chat syndrome are probably related to the loss of multiple genes in this region. Researchers have not identified all of these genes or determined how their loss leads to the features of the disorder. They have discovered, however, that a larger deletion tends to result in more severe mental retardation and developmental delays in people with cri-du-chat syndrome.


 * Researchers have defined narrow regions of the short arm of chromosome 5 that are associated with particular features of cri-du-chat syndrome. A specific region designated 5p15.3 is associated with a cat-like cry, and a nearby region called 5p15.2 is associated with mental retardation, small head size (microcephaly), and distinctive facial features.


 * Familial Adenomatous Polyposis is caused by a deletion of the APC tumor suppressor gene on the long (q) arm of chromosome 5. This chromosomal change results in thousands of colonic polyps which gives the patient a 100% risk of colon cancer if total colectomy is not done.


 * Other changes in the number or structure of chromosome 5 can have a variety of effects, including delayed growth and development, distinctive facial features, birth defects, and other medical problems. Changes to chromosome 5 include an extra segment of the short (p) or long (q) arm of the chromosome in each cell (partial trisomy 5p or 5q), a missing segment of the long arm of the chromosome in each cell (partial monosomy 5q), and a circular structure called ring chromosome 5. A ring chromosome occurs when both ends of a broken chromosome are reunited.