A novel deafness/dystonia peptide gene mutation that causes dystonia in female carriers of Mohr‐Tranebjaerg syndrome

Abstract
Sex‐linked male deafness and dystonia (Mohr‐Tranebjaerg syndrome) arises from mutation of the deafness/dystonia peptide (DDP) gene. We describe a novel guanine deletion at nucleotide 108 of the DDP gene in a family with Mohr‐Tranebjaerg syndrome, which terminates this 97–amino acid protein at codon 25. Unlike previously reported kindreds, carrier females in this family also manifest dystonias, including torticollis and writer's cramp. A family history of male deafness should alert clinicians to the possibility of DDP mutation in women with focal dystonias.