Multiple mutations in a specific gene in a small geographic area: a common phenomenon?

We read with interest the article from Allamand et al., which demonstrates in a genetic isolate the presence of at least six different haplotypes in the limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A chromosome. Several hypotheses were proposed by the authors to explain this finding, but, after the identification of calpain, the gene involved in the disorder, multiple mutations were proved to be at the origin of this observation. The authors proposed that both the presence of multiple distinct calpain mutations within the Reunion Island pedigrees and the relatively low frequency of the disease in the isolate may be explained by a digenic inheritance of the disorder. Their hypothesis postulates that, although calpain mutations may be frequent in all populations, the disease manifestations are controlled by another frequently mutated nuclear or mitochondrial gene in the Reunion isolate. 8 refs.