A novel keratin K5 gene mutation in Dowling-Meara epidermolysis bullosa simplex.

We examined keratin K14 and K5 genes mutation in a Japanese Dowling-Meara epidermolysis bullosa simplex patient with severe generalized blistering and erosions at birth. The patient had a C to T transition at the first position of codon 174 in the keratin K5 gene, which resulted in a Leu->Phe substitution at the highly conserved 1A domain in keratin K5. Thus, our results revealed a novel mutation in the helix initiation peptide of keratin K5.