Novel Mutations in the MYOC/GLC1A Gene in a Large Group of Glaucoma Patients

Abstract

Mutations at the myocflin (MYOC) gene within the GLC1A locus have been revealed in 2- 4% of patients suffering primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) worldwide. In our ongoing glaucoma study sixhundred eighty two persons have been screend for MYOC mutations. The first group consisted of 453 patients from a long-term clinical study diagnosed either with juvenile OAG (JOAG), POAG, ocular hypertension (OHT) or normal tension glaucoma (NTG) plus 22 cases of secondary glaucoma. This group, and additional 83 healthy controls, is part of a long term study with repeated clinical examinations at the University of Erlangen-Nurnberg. An additional sample of 124 glaucoma patients or at risk persons referred from other sources were included in the mutation screening. Five novel mutations, namely Gly434Ser, Asn450Asp, Va1251Ala, 11e345Met and Ser393Asn, could he identified as cause of preperimetrk POAG, JOAG, normal tension POAG and POAG. Myocilln mutations were identified similar with previous reports with other ethnic populations at the rate of 11/341 (3.2%) probands