1176C polymorphism in Japanese patients with glycogen storage disease type 1a

Novel donor splice site mutation of ABCG5 gene in sitosterolemia

In a patient with sitosterolemia, we found two different mutations of the ATP-binding cassette, subfamily G, member 5 (ABCG5) gene. The first is a missense mutation that changes the amino acid residue at position 419 from arginine to histidine, i.e., R419H. The second is a novel splicing mutation affecting the invariant guanine at the first base of the donor splice site of intron 12, i.e., IVS12 + 1G --> A. The father of the patient is heterozygous for the missense mutation, and the mother is heterozygous for the splicing mutation. No mutations were found in the sister of the patient. Up until now, the missense mutation has only been found in Japanese patients with sitosterolemia. We believe that R419H in our Chinese patient may have the same origin as the mutation in the Japanese patients with sitosterolemia.

Molecular genetics of glycogen-storage disease type 1a in Chinese patients of Taiwan

The mutation spectrum of the glucose 6-phosphatase (G6Pase) gene in Chinese patients with type 1a glycogen-storage disease of Taiwan was studied by PCR/RFLP, temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis, and direct DNA sequencing methods. In addition to the two most prevalent mutations, 727G --> T (44.4%) and R83H (36.1%), that were detected by RFLP analysis, five other mutations, 341delG, 933insAA, Q104X, I341N, and H119L were identified. The frameshift mutations (341delG and 933insAA) and the nonsense mutation (Q104X) that produce truncated proteins are predicted to be disease-causing. The missense mutation, I341N, occurring in the last transmembrane domain of the ER-bound enzyme, retains a small amount of residual activity of approximately 10%. Except for R83H, the mutations have been described only in Asians. H119L, however, is of particular interest because of the essential role of the catalytic histidine of phosphohydrolase. This amino acid is believed to be involved in the formation of the phosphoryl-enzyme intermediate during catalysis. The patient who was compound heterozygous for 727G --> T and H119L mutations had essentially no G6Pase activity in her liver biopsy. This observation is consistent with the importance of H119L in catalysis.

Compound heterozygous patient with glycogen storage disease type III: identification of two novel AGL mutations, a donor splice site mutation of Chinese origin and a 1-bp deletion of Japanese origin

Glycogen storage disease type III (GSD III) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by deficiency of glycogen-debranching enzyme (AGL). We studied a 2-year-old GSD III patient whose parents were from different ethnic groups. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the patient showed two novel mutations: a single cytosine deletion at nucleotide 2399 (2399delC) in exon 16, and a G-to-A transition at the +5 position at the donor splice site of intron 33 (IVS33+5G>A). Analysis of the mRNA produced by IVS33+5G>A showed aberrant splicing: skipping of exon 33 and activation of a cryptic splice site in exon 34. Mutational analysis of the family revealed that the 2399delC was inherited from her father, who is of Japanese origin, and the IVS33+5G>A from her mother, who is of Chinese descent, establishing that the patient was a compound heterozygote. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a mutation identified in a GSD III patient from the Chinese population.