An update on the molecular analysis of classical galactosaemia patients diagnosed in Spain and Portugal: 7 new mutations in 17 new families.
OBJECTIVE
Classical galactosaemia is an inherited metabolic disorder due to mutations in the galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase gene (GALT). We previously reported molecular analysis of 83 Spanish and Portuguese unrelated galactosaemic patients. Here we present the results of another seventeen unreported affected individuals.


METHODS
DNA from patients was PCR-amplified and sequenced following standard protocols.


RESULTS
Twelve patients diagnosed in Spain were studied. We detected five alleles carrying p.Q188R, accounting for 21%. Other six alleles (25%) were identified with the mutation p.K285N. We also identified six novel mutations: p.Q9X, c.328+2T>C, p.I170N, p.C180F, p.V233L and p.P257L. Taking into account all the Spanish galactosaemic diagnosed patients, mutation p.Q188R is still the most frequent mutation identified (44.4%). In five new Portuguese patients, five alleles p.Q188R were detected, representing 50%. One novel mutation (p.F171C) was identified.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results confirm our previous observations that p.Q188R is the most frequent mutation in Iberian Peninsula galactosaemic patients (49%), and that Portuguese and Spanish genotypes differ.
Institut de Bioquímica Clínica, Servei de Bioquímica i Genètica Molecular, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, España; CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Barcelona, España.
Laura
L
Gort
Ester
E
Quintana
Sonia
S
Moliner
Lidia
L
González-Quereda
Tania
T
López-Hernández
Paz
P
Briones
D005693:Galactosemias / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D011174:Portugal; D013030:Spain