The P28T mutation in the GALK1 gene accounts for galactokinase deficiency in Roma (Gypsy) patients across Europe.

Galactokinase deficiency is an inborn error of metabolism that, if untreated, results in the development of cataracts in the first weeks of life. The disorder is rare worldwide, but has a high incidence among the Roma (Gypsies). In 1999, we reported the founder Romani mutation, P28T, identified in affected families from Bulgaria.

Novel mutations in 13 probands with galactokinase deficiency.

Galactokinase is an essential enzyme in the metabolism of galactose. Patients with deficiencies in galactokinase exhibit early-onset cataracts. We examined the sequence of the human galactokinase gene (GK1) from 13 patients exhibiting galactokinase deficiency and identified 12 novel mutations.

A founder mutation in the GK1 gene is responsible for galactokinase deficiency in Roma (Gypsies).

Galactokinase deficiency is an inborn error in the first step of galactose metabolism. Its major clinical manifestation is the development of cataracts in the first weeks of life. It has also been suggested that carriers of the deficiency are predisposed to presenile cataracts developing at age 20-50 years.

Molecular diagnosis of type 1c glycogen storage disease.

Glycogen storage disease type 1 (GSD 1) results from deficiency of the microsomal multicomponent glucose-6-phosphatase system. Malfunction of the catalytic subunit characterises GSD 1a. GSD 1b and GSD 1c are characterised by defective microsomal glucose-6-phosphate or pyrophosphate/phosphate transport, respectively.

A mutation (IVS8+0.6kbdelTC) creating a new donor splice site activates a cryptic exon in an Alu-element in intron 8 of the human beta-glucuronidase gene.

We have previously sequenced the complete coding region and the promoter region of the beta-glucuronidase gene of a patient with mild mucopolysaccharidosis type VII (MPS VII) and identified a nonsense mutation in the gene inherited from her mother. The mutation inherited from her father was not found. Here, we have extended the sequence analysis of the introns to cover all putative lariat branch points and putative intronic enhancers, although no nucleotide changes have been found in these regions.