Analysis of the insulin receptor gene tyrosine kinase domain in obese patients with hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance and acanthosis nigricans (type C insulin resistance).

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that the triad of hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance and acanthosis nigricans (HAIR-AN syndrome) in the presence of obesity, also known as type C insulin resistance (type C), is caused by mutations at the tyrosine kinase domain of the insulin receptor gene.

DESIGN

A candidate gene approach to study the molecular basis for a syndrome of obesity.

SUBJECTS: 15 patients with type C insulin resistance and 25 control individuals.

MEASUREMENTS: Analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products of exons 17 to 21 of the insulin receptor gene, comprising the tyrosine kinase domain, for single strand conformational polymorphisms (SSCP) and sequence analysis of exons with variant SSCP patterns.

RESULTS

A synonymous C to T substitution in position 3 of codon 984, which does not alter the amino acid predicted, was found in one patient and in four of 25 control individuals.

CONCLUSION

Type C insulin resistance is not commonly caused by mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of the insulin receptor gene.