Mutation screening of the hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)-6 gene in Japanese subjects with diabetes mellitus

Heterozygous mutations in the genes encoding transcription factors (HNF-l a lpha, KNF-1 beta and HNF-4 alpha) in the hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF) ne twork are associated with maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY). We s creened HNF-6 gene for mutations in 34 Japanese subjects with MODY/early-on set diabetes mellitus and 56 subjects with late-onset diabetes mellitus. On e single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at codon 287 (GGG to GGT) was found in the gene and the frequency was similar among MODY/early-onset diabetes, late-onset diabetes and control subjects. Genetic variations in the HNF-6 g ene are not likely to contribute to the susceptibility to diabetes mellitus in Japanese. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.