Two novel missense mutations of GATA4 gene in Chinese patients with sporadic congenital heart defects / 中华医学遗传学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify mutations in GATA4 gene in Chinese patients with sporadic congenital heart defects (CHD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Single stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis was performed to screen for mutations in all six exons and exon-intron boundaries of GATA4 in 31 individuals with CHD. Direct DNA sequencing was used to identify the specific mutations.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Two novel missense mutations, V267M in exon 4, V380M in exon 6, and one polymorphism in intron 6 of GATA4 were identified.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The above identified two novel GATA4 mutations associated with CHD in Chinese patients. This suggests that the transcription factor GATA4 may play an important role in cardiogenesis.</p>