Two novel mutations of ornithine transcarbamylase gene identified from three Chinese neonates with ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency.

We aim to analyze the blood metabolic profiling and the gene mutation of ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) in three neonates with ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTCD). Three neonates with OTCD were included in this study. The profiling of amino acids and acylcarnitine was determined using MS-MS assay. The OTC exons were amplified using PCR amplification. DNA sequencing was performed, based on which mutation analysis of OTC genes was carried out. For the clinical symptoms, all the three neonates showed poor reaction and feeding. In addition, convulsion and neonatal infection were noticed. A remarkable decrease of citrulline concentration was revealed by MS-MS assay. In case 1, a 548A > G substitution was identified in exon 6, which resulted in replacement of cysteine by tyrosine in codon 183. In case 2, a 1016T > G substitution was identified in exon 10, leading to replacement of valine by glycine in codon 339. In case 3, a 995G > C mutation was noted in exon 9, resulting in missense mutation of tryptophane to serine in codon332. Three types of OTC gene mutations were identified in Chinese neonates with OTC deficiency, among which two novel mutations, including 1016T > G and 995G > C, are presented uniquely in our study.