The molecular basis of UDP-galactose-4-epimerase (GALE) deficiency galactosemia in Korean patients.
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Park HD, Park KU, Kim JQ, Shin CH, Yang SW, Lee DH, Song YH, Song J
The molecular basis of UDP-galactose-4-epimerase (GALE) deficiency galactosemia in Korean patients.
Genet Med. 2005 Nov-Dec;7(9):646-9.
- PubMed ID
- 16301867 [ View in PubMed]
- Abstract
PURPOSE: UDP-galactose-4-epimerase (GALE) deficiency galactosemia is an autosomal recessive disorder and the prevalence of the disease varies among ethnic groups. We aimed to investigate molecular characteristics of the Korean patients with attenuated GALE activity and elevated galactose-1-phosphate levels in blood. METHODS: In order to characterize the molecular defects underlying GALE deficiency, the GALE gene of 7 patients showing severe activity decreases was sequenced. PCR-RFLP was performed to confirm the presence of the mutations identified by sequencing. RESULTS: Nine mutations were identified: 8 missense mutations (p.A25V, p.R40C, p.D69E, p.E165K, p.R169W, p.R239W, p.G302D, and p.R335H) and one nonsense mutation (p.W336X). Except for p.R335H, all of these mutations are novel. Six patients were compound heterozygotes (p.D69E/p.G302D, p.R40C/p.R169W, p.D69E/p.E165K, p.R239W/p.R335H, p.A25V/p.R169W, and p.G302D/p.R335H) and the remaining patient had only one mutation (p.W336X/not detected). Thirty patients with moderately reduced GALE activity were also tested by PCR-RFLP for the presence of the above mutation, and mutations were detected in 17 of these 30 patients. The frequency of p.G302D (9/30), p.R239W (6/30) and p.R169W (5/30) in our Korean patients with GALE deficiency galactosemia was relatively high. CONCLUSIONS: We detected 9 mutations of the GALE gene in Korean galactosemia patients, and confirmed allelic heterogeneity in this disease.