Abstract

Five cases of glycerol kinase deficiency are presented with clinical, biochemical, and genetic results. Two had the glycerol kinase deficiency as part of an Xp21 contiguous gene deletion syndrome-complex form-and three had an isolated form of the enzyme deficiency. In these we found two splice site mutations (IVS1+4A>G, IVS9-1G>T) and one insertion (1393_1394insG). In patients with the complex form, a deletion of the DAX1, GK genes and the distal part of the DMD gene was found. A computerized study was performed to predict the effects of the splice site mutations. It showed that the IVS9-1G>T mutation substantially altered and removed the wild-type site and enhanced a cryptic site seven nucleotides downstream, and that the IVS1+4A>G diminished the strength of the wild-type donor site from strong to leaky. To verify these predictions, we developed an RT-PCR system with gene-specific primers that exclusively amplifies the Xp21 glycerol kinase gene transcript. Identification of individuals at risk is motivated by a need to avoid delay in a correct diagnosis. For reliable identification of heterozygotes for isolated glycerol kinase deficiency, knowledge of the specific mutation in the proband is required. This is easily obtained with the RT-PCR analyses developed in this study.