Site specific screening for point mutations in ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency

J Med Genet. 1992 Jul;29(7):471-5.

Abstract

Ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency is a frequent X linked disorder of the urea cycle which is responsible for lethal neonatal hyperammonaemia in males and for various clinical symptoms in heterozygous females. In order to improve the efficiency of our screening for mutant genotypes, we focused on molecular domains of functional or structural importance in the OTC gene, namely the carbamyl phosphate binding domain (encoded by the third exon) and the MspI restriction sites (CCGG) of the coding sequence (located in exons 2 and 7 respectively), as they contain mutation hot spots (CpG doublets). Using this procedure, we were able to identify three new mutant genotypes in OTC deficient children including one nonsense mutation (E 87 K, G 50 ter, G 162 R). Since genetic counselling for OTC deficiency is frequently difficult, molecular screening directed towards specific sites of the coding sequence could allow rapid detection of mutant genotypes and help solve diagnostic problems, especially when carrier status cannot be clarified easily.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors / enzymology
  • Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors / genetics*
  • Ammonia / blood*
  • Base Sequence
  • Binding Sites / genetics
  • Female
  • Heterozygote
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Neonatal Screening / methods*
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / genetics
  • Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase / genetics
  • Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase Deficiency Disease*
  • Pedigree
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
  • X Chromosome*

Substances

  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
  • Ammonia
  • Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase