Screening for Glucokinase (GCK) Gene Mutation in Gestational Diabetes Women in Western Region of Saudi Arabia

Aim: The study involved screening of three exons of glucokinase gene (7, 8 and 9) to detect mutations at posi­tions 682A>G, p.T228A, 895G>C, p.G299R and 1148C>A, p.S383X, respectively in Saudi pregnant women with or without gestational diabetes.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Place and Duration of Study: The Obstetrics and Gynecology clinic of King Abdul-Aziz Hospital in South Jeddah between May and October 2013.

Methodology: A sample of 100 Saudi pregnant women classified as healthy (control, N = 50 (pregnant women without diabetes)) or with gestational diabetes (N = 50) was analyzed for mutations in the GCK gene. Blood samples were taken and DNA was extracted from whole blood. The target part of GCK gene was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The specific amplified regions were digested by restriction enzymes: BstUI for exon 7, HhaI for exon 8 and BfaI for exon 9, and electrophoresed on agarose gel. Mutations were screened by restriction fragment length polymorphism.

Results: Fasting glucose levels were statistically higher in gestational diabetes women than controls (P-value = 0.00). The difference in Glucose Challenge Test (GCT) values between two groups shows significante p-value = 0.00. However, We observed that there was no significant correlation between any of the GCK mutations and gestational diabetes in Saudi population.

Conclusion: The glucokinase gene mutations do not affect glucose metabolism in pregnant Saudi women.