A nonsense mutation in the FMO3 gene underlies fishy off-flavor in cow's milk

Genome Res. 2002 Dec;12(12):1885-8. doi: 10.1101/gr.240202.

Abstract

Fish-odor syndrome or Trimethylaminuria (OMIM #602079) in humans is an inborn error of metabolism associated with a characteristic fishy body odor due to elevated levels of trimethylamine (TMA) in body fluids. It is caused by loss-of-function mutations in FMO3 encoding flavin-containing mono-oxygenase 3. A fishy off-flavor is occasionally observed in cow's milk and it has been established recently that this phenotype is due to elevated TMA levels. Here, we report that fishy off-flavor in cow's milk is caused by a nonsense mutation (R238X) in the bovine FMO3 ortholog. RT-PCR analysis indicated that the mutant transcript is present in a very low amount. The mutation was found to be surprisingly common (q = 0.155) in one breed of cattle.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution / genetics
  • Animals
  • Arginine / genetics
  • Cattle
  • Codon, Nonsense / genetics*
  • Exons / genetics
  • Female
  • Genetic Carrier Screening
  • Homozygote
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Metabolism, Inborn Errors / genetics
  • Methylamines / metabolism
  • Milk / chemistry*
  • Milk / enzymology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oxygenases / genetics*
  • Oxygenases / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Taste* / genetics

Substances

  • Codon, Nonsense
  • Methylamines
  • Arginine
  • Oxygenases
  • dimethylaniline monooxygenase (N-oxide forming)
  • trimethylamine

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF488417
  • GENBANK/AF488418
  • GENBANK/AF488419
  • GENBANK/AF488420
  • GENBANK/AF488421
  • GENBANK/AF488422