Study of transcription factors GATA-4, -5, -6 of mutation screening in Chinese children with congenital heart disease

Abstract

Objective To understand the relationship between GATA-4, -5, -6 gene mutations and congenital heart disease(CHD), and to provide grounds for early prevention and genetic counseling of children with CHD. Methods GATA-4, -5, -6 coding regions exons and the flanking intron sequences in 198 CHD patients were screened, including 66 cases of the ventricular septal defects, 84 cases of the atrial septal defects, and 48 cases of the nonsyndromic conotruncal heart defects patients.A total of 300 healthy subjects were selected as controls.The acquired sequences were aligned with which those publicized in GenBank by the aid of program BLAST.All exons and bilateral partial intron-exon boundaries of GATA-4, -5, -6 genes were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products were purified and directly sequenced by automatic DNA sequence equipment.The acquired GATA-4, -5, -6 gene sequences were compared with GenBank standard gene sequences with the aid of program BLAST. Results A heterozygous missense mutation in the GATA-4 gene was identified in a ventricular septal defect patient and a persistent truncus arteriosus patient.The mutation was located in c. 799G>A(p.V267M)in exon 4 of GATA-4.Multiple aligenment of GATA-4 proteins across species demonstrated that altered amino acid was highly conserved.Transcription factor GATA-5, -6 screening showed no mutations in children with CHD in this study. Conclusions Transcription factor GATA-4 gene mutation may be associated with the occurrence of CHD.Transcription factor GATA-4 gene may be susceptible gene in human CHD. Key words: Transcription factor; GATA-4, -5, -6; Mutation; Congenital heart disease