Complete thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) deficiency produced by a mutation in acceptor splice site causing...

Fourteen T4-binding globulin (TBG) variants have been identified at the gene level. They are all located in the coding region of the gene and 6 produce complete deficiency of TBG (TBG-CD). We now describe the first mutation in a noncoding region producing TBG-CD. The proband was treated for over 20 yr with L-T4 because of fatigue associated with a low concentration of serum total T4. Fifteen family members were studied showing low total T4 inherited as an X chromosome-linked trait, and affected males had undetectable TBG in serum. Sequencing of the entire coding region and promoter of the TBG gene revealed no abnormality. However, an A to G transition was found in the acceptor splice junction of intron II that produced a new HaeIII restriction site cosegregating with the TBG-CD phenotype. Sequencing exon 1 to exon 3 of TBG complementary DNA reverse transcribed from messenger RNA of skin fibroblasts from an affected male, confirmed a shift in the ag acceptor splice site. This results in the insertion of a G in exon 2 and causes a frameshift and a premature stop at codon 195. This early termination of translation predicts a truncated TBG lacking 201 amino acids.