A novel mutation in the deoxyguanosine kinase gene causing depletion of mitochondrial DNA.

Recently, a homozygous single-nucleotide deletion in exon 2 of the deoxyguanosine kinase gene (DGUOK) was identified as the disease-causing mutation in 3 apparently unrelated Israeli-Druze families with depleted hepatocerebral mitochondrial DNA. We have discovered a novel homozygous nonsense mutation in exon 3 of DGUOK (313C-->T) from a patient born to nonconsanguineous German parents. This finding shows that mutations in DGUOK causing mitochondrial DNA depletion are not confined to a single ethnic group.