Identification of novel GCK and HNF1A/TCF1 mutations and polymorphisms in German families with maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY).

Maturity-onset diabetes of the young is a genetically heterogeneous autosomal dominant form of diabetes mellitus, characterized by an early age at onset and a primary defect in beta-cell function. Forty families with a clinical presentation suggestive of MODY were screened for the most common MODY subtypes caused by mutations in the genes encoding glucokinase (GCK, MODY2) and hepatocyte nuclear 1-alpha (HNF1A/TCF1, MODY3). Overall, 14 mutations were found (35%) giving a relative frequency of 22.