Exon resequencing of the gene encoding UCma/GRP reveals a common carboxy-terminal 138Thr > Ser polymorphism.

BACKGROUND:The upper zone of growth plate and cartilage matrix-associated protein (UCMA), also called G1a-rich protein (GRP), is a novel protein found at sites affected by pathological calcifications. METHODS:We performed a full exon resequencing on DNA samples from 17 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients (stage 5) and compared the results with 121 healthy controls in a Swedish population. RESULTS:A novel non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) causing a carboxy-terminal amino acid exchange was found. This SNP involves an alteration of the last ACC codon for threonine in exon 5 (adjacent to the stop codon) to an AGC serine codon (138Thr > Ser). Six controls and two CKD patients were heterozygous for the 138Thr > Ser polymorphism. Both patients had histories of vascular calcification; however, it is uncertain whether this SNP has any significance for the functional domains of the UCMA protein. In addition, a heterozygous transversion mutation was found in a patient at SNP rs4750328 (A/G) in intron 2, involving an exchange of the ancestral A allele to a T base. CONCLUSIONS:The 138Thr > Ser polymorphism seems to be the only non-synonymous SNP found in the UCMA gene in a Swedish population.

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