Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiencies in human males. Kinetic and immunochemical classification.

Enzymatic activities and kinetics of liver ornithine transcarbamylase (carbamoylphosphate:L-ornithine carbamoyltransferase) were studied in 16 human males with ornithine transcarbamylase mutations. In the same liver fragments, cross-reactive material was measured with specific anti-ornithine transcarbamylase antibody. These studies allowed us to describe five groups of mutations. Two of them were similar on the basis of their enzymatic properties and cross-reactive material amounts to two mouse ornithine transcarbamylase mutations:sparse-fur (spf) and sparse-fur with abnormal skin and hair (spf-ash).