OBJECTIVETo molecularly analyze in Han and Li individuals of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in Hainan, China.

METHODSThe amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) was employed to detect G1376T, G1388A and A95G mutations. The coding regions and flanking intronic regions from the second to the thirteenth exons of G6PD gene was analyzed by DNA sequencing to characterize the gene mutations in samples without G1376T, G1388A and A95G mutations.

RESULTSAmong 29 Han cases of G6PD deficiency, 11 had G1376T (37.9%), 2 G1388A (6.9%), 1 G1376T and G1388A (3.4%) and 1 G1376T and A95G (3.4%) were identified. Mutations of G1376T, G1388A, A95G and their complex accounted for 51.7% of G6PD deficiency in the Han individuals. Among 42 Li cases of G6PD deficiency, 25 had G1376T (59.5%), 6 G1388A (14.3%), 2 A95G (4.8%), 4 G1376T and G1388A (9.5%), 1 G1376T and A95G (2.4% )were identified. These mutations accounted for 90.5% of the Li individuals. Gene mutation of 18 cases (14 Han and 4 Li individuals) remained unknown. Sequencing results of the 18 samples indicated that one case had a single base of T deletion at nucleotide 636 or 637 in the 5th intron (IVS-5 636 or 637 T del) and two cases had C1311T with IVS-11 T93C mutation.

CONCLUSIONG6PD G1376T and G1388A are the most common mutations in the populations of the Han and Li nationalities in Hainan. The IVS-5 636 or 637 T del mutation is first reported in Chinese, and the complex mutation of G1376T/A95G is first found in the Li nationality.